Thought of the Day !!

Then King David was told, "The LORD has blessed Obed-edom's home and everything he has because of the Ark of God." So David went there and brought the Ark to the City of David with a great celebration. After the men who were carrying it had gone six steps, they stopped and waited so David could sacrifice an ox and a fattened calf. And David danced before the LORD with all his might, wearing a priestly tunic. So David and all Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with much shouting and blowing of trumpets.

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.
2 Samuel 6:12-16 (NLT)

Part 2 of 2

Yesterday we discussed how King David worshipped with joy and excitement. Today we will take a look at another character in this passage. Her name is Michal. Michal is introduced as "the daughter of Saul". She is the daughter of a former King. She knows what it means to be "Royalty" and "Kingly". She knows what's proper and what's not.

It's interesting that the Bible here states that she's Saul's daughter instead of David's wife. It's also interesting to me that the Bible has been referring to David by his name only throughout this part of the scripture, but when spoken of as the one seen by Michal, he's "King David". I think we're supposed to notice the distance...maybe even the coldness here. We have Michal looking "down from her window" on this person that she sees not as her husband, but as a King acting like a buffoon. And she is filled with contempt because of this.

How many Michal's do you know that "look down" at others when they don't seem to be acting properly? Could it be that before we answer this question we must pose another, which is "Am I a Michal without realizing it"?

Michal was filled with contempt because David was not acting properly. She was probably terribly embarrassed by this fact as well. In many of our traditional churches today, if someone were to visit and do something outrageous like participate in the worship with words like "Amen!", "Preach it brother/sister!", or "Hallelujah!" they may not be encouraged to come back. In many of our churches if someone gets filled with the Holy Spirit and asks to share a testimony during the service, messing up the order of service, a Michal may claim that they should've planned it.

Michals are ones who think that worship should be reverent and holy. And you know what? They're exactly right. But there's a big difference in reverence and sitting still, face front and not saying a word during worship. To be truly reverent to God, we should allow the Holy Spirit to fill us. Then we should worship in true and genuine fashion. If that is sitting still, so be it. But if that incorporates something else, so be it as well. The key is the Spirit. How will the Holy Spirit work through you if you allow Him?

I guess what's most important to remember here is that we don't want to be Michals who judge others because they worship differently, wear different clothes to church, pierce strange areas of their body, or think differently from us. Michal's future wasn't very bright. The Bible goes on to say that she remained childless throughout the rest of her life. Could it be that God punished her for being one who judged and condemned? Do we want that for ourselves? I believe not?

In the love of Christ,
greg