Dancing and parties
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
Mark 6:14-29
A horse, a horse my kingdom for a horse! these famous words from Shakespeare’s play are spoken
stupidly by Richard III as he is about to face death.
Of course no horse will be able to save him from death, because so Shakespeare wants his audience
to believe, Richard III is just an evil king who deserves death.
King Herod, who actually wasn’t really a king but a tetrarch (a governor of the Roman Province of
Galilee) finds himself in our Gospel reading today in an equally embarrassing situation.
This time the scene of the crisis is not a battlefield but the banquet hall of the royal palace where
Herod is celebrating his birthday. The rich and famous are there ; the politicians, the army leaders,
and some family members. There is plenty of food and the wine has been flowing more than
generously, but now it is time for the entertainment.
Let the dancing begin!
But this was not the kind of dancing the Jewish people of the time were familiar with, this was
Roman style dancing: performed by loose women, prostitutes to you and me.
And if that wasn’t shocking enough Mark tells us that Herod’s court was so decadent that the
king’s own step daughter Salome was going to dance for him and his guests.
Salome was the daughter of Herodias, presumably from her previous marriage with Philip. Now
Herodias herself was not only Herod’s present wife and his former sister in law, she was also his
niece. Which makes Salome his great niece: a girl; and note that Mark uses the same word here, as
he used a chapter earlier for the daughter of Jairus who was we were told 12 years old.
A child therefore, encouraged to dance like an adult prostitute. Was this the Bunga Bunga party of
its day?
Instead Herod is charmed by what he sees. And noticing that is guests too are hypnotised by this
scheming dance of depravity, Herod’s seeks their favour by stupidly offering the girl his kingdom
(well half of it) or anything else her heart may desire.
The child turns to her mother who urges Salome to ask for the head of the man she hates most
because he dares tell the truth: John the Baptist.
Afraid of what his guests may think and wishing to appear strong the weak Herod gives instructions
to decapitate God’s prophet.
Herod chose to show his power through ordering death. And in doing so he represented for Mark all
that is wrong with earthly kingdoms where power is used to oppress, where personal gain is the aim
in life, where pleasure is mistaken for love. And where dancing is about manipulation in order to get
what you want.
Herod had a choice but he chose the way of the world. A choice that left him unhappy and haunted,
so haunted that when he heard about Jesus he believed that John had come back to life.
One king made a different choice from Herod. This king was David.
Now David is nothing if not a very human king, and the Bible never makes him into a saint. We get
him warts and all as it were. But one thing is for sure with David; it is that he chooses for God.
And to mark his love for God he gives a party; the party to welcome God in Israel’s new capital
Jerusalem.
As the ark of the covenant which represented the throne of God and symbolised his presence, is
processed into the city, there is plenty of music; played on all kinds of instruments: castanets, harps,
lyres, and cymbals.
And as the music plays David starts dancing in front of the Lord and others inspired by his
enthusiasm join.
A dance of joy, a dance of thankfulness for the Lord’s presence.
This was not the erotic dance of the Romans, this was a dance the Jewish people were more familiar
with: a childlike outward expression of an exuberant feeling, spontaneous, danced because you
were filled with happiness and could do no other.
Dancing was an essential part of the act of worship for the people of Israel it was a way to express
gratefulness and joy in the Lord the Redeemer (just think of Miriam’s dance after the Israelites have
escaped from the Egyptians).
David’s dance is not about getting what he wants; it is about giving, it is about glorifying God and
rejoicing in God and trusting fully in him as only children usually do without caring what others think.
Yet it wouldn’t be a party without food, and so David brings an offering to God, and only after having
done this does David show his generosity to the crowd that surrounds him blessing them and giving
t bread and cakes to all.
A different kind of party, a different kind of dance, a different kind of king, for even though David
was a warrior king and a very human one he was also God’s anointed Kind, forerunner of the true
Messiah. The messiah John the Baptist had preached about a preaching that had interested Herod,
but not enough to make him change his life.
This king would be the opposite of Herod himself. He would not kill, but die so that others might
live. He would show his power by serving people, and his banquet would be open to all.
Indeed it is no coincidence that the passage that follows today’s Gospel reading is about Jesus
feeding the 5000: for that is the kind of banquet this king gives; inviting not the rich and influential
people but the nobodies: the poor, the hungry.
And the food he shares is enough for all, even if there are only 5 loaves and 2 fish to start with.
His is not a feast with decadent pleasure focused entertainment but a feast given out of pure love
for all.
And so when you are in this king’s presence you have nothing to fear but you can feel safe knowing
you can trust him.
A king so generous that he offers himself.
This king is himself the Lord of the dance: the king who organises parties with music and dance
whenever a prodigal son or daughter returns home, whenever a lost sheep is found. the king who
makes the blind see and the lame leap for joy.
This king is not self centred he offers his kingdom to all.
This king is a life giving king
Which King do we want to rule over us?
Which dance do we want to dance?
Herod could have made a different choice, after all his family were proselytes, they knew about God
and the promised Messiah. Herod could have listened to John whose message so fascinated him,
but his wish for power and wealth, his personal ambitions had replaced God in his life.
Wanting to avoid choosing sides Herod had preferred the status quo with John in prison, but on that
fateful day he was forced to choose and he made the wrong decision. A decision that would haunt
him for the rest of his life.
Many of us prefer the status quo, but sooner or later we too will have to make a choice:
will we dance the self gratifying dance of the world or will we dance in praise of God and his love for
us? will we dance with Jesus sharing what we have, healing the sick, welcoming all and bringing
true peace?
The choice is ours, Just like it was Herod’s and David’s and yes, even Jesus’.