2 Samuel 6:14-16 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, and was wearing priests’ clothing. So Israel brought home the Ark of the Lord with much shouting and blowing of trumpets.
(But as the procession came into the city, Michal, Saul’s daughter, watched from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she was filled with contempt for him.) [Living Bible]
Summary
David was the second King of Israel. He was a gifted warrior, writer (of psalms) and musician. The first time David tried to bring The Ark of the LORD into the City of David he failed. The first time David mobilized thirty thousand special troops to get the Ark of the LORD. But instead of carrying the Ark, they put it on a new cart and brought it to the house of Abinadab. David and the other leaders were joyously waving branches of juniper trees and playing every sort of musical instrument before the LORD. They thought everything was fine. But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, one of the oxen stumbled and Uzzah, one of the men, put out his hand to steady the Ark and the Lord’s anger flared out against Uzzah and Uzzah was killed instantly.
Even though David was at fault for not having the men carry the Ark on their shoulders, David became angry with GOD at what the LORD did to Uzzah. David was also afraid of the Lord, having seen HIS anger against Uzzah. So, David decided against bringing the Ark into the City of David. Instead, he instructed that the Ark be taken to the home of Obed-edom, a foreigner from Gath. The Ark stayed with Obed-edom for three months. During that time the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all of his household.
When David heard about how GOD was blessing Obed-edom, he wanted the Ark brought into the City of David. This time, the men carried the Ark into the City. When they took six steps or paces, they stopped so they could worship and sacrifice before the LORD. Then David, with all his might, danced before the LORD. David danced with abandom, leaping and dancing before the LORD! David did not care who was watching, what others thought, or how he looked. David was just praising GOD, with all his might, through dance.
DANCING
Dancing can transform the body and the spirit. According to “Let’s Dance to Health,” from AARP, February 14, 2005:
Dancing can be magical and transforming. It can breathe new life into a tired soul; make a spirit soar; unleash locked-away creativity; unite generations and cultures; inspire new romances or rekindle old ones; trigger long-forgotten memories; and turn sadness into joy, if only during the dance.
Like yoga, dancing is a mind and body workout. For example, step classes, ballet classes, ball-room dance classes, swing (East Coast, Texas,West Coast swing) classes, hip hop and Zumba classes have a number of sequential movements, requiring both co-ordination and memory. “Let’s Dance to Health” states that: “Researchers are learning that regular physical activity in general can help keep your body, including your brain, healthy as you age.” Also:
There has been some promising research in this area, according to Rita Beckford, M.D., a family doctor and spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise. For instance, a 2003 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that ballroom danc-ing at least twice a week made people less likely to develop dementia. Research also has shown that some people with Alzheimer's disease are able to recall forgotten memories when they dance to music they used to know.
See, “Let’s Dance to Health,” from AARP, www.aarp.org.health/fitness-info.2005.
In WebMD article, “Dancing Your Way To Better Health” by Miranda Hitti, Hitti notes that dances such as tangos, waltzes, sambas and foxtrots (ballroom dancing) require that the dancer go backward and forwards, use core muscles, back of the thigh and buttock muscles. Dancing can get the heart rate up and a dancer will often use a number of muscles not often used in other forms of exercise such as walking. According the Hitti:
Dance is a "moderate activity," say the USDA's physical activity guidelines. Adults should get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily, according to the guidelines.
See, “Dancing Your Way To Better Health, by Miranda Hitti, www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise.
As always, if you are thinking about beginning dance exercise, if you have health problems or other medical conditions or concerns, you should always consult your physician first.
I HOPE YOU DANCE
Although David danced with all his might before the LORD, 2 Samuel 6:16 notes that Michal, David’s first wife, looked out her window and “she was filled with contempt for him.” (Living Bible translation.) If David had looked at himself through Michal’s eyes, he would have never danced. But, David was not dancing for Michal. He was dancing for the LORD.
If only Michal had been focused on David’s joy or the LORD, perhaps she would have celebrated with David. She might have danced too. Instead she was left out.
If you are considering “making a change,” ask GOD. If you dance, don’t worry about those around you. If you watch others dance, exercise, or service the LORD, let’s share their joy as well. For example see:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrf9DOfx8xo
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/video/dance-exercise-fitness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKXZuZ3lNg
Whenever someone does anything, someone else could always have done it “differently.” If you allow other’s to quench your spirit, you may never move.
On Wednesdays, whether you dance, exercise from a chair, study the WORD of GOD, eat raw or strive toward some other healthy physical or spiritual goal, do it for the LORD and do it with all you might.
Like David, may your spirit dance before the LORD and BE BLESSED!
