2 Samuel 6:20-22 David returned home to bless his family. Michal, Saul’s daughter, came out to greet him: “How wonderfully the king has distinguished himself today—exposing himself to the eyes of the servants’ maids like some burlesque street dancer!” David replied to Michal, “In God’s presence I’ll dance all I want! He chose me over your father and the rest of our family and made me prince over God’s people, over Israel. Oh yes, I’ll dance to God’s glory—more recklessly even than this. And as far as I’m concerned . . . I’ll gladly look like a fool . . . but among these maids you’re so worried about, I’ll be honoured no end.”

Just look at this interesting passage I came across in the Bible and its creative translation in The Message. I immediately wondered what was going on here.

Saul promised his daughter to David when he killed Goliath. However, Saul gave his eldest daughter to someone else. His other daughter, Michal, was head over heels in love with David and Saul gave her to him. It’s the same Michal who was being very sarcastic with David here.

David had the ark of the Lord brought into the city and he was overjoyed about it. He was not wearing his usual royal clothes, but a linen ephod like those worn by priests. Michal was not laughing at this. It was not “royal enough” in her eyes.

It didn’t fit her idea of power, status and dignity. That’s why she shamed him by calling him a scoundrel.

But David responded by telling her that he had danced for the Lord. He was not busy impressing people; he was honouring God. And then he went even further by saying that he was willing to stoop even lower by dancing in front of the girls she looked down on.

This almost sounds like mudslinging in a normal marriage, with the man being so slightly wilful. But David understood something about intimacy with God. True intimacy sometimes requires me to lay down my pride, image and status. Before God I don’t need to look big.

Listen carefully: closeness to God frees you from people’s opinions. When your heart is full of God, you can dance even if others don’t understand it.

Enjoy the dance, scoundrel …

Prayer
Lord, I dance before You for all Your blessings in my life. You are good to me and without Your strength and wisdom I run into walls, but with You in me I just want to sing and dance …

Questions
Am I more concerned about what people think of me than about what God thinks of me?
Do I still cling to pride or status and is that preventing me from serving God with all my heart?
Do I worship God out of love, or am I trying to impress people?

Do this now
Today, intentionally take time to worship God, even if it’s just for five minutes in your car or at home. Sing along to a hymn or thank Him out loud for His goodness.
Do something for God today without anyone else needing to know or notice you for it.
Later today, when you find yourself worrying about people’s opinions, remind yourself, “I live for God’s smile, not for people’s.”