“David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.” — 2 Samuel 6:5
>> Sign up here for Sports Spectrum devotionals sent right to your email inbox <<
From Homer Jones and the first spike in 1965 to Amon-Ra St. Brown getting blasted with a ball of energy last year, the evolution of the touchdown celebration has been marked by ever-increasing cleverness and elaboration. Ickey Woods danced the “Ickey Shuffle” in the late ’80s, Tony Gonzalez paid homage to his basketball past in the early 2000s, and Cam Newton revealed the Superman S emblazoned on his chest a decade ago.
Football eras come and go, the players change, but the enduring nature of the touchdown celebration has persisted. The players change and the presentations differ, but what all generations have agreed on is that a touchdown deserves to be celebrated.
In the Old Testament, when the Ark of the Covenant — containing the tablets with God’s Ten Commandments — was finally returned to its rightful place among God’s people in Jerusalem, King David knew it was a moment to be celebrated. He couldn’t contain his excitement and burst out in spontaneous music and “dancing before the Lord with all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14).
The Israelites in those days associated the presence of the Ark with the presence of God Himself. The Ark had been captured by the enemies of Israel for a time, signifying to the Israelites that God’s presence was no longer with them to protect and guide them. Just imagine what it must have felt like for David to live day by day uncertain of whether God was there. Now, imagine the joy he experienced as the Ark was being marched back up to Jerusalem to reside among the people of Israel. God had not abandoned them. He had not forsaken them. He was with them and cared for them.
I’d celebrate that too.
Today, if you are in Christ, you never have to worry about what David had to. God promises in His Word that He is always with you. In fact, God Himself resides in you through the Holy Spirit. It’s an incomprehensible truth — that the God who created this universe, the source of all that is good, loves you and is with you.
The incredible assurance of God’s presence with us is, without a doubt, the best news in the lives of believers. If something as simple as a touchdown deserves to be celebrated, what does God’s promise of His presence with us deserve? David knew, and he celebrated with all his might. It’s a celebratory posture we’re invited to take every single day because of what Jesus secured for us in His life, death and resurrection.
— Kevin Mercer
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him <<
>> Dive more into God’s Word with Sports Spectrum through the YouVersion Bible App <<
If you would like to submit a devotional, please email all submissions to
devotionals@sportsspectrum.com
