Probably the two things best known about David, even to those who've never picked up a Bible is that he killed a giant, and that he played the harp. Before he became a soldier, and then a king, David was a musician, and his love of music stayed with him throughout his life. David's harp playing calmed Saul in his distress, and his song writing abilities were expressed in a great number of psalms. Here, David's love of music is expressed in this joyous celebration following the return of the ark of God to Israel.

Music is a connecting force, and David in these moments showed himself to be a man of the people, an equal among equals. His wife, Michel, daughter of Saul, found this to be an embarrassment, unworthy of his status as king, and strongly objects to his behaviour, wanting her husband, the king, to stand aloof.

And yet the leaders who do the most good tend to be those immersed in the community, not those we hold up as gods to admire and worship. The best kind of leader is the invisible one, working from within, staying tuned to the needs of the people, playing in harmony. David connected with his people through a shared experience. Would that more of our corporate and political leaders do likewise, we may develop a greater trust, a camaraderie sorely missing in both domains.