The Garment of a Servant-King

Wearing a linen ephod, 

David was dancing before the Lord with all his might.

— 2 Samuel 6:14 

When David brought the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem, he did something unexpected. The king, clothed not in royal robes but in a simple linen ephod, danced with abandon before the Lord. This was no performance. It was worship in its purest form—humble, joyful, unrestrained.

The linen ephod was a priestly garment, worn during service in the presence of God. By choosing to wear it, David laid aside the symbols of earthly power and embraced the posture of a servant before the King of kings. His identity that day was not as a warrior or ruler, but as a worshiper.

His wife Michal despised him for it. His behavior embarrassed her—perhaps because it lacked dignity, or because it blurred the lines between king and commoner. But David replied, “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this” (2 Samuel 6:21–22). His worship wasn’t about optics. It was about presence—God’s presence.

As believers in Christ, we too are called to be a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Like David, we must be willing to set aside our pride, our roles, and our reputations for the sake of drawing near to God. True worship flows not from performance but from humility, surrender, joy, and love.

Prayer:

Lord, clothe me with the humility of a linen ephod. Strip away pride and pretense, and teach me to worship You with all my might. May my life be a celebration of Your presence, no matter who is watching. Amen.