And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.
1 Chronicles 15:29 (ESV)
I have a personality that is not very demonstrative. And I grew up in a tradition where worship was very restrained. Occasionally, someone would raise their hands, and there could be a periodic amen or two. But if someone started dancing in the aisles, they might have found themselves escorted out for disrupting our carefully prepared service.
And so a part of me can appreciate Michal’s reaction to David’s worship. David led the procession bringing the Ark into Jerusalem. And he did so with a variety of musical instruments, singing, and dancing. Quite undignified for a king.
I have been in worship services that bore some resemblance to the Ark’s entry into Jerusalem. People dancing, waving their arms, and shouting out. It was anything but worshipful for me. But it certainly appeared that those around me were joyfully worshipping our Lord. And I must admit to a certain amount of envy toward those who could be freer in their worship.
Not everyone who sits through a quiet ‘worship service’ actually worships. Nor are all of those participating in more demonstrative ‘worship services’ actually worshipping. But worship can take place whenever we bow before our Creator, Lord, and Savior, humbling ourselves in His presence.
So we need to guard against responding like Michal toward those who worship our Lord and God in ways that are strange or uncomfortable to us. Worship God in spirit and truth, in whatever way works for you. And don’t look down on those whose expression in worship is different. God delights in the worship of His people. In whatever form it takes.
