Day 100: 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23, 1 Chronicles 13-16

One of the keys to David's ability to lead and retain his humility & confidence is that he knew the source of it all. He knew it was God who was really in control, not David:

David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. (2 Samuel 5:12)

During this time of relative peace and unity the decision was made to locate the ark of the covenant and bring it up to Jerusalem. While in transit there was a slight accident. The ark began to slip and one of the men (Uzzah) reached out to steady it. He was struck dead by God. This has always seemed sort of unfair to me. Apparently it seemed unfair to David as well:

Then David was angry because the LORD’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?” He was not willing to take the ark of the LORD to be with him in the City of David. (2 Samuel 6:8-10)

This seemed to elude even David's acute sense of justice. But after a few months he decided to try again to bring the ark to Jerusalem. The text doesn't really say anything about what was going on in David's mind. What happened that made him change his mind? Here's what I think: I think David decided to submit to God's judgment even though it seemed unfair to him.

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. (2 Samuel 6:16)

She "despised him"  because he was acting so lower-class. He was the king, after all. And, more importantly, she was a queen...and this seemed so "common". She wanted to be respected and looked up to. She was the daughter of a king and now she was the wife of a king and royalty simply doesn't act this way. We all have a tendency to get caught up in our own importance, don't we?

David gets a pretty cold greeting when he gets home:

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!” (2 Samuel 6:20)

But, see, David's celebration was not done for the people. It was for God:

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. (2 Samuel 6:21-22)

I think it's worth asking ourselves a few questions about our own worship. Why do we worship the way we do? Whose eyes do we feel are watching us? Do we prefer certain types of music in worship (rock, pop, traditional) because it reflects to others the way we want to be perceived? Do we dress a certain way (coat and tie, jeans and t-shirt) because of how we want people we view us? There's a song the kids used to sing based on this scripture about being undignified but if our being undignified is because that's the image we want to project to others then we've sort of missed the point. When we worship, who do we perceive as our audience? David's celebration was "before the Lord".

Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations,
   ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
   bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
 Tremble before him, all the earth! (1 Chronicles 16:28-30)