II Samuel 5-6

“And David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines …” (6:5).  David and the people celebrated their victories and the return of the “ark of God,” and their dancing and singing was also worship.  However, Israel’s celebration could never be just another victory party, because God’s holiness was in their midst.  Uzziah forgot that, and he died (v7), and Micah despised the whole thing (v23), and she was barred from the blessing.

We dare not take God’s presence lightly.  He is not the familiar idol of our culture; we are privileged to be adopted as his children and to share in his holiness.