Text: 2 Samuel 6:1-23
“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”—Psalm 32:11 ESV
People who don’t understand your pain will never fully understand your praise. When they haven’t experienced your hurt, they won’t appreciate your hallelujahs! That’s okay, because your worship isn’t about them, it’s about the God who is worthy of every breath of your rejoicing. Think about the disgruntled churchgoer who griped: “I didn’t like worship today.” Which was met with the response: “That’s okay, we weren’t worshiping you.”
In ancient Israel, the ark of the covenant wasn’t just a golden box, it was indicative of God’s presence going with God’s people in all their undertakings. When it was missing, the “glory” of God had departed from them (1 Samuel 4:21) and they had defeat rather than victory over their enemies. So, it is no surprise that as the ark of God’s presence was being ushered back to Israel, the people would be rejoicing exceedingly.
As the ark of the Lord was coming into the city, David “danced before the Lord with all his might.” As he leapt and danced before the Lord, his wife looked out the window and “despised him in her heart.” That word “despise” means to feel contempt or a deep repugnance for. Synonyms include: detest, hate, loathe, and abhor. These are some strong feelings for a person to have for their spouse. Michal missed the significance of this moment. Her focus was not on God, and it led to resentment.
Michal wasn’t there when David faced failure earlier in the chapter as God’s wrath broke out against Uzzah. She wasn’t there when David was so “angry” with God he wanted to give up, so she couldn’t appreciate his present “adoration” for God after the situation was redeemed. If people weren’t there with you when you cried in the valley, they will have a hard time understanding why you worship the way you do when God brings you to the mountain top. But that’s okay, because your worship isn’t for them.
David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will celebrate before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes.”
David refused to apologize for the way he worshiped his God. Which makes his worship even more precious, because it had no regard for anyone other than God. Jesus gave all that He had for you at the cross. Never be ashamed or apologize for the way you give yourself back to Him in worship. Sing and dance out of a LOVE response toward Christ, never for an acceptance response from man.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I praise you today. With all that is in me, I want to celebrate you more and more each day. Holy Spirit, teach my heart to worship, unapologetically and unashamedly, the God worthy of all my adoration. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:
1. When have you felt “angry” toward God?
2. When have you let the opinions of others keep you from giving yourself wholeheartedly to God’s pleasure?
3. When have you been like Michal, judging others by the way they worship and serve God?
4. How can you express worship to God this day, with all that is within you? What does that look like for you?
5. From today’s reading, what is the Good News that God may want you to share with someone else?
