2 Samuel 6 (Part 3) Bible Study I Pastor Daniel Batarseh

You're welcome. We're here.

In the final part of second Samuel.

But if chapter 6 of second Samuel, we've been in this

chapter for three weeks in a row, including this week.

And so meet me in second Samuel, chapter 6 in your Bibles, And

2 Samuel 6 · chapter mention

where we will. Where we will start.

As in verse 16, second Samuel, chapter 6, verse 16.

2 Samuel 6:16

And as you know, we've been doing this lately and it's been

edifying. I hope it's been a defying to

me. Want to read this section.

You're going to follow with me. And once I conclude, you will

raise your hand and make some observations that you think are

important with the questions, the reflective questions that

help us in any context to have a deeper understanding of the word

of God. Are you with me?

6:13. Excuse me.

Verse 16. We read here as the Ark of the

Lord came into the city of David Michal.

The daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King,

David, leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she

despised him in her heart and they brought in the ark of the

Lord and set it in its place. Inside the tent that David had

pitched for it, and David offered, burnt offerings and

peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished,

offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings.

He blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and

distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of

Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat

and a cake of raisins to each one.

Then all the people departed each to his house and David

returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul

came out to meet David and said How the king of Israel honored

himself today uncovering himself today before the eyes of his

servants female service. As one of the vulgar velos,

shamelessly uncovers himself, and David said to me Hall, it

was before the Lord who chose me above your father and above all

his house to appoint me as Prince over Israel.

The people of the Lord and I will celebrate before the Lord,

I will make myself yet more contemptible than this.

And I will be a based in your eyes, but by the female Servants

of whom you have spoken by them, I shall be held in honor.

Anyhow the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her

death. Lord, we ask that you open our

eyes to this text help us sharpen.

One another help us leave here with our our affections warmed

in our hearts, enlarged to love you.

The way you deserve in Jesus name we pray.

Amen. Any observations, interesting

conclusion to this story. Anything that sticks out to you,

anything that you think is valuable in terms of or maybe

even a question that maybe might answer later on.

Yes. Yeah, the macaws resentment

jealousy, that seems to stand out from this section of

scripture and has a lot to tell us.

Yes, anything else. Yes.

Mmm. She's it, could it be?

What brother gorky's is saying? Because could it be that the

verbalization of her resentment, it's due to the fact that she is

just one of many wives and all these other wives, as we read in

the past have had children. But he, or she is not given

children, perhaps, maybe David is withholding children from

her, that's a possible interpretation.

What would Eat a reason for David not to have children with

McHale any idea. She is the what?

Yeah, so saw gave her to David as a wife, which means what

Succession line. So if she has a child with me,

Hal then that can potentially cause issues in the future of

their being division within the kingdom, because we saw what

happened with ishka Seth, right? So, maybe David is thinking

strategically, as cruel as it is to say, I'm not going to give

her my children because then we can have issues going down the

line where her children can say. Well, we come from Saul and Saul

is the one who deserves the throne and there can be some the

conceived, be some problems in the future.

That could be a possible interpretation.

Anything else? Yes.

So that last first a majority would say this is God's judgment

and divine intervention. Some would say this is David

actually pulling back from her. So there's debate around that

but the popular vote is that it was the Lord who had closed her

womb though. It doesn't explicitly say that

but that's a good observation as well.

Yes, very good. Isn't that interesting?

Why is she at home? When the entire nation is out at

the parade? The national prayed for the

presence of God coming into the political capital of Israel.

That's a very good observation. Yes.

Very good observation, David confess, and there's a

repetition of David doing what he was doing before the Lord.

God knew that David knew that people with discernment would

have known that, but people who lack spiritual discernment.

Like, his wife could not perceive that and then because

of that had to judge of ulterior motives, right?

Yes, King. And then Tim god-king.

Yes. Amen.

We're going to talk about dancing tonight.

So I'm glad you brought that up, he has to him.

Yeah. So you kind of say what brother

Giza saying, there's like there's deeper issues here and

this is just the fruit of a root issue of.

Maybe remember what happened to me, Hal after David was exiled,

did she end up getting married to somebody else?

And what did David do when he became a ruler?

You're my wife come here and so she removed him, removed her

from her other husband, right? Could that play into it?

I mean these are great observation.

Someone had their hand up here. Yes.

Yes. Yes, absolutely.

So it makes you wonder, where is this Outburst coming from?

Is it is it surface level? Or is there a deeper thinking

here, maybe a couple more and then we'll move on?

It's for the sake of time. Yes.

So, he fed the entire nation. He fed the entire nation, which

is pretty significant. Who did we relate David to, in

our last study Jesus? Yes.

But who specifically in light of Jesus?

But a specific Ministry of Jesus Melchizedek, right?

The priesthood of Melchizedek and we went back to Genesis to

show, how Melchizedek was the king of Salem where Salem

Jerusalem. Right.

Here's David, who is acting As a priest and King of the newly

established capital of Israel Jerusalem.

But do you remember what else Melchizedek did to Abraham?

Did he give him something? He gave Abraham Bread and Wine

and then he blessed Abraham and we kind of see a parallel

activity here, right? We see David also blessing the

nation and giving them food to eat.

So it's very it's a very strong mirroring of what Melchizedek

did and we're given little information about him, so it's a

very strong strong connection, okay?

Maybe one more and then we'll move on here.

Yes. Yeah.

So he's on his way to bless his household and me how comes out

to meet him and you can tell she was not very supportive.

We're going to find out why. But here's what's happening in

our text tonight. The mission of the Ark of the

Covenant coming into its rightful place has now reached

is its long-awaited finale, and we have hopefully learned a lot

of things up to this point. This one chapter, some things

were reminders for us. Other things were fresh

practical and prophetic insight. But if there is one theme among

many that really connects to our text from verse one down to the

last verse, I believe it's not difficult to see that the

subject matter of worship is very dominant worship

appropriate. Worship inappropriate, worship,

what pleases God, what doesn't please God and that theme is

going to continue to weave itself in the final moments of

this snapshot of David's life and Ministry.

Worship worship. And when you see the stacks, and

you consider the, the series of events, very in a very short

period of time, we see David worshipping and the larger

context you can say with the people of God, with the

congregation of God. And when we see that his worship

will only continue to smaller spheres, more intimate spheres

in his life which is important because that's a, that's a

principle. What true worship is.

So as you and I come to these last versus, we're going to see

that this is not an exhaustive study about what worship is.

But it's an Horton element to what worship is.

It's a, it's an instructional section of scripture one.

That provides illustration an example because you and I have

been created in the image of God as the Pinnacle of God's

creation to do one specific thing and that's to worship.

We've been created to worship and when we step outside of that

order things go out of order in our lives.

And so we have this High called this primary call to do what to

and accurately who God is what he's done to affirm that truth

with adoration within us. And then from that place

outwardly through various means of expression to a to honor God

and to show him through worship that we do in fact, believe who

he is and a tribute to him all the glory that he deserves.

So let's look at these verses and consider some instructions.

Some ingredients about worship, true worship false worship,

controversial, aspects of worship.

Verse 16 as the Ark of the Lord came into the city of David

Michal, the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw

David King, David, leaping and dancing before the Lord and she

despised him in her heart. I wonder what that look like.

King David on the streets of Jerusalem, and leaping, and

dancing and twirling for the glory of God.

And that Portrait of a man doing such a thing has been a subject

of much debate and people have strong feelings on either side

of what David is doing here. So you have some people who will

say the idea of dancing. As act of worship, is totally

unrelated to the New Covenant Church just as much as offering

animal sacrifices is. And so the argument goes that

Dancing for the Lord and unto the Lord is in the same category

of cessation as giving Bulls on an altar and burning it up in

the name of praise and adoration Thanksgiving or a guilt

offering. Interesting.

Then you have others on the opposite end of the spectrum who

will say No? In fact, if what David is doing

here, offers anything is the possibility of how the whole man

can be engaged in loving God and adoring God, right?

So now Not just the spirit, not just the soul, but now, my body

can exhibit Glory unto God. Right?

And so, this side would say, not only should it not be

discouraged, it should be permitted, it should be

permitted and then they would go further from there and say to

despise such a thing or look down, or to limit or to cancel

that possibility wouldn't cure. The same condemnation that Mahal

had here when she looked down on David for doing the very same

thing, that people say we can't do.

And so we have to come here and ask.

What does the scripture say about this?

What does the totality of God's word have to say about this?

Amy seems trivial seems silly. It's like, really, we're going

to spend a few minutes to talk about what they're dancing unto.

The Lord is something that relates to us as Christians, but

here's the thing, if I'm a serious worshiper, then I want

to have Clarity on all aspects of worship.

I don't want to be, I don't have one dark area in my life.

I don't want to just be able to have a debatable conversation.

I want to know if this is something that pleases God.

And so when you come to a verse like this I want you to make

sure because there are a lot of things in the scriptures that

are not as didactic. Meaning, they're not, they're

not as clear as do this. Don't do this, they're not as

black and white, and if we're not careful, we can allow our

convictions to be rooted in culture and not the Bible. so

culturally, we interpret things, instead of letting the Bible

interpret things because if I were to present this question in

a church in the Caribbeans, I would get a totally different

reaction than if I would teach a Bible study about this in the

church, I don't know. In the Netherlands.

For example, I don't know. Or here in America.

I won't pick on any other Nation.

So when you come to a verse like this and when you understand the

possibility of dancing unto the Lord, Where do we go with that?

Some would say the conversation can go further than this.

Whatever is in a narrative. Does not mean it is normative.

You understand the argument there, just because something is

in a story in the Bible does not mean that it is a code of

conduct that we must apply in our context.

And I think that's important in different ways of interpreting.

It's very dangerous to look at a narrative and say this is

normative because a lot of people take narratives and make

concrete doctrines out of things that are not as clear as we

would like them to be. So just because it's recorded,

does it mean that? Are we are called to certain

behaviors or practices. I understand that, and I agree

with that. But is this the only place where

we see dancing unto the Lord in the Bible?

Okay, tell me of another place. Okay, Psalm Thirty, you have the

exact reference You turned my mourning into what dancing?

Psalm 149. Verse 3, what is Psalm 149 verse

Psalms 149:3

3, say, let them Praise His Name.

With what? What do you think, dancing,

making Melody to him with tambourine and liar, okay?

You just have to go to the next chapter of Psalm to see verse 4

and Psalm 150, praise him with tambourine.

And what dance, praise him with strings and pipe.

I'll tell you how some people interpret, those verses they

don't mind the tambourines, they don't mind the Liars, they don't

mind the strings, they don't mind the pipe, but keep your

dancing shoes at home. You have something else.

That was it, right? Who else danced in the Old

Testament other than David? Think back to our study in the

book of Exodus Miriam, did she not dance and lead the woman in

procession of dancing? so we have references that are

not within the realm of narrative only, We have

different. instances of the mention of dancing as God,

glorifying worship. Here's the thing.

Actually, if you really pay attention to the Bible, you will

see that there are many, many instances, many pictures and

various physical postures as articulations of Honor unto God

okay. Its more common than you think.

So you read the early chapters of the Book of Revelation.

What do you find? You find these creatures in

heaven and these 24 Elders that frequently did what they fell on

their faces before God. That's that's a physical act

communicating something from the heart that God never condemned.

You have different moments where men of God like Moses men of God

like Nehemiah Samuel different different men who bow down

before their maker? As a symbol of reverence unto

God sprinkled throughout the Psalms, and even different

narratives, you have even the call to lift up your hands to

the Lord. Lifting up your hands to the

Lord, as it is, mingled with either intercession or singing

to visualize my desperation and my surrender unto God.

So you see different positions here, different postures, that

engage in exhibit. The body that the Bible speaks

about frequently And I know what you might be thinking, listen,

brother. Lifting hands.

I'm okay with bowing down. You're pushing it dancing.

I don't know about dancing. And I get it but let me say

this. It's very difficult. to convey

from the Bible and make a Biblical case, pay attention or

about to say that stiff stoic statue like Worship is the

strict standard of how we most glorify God.

And offering our adoration before him.

Like the burden of proof is on you to prove that because there

is a lot to say that sometimes the body is engaged in worship

and it is the Overflow of the heart.

I know again. What you may be thinking?

So the common genuine concern is where do you draw the line?

Then where do you draw the line of our motions cannot be

distracting can and not actually do the opposite of what we would

want to happen. And remember, I'm not speaking

about, let me clarify. I'm not speaking about what you

do in your bedroom in your worship.

To God, you can do whatever you want there.

I mean, I whatever you want but you can do a lot.

In your room by yourself in the presence of God that you can't

do in a setting like this. And that is not, that is not my

rule, that's the Bible's rules. There are instructions of how

you and I come together to worship God that all kind of

actions and activities must submit to in order to know the

most profitable and edifying experience of worship that we

can have with one another and more importantly before the

Lord. So instead of trying to nitpick

Every single thing is this, right?

Is this the right? Is that right?

Is that right? Is that too far?

As that not enough meat, we meet me in a book in the New

Testament about worship, at least this chapter is about

instructions of corporate worship.

Some of you are turning already, you know, where I'm going?

Who knows where I'm going. If you're just getting ready.

First Corinthians chapter 14, First Corinthians chapter 14 and

1 Corinthians 14 · chapter mention 1 Corinthians 14 · chapter mention

meet me in verse 26 because I think this will help this will

help Name our convictions about different expressions of

worship. First Corinthians Chapter 14.

1 Corinthians 14 · chapter mention

Verse 26. Here's what Paul is saying to

the New Testament Church, not just to the church in Corinth

but to all the churches as he says later on in this chapter he

says, what then Brothers, when you come together, each one has

a him, a lesson, are Revelation a tongue or an interpretation.

Let all things be done. Done for building up.

Different regulations for how we worship God in a congregation

then when you're alone consecrated by yourself.

And the rule is very clear, right?

There is a distinction to be made and Paul knew such a

distinction because in this in this actual context, he is

teaching about tongues. That's another Bible study for

another time, but he's teaching about tongues and which she says

earlier, that that practice edifies yourself more than

anybody else. And if it's not carefully done

within the Gathering of the Brethren, it can have the

opposite effect. And so in order to harness this

and to make the most of this, what you do in private is not

going to be the same of what you do in public.

And so we can apply any kind of practice to the same kind of

rule that we see here. And here's the first rule, my

active presence in a meeting like this is completely outward

focused. Primarily.

Yes, I am coming to worship God but very close to that just like

the first and second greatest commandment.

I am here to build up edify spur on my brothers and sisters in

Christ. I do not come in a place like

this with the focus on me. I do not come in a place like

this to seek attention and gratification and blessing for

me. That's what Paul is saying.

When you come to church, you're coming to offer something.

When you come to the meeting, you have your brothers and

sisters in mind and you want to know how can I build them up?

And that motive will really help dictate behavior and action, and

expression. And so, here's the thing.

Your gifts, my gifts My Worship, your worship are meant to

actually bless others. And the moment that my motive is

centered around me, and me being blessed me being edified or me,

receiving attention me, receiving Glory me receiving

praise. That's where you have to

reconsider what you're doing. Because what you have is people

saying this, well it's blessing me and I'm doing it unto God.

So what really matters is what God sees and what God wants,

doesn't matter what this person thinks, it doesn't matter what

that person thinks. And Paul knew that when he was

teaching this when he was specifically talking about the

gift of tongues. So you know what?

He says, go to verse 17 early on, look what he says.

Speaking about tongues, remember he says, I'm tongues was a form

of worship. Praise prayer for you maybe

giving, thanks, well enough, but the other person is not being

built up. Listen as much as you're being

blessed with what you're doing between you and God in this

context. If you're not building others

up, then that doesn't make what you're doing legitimate no

matter how spiritual, maybe, no matter how much of a blessing,

it is to you saying, no, you have to consider others around

you. As you are worshipping God

because you're not just doing this is not an individual thing.

That's not you and God time. That's what you do at home.

This is us and God time big difference.

And the second rule here is very close to the first one.

You have to come down to verse 40 of the same chapter to see

it, really sums up everything later on, Paul says, in verse

40, but all things, all things should be done decently and in

order decently and in order, no matter what your spiritual gift

is, no matter how much a blesses you, no matter how much you

might think, it might bless others you and I do not have the

right to exercise or manifest, anything.

Remember, this is all things. In a way that would be

destructive in a way that might be confusing in a way that might

be distracting. The moment what we're doing is

muddied and brings about things that do not bless is a moment,

but we have to stop no matter how much you ready for this.

You think you are being led by the spirit to do so, I remember

I met one guy never met him after that, it was literally for

a few moments, I was at a conference and we bumped into

each other. So we just got talking while

we're walking to our destination and he told me about his church

and he told me how Spirit-filled his congregation was and I guess

he wanted to explain how Spirit-filled his congregation

was. So he told me, he says, art, our

congregation is so sensitive to the holy spirit that if the Lord

were the tell somebody during a meeting to go and paint the wall

to go paint the wall. That's really interesting.

I think Paul would have something to say about that.

And so, you have to understand that a lot of Liberty has

license behind being led by the spirit. but you know what, the

most spiritual thing to do is do things decently and in order

that's, Holy, Spirit, lead, when there's chaos, if people are

jumping from one Pew, to the next, if people are running

around the service and throwing things around, and it's not

decent or an order, Then it's disqualified.

It's disqualified. So keep that in mind when we

understand what David is doing here as well, because we have to

understand that There are rules to our worship.

Our Praise there are boundaries, there are limitations.

But at the same time, if there's anything that we can take out of

David's story here, is that his enthusiasm offers us the

inspiration that in different occasions and different contexts

and different moments will inspire different responses.

What? This will inspire different

reactions to what God has done is doing?

So there are moments, right? Because David is not in a church

with pews here, he's on the streets, he's in a procession,

the whole nation is there. There is a there is a huge

parade with instruments and Loud song taking place.

And so it was appropriate in this context for him to leap and

to do whatever he was doing spiraling around.

We just overflowing with joy with Knowledge of the presence

of God being in close proximity, but it is no less of worship

that in some settings that this place be just completely silent.

As we reflect on something solemn, something good

something. Holy I can't help.

But think of our Friday night services during Easter, it's a

very silent night. It's very quiet night because

reflecting about what our sin has done.

What it costs, the son of God, I don't think it would be to to

appropriate a setting like that to be leaping and jumping around

and clapping cymbals together. But then there are other moments

were God can intervene and interject with such a

supernatural sense of his glory and power, he can even perform a

miracle where it would be. I would say appropriate that out

of just sheer excitement to jump up and down.

Look what God is doing in our midst.

Look at the look at the things that he is.

He Forming right before our eyes and it would, in fact, be

inappropriate to do anything less.

And so it's not as black and white, right?

It's not, it's not as do this, don't do this.

I think, as long as we take Paul's instructions and apply

them to our context and to our culture's, then we are the

safest, then we are the safest. And if we're honest with this

tax, we must say that. There are physical acts of

worship that are indeed permitted, not mandated, but

permitted, as long as they build others up, as long as they are

done decently. And in order, whatever we do may

be done with a measure of wisdom and with the law of love, so

that it can be a blessing, not just to God.

But to those that God has called us to respect and edify the same

time. And some might say, well, maybe

David broke that rule because of the reaction of his wife and

we'll get to that in a moment. But I don't think to be honest,

this is just a personal observation.

I don't think the issue. In our context and our culture

is too much enthusiasm. Would you agree with that?

I don't think it's too much enthusiasm.

I think there's a great lack of it.

You can put a Christian in almost any other setting, and

they can find a way to be very, very passionate, and not very

embarrassed to show their passion.

But for some reason, when you put them in a church service,

they're there as though Jesus didn't rise from the dead and

it's like a funeral every week. I don't understand that.

I don't get it. That's just that's just me

personally. I think some Christians I love

them. They're going to make heaven but

they might be very uncomfortable in heaven.

Because it's going to be very loud.

It's gonna be a lot of singing. You're going to see a lot of

people creatures even bowing down before God.

Raising their voices to God. And sometimes.

Well, that's distracting. Well, not if it's done for the

glory of God, not if it's authentic, none of its real,

not. If it's led by the spirit, not

of it is done with the, the order that Paul calls for, if

anything it can demonstrate greater glory to God.

So, those are just my two cents in light of the word.

So, let's come back to this text, right?

Let's scroll down to verse 18. And when David had finished,

offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings.

He blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and

distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of

Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of me

and a cake of raisins to each one.

Then all the people departed each to his house.

So here's what's amazing. We can make the mistake of

measuring somebody's worship. Being real and sincere solely

upon the excitement. And the intensity of their

praise that they display in a service or an event.

Enthusiasm is not. The be-all and end-all.

It's not it's a part of it and there should be enthusiasm in

our singing in are interceding. The Bible's clear about that,

but David is going to show that worship goes beyond that sphere

of life, goes beyond the meeting.

Place goes beyond the segment of time.

During the week, that is designated for that focus.

And the way he's going to show it here is that as a worshipper

His his love for God. His acknowledgment of God is

going to spill over in the way he treats other people.

And the way he treats other people, as a rule, he felt the

great responsibility and need to serve them in a very practical

way to extend Grace to extend help to extend Mercy with a

recognition of a need that's that's there and he want to meet

that need. That's how we came out of the

worship service, so to speak. So he who is not like many who

failed to make a connection between a vertical adoration and

a horizontal awareness. Some people make that disconnect

there one thing vertically but horizontally, they're like a

completely different person and that, that doesn't make sense in

light of how the Bible wants to frame our worship.

There should be if anything this channel between us and God that

spills over and the way we minister to others.

And here's what's happening, you have people who knows how far

they came to meet David and the Ark into Jerusalem.

Who knows what resources they set up.

Our who knows what kind of time they had to.

They had Set apart in order to come to this event and

acknowledge God. And David realized these people

have to go home. They have a long journey home,

they have a trip to make and your these little kids and he's

people have to spend so much money that the sit in traffic

all these things. And so he felt the need with the

resources and the power that he had to be able to nourish them

and bless them and Supply whatever they needed.

And so when I look at a verse I guess I realized that the the

sequence suggest this is what true worship looks like.

This is what true worship looks like in.

A reminds me of a text. And first, John meet me in first

John quickly, in chapter three. David is Young and he David is

in his 30s here and he is already showing evidence of

mindfulness and tenderness for others, proving that his heart

was surely moved and influenced by serious revelation of the

love of God. First, John three sixteen.

Not John 3:16 first, John 3:16. By this, we know love that he

John 3:16 John 3:16

laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for

the brothers. Okay?

When you hear, if you grew up in the church, you've heard this.

When you hear the expression, the christ-centered Christ

focused expression, laying our lives down, four brothers,

laying our lives down for one another.

What's the first thing that comes to mind?

Be honest, what comes to mind? Can I tell you what comes to

mind? A heroic Act of martyrdom?

That's what comes to mind. The first thing that comes to

mind is laying your life down, because, I mean, it's related to

Jesus, he laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our

lives for the brothers, so, that, if the opportunity should

arise, where I must give up my life in order to spare the life

of a brother, I should do it. I think that's part of it.

I don't even think that's necessarily what John is

implying in this teaching. Laying your life down.

For the brothers, is clarified, in the next verse, look at verse

17. But if anyone has the world's

goods and sees his brother in need yet, closes his heart

against them. How does God's love abide in

him? Do you see the relationship

here? Verse 17, a major aspect of what

it means to lay down my life. For my brother is not so much

about sacrificial dying. It's more about sacrificial

living. I think the latter is harder

than the former because the latter sacrificial living to the

flesh is a slow death, it's a slow death.

You're telling me if putting the interests of others above mine,

you're telling me to lay aside, my desires and to steam others

more important as me. That's a slow torturous death to

the flesh. Some would prefer they just be a

martyr and get it all over with, and I want to get out of this

world anyway. But when I look at a text like

this, I understand that laying down our lives.

For others means that I have a consideration for consideration

for and a contribution to the interest of others even at the

cost of my own. We need the holy spirit's help.

We need the holy spirit's help to live this way because if I

see a brother if I see a sister and there's a need in their life

and my heart reaction is to be close to them to ignore it and

neglected to imagine it's not there.

Then then John says how can you claim that God's love is alive

in you? The evidence that God's love it

is alive in you, is that when you see that need, when you see

that request, and when you see the opportunity, your heart

opens up. It says I'm willing to do what I

need to do. And so we see that in David's

life to some degree, he's aware he sees it.

He's not just caught up in this personal experience with God.

It translate into the way he looked at people and his heart

opened up towards them. So true worship a true living

pure sacrifice unto God is able to act in such a way but it goes

beyond that go back to our main text before we go there, where

does he go next? After he serves the nation.

Where did he go next? He goes home.

So David went from to from church, right?

The house of God, the big conference event and from there

he served the people came a little bit more to Earth and he

serve the people. And now in verse 20, we read in

the first few words, and David returned to bless his household

and David returned to bless his household.

I believe that the home is the highest altar of worship.

I believe it is the primary place that God seeks incense

from He demonstrates what a true worshiper.

Looks like when we are turned, when we returns home to bless

his home proving that he didn't leave his faith at the event,

but he brought it to his day-to-day life, he brought it

home. It breaks my heart because I

know that it is frequently the case where people leave that

Faith, leave that acknowledgement of God, right at

the door, no matter what they heard and sang about.

It's a sad. Commentary on many people's

lives. We see here that this man

realized that what happened there has to happen in my house.

It will look different, but it will not be inconsistent.

And Paul, the Apostle seems to indicate even to us in the New

Covenant. That if we are to demonstrate

our godliness primarily in any place, it has to be within the

confines of our home with our family.

Yes, with your parents, with your siblings with your spouse.

Household godliness. I want to show you where I get

that idea from it's an obscure passage of scripture that we

seem to ignore it's about widows for those who are there.

Maybe a year and a half ago. We look through this and First

Timothy and chapter 5 but I want you to see this because in this

one instruction, I think you have a principal for Universal

godliness to be applied in all aspects of Our Lives. 1st

Timothy 5 4. Look at Paul says, but if a

widow has children or grandchildren, let them first

learn to show, godliness to their own household.

Do you see that? And to make some return to their

parents? For this is pleasing in the

sight of God. What's pleasing in the sight of

God, that you would first learn to show godliness home

Unfortunately, I for some reason, it seems to be our

reflex to primarily Shore godliness in a setting like this

and to even extend the fruit of the spirit to unbelieving

co-workers or friends. But when it comes to our

husband, our wives, our children, our brothers in the

flesh, our sisters and blood, we seem to reserve those fruits And

we seem to extend other things. We seem to extend more fruit of

the flesh than anything else. I don't know why that is.

But it's often the case. And Paul says, learn first to

show godliness at home, this is really pleasing in the sight of

God. In fact, he goes on to say that.

If you don't know how to do that then it really disqualifies your

demonstration of spirituality in any other context.

Remember what he says later on that if someone does not know

how to provide for his own relatives, he's worse than an

unbeliever and has denied the faith consider that let's

consider the magnitude of that if you fail to give the

appropriate recognition, And fulfill your responsibilities.

As a brother or sister, or child, or parent in humanity,

then your faith is null. and no matter what you do, and I think

that, Paul here provides another insight.

What happens among relatives affects the health of the

church? In many context, what happens in

the home, has a connection to the strength of the church.

Go to verse 16 to prove it. If any believing woman has

relatives, who are widows, let her care for them, let the

church not be burdened. So that it may care for those

who are truly widows. Don't burden the church, what is

he applying their? What's that Vernon's financial

burden? Which tells me another thing?

Listen, hey, as Christians, it doesn't mean that we just give

anything to anybody who asks, never forget that, this is not

the point of the Bible study, just because you're a Christian,

just because your call to generosity and sacrificial

living, the Bible doesn't want you to blindly, extend.

Help to anybody who asks for help.

I know that seems controversial read 1st, Timothy 5 and you'll

get what I'm saying. There's actually Criterion,

there's actually a list of requirements in many settings

before assistance is made known. I think there are a lot of

Christians who are not wise in this area and they get hurt more

than blessed by just blindly helping people.

If you have more questions about that, see me after the Bible

study, but notice what he says here, the family is in

partnership with the church. Hey, homes those in this place

where you have Believers within the household, you have a job to

do that. The church is not supposed to

do, the church is not the primary reactor to everything.

They're not that they are not the 911 to all problems homes.

You have a job to do. Fathers.

You have a job do Mother's you. Siblings have a job to do.

If you have a widow in your home you got to take care of that

before we do. And this burden here specific is

speaking about financial burden, right?

But it applies across the board, consider the cycle that God has

established that when you and I leave this place just like David

left that event. We are to go and and be fueled

to bless our homes even more, right?

But just like what Paul is explaining here, what happens in

the home, can either be a burden to the church or blessing to the

church? And so this cycle must be

honored must be recognized. Those are not two separate

entities. This Ministries built upon the

foundation of Godly homes, and if the homes are struggling, if

marriages are struggling this ministry, will struggle And I

think that's important for us to understand to because the church

is not the savior of families. Either it's not the youth group

that we're planning to have is not going to save the you that

might help. It might supplement, but what

goes on at home is crucial and I know it's not as easy as what

I'm presenting because there are nuances, right?

There are complications. What if the spouse is not a

Godly? What if the Omni only believer?

I get it. That's where the church comes in

now. So the church knows when to come

in the church know I want to be the primary help and the church

knows when to be the secondary help.

And in David's case, it was not easy because we heard it, right?

He's in a go home and he's Shiri, he's filled with joy.

He's on a spiritual High, he's skipping and dancing home.

Only to meet a wife. That's not exactly supportive.

Right? So let's go back to that texts.

Many of you mentioned an observed about me, house,

behavior and words. Let's, let's try to understand

why she's doing, what she's doing.

First 20, David returned to bless his household but Michal

the daughter of Saul came out to me.

David pause what stands out to you from that one sentence or

one phrase. I saw your mouth moving.

Yes, very good. Do you notice how the Holy

Spirit refers to Mahal? Is it, is it mija all the wife

of David should be, shouldn't it?

so when somebody finds a spouse, they should leave their father

and mother That's some of the holy spirit.

Says the holy spirit says Michal the daughter of Saul.

Why do you think that is? Because she's going to look and

sound a lot like Saul. And what we're about to read,

she's going to resemble her father Saul and she is going to

show a great lack of what David has and his heart towards God.

So she Reigns on his parade, right?

And she Reigns on David's, personal parade with sarcasm and

slander. She makes allegations she makes

accusations and so vicious and impatient was her confrontation

that we David the same again to the front door.

She sees him from the window presumably and she runs out of

the front door to meet him as early as possible.

Like she is foaming out of the mouth via manly upset and

irritated about what she saw early on in that day.

And I look at this and I think to myself, What's her criticism

Justified? And the way to answer that is to

look into biblically because the Temptation is to psychoanalyze.

Why she's doing this. The Temptation is say, well, you

know, she had a rough pass and she might have been treated this

way. We're tempted to do that, but I

want to stay within the bounds of scripture and I do a study on

whom Michal was I'm not introduced Earth for the first

time here. I know who she is, you know, who

she is. So maybe who she is, is all that

we need to understand for this kind of behavior and

confrontation. So first thing she does write

it. She says how the king of Israel

honored himself honored himself today.

She's being sarcastic, uncovering himself today, before

the eyes of this of his servants female servants, question, who

here believes that David was half naked when he was dancing.

because many people believe that many people have that depiction

of David, Was David just shirtless and wearing Priestly,

trousers is some belief. No, we learned that he was

wearing a linen, ephod. And we learned that he was

closed, just like the levitical priests were clothes.

And so many people take what Mahal is saying and take it to

heart. And literally and say, well, I

can see why she's kind of upset because if my husband was

dancing around barely clothed I would I would be up no matter

what he's doing, right? Goes back to Pauls rules, it

doesn't matter how sincere you are, you got to put on some

clothes, right? But that's not what's happening

here because we know that David was closed, just like the

Levites were clothed. So why is she criticizing his

articles of clothing? Think about it.

What did he need to do in order to wear the linen ephod and to

be recognized for ruining wearing the linen ephod very

good. He had to remove his Royal

attire. He had to remove that which

distinguished him from the rest of the commoners.

And that is what upset me, Hal. Humility was not a virtue to

her. And she put a premium, she sure

identity was caught up, just like her dad caught up and honor

and high profile status and David in this, in this display

of humility, says, I'm not the king of Israel.

God is, here's his are coming to the throne.

And so I will blend in with the rest of the nation and there's

Michal In her a little Palace looking down with disgust.

How could you make yourself so low in the eyes of men?

Because that ultimately offended her to some degree.

And so she looks at this and she realizes, I don't understand how

you can do this, but it's more than that.

It wasn't just his humility that she could understand.

She could not register this, passionate display of worship So

because we read it early on right and verse 16.

That when she saw King, David leaping and dancing before the

Lord, she despised him in her heart.

This is like a deep content. This was like a bitterness and

she looked at him dancing and leaping and she goes, that is so

strange, that's actually ugly. For what reason?

Was mija spiritual. Now, we can say no based on

this. But how do you know she's not

spiritual from our previous studies Was she a woman who had

the sermon? Was she a woman who had genuine

love for God. Think about think about how we

have Clues throughout her life. That indicate that on a

foundational level, she maybe even didn't know God, Yes.

Kill me, she threatened me remember when the initial move

of Saul came against David and he escapes and me how lies to

her dad? Says look, I had I was left with

no option. He wanted to hurt me but

there's, that's right. But there's something even

before that. Very good.

Did you hear that? And first Samuel 1913 we took,

we read here that Miguel took an image and laid it on the bed and

put a pillow of goats hair at its head and covered it with the

clothes. This was not even like a

pocket-sized idol that we see in different parts of scripture.

Like our sister just said, this is like a life-sized one in

their home and she tucks it into bed, puts a blanket over.

It put some goats hair. With the hope that when the men

come Salzman come, it would delay them when they realize

that. This is not really David.

What's an idol doing in your house.

What's a false god doing in your living room?

So we have we have great Clues to see that this woman even

early on her life early on in her marriage was not a

God-fearing woman. So why would she marry a man?

Like David? David was a man after God's

heart But was that all David was?

He was famous. He was respected in the nation.

He was a military Warrior. He was loved.

He was honored. He was good looking handsome,

right? We're told that he was ready

Country Boy. Physically fit.

And she considered all of those things.

And convinced herself to a degree, I can tolerate his

spirituality. so, she thought, Let me make this point because

eventually her lack of regard, for the things of God, would

develop into a lack of respect for the man of God, her lack of

regard, for the things of God, would eventually develop into a

lack of respect for the man of God.

So many of you had a critical point in your lives.

Where you will make the second most important decision.

After choosing to follow Jesus Christ as Lord, and it is to

find a spouse that you can walk with.

And if you want to establish a definite path of suffering in

your life, can I tell you what to do?

So you don't do it. Marry someone who does not share

your joy and Delight in the things of God.

Marry somebody who does not share your Delight or joy in the

things of God. Because I'm telling you right

now, they might tolerate what you have. because of other

things that they admire about you, but when those other things

Fade to have its compelling power and they will even though

if they are looks You're going to have a struggle.

And it's it's a real struggle. I know of a story of a man who

was lukewarm for a great season and in his lukewarm season of

life, he chose to got married. Only for his heart to be

rekindled and for him to be passionate about God, but guess

what? It didn't happen to the woman

that he married. There's a lot of struggle there.

It's difficult. now that won't pain you if you're lukewarm and

you marry somebody else's lukewarm if your nominal

Christian or somebody else and somebody else has a nominal

Christian but if you're devoted to the advancement of the

kingdom of God, if you actually take delight and pleasure and

worshiping the Lord being with God's people being here on a

Friday night and you choose to yoke yourself with someone who's

willing to just tolerate that and doesn't share in that.

Why would you enter into that kind of a covenant?

Why would you even entertain that thought?

But David and he called me an example to you because in verse

22, I see I see a lesson. That's I don't think it's a

direct lesson, but I think there's something there in

relationship to my point. Notice what he says in verse 22,

I'll make myself yet more contemptible than this and I

will be a base in your eyes but by the female servers, mm whom

you have spoken by them. I shall be held in honor.

So we have an argument. Here we have a husband and wife

arguing, right? And notice what he says, he goes

yes, since you brought the female servants, right?

The lowliest positions in the Kingdom, since you brought them

up, let me put it this way. You might despise me because I'm

not changing, but I'm going to be held in honor in their eyes.

And here's the point that I make better to be with someone who is

low in society, a based despised.

Not famous, not successful, but who has an understanding of the

things of God and to be with a queen who is cold and heart

towards the things of God. These female servants they're

going to honoree because they honor God in Me.

And through me, you you're not, I take that to say, okay, then

who cares who she is? Who cares what she can offer you

in the flesh, better to be with those who are servants, but who

love God and serve God, and those who have status in Beauty

and success. An intellect, but stink in their

spirituality. I hope you take that to heart.

You know what, the best way to deal with slander to Shield your

heart from pain that comes from false allegations.

Look at verse 21 and David said to me haul, it was before the

Lord. It was before God, I didn't do

it for what you think. I did it men will judge your

motives you want to serve God. Men will judge your motives,

which is a something that no Christian should do no matter

how tempted you are to. Look at someone judge their

motives. The Bible says, don't you dare

do it. He will do it.

That's his job. But if you want to guard your

heart from the slashes of slander, just be convinced of

what you're doing and who you're doing it for.

That's it. I know I did it before God.

I know I'm Doing it for God. So it doesn't matter what you

think, doesn't matter what your opinion is and also be Resolute.

Be Concrete in your conviction, that no matter what, criticism

you have, coming your way, no matter what kind of persecution

arises? No matter who says what, look,

what David says that the last part of verse 21?

I will celebrate before the Lord.

I ain't changing. If anything, I'm on the way to

greater greater love for him. Be immovable.

Sometimes, sometimes I drive. Or sometimes I watch something

and I see like a stadium filled with people and I look at

different news things and I see this crowd of people and I think

to myself as much as we are created in the image of God,

these are all Jars of Clay like they're all just particles of

dust gathered together beautifully but in a moment and

it just one final breath. They go back to the very dust

that they were made from and I care about these people's

opinions. This is who I am afraid of

disappointing in my Pursuit Of God may it never be, may it

never be. We're just a bunch of creative

being stuffed in a Celestial ball and I'm more worried about

what they have to say more than the one who created all things

with his breath. Let me break.

May God give us a Sanctified view of who he is and who we

are. So what happens?

They get into an argument. And interestingly, as we brought

up in verse 23 and Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to

the day of her death, you heard me say it earlier can be

interpreted one or two ways that God was the source, the divine

intervention, that judged her, by sealing her womb, or this was

David saying, I refrained myself.

I'm not going to be intimate with somebody like you and he

could have had a strategic perspective on that.

Which based on this I can see why like he looks at me.

Ha and the way she responds she was, I've seen this before.

Saul. Like like father like daughter,

I just like it didn't change. You're not the person that I

thought you were you're just you're spitting image of who he

is. I don't want to spawn that.

I don't want to reproduce that, just going to be headache.

And so he Reserves. His participation and what can

make reproduction possible regardless of where you stand?

I think a spiritual lesson from this truth.

Here it is Michal. The daughter of Saul had no

child to the day of her death, those who Have the character of

me, call will experience. What?

Me call experience physically on a spiritual level?

They will become fruitless. They will become fruitless.

When you don't have an understanding of what true

worship is, when you'd have no priority about pursuing worship

of living in that kind of worship, you will have nothing

to offer God and you will have nothing to offer your fellow

man. So I'm very concerned about

those who are gifted in the ability to criticize and condemn

others. And I don't ever want to come to

the place. I know it may cause an extreme

example because she despised the concept of Passion worship

altogether but she clearly lacked fervency and Zeal and

passion and there was a connection between that and her

not being able to have a child. There's a connection between

that kind of an attitude and not being able to Bear good genuine,

eternally rewarded fruit. I don't want to be fruitless I

don't want something in me to stop the reality of Life

spiritual life issuing from me. I hope you feel the same way.

Let's pray. Lord, we We know that we don't

give you the praise and worship that you always deserve.

But we want to be worshippers not just when something

spectacular happens from the heavens into our own world, the

lord. When we look out to our fellow

man, help us be worshippers help us be a Living Sacrifice and

then we go home. Lord may we learn how to First

be Godly in our households? We know it's not easy.

Lord. We know that we are guard is

down at homes. Lord, we know that we're tired.

When we go home, we know that. It's much easier to fool others

than to fool those that are closest to us.

But, oh God, it's possible. And we pray that if Maranatha

Bible Church has any role to play that it would be a

contribution to the joy and love for you that would bring

something of blessing to our homes and we pray that the homes

that are represented here with a various circumstances that they

each represent. Would return that blessing to

this ministry as a collection of families to honor and glorify

you. Lord, may we be true worshipers

with our bodies with our singing with our serving. with our

reactions with our pre-emptive plans, Lord just Cover us with

the holy spirit's help. Empower we love you.

Lord. And we want to be the passionate

worshippers that you've called us to be, if David could be so

passionate and the old Covenant, how much more us in a more

glorious Covenant law, we give you all that praise tonight.

In Jesus name,