We talked about how David brought the ark into Jerusalem with gladness in a previous post titled ‘Do You Cut Off the Crust’: https://www.myjesusgram.com/?p=720
Not only did He bring the ark into the city with gladness but he was leaping and dancing before the Lord. David and the Israelites were shouting and praising as the ark entered the city. Michal, who was David’s wife, saw him dancing before the Lord and in 2 Samuel 6:16 it said she despised him in her heart. She seemed to be embarrassed, annoyed, even angered by his dancing and she said to him in what seemed to be a sarcastic tone, “How distinguished was the king of Israel today”.
David told her in response. “I will celebrate before the Lord.”
When I was reading this a few things came to mind. Jesus says You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Matthew 10:22. Christ followers will be despised just as Michal despised David. There will be people who tease us, tell us we cannot speak, tell us we are bigots and close minded and they will disregard the way we worship the Lord. There may even come a day when churches are closed down and completely stopped from being able to worship like we usually do. This is the case in places all over the world and we need to pray for our brothers and sisters who cannot worship freely. The amazing testimony of these countries, is that even amidst persecution the gospel of Christ grows. Praise Him and Stay Strong friends!
Sometimes even the prospect of backlash or mistreatment from others keeps us from speaking about God. We do not say things or share the gospel for fear of offending someone or ruining our reputation. We dont want to deal with the sarcastic responses, so we stop sharing joy with others in our lives. We stop dancing openly in praise.
But as David’s wife despised him in her heart and as she teased him about his dancing and leaping for joy before the Lord. Did David apologize for his actions? Did he say you’re right maybe I should have been more reserved? Did he stop the celebration?
His response was quite the opposite actually. He said that He will celebrate before the Lord. The word celebrate is active. He celebrated God as the ark was brought into the city and he would continue to celebrate God. He was not going to let his bitter, annoyed and perhaps embarassed wife steal his joy.
He was rejoicing that the ark was back in Jerusalem, and we should have the same response. As we experience people trying to cancel our joy, cancel our passion, cancel our voice, cancel our worship, cancel our God, we need to be sure that we are still going to celebrate Him. As the world becomes more uncertain around us, our God and Savior becomes more certain. As the joy around us grows strangely dim, our joy needs to shine through. The joy of the Lord is our strength. God cannot be cancelled no matter how hard the world tries and therefore neither can we. Until our dying breath His praise should be on our lips. The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
Psalms 34:1
Regardless of how others feel in your family or community this is how we should live: You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12
And not just because of King David’s example but because our Lord and Savior Jesus was humbled to the point of death on a cross and victorious in His resurrection. For the Joy set before him He scorned death so that we may have life. This verse has always baffled me because how was there anything joyful about the cross?? The nails, the whips, the thorns….Jesus sacrificed and laid down His life for us with JOY. How much more should we then live our life with joy before Him.
Let the joy of the Lord set us apart from those who despise us in their hearts. Let the joy of the Lord be our testimony. Let the joy of the Lord be the difference people see in us. We are saved, redeemed, blessed, healed children of God. Sing, shout, clap your hands and don’t let anyone steal your joy.
The Lord Bless you and Keep you,
Kara
Faith, Hope, Encouragement
0 Comments