Undignified Worship

1 Samuel 19:23-24 So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel's presence. He lay that way all that day and night.

After Saul had sent 3 groups of men to get David, who was with Samuel at Ramah. They found David worshipping the Lord. As Saul’s men entered into the presence of the Almighty, the Spirit fell on them as well…and they worshipped. Then they returned to Saul empty handed.

This is why in verses 23-24 Saul went himself, to capture and kill David. What his men reported to him didn’t make sense. As he arrived “the Spirit of God came even on him” and he too…..worshipped.
The cool part is that he stripped off his robes…and worshipped. A kings robes were usually very ornamental, signifying greatness, royalty and majesty…and before the Lord….Saul (who previously wasn’t walking with the Lord) was compelled to remove the symbols of his own greatness and humble himself before God.
As God’s word tells us, “every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Saul is a prime example of a knee bending, and a tongue confessing when he had no intent to do that.
Gentlemen, we need to strip away the things that we believe give us worth, status, glory (to man) and worship our Father who gives us life. Without him, we are, we have and we can do nothing.

In Matt Redman’s book, “The Unquenchable Worshipper”, the chapter call Undignified Worshipper, he tells of the Hebrew word “hallal”, where we get the word, Hallelujah! Hallal means to clamorously foolish or mad (crazy) before the Lord. Redman goes on to say….isn’t it time we saw a little more Holy ‘mayhem’ in our worship.
To answer the question of a little girl that came to church with us a few weeks ago….”why do you guys raise your hands when you sing?”….. it may be an undignified, foolish or crazy looking action…. But it’s the response some of us have when the Holy Spirit inhabits the praises of his people.