Learning to Dance the Hard Way

One of the things that David is known for in the Bible is when he danced before the Lord (2 Samuel 6, 1 Chronicles 13 – 16). The context of 2 Samuel 6:14 and 1 Chronicles 15:29 teaches an important lesson that David learned the hard way.

The Ark of the Covenant had been in a place called Kiriath-jearim, and David wanted to bring it into Jerusalem, the city of God. David loved the presence of the Lord and desired to be near the ark, where God’s presence dwelled.

It says in 1 Chronicles 13:1 – 4 that David consulted the commanders of thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and with every leader about this plan to bring the ark to Jerusalem, and “All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.” But David did not consult the LORD.

The next few paragraphs describe the disastrous results of a good idea but not according to the ways of God. It describes a great crowd, great music, great celebration, brand new equipment, full orchestra, but no Levites. And God’s word was very clear about who could handle and move the ark, and David knew God’s word, but was not following it.

Right in the middle of the great celebration the oxen that were yoked to the new cart carrying the ark, stumbled. Uzzah, who was driving the cart and was not a Levite, reached out his hand to steady the ark, and it says in 13:10, “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.”

It also says that David was angry with the LORD and was afraid of Him that day. This is the opposite of the phrase, the fear of the LORD, which describes great reverence and awe and worship. David wanted to avoid God that day. He thought that the great crowd, great music, great orchestra, new cart, great idea, and unity of the people would impress God. But God is only impressed with His word! And David was not worshiping according to the word of God. The lesson is telling with the popularity of the spectacular “worship” settings of American Christianity, which are now being exported into other parts of the world.

In 1 Chronicles 15:1 – 2, you read how David followed God’s word in moving the ark. Rather than the great parade of people moving the ark, only the Levites were there. All Israel gathered in Jerusalem waiting for it to arrive. When they arrived in Jerusalem with the ark there was a great celebration, with music, and instruments, and most of all, “…the Levites carrying the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.” 1 Chronicles 15:15. And David dance before the LORD with all his might! The great celebration had as much to do with doing things according to the ways of God as it did with bringing the ark to Jerusalem.

Today, meditate on what it means to worship according to the truth of God’s word. Of all the different ways that people worship God in the world, with what they have and with all their might, the real question remains: Is it according to the ways of God, according to the word of God? The Father is pleased when we worship Him in spirit and truth, according to His ways.

Tomorrow we will begin learning some of the ways of God.