There’s A Story Behind My Praise

14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.  16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! 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. 22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor.
– 2 Samuel 6:14-16, 20-22

Good day my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I shared this Word with the saints here at HTC and it blessed us – maybe it will help someone else.

It never ceases to amaze me how the people of the Lord are constantly seeking ways to assist us in worshipping and praising God. We quote songs like, “When I think of the goodness of Jesus…” or “I can dance, dance, dance all night,” or we say things like, “God is good, all the time…” Yet we still need props or aid to help us in worship.

So we have created or added things to our services to “help” us praise the Lord: praise and worship teams, praise dancers, flag wavers, masters of ceremonies and expeditors who spend an inordinate amount of time telling us they’re not there to “pump and prime us,” but that’s what they’re doing! Even I am guilty of instructing the people, “…tell your neighbor” or “…get somebody by the hand.”

In our text we see that David danced before the Lord with all his might. In fact, he danced and worshipped so that his clothes fell off and his wife, Michal, despised him. Even in his exalted and honored position as king, David certainly didn’t need anyone to help or tell him to praise God. Why? Well let’s look at the Ark of the Covenant and why having it in his possession would bring David so much joy and reason to praise God.

The Ark was symbolic of God’s presence. You may be familiar with accounts of the army of Israel winning battles because the Ark was with them, or of the Philistines returning the Ark to Abinadad because their god, Dagon, had lost his head and hands.

Upon ascending to the throne, David sets out to retrieve the Ark from Abinadad (isn’t strange that King Saul never attempted to get the Ark) – but doesn’t follow God’s instructions on how to transport the Ark. Because of David’s poor leadership, Uzzah dies when he tries to keep the Ark from falling from the Ox cart. An angry David decides to send the Ark to Obed-Edom’s house.

After three months of hearing of the blessings flowing from Obed-Edom’s house, David decides to retrieve the Ark and this time he follows the instructions God gave Moses on how to carry the Ark. He is so happy, he worships God in dance and praise. But why did his wife despise him?

Once upon a time Michal loved David. Although her father gave her to entrap David, she saved David’s life. Then for spite, Saul gave Michal to another man – Lacish. From there it appears as though David and Michal’s lives take two very different paths.

Michal is living with Lacish who obviously lacked certain husband qualities (remember when David returns to claim Michal and Lacish walks behind crying for her not to go?). David on the other hand spends his days on the run from King Saul; first Ahimilech, then Acish. He was almost stoned by his men at Ziklag and he was chided by Abal. David seemed to have obstacle after obstacle. However, God had brought him to this point where he was now king over all of Israel.

Can you see David now?  He probably remembered:

• Being chosen and anointed by Samuel to be king over his brothers;
• Being chosen to play his harp to calm the king;
• Killing the bear when it attacked his father’s sheep;
• Killing the lion when it attacked his father’s sheep;
• Killing the giant Goliath when he defied the army of Israel and blasphemed David’s God;
• Being led by God to the little boy who informed him of the location of the army that had taken his family from Ziklag and then recovering all; and
• Failing to follow instructions on how to handle the Ark and mishandled God’s anointing; in anger giving away God’s anointing, but then given another chance.

Is there any wonder why David praised God so mightily?

My dear friend, only you know where the Lord brought you from. Like me, you have probably been delivered from things that might be a little embarrassing to share. Perhaps you have overcome something that is a little private. Maybe your story is so awesome and improbable that no one would believe you – it doesn’t matter.

Don’t let anyone measure or dictate you worship to God!! If they believe you are too emphatic, so what? If they feel you are too loud, who cares? If they feel you are too demonstrative, oh well. Remember the old song, “You don’t know like I know…” What they fail to understand (as Michal did), there’s a story behind your praise!!

I bless you in the name of the Lord!!

Pastor Eddie B Pruitte, Jr.

One final thought: could it be that David dancing with all his might until his clothes came off is symbolic of us dancing and rejoicing until “things” fall off of us – depression, fear, low self esteem, bitterness, strife, etc.? Something to think about – and then start to praise Him!