Feb. 6th, 2012
So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres. But as the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him. I Chronicles 15:26-29
Following the debacle of almost dropping the Ark of the Covenant, and Uzzah being struck dead for trying to save it; David once again embarks on the task of finally returning the Ark to its rightful place in Jerusalem. Many preparations are made this time, and all care is given to insure its safe delivery. It is a glorious day – long coming – when this physical reminder of the presence of God is brought back to the city of God, by the people of God, under the direction of God’s anointed King, David. I wonder what it might have been like to be there. Sounds vaguely familiar to another Palm parade that would usher God’s only Son into his final week, and place in human history – but it probably looked more like a royal wedding processional on the crowded streets of Jerusalem.
David is overcome with joy and as the Choir, song leaders, and worship musicians lead the processional into the city; David breaks out into dancing, skipping about and laughing. In another retelling of this story it even says that David laid aside his priestly and kingly garb to dance naked before the Lord! Observing this scene from yonder window sill is David’s wife Michal, Saul’s daughter – and she is not happy. Maybe it was her husband’s nakedness on display for all to see that caused her such concern; but I think there might be another factor in her displeasure.
For decades before David defeated her Dad, Saul; religion and religious expression had grown cold in Israel. Ritual and traditionalism, and decorum and order had become the normal way for people to express their religious faith and fervor – now comes this upstart new King, with his crazy ways of worship, and Michal is distressed…and it makes me wonder…
Am I put off by other people’s expression of worship and praise and gratitude toward God? Do I take offense when someone raises their hands, or shouts amen, or sits quietly while others sing lustily? Do I find liturgical and traditional expressions of faith to be second class citizens alongside “contemporary” music, and free form worship? Do I take exception with drums and guitars and “pop” ular expressions of religious passion, preferring organs and pianos, and quiet contemplation? You see – there is no right or wrong way to worship – if worship is done in the Spirit of God, and is honest and heartfelt. And that too makes me wonder…
Am I willing to cast off whatever senses of “decorum” I might think proper and appropriate to express my heartfelt love and gratitude to God, for all God has done and is doing in me and my life? Am I willing to obey the Spirit, in spite of others objections, to “dance and laugh and sing and skip” before the God who made me, saved me, called me, and uses me? Am I willing to “play the fool” to show my love for God? Am I willing to dance naked before God – who hung naked before the world - to show Him how much He means to me – who showed me how much He loved me…? If God was willing to send his Son to die for me – could I at least clap along when the Spirit moves me – or at least not look with disdain on others if they choose to do so? David teaches us a great lesson about worship, and Michal does too…I want to be more like David and less like Michal.