And as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart. (I Chronicles 15:29 ESV)
Fear Not… and Dance
In the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, one episode ends with a moving scene in which the parents, Hal and Lois, dance. In each other’s eyes, the two dance glamorously and skillfully. They twirl around the living room, eyes bright, bodies in sync, filled with winder.
Then the camera view changes, and we see Hal and Lois as they really are. Two disheveled, exhausted, clumsy middle-aged folk barely able to keep rhythm. The only wonder from this view is how they stay on their feet.
But they were not dancing for the camera. They were dancing for each other’s eyes, and THAT dance is the true dance. They did not care one bit what we thought of their ability, emotion, or presentation. They danced most honestly for each other’s eyes.
Poor Michal could not see David’s dance as it really was. David danced in worship of His amazing God. He danced gloriously for the glory of the presence of God returned to God’s people. He danced beautifully in response to the beauty of God’s goodness. David danced without restraint, because his awe and wonder were without restraint.
He danced for One set of eyes.
You dance, too. Even if your ‘dance’ is manifested in a facial expression instead of fancy footwork, dance because He is worth it. Even if you ‘dance’ is speaking with fanaticism and enthusiasm for what Jesus does in your life, dance because He deserves it. Even if your ‘dance’ is unabashed obedience to the One true Living God, dance because He loves it when you dance.
Even if your Michals laugh. Who cares?
Fear not, then dance.