Oh! She's One of Those!
I distinctly remember her. It was at one of my very first Christian women’s retreats.
I saw her step from her chair into a side aisle, somewhat out of view, during worship time, and begin dancing with unbridled passion. She lifted her arms high above her head, eyes closed, and began twirling and moving to the music that was sung. When the music stopped, I could see her cheeks were wet from tears.
My first thought—oh, she’s one of those!
After letting go of the pearls I was clutching, I gave a slight huff to match my thoughts, and went about my time. It was a 3-day retreat—she danced a lot—I huffed a lot—the weekend had it’s moments.
That was over 20 years ago, and I can still see her as plain as day in my memory.
I hope to God she hasn’t changed!!
Where she was in her faith, I was nowhere near.
Where I am in my faith today, I want her near.
In my “youth” as a new believer, my inner-self had boundaries as to what and how I expressed my faith. Overall, even today, I’m not a dance in the aisle kind of person—necessarily—but that’s not the reason I didn’t join her. I was more worried about what others thought, than what Jesus thought.
Now, I understand THE throne.
Now, I understand coming before THE King.
Now, I understand emptying myself before THE One.
Now, I understand her passion.
That precious sister wasn’t worried about her reputation, she was confident about her Savior.
Walking with Jesus will do that to you. Maybe not twirling in the aisles, but bursts of your heart to shout to the world about the grace and mercy you’ve received, can be overwhelming at times. When you’ve been lost in the desert for years, but then rescued into paradise, it’s hard not to do a little jig every once in a while.
King David got this.
One of my favorite stories, happens early in his leadership of Israel.
Stay with me on this…
The Ark of the Covenant was coming back home, after David worked very hard to make it happen. Upon its arrival, he starts up a one-man party in the streets. He couldn’t help himself.
“David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might…” 2Sam 6:14
But his first wife, Michal, was a bit perturbed.
“When she saw David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.” (v16) It didn't end there. Michal meets up with David, throws her hand on her hip, starts rattling her head side-to-side and gives him the what-for, in all the words she could find. (v20)
And this is where the good part comes in…
“David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father (king Saul), or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people of Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord! I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.” (v21-22)
Oh, come on!—that’s the money right there!!
The king—King David, is out dancing with unbridled passion for all that God has given, and David doesn’t give a rip what anyone thinks about it, not the least his wife!
All I can say is, you go David! And to top it off…that mic drop he threw in at the end—if you think this is bad, I got much more for ya! Priceless.
Sisters—dance in the aisles!!
Do what YOU want, to celebrate the Lord!
If that means dancing…dance.
If that means two-handed raising…raise those arms.
If that means singing louder than anyone else around you…sing girl, sing!
Worship is for Him—not for us!
Seeing God as THE almighty, the One who gives grace and mercies abundantly, should make us all excited beyond words.
“Give to the Eternal the glory due His name; worship Him with lavish displays of sacred splendor.” Ps 29:2
Be a David, not a Michal. I had that sooo reversed long ago. I may not have said the words outright that day, but I most certainly was a Michal in my heart. That precious believer was off to the side, doing what she wanted to do to praise the Lord for whatever He had done in her life, and I stood in judgement. That hurts my heart to this day.
Can we get to a place as fellow believers, to change the words of “oh she’s one of those”, to, “OH! She’s one of those!”…and sidle right up next to her? Can we get to the place of actually becoming a fearless worshiper for the Lord and change the hearts of those around us?
It’s time to put our fear of being a believer aside; whether it’s in our everyday dealings, or our every-now-and-then worshiping. The world needs us! The world needs more Davids than they’ll ever need Michals. David danced because he knew the greatness of God! Should we be any less? The world needs the women who understand this, to show those that don’t. The world needs you, my sister, to show another what the greatness is all about.
“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” Ps 34:3
Holy Father, make us dancers! Make us fearless women who come before You with all the awe and reverence You are owed. Give us the passion to speak of You whenever, wherever, however, You want us to. Give us the mightiness we need as a servant to the King.