Thursday, August 13, 2009

2 Samuel 6:12-16, 20-23

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

2Samuel 6:12-16, 20-23
12 Now King David was told, "The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

16 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.

20 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!"

21 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. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."

23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

I have abused these verses this week. I have done two other devotionals about worship using this passage. I like it. David hears that God is no longer mad and goes to bring the Arc to Jerusalem. There is much pomp and circumstance as he does this. He strips down to his undies and dances.

Meanwhile, back in the palace, Michal- his first wife and daughter of Saul, sees this and is disgusted. She thinks her Husband, the man who swept her off her feet years ago, is acting foolishly. When he comes home she confronts him. It does not go well. David explains that he was dancing in front of the Lord, not his servant girls. Because the crowd that watched him will be blessed more than Michal.

Questions:

1. Why did David wait to bring the Arc into his capital?

2. Why did he strip down and dance?

3. Why was Michal so upset?

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