Do you remember the last time you went
“all-out” to join family and friends in an enthusiastic celebration of an event
or perhaps an exciting sports competition?
In 2 Samuel 6:12-19 we read the
account of King David leading his nation in extravagant, corporate worship of
God. The focus of the occasion was a
joyous procession in which the ark of the covenant was being brought up to
Jerusalem. King David, apparently caught
up in a spirit of humility and worship of God, took off his royal robe and … wearing only a linen cloth around his
waist, danced with all his might to honor the LORD. (v. 14, Good News Translation).
Immediately following this joyous experience of worship, David returns to his home and family. What we learn from this brief account from Scripture are important lessons God may have for both husbands and wives. From 2 Samuel 6: 20, we read:
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, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!
What a let-down for David to hear her accusation from his helpmate, suggesting
that he was being prideful, selfish, and even immoral. Michal’s accusation hurled at David must have
been particularly hurtful to him considering that he had returned home to bless his household (v. 20) and to
invite her to share in the rich blessing he had experienced.
But there is even more evidence that David was Spirit-filled and held pure motives in all of his actions. Scholars believe that prior to this occasion, David had devoted his time in personal worship of God to compose an inspiring song especially for the processional—possibly the song now recorded as Psalm 24. When you read Psalm 24, perhaps you will realize the enthusiasm David possessed-- an enthusiasm that may well have still been lifting his spirit upon his return to Michal.
Although David's motives and behavior were pure before the Lord, Michal’s were not. Second Samuel 6: 16 records for us that Michal saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. Michal’s sin of regarding her husband as unworthy of her respect had been first conceived in her heart (James 1: 15) as she watched him worshiping from her window. By the time David arrived to share his enthusiasm and blessing upon her, Michal’s sin was ready to be birthed. As we read above, she expressed her loathing by attacking her husband unjustly. Here is the account of her stunned husband’s response in defense of his motives and behavior:
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.' And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death (2 Samuel 6: 21-23).
What can we learn from this Scriptural account that began in a “spiritual mountaintop” for a husband named David and ended with a very disappointing reception at home by his wife, Michal? First, if we consider God’s plan that a wife is to serve as a helpmate to her husband, and the husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church, then we can conclude that David and Michal’s conversation was not in sync with God’s plan first revealed in Genesis 2.
In Genesis 2: 19-20, we learn about one of Adam’s first responsibilities as a steward of the creation God had prepared for him. God assigned Adam to study the animal creatures of the garden and to name them according to his understanding of each kind:
The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.
The significance of God’s homework assignment to Adam goes far beyond simply labeling the animals with names, or even developing an understanding of how each creature related to Adam ecologically, important as that lesson is. According to the Pulpit Commentary, Adam’s ‘assignment’ to name the animals …was meant to reveal his loneliness. The longing for a partner was already deeply seated in his nature, and the survey of the animals, coming to him probably in pairs, could not fail to intensify that secret hunger of his soul, and perhaps evoke it into conscious operation.
Ellicott’s Commentary provides additional insight on God’s provision of a
helpmate for the man. Referring to
Adam’s “naming exercise,” Ellicott’s Commentary adds, But while thus he could tame many, and make them share his dwelling, he
found among them no counterpart of himself, capable of answering his thoughts
and of holding with him rational discourse.
From these commentators on Genesis 2: 19-20, we can grasp a sense of God's intention for the supportive and complementary role of the wife as a helpmate to the husband. One implied role of the helpmate is to serve as a spiritual accountability partner for the husband. There are times when our wives observe and discern by observation more than we as husbands can discern. Therefore, our wives can have a valuable role in cautioning us about behavior that could allow us to fall victim to pride, selfishness, and even immoral behavior toward another person.
Immediately following this joyous experience of worship, David returns to his home and family. What we learn from this brief account from Scripture are important lessons God may have for both husbands and wives. From 2 Samuel 6: 20, we read:
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, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!
But there is even more evidence that David was Spirit-filled and held pure motives in all of his actions. Scholars believe that prior to this occasion, David had devoted his time in personal worship of God to compose an inspiring song especially for the processional—possibly the song now recorded as Psalm 24. When you read Psalm 24, perhaps you will realize the enthusiasm David possessed-- an enthusiasm that may well have still been lifting his spirit upon his return to Michal.
Although David's motives and behavior were pure before the Lord, Michal’s were not. Second Samuel 6: 16 records for us that Michal saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. Michal’s sin of regarding her husband as unworthy of her respect had been first conceived in her heart (James 1: 15) as she watched him worshiping from her window. By the time David arrived to share his enthusiasm and blessing upon her, Michal’s sin was ready to be birthed. As we read above, she expressed her loathing by attacking her husband unjustly. Here is the account of her stunned husband’s response in defense of his motives and behavior:
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.' And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death (2 Samuel 6: 21-23).
What can we learn from this Scriptural account that began in a “spiritual mountaintop” for a husband named David and ended with a very disappointing reception at home by his wife, Michal? First, if we consider God’s plan that a wife is to serve as a helpmate to her husband, and the husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church, then we can conclude that David and Michal’s conversation was not in sync with God’s plan first revealed in Genesis 2.
In Genesis 2: 19-20, we learn about one of Adam’s first responsibilities as a steward of the creation God had prepared for him. God assigned Adam to study the animal creatures of the garden and to name them according to his understanding of each kind:
The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.
The significance of God’s homework assignment to Adam goes far beyond simply labeling the animals with names, or even developing an understanding of how each creature related to Adam ecologically, important as that lesson is. According to the Pulpit Commentary, Adam’s ‘assignment’ to name the animals …was meant to reveal his loneliness. The longing for a partner was already deeply seated in his nature, and the survey of the animals, coming to him probably in pairs, could not fail to intensify that secret hunger of his soul, and perhaps evoke it into conscious operation.
From these commentators on Genesis 2: 19-20, we can grasp a sense of God's intention for the supportive and complementary role of the wife as a helpmate to the husband. One implied role of the helpmate is to serve as a spiritual accountability partner for the husband. There are times when our wives observe and discern by observation more than we as husbands can discern. Therefore, our wives can have a valuable role in cautioning us about behavior that could allow us to fall victim to pride, selfishness, and even immoral behavior toward another person.
However, as we have seen, that was not
the case in the situation of David's behavior and how Michal responded. Her own heart became jealous and vengeful
toward her husband, thus allowing Satan to gain a foothold in an otherwise
valuable accountability relationship between husband and wife. Thus, we can see the importance of developing
and maintaining a relationship of unconditional love, trust, and humility
between husband and wife.
Although the Bible does shy away from including accounts of troubled marriages, it also provides several examples of good marriages. Joseph and Mary (Luke 1-2) were able to overcome numerous difficulties, especially developing trust in each other and facing public scorn over Mary’s supposed immorality. Priscilla and Aquila were tremendous examples as Christ-like partners in the ministry of the Gospel with the Apostle Paul (e.g. Acts 18:26). In the Old Testament, the story of Ruth shows the great redemptive love of God at work as Boaz becomes a kinsman redeemer by arranging to marry the poor, alien widow named Ruth.
Although the Bible does shy away from including accounts of troubled marriages, it also provides several examples of good marriages. Joseph and Mary (Luke 1-2) were able to overcome numerous difficulties, especially developing trust in each other and facing public scorn over Mary’s supposed immorality. Priscilla and Aquila were tremendous examples as Christ-like partners in the ministry of the Gospel with the Apostle Paul (e.g. Acts 18:26). In the Old Testament, the story of Ruth shows the great redemptive love of God at work as Boaz becomes a kinsman redeemer by arranging to marry the poor, alien widow named Ruth.
It is likely that some husbands and wives who read this article will, like Abby and I, relate to instances like the one reported here from the life of David and Michal. Thankfully, as we face the blessings and trials of life, with God’s help we can choose to rely on the same spiritual wisdom and strength from Him that formed and matured our marriage in the first place. Just as communication is important between spouses so we know the blessing of keeping communication with our Creator--hearing daily from Him through time in His Word and conversing with Him as our Friend through prayer.
Digging Deeper -- Here are two invitations for further study:
1. The popular misconception by many who have not read the Scriptures is that “husbands are to rule and wives are to submit!” On the contrary, God’s instruction through Paul is that the husband is to submit by loving his wife as Christ loved the church, loving her as much as he loves himself (Ephesians 5: 25-33). The wife is to submit to her husband by seeing to it that she shows respect toward him (Ephesians 5: 22-24, 33). Knowing what God has revealed in these New Testament verses (unavailable to David and Michal), I have three questions for further consideration: Husbands, how would you have responded differently in David's situation? Wives, how would you advise Michal to be a better helpmate? And for all of us, how would we “grade” our marriages in light of Ephesians 5?
2. Compare the lives of two Old Testament husbands—Abraham and David. Then, compare their wives, Sarah and Michal, respectively. For your study, in addition to the account of 2 Samuel 6, see Genesis 17 and 18; and 1 Peter 3: 1-7.
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