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Dancing for God
a children's sermon based on 2 Samuel 6
by Rev. Frank Schaefer

2Samuel 6:5: "David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the LORD with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals."

Greetings, my little friends.  Today's lesson is about the great king David. King David was known for many things.  You all know the story of David, when he was just a young man.  Who remembers the name of the giant he defeated?

Goliath--that's right.  But today's story is not about scary giants, it's about King David dancing in a worship service.  The Israelites had a procession in which they brought the holy ark of the covenant to David's city.  Have you ever seen a procession in the street when people are dancing?

Well David and his people were dancing before God and the people of God, and they were shouting praises to the Lord.  And king David also played his trumpet--he was praising God with all his might.

Now, have you ever seen anybody dance in church before?  What would you think if suddenly someone would start dancing while we sing a song to God? Would you think that's strange?  Well, if you do, you're in good company with Michal, David's wife.  She was embarrassed when she saw her husband dance like that.  She probably thought that he was not acting very kingly and that he was  making a fool of himself.

But, really, if you think about it, isn't it great that people express their joy and praise of God by dancing in a worship service?  You know, in some church traditions and many cultures dancing is a normal part of the worship of God.   I have been to a few churches where people dance in worship.  And I must tell you:  at first, I thought it was a little strange, but then I looked into the dancers' faces and I saw that they were really praising God.

I think we need a little more of that spirit of joy and dancing in our worship services.  But I also think it needs to come from the heart. Who knows one of these days we may be so moved by the Spirit of God that we start dancing in our worship service.  But in the meantime we can praise God the way we are used to: by singing hymns, by praying, by playing instruments, etc.   Amen.