MICHAL’S JEALOUSY
David is dancing before the LORD. No robe of a King is upon his back. He is wearing the linen ephod. The trumpets are blasting and the people are rejoicing. Levite priests are slowly bringing The Ark to its new home in Jerusalem.
Every six steps the procession stops to offer another round of sacrifices. On each seventh step they pause to rest and worship. Then they move on through the land which God long ago granted to the Israelites. Carefully the appointed Levites place The Ark inside a tent which David has pitched. No one is paying a bit of attention to Michal as she waits on David’s return. This wondrous time for David will also serve as a time which will bring out Michal’s jealousy and bitterness.
As the Ark approaches The City of David, Michal, looks down from a window of the royal palace. She sees David dancing wildly before the Ark. This seems to be embarrassing to her. The other women of the city are dancing and singing and honoring this man Michal married so long ago. Now their marriage seemed like an old dream. It all felt like another lifetime. Bitter tears form in her eyes as she watches what is happening.
CHANGING TIMES
During their marriage, Michal stood loyally beside David. In those early days she admired his strong faith in God. Yet, what had that done for her in the meantime? She had been forced to live all alone for years while David hid from Saul. Michal had been forced to choose between her husband’s safety and the family of her royal father. In many ways she felt like she had been in exile the same as David.
She stood by David faithfully. Proof of her love and loyalty was made plain when she helped him escape the vengence of Saul. Yet, David never returned to her. Saul pretended her marriage to David never existed. He gave her hand in marriage to another man. No one asked Michal what she wanted.
The other man was kind to her. He truly loved her. However, Michal pined for David. Finally she accepted her situation. She gave in and compromised. Michal finally let herself settle into the other marriage. Meanwhile, as she was finally living out a quiet life of peace, David unexpectedly become King. At that point he demanded she be returned as his first wife. Again, she was not asked about her own feelings.
A PALACE THAT WAS A PRISON
When Michal returned to David, the past became a terrible millstone for the couple to walk around. They could not reach a truce. Nothing was healed between them. So much had happened in between then and now. If restoration came it would take years.
Looking out the window of her palace/prison was a bitter Michal. She watched the man she once loved but no longer knew. He was dancing wildly down the street. Her tearful eyes gazed over the crowd that seemed to be mesmerized by David’s dancing. The many other wives of David were standing together and applauding. She hated them.
Common women bowed down as David paraded by. The eyes of Michal could not see David’s passionate worship. All she could see was her anger. Her feelings were full of bitterness. The hurt from suffering innocently for years happened simply because she truly loved David. What good had that been for her?
THE PLACING OF THE ARK
Now was the time for taking The Ark inside The Tabernacle of David. All of the people were invited to participate, from the greatest to the least. Michal didn’t understand this logic. Such things had never happened before. Wasn’t David throwing all caution to the wind? How could he be so presumptious? Saul had always distinguished the royal from the common. David treated all men equally. What King did this?
Michal wondered, why did David not take the Ark to Shiloh. She could not bear to go to the Tabernacle of David for the ceremonies. Michal could not participate in this strange celebration. She refused. David’s first love stayed inside the palace, only glancing outside the window from time-to-time.
DAVID’S GREATEST DAY
David, oblivious to Michal’s emotions, was enjoying the greatest day of his life. His heart proclaimed this day as even greater than the day he was crowned King of Israel. He danced joyfully before the Ark. In this dancing, singing, whirling and twirling, David felt happier than he had ever felt in all of his days.
God gave David approval to make Jerusalem the Center of Worship for Israel. David’s heart was following the pattern of Melchizedek, the ancient King of Salem. God opened David’s eyes to see this priestly order. This new order and way of doing worship was actually very ancient. It was of this historical King of Righteousness called Melchizedek. Now David was following the same pattern this King had taken with Abraham. Both Kings, past and present, knew the secrets of celebrating victories before God.
Israel is the fulfillment of the promise of God to Abraham. David looked out at the people. Now they were as many as the stars of the heavens. He lifted hands up to The God who blessed them. Yahweh was now moving into their city with His Presence. What moment could ever be greater for a godly King?
CONTINUOUS WORSHIP AND COMMUNION
Once the joyful procession arrived at the Tabernacle of David, they placed the Ark inside. God’s earthly throne stood positioned in the middle of The Tabernacle of David. It was one big room with no divisions. David gazed in wonder as yet another answer to prayer unraveled. Jews and Gentiles, men and women, old and young, people from all nations entered and worshiped.
All people could walk right up to the Ark. They could not touch The Ark, but they could stand beneath it’s shadow. They knew they stood in the shadow of the very Throne of God. All could come close to God’s Presence.
This was an awesome moment in the history of worship. I can’t help but think of Psalm 91:4 as I picture this scene. Here are these people standing in the shadow of the wings of the cherubim residing over the Ark. My heart hears those words: “He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” God’s power was officially resting upon His people.
A PLACE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS
God’s presence now rested in the midst of the people of Israel. The nation had grown. Many had been grafted-in and/or adopted. Though many were uncircumcized, all were there to worship and praise their Great God. The circumcism had moved from physical bodies to spiritual hearts. The worship was full of spirit and truth. All was complete and as it should be. Israel was unified under God’s protection again.
Hundreds of trained musicians broke out in song. Praises of the people filled the air. God inhabited the praises. He rested among the people. Prayers of thanksgiving were offered up continuously. It was a day of miracles.
THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK
Again, David followed the pattern of a Priest/King from the Order of Melchizedek. He finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty.
Then he gave each person a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. David gave these gifts to both men and women. No one stood outside in a courtyard. All were allowed to enter the Tent and worship before the Ark. Every one received the gifts of communion. The whole nation, or those of the nation who had chosen to appear received great blessings from God. And then, at the end of the day, all the people went back to their homes in peace.
DAVID GOES HOME
A very tired, but extremely happy David walked through the royal gates. He was thankful to be going home to his new paladial house of ceder. As David entered, he was greeted by an angry Michal. At first David must have been happy to see her. Perhaps he was anxious to tell her of the events of the day.
Maybe he was going to ask where she had been during the ceremonies. But then came the angry words she practically screamed out at him. “How the King of Israel has distinguished himself today! Going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”
What? Those were not the words David expected to hear from one who previously supported him strongly. She obviously was not a bit impressed with his actions of the day. It must have been shocking and unexpected.
REBUKING MICHAL’S JEALOUSY
David paused for a moment, then he answered her back.
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. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”
This cut Michal to the bone. It was a long time before she spoke with David again. Someone else would bear the son of David whom God chose to build His Temple. Michal was doomed to live out her life in the shadows of those she bitterly hated. Her jealousy was the end of her happiness.
2 Samuel 6:23 tells us “And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.”
PRAYER: Lord, sometimes we let our humanity get in the way of the work you are doing among your people. Like Michal in this story, we do not always trust that You are in charge. We forget that you know so much more than we do. This flaw causes us to lose our blessings from you. Help us to put our human emotions aside. Teach us to worship You in spirit and truth through all circumstances. Help us to learn how to come before You with the same pure passion David brought before you. Let nothing keep us from bowing at Your throne and knowing that You hold the universe in Your very hands. Teach us to be humble. May we come to see Your mighty works among the order of Your magnificant plan for mankind. Amen.
SONG WITH A MESSAGE: https://youtu.be/awzNHuGqoMc?si=RK3pK34f34LkbWAK