DANCE LIKE DAVID DANCED

This is the story of how God’s people related to The ark of God representing God’s Presence, Holiness and the Glory (1Samuel 5 to 7). At that time, God’s people disobeyed God’s commandments. The priests became corrupted. The Philistines attacked Isreal. The sons of the high priest Eli, Hophni and Phineas, who were also priests, took the ark of God into the battle, thinking that they can manipulate God’s presence for their advantage. But they lost the battle, and many died. God allowed the Philistines to capture the Ark and Eli’s sons died in the battle. The ark of God stayed in country of the Philistines for seven months. Their idol Dagon fell and broke his head. The people got sick with incurable diseases. The Philistines decided to return the Ark back to Isreal. They placed it on a new cart dragged along by two milk cows. They added some gold images as a trespassing offering and sent the Ark to Isreal. It arrived at Beth Shemesh, the border city in Isreal. Some people over there opened the Ark to look inside. For disrespecting the Ark, God killed 70,000 men in Beth Shemesh. The people wept and feared God, saying “Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? And to whom shall it go up from us?” (1Sam 6:20). They decided to bring the Ark to the house of Abinadab, a Levite, and consecrated Eleazar his son, to take care of it. It stayed there for 20 years. The people wept because they knew that they have grieved God. Prophet Samuel told the people to repent and destroy all their idols. The people obeyed. Then God gave victory to Isreal against the Philistines. The country was free again and hope was restored.

For all the time the Ark was in Abinadab’s house, King Saul ignored it (1Chr 13:3). This is a proof that he was not interested to worship God. But David was different. He loved God. Once he became King, David wanted to bring the Ark of God back to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1-23). Jerusalem became the capital of Isreal. David had a great motive. He wanted to make Jerusalem not only the political but the spiritual center of Isreal. The Ark of God was a wooden box completely covered in gold. God commanded Moses how to make it. It was 1,15 meters long, 0.68 meters wide and 0.68 meters high. On its cover, also called the Mercy seat, were two golden cherubim angels worshipping God. Inside the Ark were the 2 stone tablets with the Ten Commandments that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai, a jar of Manna and Aaron’s rod that miraculously budded as a confirmation of his leadership. The LORD dwelled between the two cherubim. The Ark represented the immediate presence and glory of God in Israel. David considered it a high priority to bring the Ark out of obscurity and back into prominence. He wanted Israel to worship God again, to be alive with a sense of the presence and glory of God.

The first attempt ended in tragedy. King David did not pray and did not study God’s Word on how to move the Ark. David gathered 30,000 soldiers, all the choice men of Israel, as an impressive convoy to bring God’s Ark to Jerusalem. They set the Ark on a new cart dragged by two oxen. That was against God’s specific command. The Ark was designed to be carried by men, not by animals. It had rings and special poles to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites from the family of Kohath. Even the Levites could not carry the Ark carelessly or touch it, lest they died. They had to cover the ark and carry it on their shoulders holding the poles made for it (Exo 25:10-22; Nu 4:15). By using a new cart, they imitated the Philistines. They assumed that God is impressed with the latest technology invented by ignorant men. They treated God’s presence as a secular organization where men are in charge. It was a terrible mistake. God did not want anything mechanical or man-made to carry the Ark. God’s presence was to be “carried” by the priests in their hearts. The Philistines got away with it because they were ignorant pagans, but God expected more from His people. They were to obey God’s word, not imitate unbelievers. Selah!

The distance between Abinadab’s house and Jerusalem was about 8 miles. Abinadab’s sons, Uzzah and Ahio, were excited to drive the new cart with the Ark on it. These were all Levites. Uzzah means “strength” and Ahio means “friendly.” To bring God’s presence to Jerusalem was a good thing but it was done in a wrong way. David and all Isreal were playing instruments and singing before the Lord. The praise was joyful and exciting. The problem was that none of it pleased God because it was in disobedience to His word. Lessons: Many people in the church are led by their emotions and not by the Holy Spirit. Much activity in the church is done in the strength of the flesh, with a friendly look, but without enquiring from God on how to worship Him. Many choirs imitate their favorites worldly singers. They say that worship was very “powerful”. They forget that worship is not done to please men. It is not entertainment. Worship belongs to God. If it is not done according to His Word, no matter the music, God is not pleased with it, and He will reject it. God’s things must be done God’s way!

When they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, the oxen stumbled. A threshing floor is where the chaff was separated from the wheat. Spiritually, there was a lot of chaff in this arrangement. God blew away the religious chaff at Nachon’s threshing floor. The oxen stumbled and the cart shook. Afraid that the Ark may fall, Uzzah stretched his hand and took hold of it. By human wisdom, that was a good thing. But this was strictly forbidden. God treated the action as disrespect towards the Ark. Immediately, the anger of Jehovah El Qaddesh was aroused. He struck Uzzah like with an electric shock and he died there. God’s Word says: “they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die” (Num 4:15). David wanted Israel to know God’s presence. God indeed showed up at Nachon’s threshing floor, but not in the way anyone wanted. Why did God strike Uzzah? What was Uzzah’s error? He did not know God! He took God’s presence for granted. He thought that it did not matter how they carried the Ark. Because the Ark stayed in his father’s house for 20 years, he became overfamiliar with it. He thought that God cannot take care of Himself and He needs man’s help to stand. He thought that the threshing floor with all the chaff on the ground was less holy than his own hand. He forgot that he is a sinner. He forgot that God cannot be controlled by men. He did not fear God! He was ignorant of God’s Word, the holiness and the glory of God! He paid for his ignorance with his life. Uzzah means “strength”. God rejects man’s strength. Salvation is God’s Work, and no man can share in God’s glory!

David became angry because of God’s outbreak against Uzzah. His anger was based upon confusion. He didn’t understand why his good intentions were not good enough for God. He said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” (2Sam 6:9). David knew it was important to bring the Ark into the center of Israel’s life. He wanted all Israel to be excited about the presence and glory of God, to worship God. But because of what happened to Uzzah, David became discouraged. He felt he couldn’t do what God wanted him to do. Later, David repented of his sin of ignorant anger and feared God. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (PV 9:10). David went back to the Bible where he discovered the right way to host and honor God’s presence. He found the answer in God’s word! Lessons: God cares about both our intentions and actions. We must study God’s Word to know God better!

For now, David took the Ark to the house of a man called Obed-Edom. He was a Levite from the family of Kohath (1Chr 26:1-8). This was the family that God commanded to carry and take care of the ark (Num 4:15). Even knowing that dishonoring the Ark leads to death, Obed-Edom gladly accepted the Ark into his house. He saw it as the greatest privilege. Together with his family, he decided to honor God’s presence. He acted in the same spirit as Joshua who said: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Josh 24:15). And surprisingly, the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household. Lesson: When God’s word is obeyed, and His presence is honored, blessings followed. God wanted the Ark to be a blessing for Israel, not a curse. The curse didn’t come from God’s heart but from man’s disobedience. King David was happy to discover that the Ark did not kill Obed-Edom, but it blessed him and his whole family. Through pain, David learned a big lesson. Jehovah El Qaddesh is jealous over His name, holiness and glory. No man can damage it and live. Fear God! If a man honors God, and worships Him with love, humility and faith, God blesses him. Obed-Edom and his family became spiritually and financially prosperous. Based on Obed-Edom’s testimony, King David is now encouraged to take the Ark to Jerusalem. This does not mean that David is jealous of Obed-Edom and wants to take away his blessings. To carry the ark to Jerusalem was the original purpose for the Ark, so that all people can worship God and be blessed by Him! Obed-Edom later became a gate keeper to the Tabernacle. He was truly a humble man that God blessed (1Chr 16:38)!

So, David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. This time, David does not use soldiers. He uses the Levites and priests, anointed to worship God! He offers animal sacrifices all the way. He is careful to do everything right this time. David called the priests and the Levites to prepare themselves and to carry the ark on their shoulders, by its poles, as God commanded Moses. David removes his crown and royal robes to humble himself before God. He uses the white linen ephod as a priest. He gladly dances before the LORD with all his might. David’s style of dance, in Hebrew, is called “karar”. It means to dance by spinning around. David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with singing, shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. David was happy to know that God’s presence and glory could bring blessings instead of curses, that when people obeyed God’s Word they were blessed. The second attempt to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem was successful. Once they carried the presence of God in the way God wanted it, the worship became joyful, with singing and dancing. Lessons: The Ark is a symbol of God’s heaviness, His burden. God wants His presence to be carried in the hearts of consecrated believers! Praise and worship should not be sad or dull. Praising God is done with joyful singing and dancing! The great blood animal sacrifices on the road to Jerusalem were a symbol of the Cross. Jesus shed His blood and died for the reconciliation between God and man, making peace. He is worthy of all Praise!

David was glad to bring God’s Ark to Jerusalem. After many years – since the Ark was lost in battle – the Ark was returned to the tabernacle made by David. The emblem of God’s presence and glory was set in its proper place in Israel. Later, King Solomon, David’s son, builds a majestic temple for God and sets the Ark in the Holy of hollies, where it belongs. David danced before the LORD with all his might. He didn’t hold back anything in his own expression of worship. He didn’t dance out of obligation or to impress men, but out of heartfelt worship. David’s emotional expression showed that he had a genuine spiritual connection to God. Few believers know how to worship God the way David did. There are two major errors in this area: some believers are led just by their emotions. They sing and dance in the flesh, to feel good or to impress others. The second error is to suppress all emotions, to worship God in a cold religious manner. They forget that people shout, sing and dance when their favorite football team scores a goal. They do not feel strange to freely express their emotions. “David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod” (1 Chr 15:27). David was dressed just like the priests and Levites in this procession. He set aside his royal robes and dressed simply, just like everyone else in the procession. Lessons: Worshipping God is man’s greatest freedom of expression. Worship stops self-pity to honor God. Worshipping God changes us! We worship God freely and joyfully, in Spirit and in Truth!

At last, after this day of great victory and celebration, David came home to bring a blessing to his own family. Most people appreciated their king worshipping God in this extravagant manner. But David’s wife, Michal, was not pleased. She despised him in her heart. She felt it wasn’t dignified for the king of Israel to express his emotions openly in public. She did not participate in worship outside. She chose to stay inside, looking through the palace’s window. She was a spectator, not a worshipper. She was a proud princess, king’s Saul’s daughter. She thought that David disgraced himself by removing his royal robes and crown, mixing with ordinary people on the streets, and dancing like a common man. She did not know God or her husband. To David, nothing else mattered than to worship God. He was happy that God showed him favor and allowed him to bring God’s ark to Jerusalem. Michal welcomed him with bitter words saying: “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” She interpreted David’s act of worship as seducing the women on the streets. After such a great celebration, these angry words could have spoiled the mood for David. But David refused to become disappointed. He simply explained the truth: “I did it for God, not for you, and not for any human being!” His conscience was clear. He insisted that his dancing was not entertainment, but it was worship to God. David reminded her that God appointed him king over God’s people in place of her father. That she has no reason to be proud based on her family background. David says that he will humble himself even more in the future. Therefore, we are told that Michal had no children to the day of her death: Michal’s barrenness was the result of Divine judgment. It is possible that David never had marital relations with her again. Nevertheless, the principle stands: there is barrenness in the life and ministry of those who are bitter, fault finders and grumblers against the worshippers of God. Be careful with your attitude once you come to the house of God. Selah!

There are many lessons for us in this story. David humbled himself by dancing to God in public. This dance shows David’s heart of worship. He is a type of the New Testament royal priesthood in Christ. Once the Ark was placed in the Tabernacle David has prepared for it, people came to worship God. In the Tabernacle of Moses, the people could not see the Ark. It was hidden in the Holy of Holies. But now, David opened the door for all people to come and worship God. That is the New Testament access that we have by the Blood of Jesus! For the first time ever, David instituted music day and night to worship God. He invented musical instruments and composed songs of worship. This is God’s revelation! God loves to be worshipped with all our hearts, with music and dancing. God’s presence judges the unrepentant sinner and blesses those who worship Him with all their hearts. You pray that you want to see God’s glory? If you live in unrepentant sin, that prayer is dangerous! In the New Testament, God does not kill people like the way He killed Uzzah. But God’s Spirit can be grieved, and He can withdraw from a backslider, a family or a church. If you want to know God and to worship Him, then purify your heart from sin and pray for the Grace to love God with all your heart. Do not imitate the worldly singers! Do not listen to secular music! King David has joined the worship team. No king has ever done that. It is not entertainment. It is true worship. This is the power of humility in leadership. God judged Michal because she had the same spirit as her father, King Saul. Despising worship and worshippers, it ends in spiritual and physical bareness. Here we see the danger of pride in church leadership. The Word of God must be faithfully preached in the Church so that the believers know God’s will how to worship Him acceptably. Worship the Lord!

WORSHIP GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jn 4:23, 24)

God is spirit. He is real but He is an invisible Person. Worship is not just a religious ritual but a fundamental response to God’s presence and actions. God seeks worshippers who worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. To worship God in the Spirit means that you are saved, that you connect with God in your spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in the believers’ human spirit (Rom 8:9). In the Old Testament, God’s Law was written on the tablets of stone. Now, for the believers in Christ, God’s Law is written in their hearts. It is internal, spiritual. Worship starts from the spirit part of man and manifest thru his emotions and the actions of his body. Worshipping God in Truth means sincerity, true love and in accordance with God’s Word, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The more you know God’s Word, the better you can worship God! Both elements of worshipping God, in spirit and in truth, cannot be separated. Jesus provides both the truth (His person and teaching) and the Spirit (at Pentecost) so that worshipers can meet the standard He announced. The early church understood worship as Spirit-empowered, Christ-centered, and Truth-anchored. God commands us to worship Him. He “seeks” the true worshippers. True worship is sought by God. It is spiritual. There is no need for a particular place to go to. It is done by power and leading of the Holy Spirit. In fact, without the Holy Spirit worship is boring. In the Old Testament, worship was complicated. Animals must be sacrificed, incense must be burnt etc. But now, true worship is simple. Be born again! Be Spirit filled! Love Jesus with all your heart! Dance like David danced! Worship the Lord!