David Danced Naked?

Our Bible study last night reminded me of an awkward interaction at camp when a worship leader emphasised David's joyful abandon in worshipping God when the Ark of God was brought into Jerusalem.  "He was so caught up in worship, he was dancing naked."  He looked at me to affirm the truth he claimed.  "He was naked, right?"  Actually, no:  David was not dancing in the nude.  The Bible passages say clearly he was wearing fine linen and a linen ephod, similar to what the priests or Levites wore (2 Samuel 6:14; 1 Chron. 15:7).  The idea of David being naked is likely based on the snide comments of Michal, David's wife, about David being "uncovered," which was to say he was not wearing his royal robes.  She was offended because she viewed his behaviour as immodest and inappropriate as a king.  Thinking someone should "cover up" does not assume total nudity.

The worship leader's comments about David dancing naked in public made me quite uncomfortable, for what was the purpose or application of this emphasis?  An encouragement for the true worshippers of God to strip down naked during the worship set?  God forbid!  God was the one who clothed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and He also designed clothing for the priests and Levites to wear in His presence.  Since the Law of God forbade steps leading to an altar lest the priest be upskirted and his nakedness seen (Exodus 20:26), how can anyone claim public nudity is acceptable in the praise of God?  To suggest David danced naked dismisses the plain reading of the text, and to say stripping naked in worship is a worthy indignity has absolutely no place in scripture or in the practice of God's people.  This obscene practice marked wild, unrestrained pagan rituals and idol worship , and it is a sinful action God-fearing people ought to condemn.

The tendency to follow the lead of other people--by repeating an interpretation of the Bible or following a pattern set by others--is found in this text.  It was good David was moved to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, the city where God put His everlasting name.  But David made a grave error by not seeking the LORD nor digging into God's Law to determine the proper order.  The Ark was transported from the house of Abinadab by Uzzah and Ahio on a new cart pulled by oxen when God commanded it be carried aloft with poles by sanctified Levites (1 Chron. 15:11-15).  Did you know there is only one occasion previously when the Ark was transported by an ox cart?  This was how the Philistines returned the cart to Israel in Beth-Shemesh after capturing it (1 Samuel 6)!  Without consideration of what God's word actually said, David and all Israel were led into sin that had deadly consequences.

When Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark, the wrath of God was kindled and he was struck dead.  This was a shock to David, the 30,000 choice men who had been selected to parade the Ark to Jerusalem, and all who witnessed it.  David's immediate response was anger and fear.  But during the following 3 months, the death of Uzzah prompted David to dive into God's word where he read of the proper order God established to transport the Ark of God.  Reading God's Law and putting it into practice led to the safe transport of the Ark to Jerusalem, indescribable joy as David danced with all his might before the LORD, and the presentation of a new song of worship to God by David.  Tragedy borne of sin was redeemed by God to draw David and His people to Himself, and it resulted in the (fully clothed!) worship, praise and a closer relationship with God.