2 Samuel 6:12-16 – Two Different Attitudes
In this chapter, Michal, is described three times as the ‘daughter of Saul’. It’s telling us: ‘Like father, like daughter’. That ancient conflict between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent that’s played out across the pages of history, is being played out in front of us in this chapter. Where Michal really stands is seen in her attitude to God’s king – and her attitude to God’s worship. This isn’t some marital dispute that we’re seeing. It’s on a far bigger scale than that. Michal and David have radically different priorities – and I think we can say they’re heading to radically different eternal destinations.
We see that contrast most clearly in their attitude to the ark of the covenant. v12 tells us that David brought the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. V14 tells us that he danced before the LORD with all his might. And v15 that David and the people were bringing the ark up with shouting and with the sound of the horn. There’s a real sense of celebration in the air. Yet there’s a very different note struck in v16 where we hear about Michal. She looks out the window – and when she sees David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despises him in her heart. She sees her husband enthusiastically joining in the worship of God – but rather than run out and join him – she stays where she is and despises him.
I’m sure there are things Michal did get excited about. But the worship of God wasn’t one of them. People today are enthusiastic about and devoted to all kinds of things – and no-one bats an eyelid. But try being enthusiastic about and devoted to the things of God, and the world will think that you’re a crazy person. What do we get most excited about? What are we most enthusiastic about? What are those things on our calendar that we wouldn’t miss for the world? How high up that list is the worship of God and spending time with his people?
Questions
- What difference do we see in Michal and David’s attitude to worship?
- What does the world think when we are excited about the things of God?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would rejoice and be excited about God and His worship.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.