Worship Attacked
We have seen that 2 Samuel 6 is largely concerned with worship. First, David experiences the deadly consequences of false worship. Then David rightly aligns Israel with God's prescribed order of worship bringing the Ark home. He then blesses the people and returns home to bless his house.
Things do not go well.
2 Samuel 6:18–20 (ESV) And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts 19 and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house. 20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
Consider David's situation here. He's coming home to bless his house and all he gets from Michal is criticism. She cannot stand his actions. Perhaps embittered by her lot in life, her father used her as a ruse for David, then gave her to someone else, then David demanded her back after he secured the kingdom and her new husband lamented her journey home. In many ways, we can feel bad for Michal. If any woman was treated like property in the scriptures, it was her.
But we also see in Michal a bitter spirit. This was her own choice. She didn't have to criticize David's worship but she did. Note how she refers to him as "the king of Israel" and then stifles him with sarcastic rhetoric. She also mentions that he was seen by his female servants. We remember that David was so overjoyed by the Ark returning that he stripped down to an ephod in celebration.
What is David's response to Michal's bitter attack? The language he uses is poignant:
2 Samuel 6:21 (ESV) And 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.
2 Samuel 6:22 (ESV) I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.”
2 Samuel 6:23 (ESV) And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
The Lord rejects the critical attitude of Michal, subjecting her to a shameful life with no offspring in a world where children were gold. Now think of this. Michal was Saul's daughter. If she had a child, he would have been an heir to Saul's lineage and throne. The fact that Michal is barren from this moment means there will never be another legitimate challenge to David's throne. David is firmly established as king through HIS unrelenting WORSHIP.
Things do not go well.
2 Samuel 6:18–20 (ESV) And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts 19 and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house. 20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
Consider David's situation here. He's coming home to bless his house and all he gets from Michal is criticism. She cannot stand his actions. Perhaps embittered by her lot in life, her father used her as a ruse for David, then gave her to someone else, then David demanded her back after he secured the kingdom and her new husband lamented her journey home. In many ways, we can feel bad for Michal. If any woman was treated like property in the scriptures, it was her.
But we also see in Michal a bitter spirit. This was her own choice. She didn't have to criticize David's worship but she did. Note how she refers to him as "the king of Israel" and then stifles him with sarcastic rhetoric. She also mentions that he was seen by his female servants. We remember that David was so overjoyed by the Ark returning that he stripped down to an ephod in celebration.
What is David's response to Michal's bitter attack? The language he uses is poignant:
2 Samuel 6:21 (ESV) And 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.
Michal claimed David's worship was for people, specifically the eyes of his servants which brought him shame as the people's king. David rebuked her by stating his worship was before the LORD. He repeats later: "I will celebrate before the Lord." David knew true worship is not concerned with who is around or what people see. True worship is focused on the presence of the Lord in worship.
David continues:
2 Samuel 6:22 (ESV) I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.”
David makes clear: Worship is not about what we look like. We don't worship to be important. We worship to make the LORD important! True worship is expressing how good GOD IS.
Then we see the end result of this interaction. The Lord closes Michal's womb:
2 Samuel 6:23 (ESV) And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
The Lord rejects the critical attitude of Michal, subjecting her to a shameful life with no offspring in a world where children were gold. Now think of this. Michal was Saul's daughter. If she had a child, he would have been an heir to Saul's lineage and throne. The fact that Michal is barren from this moment means there will never be another legitimate challenge to David's throne. David is firmly established as king through HIS unrelenting WORSHIP.
The enemy hates your worship. He will criticize and deride it as Michal did here to David. He will seek to attack it and stop it. Do NOT let him do it. Your worship is what gives the enemy fits and empowers your life. Why? Because you are making the Lord more important than your problems. You are magnifying HIM instead of whatever is coming against you. You focus on what God is about and not what people think. Is your worship under attack? LIFT up the Lord higher and louder. He will establish you and fill you with strength.
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