Pastor Jack's Thoughts 11 09 2009

PASTOR JACK'S THOUGHTS   NOVEMBER 9, 2009
THANKFUL DANCING
When we think of praise in the Old Testament, we always think of King David!  2 Samuel 6 tells a wonderful story about King David's dance of thanks before the Lord.  The chapter begins with a sad event and closes with a warning.  The Ark of God, which represented the presence of God, had been kept in secret away from the royal city of Jerusalem for years.  David was now king and his burning desire was to bring the Ark home to the city of God, Jerusalem!  He made a fatal mistake in his first attempt.  David failed to follow God's law in transporting the Ark. God had instructed that it be transported by poles on the shoulders of men but instead David decided to transport it on an ox cart!  In the process, the Ark almost fell and a young man reached out to grab it and he was killed.

David was devastated! In his haste he had failed to obey God's instructions about this very important Ark that held the Name of the Lord of Hosts.

David's second attempt was well thought out and in order.  He chose men to put poles through the holders on the Ark and lift it onto their shoulders and walk with it to Jerusalem.  David offered sacrifices to God and worship the Lord and suddenly he broke into a thankful dance expressing his praise and joy before the Lord of Hosts!  This chapter said that he was so ecstatic that he jumped and danced to the trumpet music as the Ark was brought into Jerusalem.  How great was his joy!! The Ark (the presence of God) would now dwell in the city of Jerusalem! David was expressing his love for God!  The Bible says that David was a man after God's own heart.  He loved God deeply and found this way to express his thanks and worship for God.

After the Ark was put into place, David returned home to bless his family, but his wife, Michal scorned him for setting aside his royal robes and wearing only a linen ephod to dance.  She accused him of being base before the servants and she despised him (v. 16).  David had thanked and blessed God with great joy but his wife had scorned him.  The last verse in the chapter says, "Therefore Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no children till the day of her death."

God did not look down David's expression of thanks on!  God received it from His son, David's, thankful heart.  God blessed David.  How often have we broken into spontaneous thanks and praise to God? We need to be a thankful people knowing that everything that comes into our lives comes from the permissive Hands of our Father. He allows our joys and even our sorrows to come to us so let us be thankful in everything!  My prayer is that each of us will have a thankful and blessed week!


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