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Dancing in the Street

Let’s meet David today, the great grandson of Ruth. In 2 Samuel we meet him as a young king as he rises from shepherd boy to shepherding king. The reign of Saul had been oppressive. The elders and David came together. The tribes recognized that they were the same bone and flesh. Their collective memory sees Hebron as a place of encounter with God.

We probably all know David better as a shepherd boy. He loved being outside with his sheep. His heart was good; he showed obedience; he had a way with words. We can almost hear him whispering these words we know so well as he carefully watches over his flock: God is my shepherd. I am his lamb. He feeds me. He guides me. He looks after me. I have everything I need. Inside, my heart is very quiet; as quiet as lying still in soft grass in a meadow, by a little stream. Even when I walk through the dark, lonely, scary places, I won’t be afraid because my shepherd knows where I am. He is here with me. He keeps me safe. He rescues me. He makes me strong and brave. He is getting things ready for me, especially for me; everything I ever dreamed of. He fills my heart so full of happiness. I can’t hold it all inside, wherever I go. God is never-stopping, never giving up, unbreaking and forever. Love will always go, too.

David was doing his job as a shepherd boy the day Samuel came to his dad Jesse to call a new king. When Samuel thought about a king, he was looking for physical attributes, someone strong and formidable. He had Jesse line up his many sons. God told Samuel,”You are thinking about what they look like on the outside. I am thinking about what I see on the inside.”

Seven sons and then there was the shepherd boy…the youngest son…the weakling in the family…a quiet and gentle boy. That’s who God chose to be king because God was getting his people ready for a greater king who was coming later.

And I know you are familiar with the story of this shepherd boy and the horrible giant Goliath. David always had his slingshot with him to keep predators away from his flock of sheep. He took five stones and used that sling he had used to chase away wolves and other wild animals. He knew that God would help him. He felt no fear. His stone flew through the air and hit Goliath on the forehead. Down fell Goliath, his sword, his spear, and his mighty shield.

In 2 Samuel, David is dancing in the streets before the Lord with all his might as they carried the ark of the covenant. The ark had been in the enemy’s possession for 20 years. David has relocated the capital to Jerusalem. This was a city chosen by God, and we will continue to see God’s story unfold from this place.

David certainly does not know everything that lies ahead in his life as he dances in the street. We do know the rest of the story whenever we read scripture, so perhaps we should be the ones dancing in the street.

We already know that God made a promise with David. One of his children’s children will be the king who will rule the world forever. Samuel had found David in the city of Bethlehem. God would later say, “Go to Bethlehem. You’ll find the new king there.” And in Bethlehem, the city of David, some shepherds and a few wise men would find him.

Do you ever have those moments in your own life? Moments that are so beautiful and rare that make you feel overjoyed with the Lord. Moments when you want to leap with joy or dance in the streets?

I might think of the days that my sons were born or the first time I got to hold my grandchildren and great-grandson in my arms. I might certainly think about love finding me and giving me a second chance at being able to cherish and be cherished back. Yet I feel that what I am hearing in scripture today is that I need to take a clue from this shepherd boy who became king. I need to find moments in each and every day where I can rejoice. If we look for them, those moments are there. Perhaps we need to open ourselves to those moments so that we can dance or sing or rejoice. God is worth it. He is our Good Shepherd who is leading his flock back to where they always belonged – back to the heart. Find those moments today and every day. Make your environment Hebron, a place to encounter God. Find a reason to dance in the streets.

 

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