SCRIPTURE:
16 But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him….20 When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!”
21 David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. 22 Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” 23 So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.
2 Samuel 6:16-23
OBSERVATION:
Has the goodness of God ever caused you to worship unashamedly? Maybe you shouted for joy because you just couldn’t hold it in. Maybe you sang a little louder despite knowing you’re off key. Maybe you just started to cry uncontrollably or dance exuberantly because you just couldn’t help it. There are moments when our worship to God and our gratitude for God will cause us to do things that others will judge. How should we respond to their judgement? And is there any truth in their judgement?
When David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, he was overjoyed. The Ark, representing the presence, power, and blessings of God, would now be in the capital of the nation, and God’s favor would be poured out upon David and Israel for honoring God in this way. So David’s natural response to knowing favor was about to come was to worship unashamedly. He danced like there was no tomorrow, he took off his royal robes, and he worshiped as an ordinary man, just like the others who had gathered to worship.
And while God liked his worship, his wife Michal didn’t. “When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him….When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” (2 Samuel 6:16-20). She was mad at David for abandoning royal protocols and acting like an ordinary man. She didn’t care that he was worshipping God; she cared that their family’s image and reputation would be ridiculed and judged for his exuberant behavior. Rather than care about honoring God authentically and be filled with the totality of gratitude for His blessings, she wanted David to temper his worship and give God an offering of praise less than what He deserved.
How did David respond? “David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. 22 Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” (2 Samuel 6:21-22). David did not back down. He did not let his wife’s judgement lead him to insecurity. Rather, he doubled down on what he knew was right. He righteously defended his worship, declared that he would continue to be humiliated by man rather than to give God an offering of worship less than He deserved, and honored God through it all.
But most importantly, how did God respond? “So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.” (2 Samuel 6:23). God honored David for his unashamed worship and judged Michal for her judgement of him.
APPLICATION:
The goodness of God should lead you to exuberant worship. When it does, worship unashamedly. For as it says in Psalm 98:4-6, “Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song, with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!” And as Jesus Himself tells the Pharisees when they judged the singing and dancing of those who welcomed him into Jerusalem 1000 years after David brought the ark into Jerusalem, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” (Luke 19:40).
When the Spirit of God moves you to worship, worship with all your heart. Sing, dance, and shout in a way that fully and genuinely expresses your gratitude. However, this is not permission to do whatever you want or to draw attention to yourself in church. The house of God is a place of order, and just as you are worshipping, others are doing the same. As the apostle Paul writes about orderly worship in 1 Corinthians 14:40, “everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” If your worship detracts from God, tampers the worship of those around you, or may be a hindrance to your fellow brothers and sisters, then tone it down. Just as much as you have a right to worship, so do others. God desires their worship just as much as yours, so if you are causing others to give God less worship, then you, too, are being like Michal. Simply worship genuinely and authentically, not withholding back anything God desires from you.
And when others around you do the same, don’t be like Michal––judging them for their authentic worship and denying God the offering of praise He desires. You never know what they're going through. Maybe they’re crying because God answered a prayer they had been praying their whole life. Maybe they’re singing because God healed them of a sickness that was incurable. Maybe they’re dancing for joy because a child they thought was too far gone came back home and turned to Jesus. You never know why people are worshipping––so don’t judge them for it. For as this story shows, if you judge others, God might just judge you.
May our worship be authentic. May our worship be pure. May our worship be a complete and total offering of praise, worthy only for the King of Kings.
PRAYER:
God,
Thank You for Your unending goodness. You deserve all the glory, and honor, and praise. I repent for the times I have judged others for their worship, and for the times I have given You an offering less than what You deserve. Today, I worship You, Almighty God. I give You all that You deserve, and I lift my voice to sing to You, my Father. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
