The Wednesday Word 11.02.2022

 

2 Samuel 6:16-23 New Living Translation

16 “But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him. 17 They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. 18 When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 19 Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes. 20 When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” 21 David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. 22 Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” 23 So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.”

The story of David with all its twists and turns can be found in the two books of Samuel in the Old Testament. King Saul’s daughter Michal’s part as on-again-off-again wife of David is complicated. Reading the whole story may shed a little more light on her stiff-necked reaction to David’s demonstration. She missed the whole point. I don’t want to miss it.

David, the lowly shepherd boy, had been elevated to the highest position in the land, chosen and anointed by God. Through many years of trials, battles and political dangers of all sorts, David remained steadfast in his faith. He made mistakes that had consequences for himself and others, but this was not one of them. The significance of leading the return of the sacred Ark through the streets himself, leaping and dancing, may be a little lost on us. This was an all-out celebration of an end to everything the people of God had been through. Instead of being at the head of a solemn, dignified (pompous) procession, David was not too proud to show his own exuberant gratitude, calling everyone to join in adoration and rejoicing in what God had done for them. Most importantly, the adoration was meant to be directed to God, not for David!

Are we willing to go out on a limb for God? Can we experience passionate worship? Can we discern the difference between directing attention to God and drawing attention to ourselves? I hope so…something to pray about.

Don’t forget to look for the Lord today. Vicki H.

                                                                                                    photo by Timothy Wolff