Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 96: David Danced

Good evening, everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful day. Or night, depending on where you are in the world.

Today I read 2 Samuel 4-7.

Several things happen in today's reading.

First, Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, is murdered. And the ones who did it, went to David, bragging about it, and declaring the kingdom his. David is just as angry about this as he was about the man who claimed to have killed Saul. And the men lost their lives.

So now, David is king over Judah and Israel. He is now 30 years old. He was 15 when God anointed him king. He had to wait 15 years for God's promise to be fulfilled. And his enemies fought him the whole way. Or, rather, I should say his Enemy. Now, I don't believe we can use "The devil made me do it," as an excuse. Because we all have free will and can make our own choices. But the Enemy does try to influence us.

So, all those people who came against David, God's anointed? Yep. Under the Influence.

But no one can stop God's plan for those who serve Him. So, David becomes king over both Israel and Judah.

The Philistines make war again, and David goes up to fight them, and God gives them into his hand.

And then David decides that the Ark of the Covenant needs to be back where it belongs. So he sends men to get it. They load it on a cart.

Uh oh.

Can anyone tell me why this is already wrong?

If not, that's okay. Just wait.

So, the Ark is loaded on a cart pulled by oxen. The Ark is underway when it is nearly knocked off the cart.

Uh oh.

And a man named Uzzah reaches out and grabs the Ark to steady it.

Uh oh.

See what's wrong with this part?

Keep reading.

Uzzah dies. God's anger was so kindled because Uzzah touched the Ark that he was struck down immediately. For irreverance.

Okay. I'll back up a minute and explain in case you didn't catch that.

Back when God was giving Moses laws, He had specific ones for how the Ark was to be handled: respectfully, with reverence. It was to be carried on two poles. Not placed in a cart to have a bumpy ride across terrible roads.

And no one was supposed to touch it directly.

I'm sure David knew this. And yet he still sent for it in such a disrespectful way.

Let me repeat that.

David sent for the Ark of God.

But his heart was in the right place. "Let me return it to its proper place."

So, after Uzzah's death, the Ark remains in the house of Obed-edom for three months, and his whole household was blessed.

So, three months later, David decides to get the Ark.

He goes personally, men are bearing the Ark on their shoulders properly, and David offers sacrifices to God along the way. Trumpets play and there is great shouting.

Much more respectful already, isn't it?

But one more interesting thing happens.

This is where David danced.

If you haven't heard that story, please go read it.

It's great.

I'll just give you the highlights.

David danced mightily before the Lord, in worship, as the Ark traveled along. He danced so hard that he danced his clothes off. Literally.

Now, his wife Michal saw it, and chastised him. David chastised her for her harsh words, but God made her barren all the rest of her days.

So that's the conclusion of this part. But let me get back to David's dancing.

David loved God so much that he wasn't ashamed to show it. He was so respectful the second time around but he wasn't afraid of messing up. He sacrificed along the way. The trumpets played. The people shouted. And David danced before the Lord.

David's focus was completely on worshiping and praising God. And he danced with complete abandon. So much that he danced his clothes off.

Can you imagine that?

Wait. Don't focus too much.

Sadly, I can't imagine it. I can imagine how it must feel to just be completely focused on God. But I can't imagine focusing with such abandon that I forget everything and everyone around me.

But one day I hope to. I want to worship God with such abandon that nothing and no one else around me matters.

How wonderful that would be.

And if my clothes come off because I dance too hard, fine.

Don't imagine that either. Please.

So, I hope you enjoyed this musing today, and that you'll join me tomorrow when I read 2 Samuel 8-12.