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2 Samuel 6:1-5; 12b-19 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 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 people, 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.
There are different denominations for a reason. There are different churches within each denomination for a reason. Whether those are good or bad reasons, we'll leave that to God and you to decide. There are different styles of worship in each of those churches, and even within some churches there are different styles of worship. One common thread should run between all styles of worship: We gather to worship God. And if this passage serves any purpose at all it is to say that sometimes when we worship, we have to, as was the expression back in the day, "To let it all hang out." Worship should be a victory celebration of sorts. God's victory over sin and death, God's victory in us when we surround to God, and turn over to Him our sins and seek to enter into the fullness of life. And worship should be a joyous celebration with music that lifts our spirits high before the Lord. And sometimes that worship music may move our souls to just move back and forth, and in some cases, like David's, we just can't help ourselves as we truly and honestly dance before the Lord. And with good reason: The ark, long a symbol of God's presence, was making its way back among the people of God. An army of 30,000 was marching with it, a new cart had been prepared for it; the holy men of God were riding with it - it was like a Fourth of July in small town America with the loudest band and as many soldiers and veterans as that town can muster up, and folks gathered to see it and to be moved by it. But it was more than that; it was the symbol of a people of God returning to the symbol of God as a sign of hope and peace. And leading the parade was the king of Israel himself and as the scripture says, "David danced before the Lord with all his might." He held nothing back in his worship celebration; and while some would question his modesty, among them his wife, daughter of the old king; David danced as he believed and felt was right and joyous for him. The people were so caught up in the moment, they too, were about God and what God had done in their lives and I doubt many, except those not fully into worship, that paid any attention to David's attire (or lack thereof). Michal, Saul's daughter and David's wife "despised (David) in her heart." Worship continued and all, except Michal, were blessed by the day's events.
Our worship time should be between God and our individual self. Whatever moved us to worship should motivate us to live and celebrate in the way that is expressive of our love and praise to God. God has done so much for us that we should not keep quiet as we worship. Some churches even allow vocal "amens" to escape worshipers' mouths! And some churches actually allow expressions such as dancing; all that of does not matter if we are truly trying in our own way to worship God and give God thanks and glory for all that God does in our lives every single day. And our attention should be drawn, not to how others are dressed or not dressed, but to God. I'm old enough to remember that in some churches, the expected dress of the day for men was a coat and tie; those who dared enter without those were looked down upon and not welcomed. These days we welcome, in most churches, anyone regardless of how they are dressed, as it should have always been. This passage ends with a covered dish supper for all who gathered, and all went home blessed and satisfied that they had indeed been in the presence of God.
Dear friend, God loves you and has done so much for you, how can you not give God thanks and praise? I'm not saying you're not, but I am urging you to give God your all in every way that you possibly can. Our world needs to see us blessed and thankful to God and to be for those who do not yet know God the way that we can live in a genuine relationship with God.
PRAYER: Loving God, equip me to be. Equip me to love. Equip me to praise. And let me do it in ways that please You so that others may come to know You. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
