1. David was a rap artiste. Check out the lyrics in 2 Samuel 22. The rap is about a guy familiar with death. Tupac also had a haunting familiarity with death. #Illuminare
2. In Open Fire Tupac rapped: “Word to God, I’ve been ready to die since I was born.” And in If I Die Tonight Tupac sang, “I hope they bury me and send me to my rest/Headlines readin’ ‘Murdered to death’/My last breath.” #Illuminare
3. Now, check out Unnamed by David: “The waves of death crashed over me. Hell’s ropes clinched me tight; death traps barred my exit...” 2 Samuel 22:5-6. You can almost hear the grooves…the trap and heavy percussions. #Illuminare
4. David was a producer-composer, like Pharrell; also an instrumentalist. He played the guitar. And so when he became king he brought music into the mix. #Illuminare
5. He was an ordained pastor too and he set about revolutionizing worship. I suspect he was a Pentecostal. He seemed to favor loud, passionate, expressive worship. #Illuminare
6. You see, in those days services were solemn and scary. Church was somber. David changed all that. He felt praise worship should be interesting and loud: #Illuminare
7. “Praise with the blast of the trumpet…Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals…” Psalm 150:2-5. #Illuminare
8. He organized a huge party to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. It’s not as if he didn’t reverence God, it’s just that he related to God in a real and personal way, knew him. And God showed up at that party. #Illuminare
9. Come and see latest dance steps! David was a boogying pastor. At that time the latest dance step was a bit energetic. #Illuminare
10. I don’t have the video for that event or I’d have shown you. I’ve searched YouTube it’s not there. #Illuminare
11. The dance probably involved back flips or some jumping up and down; or how else could David’s underwear have shown when he was dancing? Men wore robes in those days. #Illuminare
12. By strict protocol this was “unbecoming” of a king. Imagine the Queen of England popping at Westminster Abbey. Come to think of it that would be some sight. #Illuminare
13. But David was a modern king. He brought style and flair to governance and politics. That dance of course went viral. It trended on social media and someone showed it to the Queen. #Illuminare
14. Michal was embarrassed. She was a king’s daughter when she married David. She understood decorum. This was lack of decorum. #Illuminare
15. David trended as #DiscoKing. She didn’t buy into all this funky monarchy stuff either. And she had a major fight with David when he came home from church. #Illuminare
16. But of all days! Imagine you’re a pastor and you’ve just blessed everyone in church. You head home to bless your family only for your wife (who didn’t come to church) to meet you at the door with a fight! #Illuminare
17. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself this day! He has exposed himself today before his servants’ slave girls the way a vulgar fool might do.” 2 Samuel 6:20. #Illuminare
18. OUCH! There must have been a problem before David left for church, but boy, that cut deep. David was most pained and he gave it back to her: #Illuminare
19. “In God’s presence I’ll dance all I want! He chose me over your father (Ouch!) and the rest of our family and made me prince over God’s people, over Israel…” #Illuminare
20. “…Oh yes, I’ll dance to God’s glory recklessly even than this. And as far as I’m concerned… I’ll gladly look like a fool…but among these babes you’re so worried about, I’ll be honored no end.” 2 Samuel 6:20-22. #Illuminare
21. (Erm, the Bible didn’t use the word, “babes” but you get the point. It said “maids.” Same thing). #Illuminare
22. Now, some people are going to deliberately misconstrue what I’m going to say next, but that’s okay. Here’s the truth: Like David God expects young people to dance in church like they’re at a party. There’s no holy dance. #Illuminare
23. Of course I’m not talking about vulgar dance. That contradicts church. But it just seems funny that a young man or woman can dance so energetically at a party but when it comes to God he or she dials down the energy. #Illuminare
24. Yet Jesus said to worship God with all our might. Matthew 22:37. Church is supposed to pop! That’s the David revolution. #Illuminare
25. Now, having read this story isn’t it ironic we condemn those who dance the latest steps in church. We call them “carnal,” not realizing they’re the ones obeying scriptures. #Illuminare
26. We think religiosity is holy in all its glorious pretentiousness. Why would a youth come to church and be dancing like his grandpa! Just doesn’t make sense. #Illuminare
27. From this story therefore it would seem the people we condemn in church are the ones doing the right thing before God. They’re the ones dancing with reckless abandon before their maker. #Illuminare
28. As long as the dance is done with genuine motivation God has no issues, obviously! I mean, who would you rather endorse if you’re God – a guy who’s glad to see you or someone who’s sad to see you? #Illuminare
29. Of course not everyone can dance the latest dance steps. We don’t have the same level of exposure. But dance what you can before your maker. #Illuminare
30. We need to stop the pharisaic condemnation of those who express their worship with passion and vigor, and of course the latest dance steps. If God has no problem with the dance what exactly is our problem? #Illuminare
31. And guess who God condemned in the whole story? You guessed right. It was Michal the Queen. She became barren for the rest of her life. We need to be careful about those condemnations. #Illuminare
32. God is looking for real dudes. Those who’ll worship him genuinely. He’s not looking for religion or fake stuff. He wants genuine people. He’s not looking for perfect people either. Life can’t be perfect, life can’t be smooth. #Illuminare
33. We all have a past. God is realistic. As long as you keep pursuing him that’s what he calls perfect heart. That, ladies and gentlemen is what he’s looking for – perfect hearts. #Illuminare
34. Don’t forget to drop fake holiness at the entrance of the church when church resumes. Go in raw and real. #Illuminare
35. I want you to give your life to Christ. Pray this prayer: “Father I acknowledge that I am a sinner, that Jesus died for me, that you raised him from the dead. Father please forgive me. I accept Jesus today as my Lord and my Saviour. Amen.” #Illuminare
