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2 Samuel 6:17-20 – Despising the King

Michal is unenthusiastic about David’s enthusiasm, and it begins in her heart. Look at v16. What identifies Michal with the spirit of Saul is firstly seen only to God. She looked out the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. The crowd could have looked up and seen her face, but only God could see her heart. And what he sees is that in her heart she despises his anointed king. She despises him for his enthusiastic commitment to God and his worship.

That’s such a dangerous place to be. It’s a terrible thing to despise anyone in your heart, for any reason! Never mind if you despise them because they’re more enthusiastic about the things of God than you are. I wonder how many people are there in churches who sit through sermons, hating every minute of it, feeling convicted because of their sin, and yet at the door they smile, and shake the minister’s hand, because it’s the done thing, even though they actually hate what they’ve just heard. When they do eventually voice their discontent – they’ll not give the real reason for it. Just like Michal here. The reason that she gives for her anger is a partial reason at best. She says it’s because David has uncovered himself. Based on what she says we would imagine that David was wearing nothing but this ephod, which was sort of like a sleeveless tunic, associated with the priests. But actually, 1st Chronicles 15:27 tells us that David was wearing the ephod the way it was normally worn – over the top of a robe. So her claim that David has uncovered himself like a vulgar person is pretty suspect.

Michal’s real problem was her pride. She was too proud to enthusiastically worship God herself, and now her pride has been hurt by David identifying with the common people.

Questions

  1. What does Michal say is the problem?
  2. What is the actual problem?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that we woud put the sin of pride to death in our lives.
  2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
  3. Pray for family matters.