Dance

Readings: Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; 2 Samuel 6:12-19; Hebrews 1:5-14

It was told to King David, “The Lord has blessed the household 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 rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, and distributed food among all the peoples, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes. [2 Samuel 6:12-19, NRSV]

Unseemly. Dancing in the street in a less than regal outfit was not what a king was supposed to do. Of that, Michal was certain. Her new husband was embarrassing himself and her with his unorthodox leaping and shouting. She despised him for it. Kings weren’t supposed to act that way; a certain decorum was expected when appearing before the people. But David wasn’t dancing for the audience gathered in the street. He was dancing because he was in the presence of God.

When you experience the sheer joy of being alive and in God’s presence, measured words and slow steps just won’t do. It doesn’t matter where you are. It doesn’t matter whose eyes are on you.

It’s time to dance!

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