Dancing King

Ask for raised hands

Who has ever been so happy they felt like they just couldn’t control themselves?

Maybe it was from winning a game, or getting a gift, or seeing someone you loved

Ask for description

How do you react in those situations?

Do you try to hide that emotion?

Do you just try to act tough and like it’s no big deal?

Or do you just own it, do you just celebrate like nobody’s watching?

Be willing to be fully joyful

Play is a GOOD thing

We often become so obsessed with looking serious or responsible that we ignore the ability to just have fun

One of the things I love most about being in the men’s choir at Baylor is that it is a place where you have over 100 grown men together, and none of us are afraid to just completely let loose and have fun

On the first day of class every year, we almost scare the new guys because of the huge hugs we give each other

Do any of y’all give huge hugs like that to your friends? Not worried what other people might say about that?

One year on tour, we literally found a playground and just went crazy on it

Being Mature DOES NOT EQUAL Being Boring

Describe what is happening earlier in 2 Sam. about how David has finally been able to bring the Ark of the Covenant into his kingdom

2 Samuel 6:14–22 ESV

And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing 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 horn. As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the 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. And 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 peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house. And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” And David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will celebrate before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.”

2 Samuel 6:

14, David danced with all his might

think about that, is there ever a time that you’ve been in such a celebratory mood that your response was to dance with everything you had?

Have you even ever danced with everything you had?

This is David, celebrating before the Lord, unashamedly dancing in front of all of his people

16

Michal is not only the daughter of Saul, but she is also David’s wife

The Bible describes her this way in this verse to show that in this moment she is showing that side of herself rather than her husbands humility before the Lord

Both Saul and David were strong leaders and celebrated warriors, but during Saul’s reign public worship like this had almost completely died out

17-19

Even though David has just won a magnificent battle over the Philistine Army, his celebration is for the Lord alone

He takes time to worship God, and makes sure the God takes back his rightful place in the most holy area of David’s tent

20

Michal is ashamed, because she feels like David has “lowered himself” to the level of the people, and she feels that is unacceptable for a king

21

David calls out this difference between the two of them

Michal is caught up in her fathers pride, but God chose David, in his humility, exactly because he didn’t have that pride

22

My favorite verse of the whole thing

David goes even further, saying that he will become even more contemptible, he will lower himself even further in her eyes, because in doing that he is raising himself up before the Lord

Which side are we normally on?

Do we allow ourselves to dance? Do we allow ourselves to be joyful before the Lord?

Ask for raised hands

Who in here has ever held back in worship because you were thinking about what someone else in the room would think?

THAT’S PRIDE

That is the exact same pride that Michal had

That is an unacceptable pride before our Lord

Where do you think our church is right now?

Not saying we need to all be dancing and going crazy every Sunday, but do you feel like everyone, starting with yourself, is being completely humble before the Lord in their worship? Or are they holding back for image’s sake

Going back to the main theme, God gives us emotions for a reason, and that includes happiness and joy

David was doing all of this because he got the ark back in it’s rightful place, which meant that he had God with him fully again

WE HAVE GOD ALWAYS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT

How exciting is that?

How much joy should that give us?

We should be celebrating like David every single time we get a chance to worship!

In conclusion, use that joy, use that emotion God gives and lean into it, if it makes you want to dance, dance, if it makes you want to sing, sing, if it makes you want to give someone a hug, give them a hug! Just make sure that you stay the David in this story, and don’t let your pride pull you back into being a Michal