05/04/2017
Even more dignified (A servant's worship)
Read: 2 Samuel 6:12-22
Dancing is a silent art. Some people maybe too afraid to talk with public speaking, trembles in singing songs, or anything that entails express one's self in spoken words. And that's one makes our art, our craft, our genre, our love, silent yet powerful, yet roaring, yet story telling, yet loud.
Lots of today's dancers dance with an attitude: of (1) confidence, of (2) attitude, and of (3) passion. However, I want to stress dancing as a craft, as a gift, as a medium to serve.
I - CONFIDENCE
In dancing for the Lord, let us look upon the character of King David. I want to stress the following passages from vv. 13-14: "When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might,..."
As a king, it is very much notable of him to have such confidence because of His authority. But in v. 14, what makes David very much confident in His service of God is the fact that He as a ruler, an authority figure can humble himself before someone who is far greater, far better, far higher than himself. His confidence in dancing is not coming from self-belief of capability, nor from the position of his mind but from the belief that he knows where his capability comes from and what things this Giver could provide for Him. His dance is an act of worship, of sacrifice, of service as stated in v. 13.
II - ATTITUDE
The attitude is among the requirements of a dancer. When you dance you have to give all the characters that need to be projected from the facial expressions and bodily movements. You have to give it all, because you cannot speak for yourself how you feel. You just have to show it all.
David's attitude is reflected in vv. 20-21: "When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord."
When you want to serve God, or praise and worship Him in your dancing, your attitude comes out when you know have to give everything in your dance. Despite mocks, insults, or persecutions, you know whom you serve. You know how to dance.
III - PASSION
v. 22 tells us: "...I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”
What great faith! What awesome devotion! Who can say this in front of his/her persecutors? Raise your hands!
At times, we Christians back down when we hear such insults. We lose confidence. We drop the attitude. We hide before broken egos and hearts. We bury ourselves with clouding thoughts. We get shaken from our grounds. But hey! Once you choose to serve Jesus in response to His call. It's not anymore a calling. It's a higher calling. It therefore, becomes a passion.
As I experience dancing for Jesus, each day, each moment, each performance, each move, each step is a rewarding experience, a momentous sacrifice, a liberating point. The chills, the tears, the energy, the joy is incomparable and indescribable. When you're really there, it never is the same as when you dance for the audience. The goosebumps, the tears, the joy, they are really coming from within - you do not where exactly. When you're really there, you just wanna dance, as if telling God: 'Lord here I am. I want to tell you through my mind, my heart, my soul, my hands, my feet, my everything, that I love you. I thank you. I praise you.'
When you're really a dancer of Jesus. YOU CANNOT STOP. YOU DON'T WANNA STOP. AND THAT'S PASSION. AND THAT IS DEVOTION.
