2 Samuel 6:16, 20-23 – As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” 21 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me rulerover the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
King David was joyously, with abandon, leaping and dancing before God. He had musicians and singers there and we can be sure that David was singing at the top of his voice. This was the king of Israel and he didn’t even consider how he in his position as King should appear, he was fully celebrating the Lord and openly adoring him. V14 states that he and those who were with him were “dancing with all his might” V15 relates how they were giving themselves to abandoning the care of what others were thinking as they danced and shouted with the sound of the trumpets.
It is easy to believe that all of us can remember a time when we were so happy we jumped, and danced, and laughed and shouted with joy. Maybe as a child, or as an adult (hopefully as an adult and hopefully often!). We didn’t care who was watching or what the onlookers may be thinking. David did this celebrating the Lord. I can just hear him shouting to God “I love you Lord God” and “Thank you Lord” and “Oh precious God You are so amazing and so wonderful.” He wanted no encumbrances and took off his outer clothing to just dance and celebrate God with uninhibited glee! Praise God! Just thinking about it makes one want to start the celebration!
Family, have you done that. I don’t mean standing in church and in an orderly fashion clapping your hands and singing along with others and while even, maybe, a tear of joy running down your cheek. What we’re talking about, maybe in private or with others, is doing exactly what David did. Shouting “I love you” to the Lord at the top of your voice. Has the love, beauty, and wonder of God so overwhelmed you that you could not help but dancing and singing to the Lord. I have many times, and I still do. I’m sure many of you have. For those who have not, get together with some “exuberant” Christians, you know, ones like David, and dance in the Spirit, dance and sing and shout out love and appreciation to God. It is really wonderful! That’s what David did! This was not the only time He did. Consider Psalm 100, can you see just David shouting and singing and in that spirit, write this Psalm. Psalm 98 loudly reveals David celebrating in like manner. He is celebrating and reveling in His God! He wants everyone (all the earth) to “burst into jubilant song with music.” He wants “all the earth,” all of creation to join with Him in celebrating God. No wonder the Lord God described David as “a man after mine own heart!” Wouldn’t we all want the Lord to describe us in the same way?
Not everyone appreciated David’s celebration of the Lord. V16 states that Michal, David’s wife, had watched him from the window and did not approve. In fact, she despised Him “in her heart.” Wow! Michal later reveals, when she confronts David, that she thought David had not acted appropriate for a king. Family, we have many Michals even in our own congregations. If we loudly say “Praise the Lord” or “Amen” when the message of God through our pastors touches us, then will some think it awkward or inappropriate. When the worship leaders are pouring out their hearts to God to lead us in worship do we worry that if we sing too loudly, or lift our hands in praise to God, or even if we dance before God, that we will be judged? Family, I encourage us to love God with all that we are and to be free in our worship. Now, if we attend a more conservative church, then while we are in a service, let us follow decorum and keep the peace. But I encourage everyone to get together with other brothers and sisters and have a Praise The Lord party. Let’s get together with our dancing shoes on, or kick them off, and dance and praise God as we release our love and gratefulness to God. Let’s shout to the Lord! Let’s sing as loud as our spirit wants! If we can’t do it at our church, let’s get with others who want to also freely and with abandon praise God. Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Amen, just do it!
Now Family, I don’t want to give people an easy out, we should all freely praise God! However, as the “quiet” worshippers should not judge the more vocal worshippers, so should the more vocal not judge the quiet. We all come from different backgrounds. I know many, many quiet worshippers who love God as much, or more, than many more vocal worshippers. Let’s be comfortable letting each of us be whom God made us to be and praise God for each other. Is it possible for us to praise God side by side? I think so. Let’s not judge. Let’s just praise the Lord, freely, however God moves you. Let love and peace rule.
Blessings and love to all! Jesus set us free (John 8:26)! Let us celebrate the Lord! Be ourselves and allow others to be their selves. God made us all beautiful! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.