By Apostle Aje Pelser
Harvester Men’s Praise and Worship Evening
Rev 3:7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “HE WHO HAS THE KEY OF DAVID, HE WHO OPENS AND NO ONE SHUTS, AND SHUTS AND NO ONE OPENS”:
Rev 3:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
Rev 3:9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
Rev 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Rev 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
Rev 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
Rev 3:13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘
1. David was after God’s heart:
Act 13:22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID THE SON OF JESSE, A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART, WHO WILL DO ALL MY WILL.’
Act 13:23 From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus—
Jesus was also known as the Son of David.
2. The Tabernacle of David is a portal for nations to enter the kingdom of God through accurate praise and worship of Jesus Christ:
Act 15:14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
Act 15:15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
Act 15:16 ‘AFTER THIS I WILL RETURN AND WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, WHICH HAS FALLEN DOWN; I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL SET IT UP;
Act 15:17 SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, EVEN ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SAYS THE LORD WHO DOES ALL THESE THINGS.’
3. David’s Heart understood that God’s gentleness is what made him great.
2Sa_22:36 “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great.
Psa_18:35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.
2Co_10:1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
Gal_5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Gal_6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Eph_4:2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
Php_4:5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
1Ti_6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
4. David humbled himself before God and danced with all his might before the Lord.
2Sa 6:12 Now it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.
2Sa 6:13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep.
2Sa 6:14 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.
2Sa 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
2Sa 6:16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
2Sa 6:17 So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
2Sa 6:18 And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
2Sa 6:19 Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.
2Sa 6:20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
2Sa 6:21 So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD.
2Sa 6:22 And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honour.”
2Sa 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
He understood that God’s presence would bless his house because he had seen Obed–Edom’s household blessed when the Ark of the Covenant was there. In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was synonymous with the presence of God. When Israel had the Ark on their side they were confident to go to war.
5. David learnt to encourage himself in the Lord when others deserted him, when he lost everything. God told him he would recover all at Ziklag.
1Sa 30:6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
1Sa 30:7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
1Sa 30:8 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”
1Sa 30:18 So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives.
1Sa 30:19 And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.
1Sa 30:20 Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, “This is David’s spoil.”
Hebrew and Greek Meanings
Before we go any further – it is necessary to look at the original Hebrew and Greek meanings of worship, praise, glory, rejoice and he specific details that were attached to songs and psalms for the director of music. The Strong’s number is listed below each word for further reference and study.
Hâlal:
1984 To shine, to laud, to boast, to rave, to celebrate, to commend, sing.
It implies the unashamed use of the voice in demonstration of what one thinks of God. To be clamorously foolish is to be joyfully excited. Used approximately 100 times in the Old Testament.
Isaiah 38:18
Yâdâh
3034 To worship with extended hands, to throw out the hands, to give thanks and worship to God, to confess.
(Yad means hand)
Gen. 29:35
Bârak:
1288 To kneel, bend the knee, to bless, by implication to bless God as an act of adoration, to declare God the origin of power for success, prosperity and fertility.
Blessing received from God. Used approximately 70 times in the Old Testament to praise God.
Judges 5:2
Tehillâh:
8416 To sing or laud.
Derived from hallal and is generally accepted to mean “the singing of hallals”. The form of praise that God inhabits is used over 50 times in the Old Testament.
Deut. 10:21
Zâmar:
2167 To pluck the strings of an instrument, to sing praise.
It has musical connotations and it means to make music accompanied by a voice, to celebrate in song and music, sing forth praise. Used almost exclusively in the Psalms and occurs approximately 40 times in the Old Testament.
Psalm 57:7
Todah:
8426 To extend the hands in sacrifice of praise, or thank offering.
It is a confession of thankful praise inferring sacrifice. Used only a few times when in connection with thanksgiving.
Neh. 12:31,38,40; 2 Chron. 29:31; 33:16
Shâbach: (Shebach) To commend, address in loud tone, to shout, triumph.
(1 Chron. 16:35) An exclamatory form of praise, glory, pacify through words, to calm anger. In a special sense and is found about 7 times in the Old Testament.
Psalm 63:3
(Note that other words for “shout” are used with the exercise of praise.
Photo by Christopher Burns