Day #279 - Undignified Reverence

The Presence - A Devotional for Living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder

“David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.””

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

Do you like to dance?

One thing I love about children is how much they just naturally dance when music comes on. When my children were growing up we had so many dance parties. Dance is a way to celebrate and enjoy life. Dance is even a way to worship the Lord. It seems that many Christians have become too dignified to dance and they are missing out on a chance to bring God reverence.

We might think that reverence and dance don’t fit together in the same sentence or in the same action. But King David exemplifies both reverence and undignified dance when He finally leads the people in the return of the Ark from Obed-Edom’s house to the City of David. David realized how blessed Obed-Edom was and he longed to get the Ark back. They realized that no one can touch the glory. There is a reverence required to come before “the Presence.” The Ark is carried this time and not pushed on a cart.

David is very intentional and He makes a sacrifice as they begin to carry the Ark. The people join David in celebration, shouts, the blasting of trumpets and dance. David dances in His linen ephod which is his undergarments. This deeply offends his wife Michal who is the daughter Saul. She is angry at her husband and David replies “It was before the Lord… I will become ever more undignified.”

David had a deep reverence for “the Presence” so much so that He wanted to show His full commitment and love to the Lord in a public way, even if he looked foolish. David may have looked a little crazy but he didn’t seem to care because he is crazy for His God. David was wholehearted and instead of being casual before the Lord, He was fully committed to honoring Him with every step.

David was not a perfect man. He had many faults and failures, but He loved God and His manifest presence maybe more than anyone in Scripture (besides Jesus Himself). When we reverence God, we should be willing to look the fool in our love for Him. God is worthy to be worshiped and praised with great celebration and humility. God’s presence and glory should set us to dancing. Like David, are you willing to become more undignified in your praise? May we not care about what others think but may we take every step in His presence with His glory and pleasure in mind.

Almighty God, You are worthy of my reverence and my celebration. I dance before You. I will become more undignified. You are worthy of a sold out heart that does not care what others think about my praise. Let me be intentional in my praise and bring You pleasure. In Jesus name, amen.