II Samuel 6:12-23 12Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.

II Samuel 6:12-23 13When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

II Samuel 6:12-23 14Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, 15while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

II Samuel 6:12-23 16As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

II Samuel 6:12-23 17They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord.

II Samuel 6:12-23 18After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty.

II Samuel 6:12-23 19Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

II Samuel 6:12-23 20When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

II Samuel 6:12-23 21David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord.

II Samuel 6:12-23 22I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 23And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Larry Cline – Hardin Valley Church of Christ – 4/27/2014 Faith Plays The Fool Larry Cline – Hardin Valley Church of Christ – 4/27/2014

The fear of foolishness keeps us from: Raising our hand Changing jobs Asking someone out Sharing our faith Changing majors Worshipping God

If you aren’t willing to look foolish…

One of my new personal definitions of : “the willingness to look foolish”

Noah looked foolish… building an ark in the desert. Sarah looked foolish… buying maternity clothes at 90. The Israelites looked foolish… marching around Jericho. David looked foolish… attacking Goliath with a slingshot. The Wise Men looked foolish… following yonder star. Peter looked foolish… stepping out of a boat in the middle of a lake in the middle of the night. Jesus looked foolish… hanging half naked on the cross.

is the willingness to look foolish… and the results speak for themselves.

Noah was saved from the flood. Sarah gave birth to Isaac. The walls of Jericho came tumbling down. David defeated Goliath. The Wise Men found the Messiah. Peter walked on the water. Jesus rose from the dead. What’s your story?

Why have some of us accomplished so little? It’s because we’re not willing to look

II Samuel 6 “The Back Story” Then it happened as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. (II Samuel 6:16)

She was dripping with sarcasm! But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!” (II Samuel 6:20) She was dripping with sarcasm!

David was not afraid to look foolish. Kings don’t disrobe & dance, shepherd boys do!

David took off his royal robes… he refused to find his identity and security in being King but… found his identity and security in God.

refuge shepherd shield The Lord is my…

II Samuel 6:21-22 21So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the LORD. 22I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished.” “I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this.” (NLT)

God doesn’t care about outward appearance God doesn’t care about outward appearance. What God is looking for is people who are desperate enough to climb sycamore trees, cut holes in ceilings, push through crowds, yell at the top of their voices and jump out of boats to get to Him!

looks foolish… to those who “can’t hear the music”. David heard it… Michal didn’t!

“Worship is the strategy by which we interrupt our preoccupation with ourselves”