Matins Devotion: August 16, 2024
Why does Michal, David’s wife, despise him in her heart after she sees him dancing with the people before the ark of the covenant? Well, the Bible doesn’t give us a specific answer but there are a number of pieces for us to put together. Michal is the daughter of Saul, a royal princess throughout her life, raised in luxury and honor and dignity. In her youth, she fell in love with David because he was bold and daring, going to war with men to make her his own. She’s humiliated when her father gives her to another man during his war against David. But then, when things are settled after years of turmoil, David insists on taking her back. Her hero has arrived.
And then the royal princess sees her hero celebrating in front of the Ark of the Covenant, surrounded by a bunch of servants and commoners. She sees him throwing a feast with a bunch of lowborn people who are enjoying the fattened animals with him. She hears music and sees David dancing with those who are below her. And instead of joining the celebration, she refuses to come in. She stays outside, burning with anger against the one who, from her perspective, is debasing himself in front of the unworthy.
Is any of this sounding familiar? It sure sounds like Michal shares the heart of the Prodigal Son’s older brother, doesn’t it? She wants the love of David for herself. And he’s making that love seem worthless by giving to the worthless. The universality of the Gospel always has been and always will be a stumbling block for the self-righteous.
The Gospel is for everyone, the highborn and lowborn alike. The blood of Jesus Christ is for princesses born in palaces and little shepherd boys born in squalor. No one on earth needs forgiveness more than you and no one on earth is less entitled to receive it than you. Every seat of honor in the feast of salvation has been won not by the hands of sinful men, but by the nail-pierced, sinless hands of Jesus Christ. Don’t despise the dancing. Don’t think that God’s love is a commodity that loses its value when given to those who don’t share your reputation or your taste. The servant’s feast was Michal’s feast. David’s dancing was for her. The Prodigal Son’s feast was his brother’s feast. The fatted calf was for him. The stranger’s feast, the foreigner’s feast, the lowly sinner made saint’s feast is your feast as well. Come on in.
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