Humiliated in My Own Eyes...

David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!"

David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD's people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes."

2 Samuel 6:14 -16; 20 -22a

How we perceive things is often dependent on the attitude of our heart. The passage quoted today is an interesting exchange between husband and wife. David is clearly not ashamed to become a fool before his God. Michal is clearly ashamed of his behavior.

Whenever we attempt to do extravagant things for the Lord, there will be those who say that we are fools. We give too much. We sing too loud. We attend church too often. What believer hasn't heard these things said?

Notice exactly how Michal's disgust is couched, though. In verse 16 the scripture clearly states that she hated him in her heart when she saw him leaping and dancing before the Lord. She found his display of public affection for the Lord offensive. In verse 20, however, she does not indicate that it was his affection for the Lord that offender her - his spiritual extravagance. That admission would be nearly heretical. So she instead speaks as if she were jealous of his behavior before other women - disguising her true motive.

David's answer to her seems rather curt, depending on how you read it. I believe that David was merely stating the fact that he was going to celebrate before the Lord regardless of whether she approved or not.

In all likelihood those reading this are relating to David in this passage. If you even take the time to consider these things it is unlikely that you will be one to put a stumbling block before someone else. So if you are of the mind of David, stand your ground and lovingly but firmly insist that you have an obligation and a desire to serve the Lord in whatever way he calls you. You might even hit them with a little "You ain't seen nothing yet" like David did Michal.

If you are of the mind of Michal, consider carefully your arguments and motives. When you say these things; "You give too much", "You sing too loud", "You attend church too often", are you really in essence saying, "You are being too spiritual and it makes me uncomfortable"?

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

Romans 14:12 & 13

LORD-

Help each of us, regardless of our mindset, to seek to be
honest before
you. If we are 'dancing' before you, let us do it out of pure
love - never
contrived. If we are uncomfortable 'dancing' before you, let us
not
put any stumbling block before others who are - under any pretense.

AMEN