I. DAVID WAS CELEBRATING ARRIVAL OF GOD’S ARK SAFELY INTO JERUSALEM
A. Ark Of The Covenant
1. Large gold chest / inside stone tablets / Mercy Seat = God’s throne
2. Carried through wilderness, across Jordan, around Jericho, into battles
a. in battle, Philistines captured ark
b. all got sick & gave it back
3. First attempt to bring it into Jerusalem – ox cart – messed up
B. Now, With Baby Steps, They Try Again – God’s Way
1. Six paces by Levites – all is safe - Sacrifices
2. David in jubilation begins sacred dance before the Lord – with all his might
3. Uh Oh -- Micah is watching up in the palace window & not happy
4. Part of me sympathizes with this woman
a. after all, David is her husband & appears he’s dancing naked
b. wouldn’t any wife be upset & jealous – what is that man thinking
II. TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED
A. First, There’s No Question - David Was Dancing (but was he even really naked?)
B. Second Of All, There’s No Evidence That He Was Totally Naked
1. “…and David was wearing a linen ephod”
a. the robe – characteristically used by ordinary priests
b. it wasn’t a loincloth, thong, g-string, underwear, nightgown
c. the outer (not even inner) garment of the common priest, Levite
2. The narrative never describes him as naked or nude
b. compare narrative of 2 Sam 6 with Gen 9:20-23
- Gen 9:20-23 “And Noah . . . was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. And Ham . . . saw the nakedness of his father. . .”
- 2 Samuel 6 uses “uncovered” but stops there and doesn’t further describe David as “naked”
c. Disrobed of royal garments & put on garment of commoner
3. It’s the reaction of David’s wife that leaves the impression of nudity - How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself. . . as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!"
a. “base fellows” – not pervert in Wal-Mart exposing to little girls
b. referring to the common priests & Levites in their temple work
c. Micah angry – he took off the regalia and became a regular!
d. yet so many translations fuel idea David was dirty dancing
-- (NIV) "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!" (Note: Vulgar = “common”; During the Reformation, Calvin’s efforts to translate scriptures from Latin Vulgate to common languages of English, German, etc was considered “vulgar”; Latin Vulgate – named “vulgate” for “vulgar” because when written, Latin was common language of Roman Empire)
--(Living Bible) "How glorious the king of Israel looked today! He exposed himself to the girls along the street like a common pervert!"
--(The Message) "How wonderfully the king has distinguished himself today — exposing himself to the eyes of the servants’ maids like some burlesque street dancer!"
d. again, her words might leave impression of total nakedness
- but back then to dress anything less than your status was consider “vulgar” or “obscene”
- vulgarity = lacking refinement, relating to commoner
e. did he wear cloths unbecoming of a king? Yes - “You’re a great soldier, statesman, and monarch. Act like it!”
f. instead, he wore cloths of common priest – (empty; worthless)
III. WHAT WAS MICHAL’S PROBLEM? WHY DID SHE “DISPISE HIM IN HER HEART”?
A. It Probably Wasn’t Jealousy or Covetousness That Got Her Upset
1. Not a jealous wife fearing she’d loose her husband to maidens
2. If he was streaking in the streets – no question she’d have a point
3. But scripture isn’t sympathetic and no clear evidence he was dirty dancing
B. Yet Maybe It Was Jealousy or Covetousness That Got Her Upset (dissect this)
1. Notice where Micah was when David came into the city
a. she wasn’t down with the common people celebrating
b. she was perched in a window – in safety of her palace
c. why wasn’t she there to meet her husband?
d. why wasn’t she down there celebrating arrival of the ark?
2. Notice – Micah is described as “the daughter of Saul” when she met David
a. not “the wife of David” but “daughter of Saul”
b. more “like” her father, than “like” David
3. Two reasons Micah resented David, each way Micah was like Saul
a. Saul resented David’s ascent to power, so did Micah
- royalty is to be “born into” not bumped into
- David was put in charge when Saul died, not Micah
- as Saul resented David’s power ascent, so did Micah
- he has to remind her that it was God, not himself that put him in this position
b. Saul resented David’s affiliation w/ commoners, so did Micah
- David was a “regular” guy, not a “regal/royal” guy
- even as king, David had a shepherd’s heart
- not only shepherd’s heart, but also man after God’s heart
4. Micah wasn’t afraid of losing David to the maidens
a. she was afraid of losing David to God
b. you can’t humble yourself enough to get down on the street before the Lord with people of the street
c. you can’t humble yourself enough to accept that it was the Lord, not me, that put me in this position
d. you can’t humble yourself to confess the greatness of this moment that the Mercy Seat – the very throne of God has now entered Jerusalem
- it isn’t memory or family of Saul that should rule
- it isn’t even me David, a mere shepherd boy should rule
- but it is to God who should rule
- Thine is the Kingdom & Glory & Power forever – Amen
5. “Whatever it takes, I won’t back down, but will humble myself before him”
III. FIVE (5) LIFE APPLICATION POINTS
A. First, Whenever You Have Victory, Someone Will Be Critical
1. It’s usually from someone who doesn’t have victory
2. When we point the finger, 3 fingers pointing back at us
3. Micah’s scorn tells us more about her condition than David’s
a. she was an unhappy woman spiritually
b. she was barren - - yes physically / but also spiritually (Gal 5:22 – Fruit of Spirit / Acts 1:8 – you shall receive “power”)
c. she’d remain barren for the rest of her life – no fruit or power
B. Second, Following God Requires Stripping Yourself Of What Preoccupies You
1. David stripped himself of regal garments and down to common priest (the base fellows - empty, worthless)
2. Stripping yourself of self-preoccupation - with what others might think
3. Stripping yourself of what you take pride in it’s not about you or what you’ve done, but what God has done
4. You are no better than anyone else
a. when we come to the Lord – the ground is level at the cross
b. no big me’s and little you’s / no Kings and no paupers
C. Third, In A Spiritually Uneven Marriage (or any relationship) There Will Be Tension
1. Micah was irate with David’s affection to the ark
2. Consequently she criticized his devotion & everything religious –
a. with contempt, minimizing the work of even the Levites
b. when get home from church, met with sneers, not songs
c. recognize the dynamic – they put down to pull themselves up
- this may be in a friend who’s never come to the light
- this may also be one who’s been to the light but adrift
d. they attack light that magnifies darkness – minimize, discourage
3. What to do? Look what David did:
a. David stayed faithful to God
– didn’t compromise
- give in today, the criticism will just return tomorrow
b. David didn’t return anger for anger - firm with her, but loving
- getting angry too only puts you in bondage
- and the other person won’t get better
D. Fourth, No Matter Your Background, Choice - You Can Become Bitter or Better
1. Micah had a chance to change
2. Barren – symbol of the emptiness, spiritual barrenness inside
3. You may be a daughter of Saul – but can become a child of God
E. Fifth, How To Become Better? Always Remember What Jesus Has Done
1. Seventeen (17) places in NT, Jesus was called the “Son of David”
a. New Testament opens with “Jesus, Son of David” (Matthew 1:1)
b. New Testament closes with “Jesus, Son of David” (Revelation 22:16)
2. Prophetic link between King David & King of Kings Jesus Christ
a. under King David – Ark of God wanted to enter Jerusalem, man messed things us, when time was right it entered, ushered in by king dressed as a commoner
b. in the wider picture – God wanted to dwell with man, man messed things up, when time was right God’s grace entered world, ushered in by King Jesus come in the form of a commoner
3. Phil 2:5-11 (The Living Bible) “Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside [disrobed] his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men”
a. born in a common manger, to common parents
b. mingled w lowest / died on common cross / common grave
4. Jesus is God’s dance among us
a. choice: to stay in protective palace or to join the dance, the faith (choice to…get bitter or get better)
b. he loves you and has humbled himself to be near you
c. join the dance – accept his sacrifice
d. the only thing that holds a soul back is PRIDE
- I’m not that bad – hey, all have sinned – ground level
- I’m not stripping myself the things I’ve wrapped myself in – money, materialism, etc
g. come on – join the dance – God is here – he loves you
h. no longer have to be a daughter of Saul, but a daughter of God
i. no longer have to be a child of the past, but a child of God
j. no longer have to be barren inside, but filled with joy and life
k. no longer have to criticize those who’ve found victory, but discover the victory for yourself
IV. INVITATION
