“Why not praise Him?”
I love the Old Testament stories, especially 1st and 2nd Samuel… I was reading this morning, the story again, about how King David brought back the Ark of the Lord from the threshingfloor of Obed-edom. He was bringing up the Ark of the Lord to the “City of David.” He was so happy that the Bible says, that when David had gone six paces (27 feet), he had to stop and sacrifice oxen to the Lord! David, the King, was full of joy and so full of “praise” that the Bible says, he “danced before the Lord with all his might.” In those regions, Biblical dancing was dancing, leaping, twirling, and singing… And dancing “with all his might!” Bible scholars say that he danced so hard, some of his clothes fell off!
He was the King of Israel, but he didn’t care what people thought… Imagine any President of the United States dancing, praising God with all his might!! They would probably “haul him away and lock him up!” But David didn’t care… The Lord had been his “shepherd, his savior, his armor in the battle, his everything!” He danced so hard that he “embarrassed” his wife, Michal, the daughter of King Saul.
She criticized David for “dancing before the Lord,” but David still praised the Lord. He then offered burnt offerings and peace offerings and then blessed all the people. When David returned, his wife began to make fun of him, which brought her a curse… She never had a child.
Don’t ever be afraid or ashamed to praise God in the way that you want to… Praise comes from the heart and God “lives in the praises of His children.” He has been better to us than we deserve, “so why not praise Him?” Sherry