“As the ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Saulʼs daughter Michal looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him. They brought the ark of the Lord and put it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before the Lord. When David finished offering the burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. He then handed out to each member of the entire assembly of Israel, both men and women, a portion of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home. When David went home to pronounce a blessing on his own house, Michal, Saulʼs daughter, came out to meet him. She said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself this day! He has exposed himself today before his servantsʼ slave girls the way a vulgar fool might do!” 2 Samuel 6:16-20

“A Tempest in a Teapot”

The expression probably derives from the writing of Cicero, in De Legibus, circa 52BC. The translation of the phrase “Excitabat fluctus in simpulo” is often written as “He was stirring up billows in a ladle”. Interesting enough, other cultures have versions of the phrase in their own languages. The translation of the Netherlands version is ‘a storm in a glass of water’, and the Hungarian ‘a tempest in a potty’. The Duke of Ormond’s letters to the Earl of Arlington, 1678, include this:

“Our skirmish … is but a storm in a cream bowl.”

In the Connecticut Gazette dated Wednesday, August 30, 1820, an article includes—“A person once came running almost out of breath to the Lord Chancellor, saying, “My Lord, I bring you tidings of calamity to the nation…a rebellion has broken out”–“Where, where?” “In the Isle of man.” “In the Isle of Man!” repeated the vociferous Chancellor. “A tempest in a tea-pot.”

When the Ark of the Lord is finally brought to Jerusalem, David begins to dance like a whirling dervish. And it is embarrassing, at least to some — he looks like a “tempest in a tea-pot”. But if the Lord leads you to dancing, then why not dance with all your strength. Lutherans are not known for their expressive forms of worship, yet there are moments where we just cannot help ourselves. And it is ok for us to really feel the spirit in worship — and to let out the occasional “Amen” or even raise our hands to G-d during a song. No, we do not want to cause a “tempest in a tea-pot” — but if you feel the spirit during worship, let others know the Lord is speaking to you.

Pastor Dave