Dancing with the stares: King David's leap of faith

Dancing David
Painting by Francesco Salviati

Dancing with the Stars has been going strong since 2005.  Many clamor for the chance to strut their stuff and shine with fame's fickle light.  Some even glow - at least for a while.

Many moons ago, the true "keeper of the stars" came down to our third rock in order to accompany the Ark into Jerusalem.  Leading this stellar procession was none other than the future King David.

2 Samuel 6:5 tells us that a good time was had by all: "David and all the Israelites made merry before the LORD with all their strength, with singing and with citharas, harps, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals."

This event, however, was not without its challenges.  When Uzzah tried to get around God's specific instructions concerning the Ark, he was struck down dead.  This (torrentially) rained on David's parade for the next three months.  Finally, things got back on track.

So much so that David was now in the groove.  This is a polite way of saying that he shed most of his clothing and began "leaping like a lamb."  2 Samuel 6:14-15 explains: "Then David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the LORD with abandon, as he and all the Israelites were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn."

The people stared.  Especially the girls...  (2 Samuel 6:20)

David's wife Michal (younger daughter of then King Saul) felt duly humiliated.  David's sole defense: "I was dancing before the LORD."  His logic was impeccable: Why just dance with the stars when you can leap with the LORD and shine on forever?

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant