Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. (2 Samuel 16: 14)
Let me set the scene. The Ark of the Covenant, built as a symbol of God’s presence and glory, had been lost and forgotten for some seventy years. Kept in the house of Abinadab, David sought to restore the Ark to the city of Jerusalem, so that all Israel could worship the Lord in one place.
It was one of his long dreams, one of his passions, to have the Lord’s people have a place to worship Him and remember His covenant with them. It seemed that every obstacle possible was being set in the path of this dream, and for a while he was even worried that he would not be able to bring it to the City of David.
But finally the day had arrived. After the long months and struggles, the Ark had finally arrived in Jerusalem! And David, in great excitement and in thanks and praise for the Lord, leaped and danced. He didn’t care that he could have looked ridiculous, his main concern was show his thanks and worship to Him who had blessed David.
Remember that at this time that David was King of all Israel. Some would even say that this was not behavior suited for a King, that he was ridiculous and undignified. But David did not care. This was worship without limits, something he was offering up to His Lord out of an overflow of love and gratefulness for the goodness of God. Nothing would stop him, not the people who thought he looked silly, or even his self-consciousness.
How amazing it is to worship in this way. Without reservations. Without limits. Without a care in the world except to show the proper worship to the One who deserves everything we have to give.
Have you ever experienced this kind of worship and gratitude? What holds you back from this kind of expression of faith and worship? Can you worship like this in public? Do you worship Him like this in private?
May the Lord bless us all with the faith and heart to be able to dance as David danced!
Yes it’s very wonderful to praise the Lord God with dance. but most of the time I, myself can’t afford to praise him in public, it’s like I feel strange when I do it in public. so I’m learning how to do it.
Thank you very much for sharing…
Be blessed
dear Innocent…..HE MAKES ME BRAVE!!! and He will do that for you if pursue Him like He pursued you….
There’s a time to praise the Lord in private and in public
When your in a public area just thank the Lord for everything that he does for. Ignore everything that’s going on around you and just “let go and let God”
Yes, I remember praising and worshipping god on lunch break at work. I thanked the Lord for a early retirement not realizing what I had said. The next year retirement opportunity came up and I grabbed it. What a mighty god we serve.
i always do it even in public i dnt care what pipo tink,tho it looks as if i have gone mad,but when one pays attention to the song or praises,one can tell ,its all about God,you have no sense of shyness,its so overwhelming,awesome
@mary, hi Mary, this has happened to me as well. But who cares what people thinks.
At one point in my relationship with God the Honeymoon period) I just didn’t care. I conspicuously praised and danced for Him anywhere in the streets. I really miss that. Now, I am much more reserved. Thanks so for this article, a great reminder to shout from the rooftops how good He is.
I would like some information where i can find in the Bible the difference about the old law and the new law and what we are to be following. I have alot of confusion about this. If you could help I would greatly appreciate it. Bible references, good book I could buy……Thank you and God Bless
Go to John chapter 13:34, in fact read the whole book of John to get a better understanding. I love Jesus ohhhhh he is the most beautiful gift that ever happened to mankind. Study to be approved of God.
i realize you left this comment in 2016, but i feel compelled to answer you. I’ve been reading the bible for over 45 years. The entire book of Hebrews explains to us that Christ nailed the Old Law to the cross, therefore we do not go back to the Old Law to find out how to worship. Christ ushered in the New Law with His blood. When we read the New Law or the New Testament (Matthew – Revelation) we find out how we are to worship today. Otherwise, we would still need to be offering animal sacrifices, keeping the Feasts, building altars, sprinkling blood everywhere. But Jesus came and gave us a better law based upon better promises. I do not believe we are supposed to dance to the Lord in our worship. This was David dancing before God BECAUSE the ark was brought back into Jerusalem not during temple worship. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with dancing because we’re happy and thanking God… but not in worship. I know…. this will not be taken well. I try to read the bible with logic and good hermenuetics. :))
I don’t think the author is trying to direct us back to the OT for instructions on how to worship in a public setting. He mentions nothing of animal sacrifices and feasts. He is referencing David, a man after God’s own heart, and an instance where he was recklessly praising God. We should be praising God every single day, not just first day of the week. There’s nothing wrong with the author encouraging us to recklessly praise God everyday of our lives. And if I may speak in love, when you end a comment with a statement that you read the Bible with logic, it insinuates that the author does not. We, in the church, have to be more careful to show love with our words and not appear judgmental. Grace and Peace.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. Dancing is free expression of abandon joy. And God wants us to worship him in abandonment.
Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Not to be rude but to be theologically correct. You are assessing it from your carnal woman not from your spirit joined with the Holy Spirit. Be free in your spirit unto the Lord.
Study King David and the Temple he built. A great model for modern worship
@Gordon Tippett, Wow. Someone doesn’t agree about dancing in church service and you call them carnal?
Also, did not Paul say that just because we have liberty in Jesus, it does not mean everything we do is right?
I’m with Becky on this one. If the Bible says women should dress modestly (not covered in fancy jewels or have fancy hair) because it distracts from the message given, then how would dancing not be considered a major distraction?
Show me a place in the Bible where worshippers DANCED during temple worship. David did not dance during temple worship. He was outside on his way through the gates of Jerusalem. You could even say it was an archetype/foreshadow of the triumphal entry of Jesus.
@Beckie Barnes, a new covenant but with the same God who loves for us to 1. Sing praises to him with gladness, and dancing is a form of expression that can express JOY in him (the Holy one). It’s still okay to dance before the Lord when you know that he has saved you from so many things. One way to show your Love for God as it’s still a commandment to Love the Lord thy God is to give thanks! Some people leap, some people dance, some people sing, some do all three. But whatever you do, always give thanks unto the Lord because he’s worthy of the praise.
God is so wonderful that u have to praise & worship him in ridiculous or madness way weather is in public or privite u have to done it because he deserve it . I dont know why people become so gentle in the presence of God ,look the whole king Devid (the apple of the Lords eyes)was ridiculous in the presence of God how much U & I. In short i will advise all to stop gentility in the presence of God & worship & praise him like King Devid did. God bless u.
I love to praise dance but when I have to praise dance in front of the congregation I get very nervous my heart is beating fast and start to break out in ball of sweat! I have to get my eyes off of people and don’t worry about the naysayers and just dance before the lord with all of my might. I know that God didn’t give us the spirit of fear but of love peace and a sound mind. May the lord give me the strength because all the Glory belongs to him!
Praise the Lord Judah Praise! You sound like a worshipper at heart! It so beautiful to worship the Lord! I love to praise and worship the Lord with all my heart. It is written that the Lord is seeking those who will worship Him in Spirit and Truth. One service as we were worshipping I felt so much joy in my heart! And the Lord said “Dance for Me. I gave you that joy. Remember at the old church. Dance for me here.” I said ok Lord and moved to the altar and twirled and jumped across the altar. I felt like an angel dancing! I get like you when I’m “put on the spot” sorta speak. I believe I’ve been called to preach or evangelise. This week the Holy Spirit has been helping me to step out of fear and open my mouth to share the gospel. The more the Lord set up divine appointments the racing of my heart and sweating lessened. When the Lord places something in your heart, trust Him and do it. Your decision to dance that moment will please the Lord and encourage someone else to joyfully dance for the Lord. May you be a vessel the Lord will shine His light, love and truth through always. Have fun dancing for the Lord and a blessed New Year! God Bless
I pray that you receive this in love. The scripture reference at the top of the page is incorrect. It should be 2 Samuel 6:4; It looks like it was clearly just a typo. I’m not trying to be picky but we must be clear when sharing the word of the lord as to not deter or confuse new & old believer and also not to leave a foot hole for the devil to come in and reek havoc. Great Commentary though! I’ve been a praise dancer for 8 years and I still get nervous and have to come back to this scripture for encouragement.
Please excuse this super late reply posting lol but, 2nd Samuel 6:13-16 is about David wearing a linen ephod and praising the Lord. 2nd Samuel 6:4 is talking about them bringing the ark of God out of the house of Abinadab and Uzzah and Ahio the songs of Abinadab driving the cart with the ark of God and Ahio goes before it. I know this was two years ago when this was posted, but I know readers, like myself will come across posts like these and can get confused at what the Bible says, but it is definitely important for us to be clear when we are sharing the word of God. Hope you are continuing to stay safe and healthy! 🙂
Amen Michael Bradley!!! How beautiful and what a privilege to be able to Worship the Lord without reservation from our hearts to his presence!!! To be in a country—& time where we can express our gratitude to the Lord however we wish without persecution as Christians faced back in those days!!! He is so wonderful!!! Thanks for the article!!! God bless you!!!
Praise be to GOD, lam one person who loves praise and worship, l come from a culture were people love to sing and dance. Before I came to know the Lord l and my husband used to go and dance out for the devil, but not anymore.I dance for the Lord, l don’t care where and what, as long as am worshipping and praising the Almighty GOD,
Thank you for your comments and for highlighting this scripture that David danced before the Lord.
Oh my God I suffer with anxiety but I had knee replacement sometime ago .now today I had anxiety attack I faster for 21days i love worshipping an praying an praise in the lord .a voice spoke to me an in my ear an dance like David dance. It so clear I know It was the lord. But help.me understand
I think we should then dance in the right Manner, some Christians have copied the worldly dance which Is evil. I don’t lie dancing, instead singing with emotion and sign lifting the Lord’s name and glory higher.
The bible says with everything you do, do it to the glory of God. So whatever dance you are doing it should be to the glory of God. Dancing isn’t a worldly thing because there is dancing in heaven. Dancing is just moving your body to a rhythm. It’s an expression of emotion. If you are happy you will do a happy dance, if you are angry you would do a angry dance. So if you are glorifying God you will do a dance of Glory. Psalms 149:3 says “Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!” God wants us to praise him with everything in us. Also when David was dancing he didn’t pay attention to anyone or what they had to say about his dancing he even danced with no clothes and he was a on all for the glory of God. And he was a king at that that wasn’t manner of a king. So dance without caring what anyone else has to say and don’t judge people for dancing to the glory of God no matter how crazy you may feel their dancing is cause at the end of the day it is all for the glory of God. If they are dancing with evil in there heart the lord will deal with them accordingly.
We can’t dance wrong when we dance in the spirit, can’t conform to worldly dance got to bring them to God. Didn’t even thing I would ever stop the worldly dance, but know I dance like David. Praise God