“Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.” (2 Samuel 6:16, NKJV)

David had many talents. He was a courageous warrior and a wise leader. He had compassion for others—even for Saul who pursued his life. But perhaps David’s greatest gift was his ability to worship God. He wrote at least 75 psalms that continue to minister to hundreds of millions today. It’s hard to imagine how much enthusiasm he had in bringing the Ark of the Covenant to himself in Jerusalem. This passion is reflected in Psalm 27:4:

“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4, ESV)

Now the LORD would dwell with him in the City of David. David could hardly contain himself. As the priests and Levites bore the Ark with its poles on their shoulders, David danced before the LORD with all his might, wearing only the linen ephod that the common priests wore. But as they entered the City of David, Michal saw David leaping and whirling, and she despised him in her heart. She thought David was being too undignified. She refused to enter the same spirit of wholehearted worship. After David blessed all the people, he came into his home to bless his own household. Then Michal confronted him:

“How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” (2 Samuel 6:20, NLT)

Wow! Imagine what a gut-punch that must have been to David whose heart was full of joy! David defended his actions and said that he would become even more undignified than this before the LORD and honored by the servant girls she mentioned. Consequently, Michal was barren for the rest of her life.

The truth is that we have all been created to worship God. The LORD has given us a universe of reasons to honor Him with thanksgiving and praise. He gives us a lifetime of experiences of His goodness. He blesses us with new mercies every morning. Are we leaping, whirling and praising God? Or are we too dignified for that? There ought to be some reckless abandonment in our worship, for Jesus abandoned His “dignity” as the glorified Son of God to save us. If we won’t worship God in spirit and in truth, then we will be spiritually barren, and we will miss out on the indescribable joy of the LORD.