Some time ago, I happened to visit a congregation where they seemed to regard dancing while praising the Lord as something negative. In fact, they even frowned upon clapping your hands while singing praises to the Most High.
I must confess, I find it very odd and inconsistent with what I've learned from the Scriptures.
Take for example King David, about whom the Bible says:
...he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Acts 13:22
When the Israelites brought back the ark of the Lord into the city of David, we read:
And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 2 Samuel 6:14
David didn't care about anybody or anything; he was dancing before the Lord. He was singing praises and leaping with joy, completely unaware of anything else but his desire to praise the Holy One of Israel.
Actually, the story continues to teach us a very serious lesson:
Verse 16 describes someone who was of a similar opinion to the people of the above mentioned congregation:
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.
In verse 20, she expressed her opinion to David:
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 to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
In verses 21-22, we read David's explanation to Michal:
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. 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 honour.
The Lord too was displeased with Michal's behavior, and punished her for criticizing David's delight in the Lord. Verse 23 informs us that;
Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
God desires our worship and praises. He delights in us when we lose ourselves in his glory, and praise him with all our heart, mind and soul!
I encourage you to ignore all the Michals, who try to tell you that you must remain "respectable" while worshipping and praising God Almighty; and when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon your heart, you should sing, dance and praise like David did!
You should praise our glorious Heavenly Father as if your life depends on it, forgetting all else, but your heartfelt desire to please him and worship him as he deserves!
Stay blessed, and stay tuned,
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