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Saturday 7 December

David praises God

By Rob Cumming

2 Samuel 6.8-22

The preceding passage tells us that King David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the ark of the covenant as it was brought into Jerusalem. The exact nature of this garment is unclear; it is thought to be a sort of short linen apron worn by those serving in the temple, a more adorned version of which was worn by the high priest. How short it was is left to the imagination, but it’s clear from Michal’s comments that it certainly did not cover as much as the King of Israel’s usual garb.

The resulting spectacle likely appeared as unsettling as our King Charles III dancing in his pyjamas in the street. It is decidedly un-regal. David doesn’t care. He dances with joy in the presence of God; in exuberant delight and unreserved worship. It’s a far cry from standing and singing along to the organ - delightful though that is - and probably feels as uncomfortable to us Anglicans as it did to his critics then.

There are severalparallels to our upcoming festivities. David’s exuberance might be compared to that of a child on Christmas day; and there are even echoes of Father Christmas as he hands out gifts to the people of Israel. It’s notable that these are given equally to all, regardless of gender, status or ability to give favours in return. It is an outpouring of joyful abundance as God’s Presence –manifested then as the ark – comes in amongst His expectantly waiting people.

In Advent we await the arrival of the Presence of God in Jesus Christ, remembering His incarnation and looking to His return. Even as we wait, may we too dare to set aside dignity and reserve and allow ourselves to delight in worship of our God. And as He draws near, may He bless us through His Spirit with a foretaste of that abundant joy we shall one day know in full.

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2 Samuel 6.8-22

David was angry because the Lord had burst forth with an outburst upon Uzzah; so that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. David was afraid of the Lord that day; he said, ‘How can the ark of the Lord come into my care?’ So David was unwilling to take the ark of the Lord into his care in the city of David; instead David took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months; and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

It was told King David, ‘The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.’ So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt-offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. When David had finished offering the burnt-offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.

David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, ‘How the king of Israel honoured himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ maids, as any vulgar fellow might shamelessly uncover himself!’ David said to Michal, ‘It was before the Lord, who chose me in place of your father and all his household, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord, that I have danced before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in my own eyes; but by the maids of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honour.’