What Does the Bible Say About David Dancing?

The story of David dancing in the Bible is in II Samuel 6. The ark of the covenant (where the Lord resided) had been captured and was away from Jerusalem (the City of David) for a long time. When the ark was returned, a man named Uzzah died from touching it. King David was afraid to bring the ark to Jerusalem at first, but he saw that where the ark resided prospered, so David brought the ark home. David was so excited to be in the presence of God that he danced.

History

The story of David dancing took place when Israel was a relatively young nation. King David was only the second king of Israel. David's wife, Michal, was the daughter of Israel's first king, Saul, and the sister of David's dearest friend, Jonathan. David was just a boy when God told Samuel to anoint him as king of Israel. David had to wait many years before taking command of Israel.

Considerations

The ark of the covenant, where the Lord resided, had not been in Jerusalem for a long time. When King David brought the ark into Jerusalem, he rejoiced. He publically "danced before the Lord with all his might" while the Israelites celebrated. David's wife, Michal, saw David "leaping and dancing" and was offended. David told Michal that he would "celebrate before the Lord" and that others would honor him for it.

Significance

David was known as the "man after God's own heart." The fact that David danced before the Lord shows that God does not disapprove of dancing. David "danced before the Lord with all his might," which shows that worshiping God should be joyous and touch a person emotionally. Connecting with God should cause a person to leap with joy. Being in the presence of God should be a meaningful and momentous experience.

Features

The story of David dancing provides insight into the "man after God's own heart." David was a warrior and a shepherd. He was the king of Israel. He made mistakes and bad choices with dire consequences along the way, and yet the Bible consistently points to David as an example of what God wants us to be like. David did not care about appearances. He loved the Lord deeply, and when he worshiped God, he did it with his whole heart.

Effects

When a person connects with God, he should care more about his own internal experience than about what other people think. Michal's focus was on what the people watching were thinking about David dancing in an undignified manner. David's focus was on experiencing the joy of being in the presence of God. God cares much more about what is going on inside of your heart than on what other people think of your actions.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• II Samuel 6