I was once told off by a pastor publicly from the pulpit for putting my hands in my pockets whilst singing a hymn. If we are honest with ourselves, is our physical and emotional response to the presence of God adequate or extravagant enough? Is my reaction to a God who is majestic, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent just too casual?

I have marvelled at the stuff we put on Facebook when there is a wedding anniversary, or a birthday to celebrate. Proud to tell the world what we think and feel, to shout it from the roof tops yet please don’t ask me to raise my hands in public to God, that’s just too embarrassing.

It’s extraordinary how we enthuse at the theatre, or about a film or a book yet please don’t ask me to pray to God in public that’s just too embarrassing.

It’s incredible how we dance at a barn dance or jump to our favourite band, or get up do our moves at a party. Yet please don’t ask me to dance unto the Lord that’s just too embarrassing!

I remember David Fellingham once telling us at a Sussex pastors meeting all the physical things that do occur during worship recorded in the Bible. Things like shouting, lying down, bowing down, dancing, raising hands, tears of joy, kneeling, clapping. There are so many.

Yes of course the counter argument is silence, reflecting, meditating and so on and I am not talking about extremes such as “give Jesus a yo” or “do some yoga for Jesus” I’m talking about a biblical response to the presence of God.

David had responded wrongly to the ark of God and it remained abandoned in the home of Obed-edom. David came to realise obedience results in blessing.

And it was told King David, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David with rejoicing. 2 Samuel 6:12

Now David is not angry with God but is rejoicing in and with the presence of God. The presence of God has an effect upon him.

But this time he dealt with the presence of God correctly and carefully. Now there are lessons for us all to learn here:

1. This time he doesn’t send soldiers he sends bearers, following the instructions in the Mosaic law.

2. Every six steps they offered a sacrifice, the blood sacrifice pleased God and opened the way to him.

3. Previously David was afraid and angry with God (vs 8-9) now…

And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod 2 Samuel 6:14David danced publicly and without restraint, he felt joy because of the presence of God.

4. David does his dancing wearing a linen ephod. It was a simple garment, a priestly garment which demonstrated his willingness to humble himself before his God.

5. The presence of God was celebrated. It looked like and felt like it was a celebration. A big party.

So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn. 2 Samuel 6:15

6. Michal had no taste for such worship. Her idea of kingship was dignified, solemn, stiff.As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. 2 Samuel 6:16

I think the telling phrase is “she despised him”. In our hearts we can refuse to worship, we can in our hearts say no.

I can remember being told once by someone “don’t expect me to sing, I never sing” I guess that is just disobedience. My question is why wouldn’t you leap and dance before the Lord?

7. The presence of God brought a wider blessing than just a feel-good factor. He put the ark in a tent (vs 17). He prayed for all the people (vs18). He distributed food to his people (vs 19) but all did not go to plan.

And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honoured himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 2 Samuel 6:20

David’s reply surely should be ours.

And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD-and I will celebrate before the LORD. 2 Samuel 6:21

I will celebrate before the Lord. I wonder if you can take some time out to review both your heart, your mind and your body’s response to the presence of God. Maybe it’s time to determine something for the first time. I will celebrate before the Lord.