Undignified (and Clothed!)

Have you ever heard something and repeated it without personal investigation?  It is likely we have all been guilty of parroting something we heard, and this goes for biblical truth.  These days it seems memes, books, blogs, articles and pastors all share the same space with equal relevance.  It is also possible we might place a higher degree of confidence in something we have heard a preacher say and assume what we have heard is the whole truth.  Those who teach and read the Bible have a responsibility to allow the Bible to speak for itself and seek opportunities for scripture itself to correct the erroneous claims we have heard.

One of the things I have heard people claim is David celebrated the arrival of the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem by stripping down and danced naked.  If you have never heard this one, good.  But if you have, allow passages of scripture to clear up any confusion.  "I will be more undignified than this," people sing as they wonder how the indignity of public nudity of a king could honour God.  The Bible is very clear David was clothed as he danced and played before the LORD.  2 Samuel 6:14 reads, "Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod."  A parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 15:27 says, "David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod."

If the scripture plainly states David was clothed, why the suggestion he was naked?  This is likely due to the snide remarks made by David's offended wife, Michal.  The daughter of the previous king Saul, she was shocked David lay aside his royal attire and regal bearing before the people.  Michal despised him as she watched him dance with joy.  She did not share his excitement and was embarrassed by his display.  Upon his arrival home was quick to criticise him with a heavy dose of sarcasm.  2 Samuel 6:20 says, "Then David returned to bless his household.  And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!"  Michal compared David to base fellows who uncovered themselves to attract attention, but David remained clothed as he paraded the ark to its prepared resting place.  David's instinct was not to strip down naked to praise God but laid aside his royal robes and dignity to celebrate the God He served as king.

Let's put an end to this misunderstanding or suggestion the worship of David on that day was in any way modeled after idolatrous and scandalous practices by stripping nude.  David honoured God with his joyful excitement, dancing and generosity when the ark was brought into Jerusalem by sanctified priests, and we should honour God too by holding fast to God's word and delighting in His truth.