Dancing Before the Lord: A Heart Postured in Worship
"And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD." - 2 Samuel 6:21
The scene painted in 2 Samuel 6:21 is one of profound significance and profound emotion. King David, the newly appointed ruler over Israel, is reveling in a moment of ecstatic worship as the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God's presence with His people, is returned to Jerusalem. The verse reads: "And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD" (2 Samuel 6:21 KJV).
This moment is not just about a king’s joyful display; it encapsulates the essence of true worship and the identity of the one who worships. David's exuberant dance before the Lord contrasts sharply with the restrained judgment of his wife Michal, who gazes down from her window and disdains his actions. In David's response to Michal, we find layers of theological truths and practical applications that resonate deeply with us today.
Firstly, David acknowledges that his kingship is not a mere result of human choice or lineage. He declares, "It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house" (2 Samuel 6:21). Here, David is establishing a critical truth: true authority and leadership come from God. In a world where status, power, and prestige are often sought after for personal gain, David reminds us that God is the one who appoints leaders for His purpose. When we recognize this, our understanding of our roles and responsibilities shifts from a place of pride to one of humility. We are called not for our glory but for His purpose—to lead, to serve, to worship.
As David continues, he emphasizes his relationship with the Lord: "therefore will I play before the LORD." This statement can be seen as an invitation to us all. David's joy in the Lord compels him to act in a manner that might seem foolish in the eyes of the world, but is wholly appropriate in the presence of God. His dance was not about seeking applause but rather, a genuine expression of his worship. He acknowledged that nothing could hold him back from celebrating the greatness of God. In our worship, are we sometimes held back by societal norms or our own inhibitions? David’s dance teaches us that worship is an overflow of a heart that deeply recognizes and responds to God’s goodness and faithfulness.
Moreover, the phrase “before the LORD” appears twice in this verse, underscoring the importance of the audience before whom David’s actions are performed. This speaks volumes about our motivations in worship. When we engage in worship—whether through music, prayer, or service—who are we primarily performing for? Is it for others’ approval, or is it aimed solely at glorifying God? David recognized that his heart was fully on display before God, and that fuels a genuine worship experience.
Worship should stem from a place of understanding and reverence for who God is and what He has done in our lives. It is a response to His choosing us, just as David recognizes that he was set apart by God. As believers, we too are chosen, royal priests, a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). What does that mean for our worship? It means we have every reason to rejoice and celebrate, irrespective of the circumstances around us.
In conclusion, 2 Samuel 6:21 challenges us to examine our own hearts: Are we worshiping before the Lord with abandon like David? Are we aware of our identity as those whom God has chosen? As we reflect on these questions, may our worship rise not from obligation, but from the joyful recognition of God’s presence in our lives. Let us play, dance, and worship before the Lord with all our heart, for He has chosen us to be His people.
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2 Samuel 6:21 - "And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD."
"And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD." - 2 Samuel 6:21
2 Samuel 6:14
2 Samuel 21:6 - "Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them."
2 Samuel 6:14–22
2 Samuel 21:21 - "And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him."
2 samuel 23:8-21
1 Samuel 6:21 - "¶ And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you."
2 Samuel 5:21 - "And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them."
1 Samuel 2:21 - "And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD."
2 Samuel 21:11 - "And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done."
2 Samuel 13:21 - "¶ But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth."
2 Samuel 21:22 - "These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants."
2 Samuel 6:1 - "Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand."
2 Samuel 6:23 - "Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death."
1 Samuel 21:6 - "So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away."
2 Samuel 6:6 - "¶ And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it."
2 Samuel 22:6 - "The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;"
2 Samuel 22:21 - "The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me."
2 Samuel 19:21 - "But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?"
2 Samuel 21:18 - "And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant."
2 Samuel 21:13 - "And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged."
2 Samuel 21:7 - "But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul."
2 Samuel 18:6 - "¶ So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;"
1 Samuel 2:6 - "The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up."
2 Samuel 24:6 - "Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon,"
2 Samuel 6:14 - "And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod."
2 Samuel 21:5 - "And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,"
2 Samuel 6:9 - "And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?"
2 Samuel 18:21 - "Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran."