The Happy Dance    

The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God which made David dance. C.S. Lewis

Have you ever had God bless you in such a way that you knew it was a blessing from Him and not the world?  When you get that kind of blessing it is like you want to do a happy dance.

Remember in 2 Samuel 6:13-16 when David brought the ark of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David.  David celebrated by dancing before the Lord with all his might.  David didn’t hold anything back in his expression of worship.  He danced with all his might.  This expression of David’s showed he had an emotional link or connection with God. 

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. And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing 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. 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. 2 Samuel 6:12-16

Later in this chapter Michal, Saul’s daughter looked through the window and saw King David dancing before the Lord and she despised him in her heart.  I think she despised him in her heart because she was ashamed to see him leaping and whirling doing a happy dance because she thought that it wasn’t dignified for the king to express his emotions to God.  I often have wondered why in verse 14 that they described what David was wearing; a linen ephod. 

I think what Michal objected to was that King David took off his royal robes and danced in the street in a simple linen robe just like everyone else in the procession.  He didn’t act like she thought a King should.  It was undignified for him to take off his royal robe and dance because he was acting like just another worshipper.

In verse 20 when David returns to bless his household, Michal sarcastically comments, “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!”

I love David’s response 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.  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 honor.” 

Why do we not find it odd when a football player dances in the end zone or a baseball player celebrates a home run, but we find it unacceptable for someone to express joy and dance for the Lord?  Is it because we can’t physically see God?  I think it is sometimes because we are ashamed to let others know that we worship an amazing God and we are embarrassed to express our love for Him in such a public way.   

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, there have been times in my life when I felt such joy in your presence that I wanted to sing and dance.  Help me to express those emotions and connect with You.  Others may think I am crazy, but You don’t.  When I see you at work in other people’s lives through healing or blessing, it reminds me of how truly Great You are.  I praise You forever and ever.  Amen. 

Scripture:  My Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His  wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!  Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, O seed of Israel His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones! 1 Chronicles 16:8-13

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, and the great King  above all gods.  In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also.  The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.  For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Psalm 95:1-7