David Dances Before the Lord

Second Samuel 6:14 has been used to justify popular dancing.

To use this verse for that purpose is without merit.

“In our day dancing is associated with folly and midnight reveling. Health and morals are sacrificed to pleasure. . . . This test should be decisive. Amusements that have a tendency to weaken the love for sacred things and lessen our joy in the service of God are not to be sought by Christians. The music and dancing in joyful praise to God at the removal of the ark had not the faintest resemblance to the dissipation of modern dancing. The one tended to the remembrance of God and exalted His holy name. The other is a device of Satan to cause men to forget God and to dishonor Him.” This principle seems straightforward.

If Christians find themselves where they would not want angels to accompany them, it would be best to seek other surroundings.

“David’s dancing was an act of solemn and holy joy. To an [Israelite] . . . such an activity was a natural mode of expression, however strange it may seem to us today. By this means David expressed his grateful praise and thus gave honor and glory to God’s holy name. There was nothing in the dancing of David that is comparable to or that will justify the modern dance. The popular dance draws no one nearer to God, nor does it inspire to purer thoughts or holier living. It degrades and corrupts. It unfits a man for prayer or study of the Word of God and turns him away from righteousness into ways of revelry. Morals are corrupted, time is worse than wasted, and often health is sacrificed.” David could finally worship God in the city he called home! Years of wandering had deprived him of worshiping with like-minded brethren.

His joy knew no bounds! King of Israel he might be, but on this day, his focus was on the King of kings. Would you feel comfortable inviting angels to accompany you to your places of amusement?