“And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house. 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 to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! 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 I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death” (2 Samuel 6:16-23).
Introduction
While David danced with joy before the Lord, his wife, Michal, watched him through an open window and despised him. This secret hatred would be displayed as soon as David arrived home. We will see in this passage that Michal was certainly “chip off the old block”, for she had similar distain for the things of God as her father Saul.
The blessing
When the Ark arrived at its resting place and the final sacrifice had been offered, David pronounced a blessing on those who took part and turned out for this glorious event. Everyone was given something to eat and drink, which seems to indicate that it had taken the best part of the day to reach the Tabernacle from Obededom’s house. They had given their time and energy to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. David did literally feed the people of Israel (2 Samuel 5:2). He could have dismissed them with a blessing, but he recognised their need, just as Jesus would do after the multitude had been with Him all day (Matthew 14:14-21).
We cannot leave this without thinking about the people themselves. They had taken part in this celebration without any thought of receiving anything for their time, energy and labour. They came to give of themselves to the Lord. They were unlike many today who only give because they think they are going to receive a blessing for doing so. The condition of their hearts prove they will receive nothing from the Lord. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). This is the type of giving that will reap a reward from God (2 Corinthians 9:6).
The malice
David arrived home full of the joy of the Lord, but his wife would seek to make him miserable. Michal was displeased with her husband's praise and worship. Her heart was already full of malice toward him, so before he got through the door, she met him on the doorstep and let loose a torrent of abuse. Everything she said was a figment of her own warped imagination. We do not have to wonder where she got that from! She accused him of being a pervert that exposed himself on the street, just because he was not wearing his regal clothing. Would she have been pleased with him even if he had dressed up for the occasion? This is exactly what the lost do when they see “true worshippers” praising God (John 4:23). They will call us foolish (1 Corinthians 1:18), mad (Acts 26:24), drunkards (Acts 2:13) and even demon-possessed (John 10:20). It all comes from a malicious heart, for how could she object since her own father had engaged in a similar style of worship (1 Samuel 19:24).
It is obvious that Michal did not share David’s love for God, for she ought to have been on the street worshipping the Lord. David’s other wives, we presume, had no such distain as Michal. Let us not forget that she had earlier owned an “image”- a household idol (1 Samuel 19:16), so she had no problem accepting the false instead of the true God. The text informs us that she came out to meet David, therefore her intention was to belittle him before the people. Was she any different from her father? “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15).
The response
David rejected everything his bitter wife said to him, and rightly so. He told her that he worshipped God on the street rather than trying to exalt himself in the eyes of the people. His motivation was holy for he worshipped God from his heart. He reminds Michal of a very important fact; one which she had forgotten, that God had anointed him king of Israel rather than a member of her dynasty. We should see this as David putting his unruly wife in her place, that is, she had to answer to him rather than he to her.
If she considered his praise of God to be vile and offensive, then he could increase her distain of him by worshipping even more enthusiastically. “The more we are vilified for well doing, the more resolute therein we should be, binding our religion the closer to us, for the endeavours of Satan's agents to shame us out of it” (John Wesley). Basically David is stating that no malicious, critical or accusing words from her would decrease either his praise of or commitment to God. The maidservants she spoke of would in fact rejoice and honour the Lord with him, and would be happy to have a ruler that glorified God. He would not be the loser she said he was.
The curse
As her king and husband, David could have legitimately judged Michal for her disloyalty, but instead the Lord dealt with her in a way that would bring dishonour upon her. Being childless was a great reproach in those days and was considered to be a judgement from God. She had dishonoured both God and David, therefore she would be dishonoured throughout her life.
Conclusion
There is no need of a summery of this event, for the lesson is plain for all to see. “For them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed” (1 Samuel 2:30), and “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
© 29/3/2010