2 Samuel 6:21
And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
The verse belongs to the bringing up of the ark of God toward the holy city Jerusalem, with David joined by all the house of Israel in a vast procession winding along hills and valleys. Playing before the Lord was exultant public worship in music and movement, with harps and psalteries and timbrels and cornets and cymbals, with shouts and songs of rejoicing and a multitude of voices joined in melody, including leaping and dancing. It was done with solemn gladness as a scene of triumph not witnessed in Israel for a long time, to honor the ark as the symbol of the divine presence.
David spoke these words to defend that worship after Michal daughter of Saul looked out, despised him in her heart, and met him with bitter irony accusing him of shamefully exposing himself before servant girls as a worthless fellow. His answer was that his playing was before the Lord who chose him before her father and all his house to appoint him ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel, and therefore he will play before the Lord. Michal's scorn was scorn and dishonor toward the service of God. David declared he will be yet more humble and lowly in his own sight and will be held in honor by those same maidservants. For her pride and arrogance in despising this worship, Michal was rebuked by the Lord with childlessness to the day of her death.