2 Samuel 6:13-16 - After the men who were carrying it had gone
six steps, they stopped and waited so David could sacrifice an ox and a
fattened calf. And David danced before
the LORD with all his might, wearing a priestly tunic. So David and all Israel brought up the Ark of
the LORD with much shouting and blowing of trumpets. But as the Ark of the LORD entered the City of
David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw
King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she was filled with contempt
for him.
David took 30,000 troops with him to bring the ark of God
back to the City If David. He had not
been told to do so…but it just seemed right to him to have the presence of God
within the city where he would rule.
Perhaps he should have waited to retrieve it…for Uzzah was lost in the
move because he dared touch the holy structure…and David’s relationship with
one of his wives was damaged as well.
All the Bible tells us is that Michal looked down from her
window and saw the great celebration taking place…and she had contempt for
David in that moment. She greets him when he gets home with anger…and accusations
of exposing himself to young girls. Perhaps her words were not the best description
of David’s dancing and playing of instruments….but David does admit that his
dance may have looked foolish to anyone who did not understand the deep
emotions he felt for God as he praised him for allowing the ark to return to
Jerusalem.
This story reminds me that God allows us all to worship the
way our hearts believe is best. Whether
we dance…or run…or shout…or play instruments…or lift our hands in praise…or
quietly bow our heads in reverence…our hearts are totally lost in the worship
of our Lord….and his presence is felt in our lives…recharging us to go out and
share his love with others.
Michal did not understand David’s worship…because she did not
understand God. Her argument was doomed to fail from the beginning…as David was
still giddy from the closeness to God his worship had brought. It must have been lonely and miserable for
her the remaining days in the palace…for it says she remained childless because
she did not accept David’s way of worship.
I will admit that I used to be scared of going to churches
that were not Baptist….I wasn’t ready to accept the many other styles of worship in my head. God
has been teaching me how very wrong I was for ever thinking that the Baptist
faith had the only correct way to worship patented. He is softening my heart to
understand that worship is not about me…it is about him…and true worship
becomes a mix of the emotions within the hearts of the people present….and
dancing…and singing…and playing instruments…and shouting….and running…are all
acceptable…even required by the Lord to show our deepest love for him. I am
stretching my understanding of worship…and love to watch other people get lost
in the love of the Lord. I simply can’t
get enough church…and love going to different ones to see how they express love
to God.
Father…thank you for making each of us different creatures…so
we can enjoy the many different ways that people have learned to worship
you. Help me to never become like Michal….and
put limits on how others express their love for you. Let me worship you today with the other
friends that will gather at my church. …let us lose our selves in the worship
of your love for us…and praise you for all that you have done in our
lives. Let me enlarge my repertoire of
ways to revere you…and allow your spirit to speak power and wisdom into my
heart…so you can use it to help me do the work you have called me to do. Amen.
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