Author's Note: All previous volumes of this series are here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." Now, “Part Two,” featuring volumes 57-113, will be published on Dec. 4 and is available for pre-sale.
Thanks for joining our study about a dramatic incident offering insight into the personality of King David — a blessed and gifted man with many talents. Besides being a brave warrior and inspiring leader, David was a Psalm writer who loved the Lord, enjoyed music, and excelled at the harp (the guitar of his day).
From a modern perspective, King David was the first “rock star” who enjoyed partying and dancing. Thus, he might have appreciated this unique dance video (a hint about today’s theme).
Let’s begin this multi-faceted King David story about dancing, partying like a rock star, an accidental death, obedience to God, and an angry wife. This event, recorded in 2 Samuel: 6 of the Old Testament, is titled “The Ark Brought to Jerusalem.” Paraphrasing:
David and his men went to Baalah in Judah to retrieve the ark of God. It was:
“Called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill.” Uzzah and his sons:
“..were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.”
But sometimes bad things happen when folks are “celebrating with all their might,” even if it’s “before the Lord”:
“When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.”
You ask, “What is a threshing floor” that caused the oxen to stumble? Answer: Where grain was separated from straw to collect the most valuable part of the crop.
Unfortunately, Uzzah, while attempting to keep the ark of God from falling on the uneven floor, committed an unforgivable, deadly sin — he touched the ark. In the Torah, God issued a specific warning about how to carry and handle the ark:
“But they must not touch the holy things or they will die” (Numbers 4:15). God’s rule had no exceptions, and Uzzah paid the ultimate price. Of course, David’s party abruptly stopped, and he was angry “because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.”
After the tragic accident, David feared the Lord, asking, “ ‘How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?’” Remember, David was in the process of moving the ark to the City of David but changed his plan:
“Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.” Then:
“King David was told, ‘The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.’ So David went to bring the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.” Again, it’s party time:
“When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he [David] sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.”
(Since this incident happened around 1000 BC, perhaps King David, “dancing with all his might,” had hired the “Prince” of dance music and “partied like it was 999.”)
Enter the Queen, very displeased after watching her husband let loose:
“As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.”
Here is some background about Michal from 1 Samuel 18:20-30. She became David’s wife only after he fulfilled a violent order from King Saul. Since her daddy was jealous of David, Saul demanded his future son-in-law present him with 200 Philistine foreskins — assuming that outrageous mission would kill David. Now back to the story..
During the celebrations, David set the ark “inside a tent” and “sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord.” Afterward, he “blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty.”
Then, David established himself as a future political role model by giving his people free stuff: “A loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites..” Meanwhile, Queen Michal was waiting to unload:
“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!’”
There is much speculation that the “linen ephod” worn by David when he was “leaping and dancing” revealed some royal treasure, further enraging the Mrs. But, David defended his “vulgar” behavior:
“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. 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.’”
Immediately following is the final verse noting Queen Michal’s demise:
“And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.”
My NIV Study Bible footnote says Michal’s early death was “probably a punishment for her pride” and “another manifestation of God’s judgment on the House of Saul.”
What did we learn today? First, when God says, “don’t touch something holy or you will die,” believe Him. Second, if your husband celebrates his love for the Lord with exuberant dancing — don’t criticize him!
Finally, if you love the Lord, “Let’s Dance” and celebrate like David but dedicate your dancing to His glory.
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible,” reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. “Part 2,” with the same title, reprints Vols. 57-113. It will be published on Dec. 4 but is now available for pre-sale.
Myra is also the Executive Director of SignFromGod.org, a ministry dedicated to education about the Shroud of Turin. Contact: MyraAdams01@gmail.com or Twitter @MyraKAdams.