When our grandchildren show up at our door, they do a little dance in the excitement of being around grandpa and grandma. Such exuberance is a physical response to emotional joy in the presence of those we love.
King David’s expressions of joy in 2nd Samuel 6 in God’s presence while moving the Ark instructs us on both the why and how of being giddy for God.
His motivation for such glad enthusiasm stemmed from the ark’s significance. First of all, the ark of God was called by “the Name…of the Lord of hosts,” indicating that it was a visible symbol of God’s actual presence among His people. Secondly, God was “enthroned above the cherubim,” making Him Israel’s true king. Additionally, the ark was necessary for God’s work of pardoning the people’s sin (Leviticus 16:14-15). Finally, the Ark of God was the place which held God’s word and from which His word was heralded (Ex. 25:22). In God’s reigning, redeeming, and revealing presence, David was visibly overjoyed.
David’s manifestation of such joyful excitement consisted of “celebrating” by “dancing…with all his might…” and joining with others who were “…shouting and playing instruments” (2 Samuel 6:5,14-16). God’s people in God’s presence reacted like college football fans after their favorite team wins a big game.
While David’s antics aren’t a prescription for our worship, they are a picture of joyous celebration before our great, good, and gracious God who rules the universe, protects and provides for His people, and welcomes undeserving but repentant sinners into His family.
What the ark signified imperfectly, Jesus Christ satisfies fully—“For in Him all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). Christ is king under whose reign His followers serve and under whose protection they’re safe. Christ is priest who through sacrificing His own blood pardons all who believe in Him and prays for them (Hebrews 9:12; 7:25). Christ is a prophet who proclaimed and provided for our salvation (Hebrews 1:3).
The greatness, goodness, and graciousness of God are made known only and fully to those who are God’s children through faith in Jesus. Christ followers have no less cause for joyous worship than David. No Jesus, no joy. Know Jesus, know joy.
Joy in knowing Jesus doesn’t always spill over into expressive worship, but neither should Christ followers be complete strangers to smiling, saying ‘Praise God’, raising an arm, clapping their hands, tapping their feet, bowing their knees, or moving their bodies in joyful celebration before our glorious God in personal and corporate worship.
Sincere adoration—not outward appearance—should govern Christ follower’s joyful expression of appreciation for God.