As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal 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 (NRSV)

My three year old daughter loves to dance.  She begs to have the music on, genre notwithstanding, and begins her playful pirouettes and  leaps and prances.  It is usually accompanied by statements like “Daddy! Daddy! Watch me dance!” or “I can do tricks.”  In the midst of it all there is no hint of pride or malice, only joy.  I have to imagine that this is the mindset of David as he danced before the ark.

The ability to dance before God with abandon is trained out of us over time, whether by intent or ignorance. We are told to be proper and appropriate, that we need to grow up.  David had obviously ignored any naysayers in his celebrations, dancing before God and anyone else who cared to watch.  This reckless abandon is a good thing and should be encouraged in our children.

Sadly our children are being taught to dance for mindless pop music and teeny bopper sex symbols, not God.  They are told it is okay to offer their bodies on the altar of bad music and new age lyrics.  But I want my daughters to dance for God.  I want them to be unashamed in their worship and praise to their heavenly Father.  This calls me to a life of abandon before God, and that is the hard part.  I have to overcome my fears and ideas about propriety, but that is fatherhood.

Lord, help me dance before you with abandon and lead my children into shameless worship of You.  Help me conquer my fears and make my children brave. Amen.