His Engaged Presence

1 Chronicles 16:8-13

There is just something special about gaining the attention of a loving adult. That adult may be sitting on the couch and even resting their eyes a bit, but if, as a kid, you could grab that gaze and steal their attention, it was a victory. When my cousins and I were growing up, we would create our own TV shows on my uncle’s camcorder and pull all the parents in to watch them. Basking in their attention is a forever memory type of experience. When David brought the ark into the city of the Lord, he was so filled with delight and overflowing with joy that his dancing and singing looked like foolishness. He wasn’t dressed like a king; he was leaping and dancing and exuding pure excitement. He was the child in front of their daddy on the couch singing and dancing away as though no one else in the world mattered, or even existed in that moment. It is at this moment we hear these words.

As we embark on the beginning of the holiday season, I would like for us to journey together through a deeper study on thankfulness. We will look today at how David responds when he catches the engaged presence of his God in that moment of pure joy and intimacy. The song David sings as a response gives us some good steps to take towards greater thankfulness and a more content heart in the Lord.

A Response of Invitation (v8)

David’s initial response to God was an invitation of thankfulness, bringing in others to delight themselves in the Lord as His deeds are shared. This includes song and celebration, activities to be done with great joy and merriment. Experiences like this call us towards action. We can’t keep quiet – in fact, in times like this, we scream from the mountaintops, paint on water towers, or hire a skywriter to proclaim our feelings for all to see. We can’t hold in love and gratitude like this. It must be shared. The movie Elf (2003) taught us that” the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” David shared, he sang, and he celebrated. This is where I think our Anglican church heritage tends to fall a little short. Our idea of singing from the mountaintops is a raised hand, but to many other cultures, a Sunday morning is filled with loud and boisterous song, dancing, laughing – a true celebration atmosphere. I’m by no means Pentecostal, and loud singing is not the only way to celebrate – but thankfulness for God’s attention on us should lead to action, either in song, in invitation, or in celebration. What made Coke what it is today was not the ads or the design, but people experiencing it and telling others about it. Word of mouth advertising makes a difference. If the experience is powerful enough, you can’t keep it in.

A Response of Desire (v10)

You also can’t keep to only 1. David realizes that one single moment is never enough in v10. Lays potato chips got the idea right, even if the focal point is wrong. “I bet you can’t eat just one!” One moment, one mountaintop isn’t enough. Ask anyone who has experienced that unbridled moment when they had God’s full attention on them and you will learn countless stories of them trying to get back to that spot. David’s formula for spending many moments in God’s attention is spot on: seek! Deuteronomy 4:29-31 promises us that if we seek God, we will find him. And just like any good romance, that’s not a one and done thing: it a forever relationship activity. Continual seeking of God is continual finding of Him and experience how amazing His presence is in your life. How?

A Response of Memory (v12)

David answers his own question in v12. How do we seek and find God continually? By remembering! Talk about Him, share the stories of what He’s done throughout history and in your life. Remember! This is the main reason that God instituted holidays to begin with – so that His people would remember His faithfulness to them. There is a saltshaker in my office, tipped and pouring out salt. This is to remind me that I should always be salt to those around me, a lesson I learned from my pastor. It’s a memory that is designed to keep me focused on who I am to be in Christ.

Next Steps

The key today is basic – thankfulness should move us to respond in action and keep us focused on Him.

1. Enjoy your experiences and be inclusive in your sharing of God’s greatness. Tell others!
2. Practice daily disciplines to keep focused on God.
3. Get a visual reminder, like the monkey, or saltshaker, or calendar event.

There is nothing better than catching the eye of the one you seek, and once you get it, you want to hold onto it forever. This is what a person looks like who is truly thankful for God in their life – they can’t get enough. How about you?