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| Michal despises David - James Tissot |
TO CHEW ON: "Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David and said, 'How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!'" 2 Samuel 6:20
How deflating to return home from a grand and successful day, feeling full of love and good will toward your household, only to be met by the sarcastic words of a disdainful wife.
What was Michal's problem?
- Did she think David had actually debased himself before the people with his leaps and spins of celebratory worship?
- Or perhaps she thought she needed to educate him in behavior seemly for a king, seeing she had grown up in a king's household?
- Obviously she didn't understand the depth of his devotion to God—a devotion that didn't pay any attention to his own dignity.
David didn't accept the put-down. His response matched Michal's in heat when he said, "It was the Lord who chose me instead of your father..." (entire answer - 2 Samuel 6:21,22).
This story is a cautionary tale to those of us who would judge others for their style of worship. Michal's criticism reminds me of the way the scribes and Pharisees reacted to Mary who showed her love for Jesus by anointing His feet with expensive spikenard perfume and wiping them with her hair. Let's let Jesus' rebuke of them ring in our hearts and minds any time we're tempted to criticize (verbally or mentally) the way someone else is worshiping: "Let her (him) alone..." John 12:7.
PRAYER: Dear God, help me not to be held by the chains of "what will others think?" or "we've never done it that way." May I not shackle others with those things either. I would rather say with David, 'I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight." Amen.
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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Violet, thanks for this perspective--for when we're tempted to judge and for when we're inhibited from worshipping freely. It's a tough balance sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThanks too for this new-to-me song. I love Carolyn Arends' music.
Thanks, Janet! My own limits of tolerance have been stretched greatly in this department since we started attending a Pentecostal church (about 12 years ago). My roots are in the staid Mennonite and Alliance denominations. But I have come to enjoy uninhibited worship (at least appreciating it in others ... can't say I do too much spinning and leaping myself.)
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