H Sam. 6:14-16. "And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded
with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with
shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 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."

II Sam. 6:20-23. "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, who uncovered
himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly
uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me
before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over
Israel:therefore will I play before the LORD. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be
base in mine own sight:and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had
in honor. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death."

David’s dancing is sometimes referred to in hope of finding scriptural sanction for Christians to
dance today. This is truly a carnal plea, for David’s dancing was not a romantic waltz with a
feminine partner at a gala affair, it was rather an overflow of personal joy and thankfulness to
Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had blessed His people. This blessing resulted from the ark of
the covenant being placed, at last, "in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it."
vs. 17. In no way can this be construed to sanction dancing today. Nor are we, guided in this
dispensation of grace to conduct ourselves exactly imitating saints in time of old. We learn much
from the principles these incidents display_"all these things happened unto them for en-samples"
for us. (I Cor. 10:11). The types and shadows must be understood in the things they portray and
not in the literal acts themselves.

David’s dancing has often been a perplexity since many think that he was unclothed or naked as
seemingly inferred from Michal’s remarks. No doubt her own father was shamefully unclothed
when prophesying among the prophets in I Sam. 19:24. However, in the instance we are
considering, the Spirit of God would seem to guard us against this thought by telling us plainly
that David was "girded with a linen ephod", (v. 14). This is truly more in accordance with the
Word when we (recall that God plainly told Moses of the clothing required for Aaron and his
sons, the priests, specifying that they wear linen breeches "to cover their nakedness." (Ex. 28:42).

Just what then are we to understand from Michal’s disgust at David’s conduct? It seems that
Michal saw little in David’s person but everything in his position among men. He was king! When
David danced before the LORD simply clothed in the ephod, he made himself of no reputation
and simply let his heart overflow to the LORD. It was his kingly garments that he did not wear
at this time. This seems to be the reason for her despising David. That this was foremost in her
eyes is indicated by the statement that she "saw king David dancing. . . ." Also she taunted him
who came to bless by the remark, "How glorious was the king of Israel today." Such sarcasm
displayed her lack of affection for his person. Truly, without the kingly garments which she prized
so highly, David seemed to her as she said, "shamelessly uncovered." Self-abasing humility

toward God is ever despised by the flesh. Yet no position more becomes the joyous thankful soul
before the living God.

Michal’s own barrenness until her death typifies the barrenness of the soul who fails to see the
glories of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true David, though veiled by his humility here. "We . . .
worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Phil.
3:3). This is the true spirit of David’s dancing! May it be truly shared by more of His own today.