Wednesday, April 7, 2021

A REASON TO DANCE

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 6

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Here are the remains of a column rising out of the ground in ancient Laodicea, the home of the “lukewarm church,” one of the seven churches of the book of Revelation (Rev. 13:14-22).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 2 Samuel 6:14-15

Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

Psalm 68, a song, may have been composed by King David for the occasion of bringing the Ark up to Jerusalem. David writes, “Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. Sing to God, sing praises to His Name.” He also tells of a procession into the sanctuary: “The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after. Among them were the maidens playing timbrels” (Psalm 68:24-25). The Apostle Paul quotes a verse from Psalm 68:18 refering to Christ’s ascension into Heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10). There was at least one person who was not happy on the day the Ark was brought to Jerusalem. Saul’s daughter, Michal, was miserable. She had been manipulated by her father, and it seems that David didn’t love his first wife. Back in 1 Samuel 17:25 it is stated that Saul’s daughter would be given to the man who defeats Goliath. We can be sure that Michal had no say in the matter. Nevertheless, she came to love David (1 Samuel 18:28), and they were married. In the next chapter, Michal saves David’s life (1 Samuel 19:11-17). Then Saul intervenes again and gives Michal to another man. Now, after David took her from the other man, it seems there was no love there. Michal and David had been deeply hurt. Perhaps this history will help us understand David’s later conduct with other women (no excuse), and Michal’s bitterness and outburst against him…and why she was childless.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I ask for healing of hurts from the past. I ask for a greater measure of joy and for freedom to express that joy before You in my worship of You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve been thinking of the words of Isaiah which Jesus read from the scroll when He announced His mission before His hometown congregation (Isaiah 61:1 & Luke 4:18). As I meditated on the messed-up relationship between David and Michal, I’ve been feeling sad. Now, however, I’m starting to rejoice as I read Isaiah and Luke. Jesus declared that the Spirit of the Lord has “sent Me to heal the brokenhearted” and “to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Yes! Yes! I’ve seen Jesus do this again and again. Jesus is our “Ark.” He is the manifest presence of God in our lives. In fact, I’m thinking of two married couples I know well whose hearts were broken. Recently I sat in a restaurant with one of these couples and heard these words from both husband and wife: “Jesus has healed us so powerfully that we love each other more than ever before.” Only Jesus can do that. Jesus changes everything! Rejoicing fills my being as I think about Jesus.

Yours for expressing the joy of the Lord!

David

P.S. Norma-Jean showed me her facebook link to Budapest, Hungary. Here is a dance of joy from their celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. They call this a “Flash Mob.” To think that just over 20 years ago their communist government was trying their best to eradicate faith in God from all Hungarian people. I say to all killjoy atheists: Give up! You’ll never win! (click here) Celebrate Jesus!

In today’s reading, David brought the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem. The sacred Ark contained the two tablets with the Ten Commandments, the rod of Aaron that blossomed and a pot of manna.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

12 thoughts on “Wednesday, April 7, 2021

  1. Praying David’s prayer. Indeed, there is no excuse but certainly our bitterness runs deep and our hurts are what we hold onto. God gave us this example with David and Michal’s history to teach us. That layer of inner pain affects our relationships in every way. The greatness of forgiveness from Jesus frees us but our human nature chooses to hold onto the pain in our souls. Thank You Jesus for being the Light–the only thing that frees us. We hold onto You in every way and give You all the praise and glory that is due. His blessings upon you, fellow saints in the Lord. Amen.

    The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 ESV

    The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Brenda Geneau Jamieson with lyrics
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfT4mcE_XJg

  2. Lord God, thank You for all Your faithful witnesses everywhere. Bless each one so all will see You. In Jesus’s great name, amen

  3. I’m afraid I might have instantly reach to try to prevent this Precious Ark from falling. It seems like a natural reaction to me. I believe that a shout to the Lord would have been sufficient but on the other hand we don’t know this young man’s heart toward God. Maybe he didn’t believe that God really resided between the cherubim?

  4. I’m with you Doreen, I may well have tried to rescue the Ark. Please Lord give us the strength to trust you to hold us all as you would the Ark. Help us to not try to be in control, but to praise You for Your control of all situations.

    Blessings and prayers for all.

  5. I agree that it seemed to be the natural and caring thing to do to reach out to protect the Ark but God will was different. Attended a funeral today and was good to be among my relatives again after all this shutdown.

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