MySpace blog: Expression: Dance/Postures of Worship

“David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might.” David said, “I will celebrate before the Lord. ^I will become even more undignified than this.”

(2 Sam 6: 14, 21-22 NIV)

David danced because he was filled with joy. The Ark of the Covenant—the elaborately decorated chest that represented the presence of God—was on the move. The ark had been captured when some people had misused it in a war. And now, after decades, it was finally coming back to the people of God.

David had tried to bring the Ark back into the city earlier (1 Sam. 6:6), but when a man did not follow God’s instructions on how to move the Ark, he was struck dead. Why? Why would God kill someone who was trying to bring His presence back to a city? Because God is different than us. His otherness demands reverence.

When David succeeded in bringing the Ark back into Jerusalem, he was ecstatic, because he saw that the God who demanded reverence also wanted His people to experience His presence in a personal way. Our God is a holy God, who demands our reverence. He is also a God of love who desires to commune with us! David was blown away by the beauty of this paradox: God is both infinitely huge and different, but infinitely personal to the point that He lives in us and we live in Him. David’s only response to this revelation of God’s paradox was an outward expression of his joy. He danced before God with all his might.

God wants us to love Him with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Part of loving Him with our strength is expressing our worship through the postures of our bodies. There are so many physical expressions of worship. Raising our hands. Kneeling. Falling on our faces. Standing. Each time God reveals something to us, be it through the Bible or a sunset or a person or an experience, a response is demanded of us. Often, that response is physical.

Ask God to free you, that you may become undignified. That you may be free to worship Him with your body without worrying what others think.

Ask God to free you that you may be able to respond to His revelation.

This is part 4 of 4 in the worship writings. I appreciate all your feedback and discussions!