When someone is celebrating a personal victory they have worked toward in an attempt to honor the LORD, do not despise them for it as they celebrate. Instead, encourage them. Michal seemed to be very jaded toward her husband David by this point in their lives. She apparently could not take the scene of David dancing and celebrating among the commoners, having taken off some of his kingly garments. She despised him for it.
25So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with joy. 26Because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. David also wore an ephod of linen. 28Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps and lyres.
29It happened when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart.
Focusing on verse 29, we can find more information in 2 Samuel 6.
20But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the LORD. 22“I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished.” 23Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
We can speculate a bit about why Michal despised David, but is certainly appears the LORD did not approve. She is mentioned as not having any child right after this segment of scripture, as if to indicate this is her punishment for her bad attitude and hard heart.
Our situation will not always be like David’s and Michal’s exactly, nor our punishment if we fail. However, the principle remains. It would seem that Michal could have been celebrating with her husband a great victory before the LORD instead of attacking him personally for his celebration.
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, please help me to celebrate and enjoy You and the victories You bring as if no one else is watching. Help me to encourage others as they celebrate to honor You. Let me not harden my heart against my own spouse in her moment of victory, even if there are elements of the task or celebration where I prefer a different approach. Amen.
Shalom
Devotion by John in service to Christ
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