This morning’s NOPE has triggered afresh all the “David danced naked and with all his might!”responses, a text that is abused and used to excuse all kinds of excessive nonsense in churches today. Stop it.
"It is commonly taught that David danced naked before the Lord. Yet the Bible says, “David was girded with a linen ephod.” ~ 2 Sam. 6:14
The linen ephod was a priestly garment.
When David first attempted to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, it was a disaster. David (as King) had chosen to bring the Ark of the Covenant home on a new cart. There was dancing and rejoicing while the Ark was in transport on the new cart.
Yet in this atmosphere, God’s judgement came, and Uzzah lost his life when he reached out to steady the Ark from falling off the cart (2 Sam. 6:6-7).
David became afraid of the Lord that day (2 Sam. 6:9; 1 . 13:12) and the Ark was placed in the home of Obed-Edom the Gittite for 3 months, and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household (2 Sam. 6:11).
In due time, it was revealed to David that he had handled the Ark of the Covenant inappropriately, and that only the priests were sanctioned to transport the Ark (1 Chron.15:1-3).
After this, David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a line ephod – a priestly garment. He rejoiced in the presence of God, while wearing this priestly garment as the Levites carried the Ark of the Covenant to the tent David had prepared for it.
The lesson here is not that David danced naked in some out of control manner, thus giving us a proof-text for when things get out of control in church services.
The lesson is that God is a God of order. As 2 Sam. 6:5 reveals, there was great rejoicing while the Ark was on a new cart, but it was out of order, and judgement fell.
Later there was great rejoicing “after the due order” and blessings followed (1 Chron. 15:13).
When David danced before the Lord in his King's apparel with the Ark on a new cart, there was judgment. When he put on a priestly garment, and danced before the TRUE KING OF ISRAEL, after the due order, there was blessing.
When the Spirit of the Lord is moving, there is order and self-control (a fruit of the Spirit).
David did not dance naked before the Lord, and we should not use this as a proof text for not doing all things decently and in order as Paul instructs us in 1 Cor. 14:40."
- Michael Battle
#theholynope
#holynope
#nope
