The intensity of pain incurred during the wilderness is directly correlated with the weight of praise demonstrated at the exit point of the wilderness. That is why during breakthroughs, some break into a celebratory mood of dance while others celebrate in mere silence (watching). The watchers will never understand the magnitude of pain of the dancers, hence can’t fathom the might exhibited in their dance. These two are on different frequencies, each oscillated by the intensity of their wilderness pain.
Ask David:
From Saul trying to smite him severally by casting a javelin at him and trying to pin him to the wall as well as him escaping to the cave Adullam, to his escape to Naioth in Ramah, to his escape to different rocks, mountains, caves…, yet in all these, he purposed in his heart that he would never lay his hands on the LORD’s anointed (even when opportunity presented itself).
And look at the favor he had: before Ahimelech the priest who gave him hallowed bread and the sword of Goliath, before the king of Moab in Mizpeh who shielded his entire family while he was on hold; and before Jonathan (his very own enemy’s son) who gave him up to date and timely updates on his adversary’s plot.
Notwithstanding, David still won with astounding margins of victory: victory over Goliath (which was his maiden public one), victory over the Amalekites in Ziklag (where David recovered ALL) and victory at Baalperazim (where the LORD broke forth upon David’s enemies before him as the breach of waters).
How about the victory attached to bringing the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David? It was the LORD’s favor and victory after victory for David.
And David danced before the LORD with all his might!!
Then Michal saw David leaping and dancing before the LORD and she despised him in her heart and later on mocked him to his face.
Thing is, Michal lacked not only the theoretical knowledge but the practical know-how as well of this “correlation.” She was not with David when he abode in the wilderness and in strongholds: in the wilderness of Ziph when Saul sought him everyday – 1 Samuel 23:14 (yet God delivered him not into his hand), when David escaped to the cave Adullam, when he was in the wilderness of Engedi, when he fled for fear of Saul to Achish the king of Gath, when he escaped and came to Samuel in Ramah, when he hid in the wilderness of Maon, when Saul pursued him as he hid himself in the hill of Hachilah and when David dwelt in the country of the Philistines for a full year and four months.
So, the next time before you opt for Michal’s approach, always study the dancer’s history and you will make a silent discovery that ‘hidden beneath the intricacies of the might of praise is the direct correlation with the magnitude of pain.’
And never allow anyone who isn’t in practical touch with your pain shut your praise. Guard your praise!
References: 1 Samuel chapters 17 to 31; 2 Samuel chapters 1 to 6
Call me, ‘Hephzibah’ – His delight is in her
