“Dance Before the Lord!”
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 13-19 (6:14) – July 14, 2024
The wise theologian (and humorist) Erma Bombeck described an experience she had years ago in church. “A row or two in front of her sat a mother with a normal five-year-old boy, which means, he couldn’t sit still. As he squirmed and looked over the pew at those behind him, he was smiling. Then Erma heard the mother sternly whisper, “Stop smiling! Don’t you know that we’re in church?” [1]
Our Bible reading this morning talks about how a large crowd behaved when they were at worship, including their leader, their King David. How different would this reading be if God’s people decided to be all stern, and stiff, and poker-faced when they came to worship? Can you imagine a stern, stiff, solemn service at this time? Or, is this joyful, musical, dance-filled procession from 2 Samuel pleasing to the Lord? Which service could you see yourself in?
Let us listen again to a part of this reading: “David and all the Israelites were dancing and singing with all their might to honor the Lord. They were playing harps, lyres, drums, rattles, and cymbals. 15 And so [David] and all the Israelites took the Covenant Box up to Jerusalem with shouts of joy and the sound of trumpets.”
I cannot even begin to imagine the joy and exuberance of this procession! But, why so much excitement? For that, we will need to go back several chapters. Some while before, the enemy Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant, God’s Covenant Box, and brought it back to their territory. Except, things did not go well for them. Their priests told the Philistine king that they needed to send the Covenant Box back to Israel! So, they did, and through some adventures King David and the people of Israel finally brought the Covenant Box back into Jerusalem.
This was a rocky number of months, for the people of Israel! Losing the Covenant Box, the Ark of the Covenant, was devastating for Israel. “This was the most holy object God’s people had. The [people of Israel] had carried it as they walked through the wilderness and kept it in a special tent in the center of their town. Image how they felt when the Philistines captured it and carried it off to their country AND how they felt when they felt when they got it back.” [2]
This priceless Box was not only a beautiful, holy and precious artifact, this Covenant Box signified the very presence of God. Just imagine the rejoicing as King David and tens of thousands of Israelites danced, sang and played music as they brought the Ark into Jerusalem!
To the people of Israel, the Covenant Box was an important object, telling a story. The Ark of the Covenant “points to the larger narrative of God’s delivering the people from slavery and divine guidance into the promised land. It reminds the people of this salvation history and of the nearness of God’s Presence with them always. It provided continuity from the time of Moses to the present moment described in 2 Samuel 6.” [3]
In this chapter from 2 Samuel, God’s Covenant Box signaled God’s Presence among the people – all the people. What is more, this signified God’s promise to them! As you and I come together in our worship service today, what symbols, objects or stories help us to worship? Which of these help us to have “eyes to see and ears to hear” God’s Presence among us today? Which help us to praise and worship God, even to sing and dance before the Lord in thanksgiving?
I know I preached on this reading three years ago, and I asked then, have you ever been to a worship service where people praised the Lord in all kinds of ways? More than singing hymns and worship songs. I mean, playing all kinds of instruments, dancing before God, and other kinds of artistic expressions.
Perhaps you have just been to worship services where there were piano and organ – and nothing else. Do you know that in a great many worship services across the world today drums are the chief instrument of praise? Drums and the human voice, the beat of human feet and clapping of hands make a joyful noise to the Lord across many cultures and in many countries today. Christians from those worship services might feel really strange if they came to a solemn service like ours where no one was actively praising God and dancing in the aisles!
We are left with a question: how do you and I respond to God’s holy Presence? We can see that King David and thousands of his people danced before the Lord “with all their might!” Pianos and organs are wonderful musical expressions, and so are praise bands and bluegrass bands and full orchestras and all kinds of percussion! Exuberant joy and dancing in the aisles is certainly a wonderful response to God! [4]
But, that is only one way. God may instead call us to quiet contemplation, or sometimes bold action. We are not required to only worship God in church buildings! No, God can be worshiped in the mountains, on the beach, or in a park. And, sometimes things can be new and different for each of us, to allow our hearts to worship in new and different ways.
Today we can connect to God’s Presence in ways that are significant and touch the heart and soul, that are meaningful to each of us – and celebrate others for connecting in ways that are meaningful and soulful to each of them! Whether dancing and leaping, praising in loud voices, praying quietly, singing hymns and songs, drawing and painting, making banners or wall hangings. We humans have a multitude of ways to come before our God!
How does God respond to all these different types of worship, whether quiet and solemn, or joy-filled and exuberant? I go back to Carolyn Brown’s excellent commentary where she mentions the children’s tune “Hokey Pokey” “to explore the truth that we have to put more than just our left hand or our right foot in [to worship]. We must put our whole selves into worship, life, prayer, everything.” [5]
Sometimes these simple, straight-forward ways are the best ways. Put our whole selves into worship, life, prayer, everything. That’s how to honor, praise and enjoy God the best.
And, the Lord is so pleased when God’s people come together to worship! Praise the Lord!
(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!
[1] https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-7-worship-joyful-celebration-2-samuel-6
[2] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/06/year-b-proper-10-15th-sunday-in.html
[3] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-15-2/commentary-on-2-samuel-61-5-12b-19
[4] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-15-2/commentary-on-2-samuel-61-5-12b-19
[5] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/06/year-b-proper-10-15th-sunday-in.html
Pastor, Preacher, Pray-er 