I will always remember it vividly; Brian Wilson lets go of the pitch and Nelson Cruz swings but gets nothing but air as strike three sails into Buster Posey’s mitt and the celebration begins. Guys are jumping up and down and the announcer proclaims that for the first time since 1954 the San Francisco Giants, once again, are World Series champions. It’s an exciting moment and I’m sure everyone else, especially here in Nebraska was excited as I was. But it is just baseball and none of the guys on this current Giants roster was on the one in 1954. In fact, they were in New York at the time. So once I put all of this in perspective, I say, “Yes! It was fun!” but it certainly gives me more of an appreciation for David as he goes a little nuts when he finally enters Jerusalem with the Ark of the Covenant as the new King of Israel.
2 Samuel 6:14-15 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
Part of our problem is we worry too much what other people think. There are certain places where going nuts is okay, like at a sporting event, but other places it is not, like the doctor’s office. David has spent the last 7 years running from Saul and hiding in caves, I think he has every reason to celebrate God’s faithfulness in his life. Not everyone thinks this is okay though, David’s wife, Michal, rebukes David for his behavior.
2 Samuel 6:20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”
Why is it that we can so quickly lose all dignity for a sporting event or a concert but we become so reserved when it comes to celebrating God’s faithfulness to us. Listen to David’s response…
2 Samuel 6:21-22 I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.
David is saying that there is nothing I will celebrate more than God’s faithfulness. I am free in my celebration of what He has done, whether I am king or not. I will be far more undignified than this, even to the point of humiliating myself. Wow!
What a precedent to set as the new king of Israel. Their last king was consumed with looking bad. When he disobeyed God, he was more concerned with Samuel walking out of the tent with him to give the appearance of normalcy than he was with his disobedience. Now Israel has a king that says, “Be free to celebrate God’s faithfulness! Watch me!” He proceeds to dance up and down the streets and praise God.
David knew a little something about God’s faithfulness. He had experienced it in his time as a fugitive. God had delivered on His promise and prepared David for this day. If we took time to reflect, we would see God’s faithfulness in our lives too. He has and will continue deliver on His promises and they are much sweeter than a World Series victory. We have reason to celebrate so I say to you, “Be free! Celebrate God’s faithfulness!”
Have a great week!
Pastor Stan and Polly
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