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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Outlandish (05/19/11)
David is such a drama-King. Don’t you just love the stories about him? Each one is so full of distress, daring and … drama. We all know the great hero stories of David and Goliath, of David and his best friend, Jonathan, of David and King Saul, the demented King who wouldn’t quit trying to kill him. He’s quite the character.

No one could ever try to hide the fact, however, that David was also a very emotional man. He was just as well known for his heights of ecstasy as his depths of despair. His poetic writings reveal a side of this warrior that experienced everything to it’s fullest. He was your quintessential Godly, artsy King.

One story which demonstrates David’s sometimes outlandish behavior fascinates me. David was just coming off a battle in which God had given him the secret strategy which led to a tremendous victory. David prepared an elaborate parade complete with 30,000 chosen men, lively music, fanfare and dancing to bring the Ark of God back to Jerusalem. Needless to say, he was flying high.

Unfortunately, in their exuberance, they had forgotten God’s instructions about how to carry the Ark. Instead of carrying it on poles by hand, they put it on a new cart pulled by oxen. It had seemed like a good idea. As they came down the hill, the oxen stumbled. Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the cart. To everyone’s shock, he was instantly killed! Talk about putting a damper on the party.

David was mad at God. Why would He do that? After all, this whole parade thing was for Him! Quick on the heels of his anger came a debilitating fear of God. How could He trust a God who would do something like that? He decided to leave the Ark right there next door at Obed-Edom’s house.

For three months David watched carefully to see what God would do. Turns out God was blessing Obed-Edom and his household. Maybe it would be alright to bring the Ark back. David loved his God, and even though he didn’t understand Him, he wanted God’s presence with him. Plans began once again.

This time, the Ark of God was carried properly by hand. Imagine the care they took in following the instructions. Think of the fear and trembling they must have felt as they lifted those bars and walked the first few steps. They hadn’t gone seven steps before David stops them again and sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep to the Lord. God was pleased with them!

David’s joy knew no bounds. He began dancing before the Lord with all his might. There were no half-hearted measures here. The last time I checked, my husband doesn’t keep linen ephods hanging in his closet. I’ve never seen one, but it must not have been appropriate attire for a mighty warrior King judging by the response of his wife, Michal. While everyone else was celebrating, shouting, trumpeting, dancing and having a wonderful worship party, Michal looked down from a window and despised him in her heart. While the Ark was taken in to the tabernacle, more burnt offerings were made and the party cake was sent home with all the participants, Michal sat and stewed upstairs.

David meanwhile, oblivious to her offence, came floating in on this wonderful high to “bless his household”. Michal went out to greet him and sarcastically cut the man to shreds. How dare he cavort around in front of the ladies like that in all his glory. What a display for a King.

In utter confusion that someone would twist his motives like that, David quietly and firmly answered, “It was before the LORD I danced. I will play music before the Lord. And I will become even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight.”

I must confess that I need to guard my heart against this “Michal Spirit“. By nature, I don’t like to draw attention to myself. I have always been the even-keeled, steady, maybe even boring one. At times, I can be in danger of turning my nose at the more effervescent ones among us. I can easily question their motives or get embarrassed “for them”. Truth be told, inside there are times I long for the freedom to let loose and dance with abandon before my King. One day I just may! (Beware!) In the meantime though, Lord guard my heart against a proud, critical “Michal Spirit”.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Terry Lee
05/26/11
I do love the story of David, and I enjoyed this retelling of it.

And as for David's comment,

"It was before the LORD I danced. I will play music before the Lord. And I will become even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight."

I say, Rock On David, Rock On.
Linda Goergen
05/28/11
Very good informational piece about King David, as well as good story and good message about judging other’s actions.

I like how you point out how passionate David was, lots of people and churches could use some of that passion to wake them up! LOL Enjoyed the read.
Lisa Fowler
05/28/11
Thanks for helping us see the many sides of this "man after God's heart."
Noel Mitaxa 
05/30/11
This is a clear warning, with a touch of humour thrown in. I don't know about other readers, but some typo gremlin spoiled the effect of your message for me at times; as stray symbols seemed to be replacing quotation marks.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
06/03/11
You did a great job with this retelling. You opened my eyes to things I didn't know or had forgotten The is the gift of an artful author.

Congratulations for ranking 8th in level 3!