A few years back, I wrote a book called, "Men are that they might have joy." The gems in this book have yet to be discovered by so many who could find great value in them. This morning I was reviewing part of that book in order to flesh out another idea, and I stumbled on this passage, which I felt like I should repost, particularly the last paragraph.
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The Bible contains records of several occasions where King David danced. This wasn't merely a celebration. David knew the Lord's influence within him, and he was adept at tuning his whole being into that music. On one occasion:
14 ...David danced before the Lord with all his might...
16 And 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 dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. (2 Samuel 6)
Why did David dance?
David was a man who was accustomed to acting in ways that were true to himself even though they diverged from what was expected from him. He was a warrior when his brothers and father thought he should be a shepherd. He was a king when his government thought he should be a knight. He was mighty when the world considered him weak.
He lived according to who he knew he was even through stiff resistance from those around him. For example, in the previously-quoted story, when David was literally dancing to the music in his heart, his wife despised him for doing so.
Why was Michal so upset? Because she wanted him to be something other than what he was. She wanted him to be like she was, and was angry because his song was different than hers.
When you dance to the song in your heart, you will look like a fool to some. Others will resent you. Some will hate you. If you persist in dancing, some may even try to kill you. Why? Because your living according to God's song is living proof that they could do the same, but choose not to. You show them what is possible, and they will hate you for it.
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This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:
The few who knew what might be learned,
Foolish enough to put their whole heart on show,
And reveal their feelings to the crowd below,
Mankind has always crucified and burned. --"Faust," Goethe