Keep on Dancing
by Ian Biss 7/2/01
Intro...
Harrison’s Postulate states, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism."
* Rotarian, Aug. 1994, p. 56
Some folks are very involved in the lives of others, in fact:
Have you heard the story of a woman who was so entwined in other people’s lives that when she had a near-death experience, someone else’s life passed before her eyes.
* "A Hunger for Healing," Keith Miller, Seeds Tape Ministry, Jan. 19, 1992
God’s children are some of the most criticized, and most critical people in the world. Christians just can’t win. Quite often, you spend all week being ridiculed by those you are trying to lead to Christ, then just when you think you are going to get a break, some well meaning brother or sister in Christ spends 15 minutes admonishing you about something or another.
Everything in life has a critic, and you will more often be put down, rather than built up as you live in this world. What makes all the difference is how you handle your faultfinders and their commentaries.
Will you keep on dancing, or will you take a seat?
King David had to deal with criticism in almost every chapter of the bible that he is spoken of, yet he managed every reproach with a coolness beyond compare. No wonder God made him King.
David kept on dancing.
Let’s look at one example.
Read Text: 2 Samuel 6 (vs 16-22)
Exegesis
The time that this event has taken place is one of great joy for the nation of Israel, it’s enemies have been conquered, the anointed king is on the throne, and now the ark bearing the law of God has been brought to the place prepared for it in the City of David.
Everyone in town is celebrating it would seem, except for Michal, David’s first wife. Michal is disquieted about everything that her dear husband up to and she in no uncertain terms lets him know about it.
Let’s break this down to learn more.
I. Rejoice in the good fortunes of others (Vs 16)
Exposition
There are three important things to discover in this verse, the first is that David is leaping and dancing before the lord, he is sacrificing and reveling with the people of Israel, and just having an all around good time. David is where he should be, celebrating the victories of the Lord.
The second discovery is that Michal is burning mad about the victory that her king has received. She is so angry about the celebrating that the bitterness has gone to her heart, she is sad and she is lonely. Michal is where she should not be, hating the victories of the Lord.
The third discovery is that Michal is hurting herself, and only herself; because she is the only one that is unhappy. She has no reason to be unhappy.
Application
When you come right down to it, your life and what you do with it begins and ends with God. There is no escaping that fact. If you are not happy about where you are in life, it is because you are not celebrating the victories that God has brought into your life.
Everyone in here has shared a victory with our awesome God! Believe it because you have! Your being born is a victory you have shared with the Lord!
Have you ever heard someone say they wish they had never been born? God doesn’t feel that way, He wanted you born so that He could love you for eternity. God is so happy you were born He went and died for you so that you would not have to die, that’s how happy He is that you were born.
God accepts you when no one else does, no matter where you have been or what you have done in your life God wants you, God cares.
Illustration
Byron Deel, grew up with an alcoholic and abusive father. Byron had two brothers and three sisters, a large family, but his dad spent the family income on alcohol, and he drank and ranted and raved and hit them. When Byron was twelve, his father walked away from the family, and did absolutely nothing to support them. There were no child care payments. No alimony. No cards at birthdays. No gifts at Christmas. Nothing but hardship and abandonment.
Six years later, he showed up again, two weeks after Byron had graduated from high school. It was an awkward meeting. He stayed about half an hour. And then he left again, and this time there was no contact for sixteen years. Byron confided to a friend, "My attitude toward my dad was everything that it shouldn’t have been for a Christian. He had robbed mi of a happy childhood. He had failed me at every point. He had abused me. I hesitate to say I hated him, but perhaps hatred isn’t too strong a word. There was a bitterness there that was almost a loathing. Whenever anyone asked me about my dad, I’d shut them off pretty fast. As I grew older, I put it all out of my mind, and there was just a blank spot there. I didn’t think about it. I could go for years without once thinking about my father."
Then out of the blue Byron’s aunt called him and said, "Your father is in Bristol, VA, very sick and close to death. It would mean something to him if he could see one of his children. He has cirrhosis of the liver." None of the other children wanted to see him, and Byron lived the closest to Bristol. So he got in his car and drove up there. He said, "I had a ton of thoughts. Not a lot of strong feelings, just a sense that someone should do this. I didn’t want to, but it seemed like I should."
He walked into the ICU and there was a seventy one year old man, connected to monitors, tubes inserted into his body, surrounded by medical equipment. Byron hadn’t seen him for sixteen years, but he recognized the man. And something strange happened. As Byron saw his dad lying there helplessly, dying, strung about with wires and tubes and monitors and machines, all the years of hatred and anger melted away. He walked over and stood by the bedside. The man opened his eyes, saw Byron, and began to cry. Byron said. "I wept, too. It was almost as though I could see going through his mind waves of regret for the wasted years." Byron spent that day and the next with his dad, and he was surprised th find that he had a lot of feeling for the man. "The burden that I had been carrying around for years, without realizing it, was gone. We were able to talk, and I was able to share the gospel with him."
Byron’s father survived that stay in the hospital, and was able to return home briefly. During that time, Byron had a second visit , taking his wife and daughters with him. And during that visit, he grew convinced that his dad had trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
Later the call came that his father had died. But Byron was no longer bitter or estranged. The compassion of Jesus Christ had taken hold, and instead of seeing himself as an abused victim full of hatred and cold of heart, he saw something else. He saw his dad through the Lord’s eyes, as a needy man who just needed Jesus Christ.
The love of Christ will cover a multitude of sins. So will you be a victim, never seeing the victories God is winning all around you, angry, envying others who are rejoicing in the blessings of the Lord, or will you keep on dancing?
II. Excuses, excuses! (Vs20)
Exposition
Michal is grasping for a reason to transfer her guilt and unhappiness to her husband, so she hits him with his great sin of "being seen out gallivanting with the commoners", as if somehow there are some people in this world who are lower life forms than others.
People will find an excuse to criticize. In this case, Michal is trying to embarrass David by saying that a king would never lower himself by dressing, celebrating with, and acting like the commoners.
Michal wants David to feel bad, so that she will feel better.
Application
There is no such thing as "constructive criticism", criticism is only destructive. When you criticize others, the intent is to make them feel bad for what they have done. You may have good motive for your review of the situation, you may think you are helping, but in reality you are doing more harm than good.
Illustration
In his book The Youth Builder, Jim Burns talks about the importance of building up young people with affirmation and trust. What he says about criticism applies to every age group: For every critical comment we receive, it takes nine affirming comments to even out the negative effect in our life. Most young people receive more critical comments a day than encouraging ones. You can have a very positive, life transforming effect when you develop a ministry of affirmation.
It is much easier to hurt than it is to heal, yet the power of praising God for the lives of others can be a valuable mechanism for positive change in their life, and yours.
Illustration
John Hyde was a missionary to India who became famous for his effective and powerful praying that he is known to history as Praying Hyde. He was praying for an Indian national Pastor who was both having–and causing problems.
Hyde began his prayer, "O God, thou knowest this brother, how–" He was going to say "cold,"when suddenly he was smitten in his spirit. A voice seemed to whisper sharply to him, "He that touches him touches the apple of my eye." A great horror swept over Hyde, and he felt he had been guilty before God of "accusing the brethren."
Falling to his knees, Hyde confessed his own sin, and he remembered the words of Paul, that we should think on things that are lovely and good. "Father," cried Hyde, "show me what things are lovely and of good report in my brother’s life."
Like a flash, Hyde remembered the many sacrifices this pastor had made for the Lord, how he had given up all for Christ, how he had suffered deeply for Christ. He thought of the many years of difficult labor this man had invested in the kingdom, and the wisdom with which he had resolved congregational conflict. Hyde remembered the man’s devotion to his wife and family, and how he had provided a model to the church of godly husbanding.
John Hyde spent his prayer time that day praising the Lord for this brother’s faithfulness.
Shortly afterward, Hyde journeyed into the plains to see this pastor, and he learned that the man had just received a great spiritual uplift, as if a personal revival had refreshed his heart like a springtime breeze.
While Hyde had been praising, God had been blessing.
You will do so much more for yourself and others when you spend time praising them, think on the things that are lovely and good.
III. Celebrate before the Lord. (Vs 21-22)
Exposition
David stands up for himself, and he let’s Michal know the real reason that she has her dander up. Her father King Saul is gone, most of her family is gone, and they are gone because of Saul’s disobedience to God. David has been selected to replace Saul, and that has added to Michal’s sorrow.
David is saying, "God chose me, so wake up and smell the coffee, I will celebrate and humble myself before Him and His people. I’m going to keep on dancing!
Application
God wants you to be bold in your witness of Him, and if you are going to be bold in your witness you will be put down for it. There are no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it, you will be boldly criticized if you boldly testify! Be ready to defend your faith.
Just getting hollered at is not proof that you did wrong, so stand up for yourself and politely, though powerfully, explain your position. Do that, and no matter what the outcome, keep on dancing!
Illustration
"The reality is that criticism and opposition will drive you somewhere. Let it drive you closer to God and you will become better. Let it drive you away from God and you will become bitter." (From Dan Southerland, a Sr. Pastor)
Conclusion
A practicing lawyer loved to attack his opponents through scathing letters printed in newspapers. In 1842, he ridiculed the wrong man. James Shields did not take kindly to the anonymous writer who lampooned him in the Springfield Journal. Mr. Shields tracked down the attorney who had publicly embarrassed him and challenged him to a duel. The man was a writer, not a fighter, but he could not get out of the duel without losing his honor. He was given the choice of weapons and chose swords in hopes of using his long arms to his advantage. He trained with a West Point graduate as he prepared to fight to the death. On the appointed day he met Mr. Shields on a sandbar in the Mississippi River. At the last minute their seconds intervened and convinced the men to stop the duel. The lawyer returned to his practice as a changed man. Never again did he openly criticize anyone. In fact, years later when he heard his wife criticize the southern people of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln said, "Don’t criticize them; they are just what we would be under similar circumstances." Do you have a critical spirit? Lincoln did, but he changed. Make the change today so you, like Lincoln, can be known more for your tolerance than your criticism.
* How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie, 1981, p. 9-10
Keep on Dancing.
