2 Samuel 6:12a; 1 Chronicles 15:1-28; 2 Samuel 6:12b-16; 1 Chronicles 15:29; 2 Samuel 6:17-19a; 1 Chronicles 16:1-43; 2 Samuel 6:19b-23

Michal, David’s wife, thinks that is beneath David to act the way he did when he danced before the ark. God apparent sides with David (2 Samuel 6:23)! Can we ever go overboard with the way we praise God? Possibly (1 Corinthians 14:40), but we need to understand the circumstances. The ark was coming back! David was doing it right this time! There was every reason to praise, and David was setting an example for the people. In effect, he was saying, “this is how excited you should be!”

He follows it up with an example of praise that we would do well to emulate:

• God is great, and he deserves thanks, worship, and praise!
• We need to remember what He has done for us.
• We need to continually seek Him and go to Him for strength.
• We need to cry out to Him for protection and salvation.

Twice in these passages we read that David went home and blessed his household. Some think that it may mean “greet” instead of “bless,” however we have the same word with seemingly the same intent in both 1 Chronicles 16:2 and 1 Chronicles 16:43. Perhaps our own households need leadership that praises and prays for them, especially in their presence!