The Ark of the Covenant headed toward Jerusalem, carried by priests at the front of a joyful procession. Thousands of Israelites followed, celebrating loudly. King David led the crowd, dancing before the Lord “with all his might,” grateful for God’s care.
Everyone joined in the festivities except for one. As the crowd moved into the city, David’s wife, Michal, watched from a window. When she saw the king leaping and dancing, scripture says “she despised him in her heart.” Later that evening, she met him with scathing sarcasm, saying “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today.” David had nothing to hide. He explained that he was simply expressing his devotion and worship to God.
Were David’s actions disrespectful, or were they an appropriate gift of worship? Who gets to decide?
Different temperaments and personalities express themselves in various ways. All too often, we are annoyed or offended by another person’s style or expressions. With “righteous” indignation, we hurl accusations and judgment on them.
We cannot know a person’s heart. None can judge motives other than God.
Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:1, shared a better way: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged." He continues by asking why we look at the speck of sawdust in another’s eye and pay no attention to the plank that is in our own. It’s a question worth contemplating.
—Kathy McMillan is director of Employee Spiritual Care at Loma Linda University Medical Center.