MAY 21, 2026-WAITING FOR PENTECOST #42 DANCE FOR THE LORD WHILE YOU’RE WAITING, EVEN IF PEOPLE SNEER AT YOU!
2 Samuel 6:12 Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration. 13 After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. 15 So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.
The Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines years earlier; however, eventually, God made things so difficult for the Philistines that they sent the Ark back to Israel. (The description of God’s attack on the Philistines is one of the earliest descriptions of bubonic plague.) When the first attempt to collect the ark ended in disaster, the ark wound up in the house of Obed-edom. King David did his research and realized that they had been far too casual about the way they had handled the ark in the past. Now the ark was being card by priests as God had decreed through Moses, and David and others were dancing before the Lord in celebration. But not everybody was thrilled with David’s performance.
Michal’s Contempt for David
16 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.
17 They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. 18 When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 19 Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes.
20 When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!”
21 David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. 22 Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” 23 So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.
Poor Michal! Michal was David’s first wife, given to him by King Saul after David’s victories on Saul’s behalf. (David had to kill 200 Philistines and bring in their foreskins to King Saul.) But when David had to flee, Saul gave Michal to a different husband. Michal wound up being traded back and forth, and meanwhile David married several other wives. But David demanded Michal return to him when he became king. Perhaps Michal was hoping to become the Queen, with more power than David’s other wives. All we know is that when Michal saw David whirling and dancing in the street, she was mortified. It’s likely that David girded up his loins before dancing, not exposing himself, but certainly donning his priestly garment much as he would a robe in which he would go to battle. Whatever David did, Michal sneered, feeling that David had made himself look foolish. Blessedly, David wasn’t worried about that, for he was dancing out of love.
It was the beginning of a YWAM Crossroads Discipleship Training School in Kona, Hawaii, in January 1998. Worship was starting; however, nobody was moving, or clapping. The music was eminently danceable. My husband and I looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders, and got out of our seats, dancing our way to the front of the auditorium. Were we expert dancers? No. But we had spent a decade in Ghana, where people always danced in church, and we felt that if we danced, someone else who was a trained dancer would be encouraged to join us. Soon, one of the other attendees who was a trained dancer came to the front and began doing wonderful interpretive dance. We quietly danced our way back to our seats, having broken the ice.
Here in Ghana, people dance in church regularly. We have found dancing to be a great means of relating to those around us, for nobody expects expatriates to dance at all or to dance well. We dance at weddings. We dance at funerals. We dance at other celebrations. When we join others in a circle, we share community in a way that cannot be surpassed. There have also been other occasions. Years ago, I was attending a West African College of Surgeons Annual Conference when a traditional music group began drumming. Some of my friends and I were dancing in our College robes when a distinguished looking gentleman, also in a College gown, entered the foyer. I continued to dance Asante adowa, only realizing later that I had been dancing for President John Kufuor, the President of Ghana. No wonder my friends had suddenly disappeared!
David danced before the Lord with all his might. We don’t know how well David danced, only that he danced enthusiastically. We can dance for God, knowing that He is smiling at our efforts. We don’t have to be graceful or perfect or even keep good time. God isn’t worried about perfection, for He sees our hearts and He knows when we dance out of love. So dance! Dance in your room where nobody can see you if you are afraid, but don’t let scoffers keep you from rejoicing in the Lord. Dance like no one is watching!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to rejoice in You and demonstrate our joy however You lead us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment