Different Views Bring Different Responses
1 Chronicles 15:28-29, "Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps. 29 And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart."
It is certain that not everyone responds the same way to the same thing, because they have different views of the same thing. A large group was celebrating the ark of the covenant being brought from the house of Obed-edom to a tent David had prepared for the ark in Jerusalem. The event brought jubilation to the hearts of those who were involved in transporting the ark, they desired to have the ark of the covenant brought to its rightful resting place, Jerusalem was the hub of society in Israel. They were shouting, they were playing music with the cornet, trumpets, cymbals, psalteries, and harps, and included in the group of jubilant participants was king David, dancing and playing. His wife, Michal the daughter of Saul, saw David as she looked out her window, and verse 29 says, "...she despised him in her heart."
It must have been that the pomp and the pride in her heart caused her to view David's actions as inappropriate for royalty. To mingle with such commoners, and to expose himself humbly before his followers as one being overly excited and jubilant, was inappropriate for a king. But then again, maybe she didn't care if the ark of the covenant was present in Jerusalem. Maybe David's zeal for the things of God made her uncomfortable, and she therefore despised his actions. The Pulpit Commentary states: "The reason of Michal "despising David in her heart" can only be found in the unreason and the irreligion of that heart itself. She was a type of not a few, who despise devotion, enthusiasm, and above all practical liberality and generosity, on the part of any individual of their own family, when these are shown to Christ and his Church, and when they think they may be a trifle the poorer for it, or when they feel that the liberality and devotion of another exposes their "poverty" in both these respects." It could be that the spiritual poverty of Michal's heart caused her to despise the spiritual fullness of David's heart.
We should never hesitate to allow God to fill our hearts with joy, and if that joy spills over into acts of jubilation, let us not envy or despise the person who is filled with such joy; but let us rather desire to capture the joy of the LORD in our own hearts, and if that joy spills out occasionally in us, then praise the Lord. Make sure your view is correct, because it will affect your response. Don't despise what others have in their relationship with the LORD, but rejoice in the fact that they have a relationship! Genuine, God given joy, is something many of us need.
Have a great day rejoicing in the LORD. "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4)
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1. When was the last time you encountered someone whose heart was filled with spiritual euphoria?
2. How did this person demonstrate their joy?
3. How did you respond to the person filled with such joy?
4. Was your view the same as their view, or was it different? Why?