Monday, April 15, 2013

Michal Looked Down on David

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.
2 Samuel 6:16

This fascinating story of David leaping and dancing with joy, tells us so much about David. He was a man of such passion, in all things. One gets the impression, from other scriptures that Michal loved David as a warrior, but despised him in his ecstatic moments.

They had an exchange of words with Michal rebuking David for his undignified behavior. One could wonder, why wasn't she down in the streets dancing along with David and the others? Maybe she was too "proper" for such an unbridled display?

Now I am rather reserved and never could dance at all. I am of the slow and steady type, though I do love zany humor.

There seem to be two types among the faithful--the ecstatic and joyful, and the "no-fun" thinkers. I mean, can you imagine Solomon getting up from his ivory throne and dancing?

Looks like we need them both. Though in my experience the dancers far out number the thinkers. Being a dancer has its dangers though. A person could end up emulating those dancing before the golden calf in the wilderness.

The story is told in 2 Samuel 6:9-23 that David told Michal off, to put it bluntly. He told her that his behavior was of the Lord. The passage concludes, And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death. So I do not rebuke those who dance and exalt.

But I remember that David, the dancer, advised his son to ask God for wisdom, not on how to dance.

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