Some of my readers may not know this, but surprisingly, I am a Baptist pastor. Yes, that’s right. And one thing I know about being a good Baptist, there are some things which you should never be caught doing in public.
If you want to be considered as godly and righteous by others, there are certain actions and cultural no-no’s you must avoid at all costs.
So naturally, during my reading in the Bible this week for my Sunday sermon, I came across a story that was both horrifying and shocking for this ole’ Baptist heart of mine. In both 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles, you will find one of the holiest people in all of the Bible doing something that quite frankly, ought not to be done. Not never, not no how!
David danced!?!?!?!?!?!
It says in 2 Samuel 6:14-16 that he stripped down to his white undergarments, and in front of the whole city, he was “leaping and dancing before the Lord.” Why would a dignified man like a David, the greatest King in Israel’s history, join in such worldly behavior?
Well, he was really happy and he couldn’t hold back his joy. He finally was crowned as king, he just built a new home in Jerusalem, and God allowed him to bring the Ark of the Covenant into the city. Life could not get any better. So he decided to dance.
His wife Michal wasn’t having it! It says in the story that she was watching her husband from a window, and she “despised him in her heart.” She was mad! Can you blame her? Her husband was embarrassing himself in front of all her friends! What would they say? As she says in 2 Samuel 6:20, “How the king of Israel honored himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
She sounds like she would make for a good deacon’s wife – – I can see her, as many fine Baptist regularly do, sitting in the pew, arms crossed with a disapproving look on her face. Good Christians should always try to keep others in line, shouldn’t they? Is it not our job to control other people’s behavior? There is nothing more worrisome than earning an angry woman’s or stoic man’s disdain.
Well, as it turns out, David wasn’t having it. He turned to her and said, “It was before the Lord, and I will celebrate before him. And I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them, I shall be held in honor.”
David is pointing out something about Michal that runs deeper than being religious, or even being a good Baptist; she is nothing more than a judgemental cynic. While he is dancing before God, she’s worried about her reputation. She doesn’t want to be embarrassed, and so instead of worshipping alongside David, she gets angry and assumes he is joyful for other reasons. This is the problem with a cynical heart.
Cynicism does not believe in the sincerity or goodness of other people’s motives or actions. It always doubts that there are people who sincerely believe in God – – and instead of praising alongside with them, all a cynic can do is mock and criticize. And did you know cynicism kills?
Are you a cynic? Do you assume everyone is a hypocrite? When it is time for worship do you cross your arms and say, “I wish we were singing something different” or “Why are people so happy?” A true Christian rejoices when others rejoice.
The story of David and Michal ends in a shocking way, listen to 2 Samuel 6:7, “And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.” Can you believe that? Her cynicism and judgmental heart ruined her! Wasn’t David the one embarrassing himself? No, he was worshipping.
Here is my take: It may do you some good to stop being so bottled up, worrying too much about what other’s think about you, and start enjoying the good things God has given you. Maybe you need to start asking yourself this simple question: “Who cares?” Who cares what the judgmental cynic thinks?
Because the one who really is in danger before God is the one who thinks they are better than others. Cynicism poisons the soul.
