This chapter gives us the account of David's attempt to bring the ark to himself at Jerusalem. God has established the kingdom, and now David wants the representation of God close to him.
V. 1 (See Ps.24:4) David gets all the leaders together to go get the ark. (See 1 Chron. 13:1-5.) It is interesting to compare this chapter with the Philistine's effort to move the ark, 1 Sam. 6:1-9.
Vs.1-3. house of Abinadab.. It had been here since 1 Samuel 7, before Saul was king. So probably 70 or so years 20 from Ebenezer to Saul, 40 with Saul, 10 from Saul to David).
This shows us that Saul had no desire to move the Ark close to him. He might have to change his act if God got too close, whereas, David's desire was to have the Lord as close as possible. How many of God's people are afraid to spend much time with the Lord in His word for this very reason.
Evidently, the house of Abinadab had been the only one willing to Sanctify themselves to have the ark with them (1 Samuel 7:1)
Now some points here.
Set the ark of God upon a new cart and Uzziah and Ahio drove the cart.
Uzziah means Strength - Evidently self-strength or Pride, because with just an addition of an only one letter, the letter 'i'. Uzziah would make it Jah-is-strong)
Ahio means his brother - what a name, but this what it means. Evidently Uzziah was the oldest boy and his younger brother follows him.
Both of these boys were the sons of Abinabab. Could have been grandsons because the same word is used to denote sons and grandsons. But either way, with the ark was here for 70 years at Abinadab's house and these two brothers grew up with it.
David set the ark on a new cart. Now, this was crazy. David knew better. He knew that the ark was to be moved only on the shoulders of the priests. He also knew the penalty of touching or looking into it, but he did it anyway. WHY?
There may be several reasons.
1. The previous chapters have told us how he prospered with God's hand upon him. He may have become so used to this, that he takes it for granted that the Lord will continue. This is called presumption. There was an article in the bulletin last week on this subject.
2. He may have been so excited about bringing the ark to himself, that he forgot.
3. v. 9 indicates that he might not have feared the Lord enough to do this the Lord's way. Fear of the Lord will do things His way no matter how silly they may seem or how much we might want to do it otherwise.
4. Was David himself influenced by the Philistines from 70 years previously? The Philistines had moved it this way when they sent it back and God had blessed the movement. So David now thinks that he can do it the same way? After all, this is the easer way than carrying it (Num. 7:9).
This would show us that even the best person, a man after God's own heart, can be and many times is influenced by the world's crowd and may not even realize it.
5. Evidently David didn't have any Kohathites who were to be in charge of this move with him. Maybe he had gotten in such a hurry to move the ark that he didn't think to bring them. If so, this is a good warning to watch out and take our time before we go into anything, even good things that would seem to further the kingdom work of our God and His name. We had better be sure that it is done God's way and not the Philistine's.
I think this applies to everything. A good example is the temptation to be pressed by the importance of the work that we may be doing for the kingdom's sake, and compromise. Maybe pressed, and go borrow the money to carry on the 'work' which we feel is important. It is so tempting to see the need for something to get accomplished for the Lord and to forget to wait on Him and do it His way.
Let's take our time, check it out according to the word of God and do it right and remember, the Philistines can do things we CAN NOT do. Therefore, to use the Philistines as our standard will bring God's judgment. Uzziah will be smitten - Strength, self-strength must fall before the Lord. Get him away from the Ark or God will strike him down.
Let's look at the cart, driver and helper.
1. New cart, wrong. It doesn't matter how good something may appear, the appearance does not make it prober. Only the law of God will do that.
2. Sons of Abinadab drave the cart.
Uzziah- (Strength) and Ahio (his brother).
The ark had been in their home for 70 years. These boys grew up with the ark and had become very familiar with it, leading to presumption.
His brother, Ahio, drove the cart while Uzziah watched the ark. Evidently Uzziah's pride caused him to take liberty with God. And he knew better also. Probably untaught by Abinadab the fear of the Lord. As they tried to do the right thing in the wrong way, even with rejoicing, God dealt with it.
We see this in our kids, a disrespect for the Lord and His house. Now, I know He doesn't live in the Church buildings, but a child's respect for God will sure be manifest in his attitude toward the assembly place of the body of Christ, the Church building.
Here these boys had not been taught to fear God and the attitude of Self-Strength instead of God is my Strength (Uzziah) crept in and cost him his life.
V. 7 Notice that even the mercy seat on the ark did not save him. We move out of God's mercy with presumption, and we will find the same fate awaiting us.
These boys were Levities but that wasn't enough. You had to be a Kohathite to touch the ark, who were of the Levities, Lev.4.
Familiarity breeds contempt and these boys untaught the fear of the Lord, lost their respect for the things of the Lord and we see this over and over, even in Good Christian homes.
As Matthew Henry says, "Perhaps he affected to show, before this great assembly, how bold he could make with the Ark, having been so long acquainted with it." In other words, he wanted to show off, he wanted to show everyone how much he could get away with, how familiar he was with God.
We see this attitude among the Christians today. An attitude of contempt for the 'house of God' because the parents didn't teach them to fear God. And it goes farther, an attitude of contempt for the men of God.
The close contact led to familiarity with the Lord. The familiarity led to pride, led to presumption, led to destruction.
Also, as we said, David tried to do the right thing the wrong way. The end does not justify the means. Good intentions will not justify a bad action, and this is probably why God's people are having such problems today.
I also think it is significant that the king probably told these boys to do this, drive the cart and steady the ark. Obviously, civil authority does not make the order prober.
This requirement by David as king of Israel as he tried to do right, was just as wicked as was the order by Pharaoh to kill the babies. Both orders were contrary to God's word and resulted in death.
At times we hear that if the order is given by the civil authority, then it is proper to follow it. God blessed the midwives who disobeyed the ungodly order of the wicked king of Egypt. God killed the man who obeyed the ungodly order of godly king David.
Another point: This stresses the importance of studying and knowing the law of God. Maybe these boys didn't know the law in this area, but I find this hard to believe. Death awaits the ones who act contrary to the revealed law of God.
Uzziah approached God without the blood in touching the Ark and
that cannot be done. Pride, self-strength tries to do this:
1. for Salvation, "I'll do it my way."
2. service, "I can survive without..."
Of course, God no longer strikes people dead as He did in the OT because He has completed the illustrations of the Doctrine He presented.
V. 7 Man has been trying to approach God on his own since Adam and Eve believed the lie, "Ye shall not surely die. We are all serving God in our own way."
No we are not either. Either God's way through the blood or not at all. ANY WAY other than through Christ, the blood on the mercy seat, will result in Death. Any way other than through the blood of Christ is Self-Strength.
God smote him there for his error. What was his error?
1. Familiarity with God, the things of God.
2. Accepted the voice of civil authority over the word of God.
3. Believed that the end justified the means. The end was to protect the ark, the means was to touch it.
4. Thought he would be the exception. He was lifted up with pride. He wanted to show everyone how close he was to God. "Me and the old man upstairs have a deal worked out" as the man told me one time. Uzziah said, "See how close and how well I know God. Look at what I can do."
5. Also error in believing he could approach the throne of Grace without Christ, in his own way.
6. Believed he could claim the protection of God as he did what seemed right at the time. PRESUMPTION!
7. Error in believing that he could serve God as he felt was best, regardless of the law of God.
8. And he died by the ark of God David did wrong and Uzziah paid the price. David, the man after God's own heart, followed the Philistine's example instead of the word of God, but that did not excuse Uzziah for what he did. Uzziah still died.
This shows that our primary responsibility is to the law of God, not to man. And we will add, even though that man may appear very godly and has had a perfect record up to this point. We must know the word of God and follow it.
Each man will answer for himself. There are many people who have followed even preachers, into sin. Talk to these people and they will tell you how "So and So caused them to do wrong." Well, So and So isn't paying the price, they are.
9. Abinadab could not blame anyone (if he was still alive at this time) for Uzziah's death except himself. He didn't teach the boys the fear of the Lord. If he had taught the proper respect, they would not have been led astray by David. All in the world David did in HIS DISOBEDIENCE was to reveal what was in the boys. The boys were not taught and were allowed to show contempt for the things of God in the home. Our circumstances reveal what we are.
If the boys had been taught right in the home, even David, the man after God's own heart, would not have been able to lead them astray.
Let us say that we should teach our children respect for authority, but we must teach them that the authority of the word of God always takes priority, even if it means losing our head to that unjust authority.
(Let us suppose that David had been an ungodly man, moving this contrary to the law and he knows it. He threatens to kill the boys if they do not drive and steady the cart. Then what would have been better, disobeying the state and losing their lives or disobeying God and losing their lives?)
This would conclude that these boys should have disobeyed the king in this matter if he told them to drive the cart and steady it. The king's word does not make something right or wrong, it is the law of God that does this. "But the king has the power of the sword, so we had better obey him." What should have these boys done?
A person had better follow the word instead of man. What did Paul say? Follow me as I follow the Lord. and we sure had better teach our kinds this. What did Solomon in his wisdom say? Do not follow a multitude to do evil.
In my study Bible, 5:20 and 6:7 are right next to each other. 5:20 said David, the Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me. 6:7 Uzza and God smote him there..
1. The Lord smote David's enemies.
2. God smote David's friends.
Contempt for God causes death. Whether Philistines or God's people. Both were a "Breach," a breaking forth. a. against the Philistines b. against Uzziah, Presumption, contempt for the things of the Lord.
V.7 David made the mistake here, but that fact did not protect
Uzziah.
Uzziah died for Uzziah's error, not for David's.
Uzziah did because he did not fear the Lord, not because David
did not fear the Lord.
Uzziah died because he did not walk in the ways of the Lord,
not because David did not walk in the ways of the Lord.
If there is any blame, it would have to fall on Abinadab for not instructing his boys in the proper fear of the Lord, but even this will not relive the boys of their responsibility before God.
Conclusion:
Do we allow our kids to become too familiar with the things of
God? Have we?
Do we try to place the blame on someone else, maybe David, for their not turning out right? All David did was reveal that the kids training at home was not proper.
If we don't teach our children to fear God, and respect Him and His house, they will die the death of Uzziah. The anger of the Lord was against UZZIAH, not David.
Just 1 letter, I, and Uzziah -the self-strength would have been Uzziah - Jah is my strength. We as parents must put that one letter in for our kids.
to here, 2/3/91
Let me mention that the ARK represents the presence of the Holy Jehovah God in the OT, whereas, in the NT His presence is in the Lord Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit. The dwelling place is in the believer.
6:3 Notice another thing here.
1 Sam. 4:3 they brought the Ark into the camp that it may
save us. They brought it in the right way, but for the wrong reason.
They lost 30,000 men. Many today look at salvation as "That
it may save us," rather than the means of the victory over
sin so God can work through them.
Many today look at salvation as "That it may save us,"
rather than the means of victory over sin, so God can work through
them.
2 Sam. 6 David tries to move the Ark for the right reason, but the wrong way. Cost Uzziah his life.
Notice 1 Chron. 15:13. They did not seek after God that they might do God's work in God's way. God's work must be done with the right motive AND the right method for it to be a success. 1 Sam. 4, motive was wrong, method was right. 2 Sam. 6, method was wrong, but motive was right. Neither one could have God's blessing. God is as concerned about the motives behind the service as He is about the service itself. The two must go together.
We hear once in a while, "Well, their motives were pure." David's motives were pure, but the result was death.
V. 8, David was displeased because...
Sounds here like David was upset with the Lord because the Lord
was zealous for His holy name in killing Uzziah. David sounds
like he expected God to check with him first.
Isa. 40:13, 14 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
David makes it sound here as though he had earned the right to counsel the Lord.
For us, all too often we seem to have the attitude that the Lord should check with us before He moves, particularly if we feel that we have been extra faithful in some particular area.
6:8 Perez-uzzah, the Lord made a breach upon Uzzah.
5:20 Baal-perazim, the Lord broke forth upon mine enemies.
The same Lord that will break forth on our enemies, and protect us from them, is also the same one who will break forth on the proud of His own people. God resisteth the proud, even of His own Israel.
V. 8, and he called the name of the place, Perez-uzzah, The breach of Uzzah. This is a literal place, and as we look at it, we should remember God breaks forth upon ALL lawbreakers, whether among His people or outside of them.
God will break forth upon His enemies and a law-breaker becomes an enemy whether a Philistine or a Child of God. He makes a breach upon them who hate Him. Ye shall surly die applies to the law-breaker, no matter what side of salvation he is on. The BREAKING FORTH is against sin, no matter where or in who it is found.
Hebrews 12 shows us the breaking against sin is in love and concern for His people. As we look at Baal-perazim in 5:20, and Perez-uzzah in 6:8, we can rest assured there is Judgment and chastisement. Being a child of God will not exempt us form keeping the law and commandments of our Lord anymore than it did Uzzah.
Ex. 20:5, Deut. 4 and Deut. 28 are still very much in effect, and will be until the end of time. Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Christ not only fulfilled both the law and prophets, but His indwelling Spirit gives us the power to fulfill His revealed will. His Grace enables us to claim the blessing of Deut 28 instead of the curse of Deut 29.
Baal-perazim, where the Lord broke forth on the Philistines.
Peraz-uzzah where the Lord broke forth on His people. This shows
us that God is no respecter of persons, every son of Adam will
be treated the same, and all in terms of being a law-keeper or
a law-breaker, Rom. 2.
How shall... This is the first record we really have of David being this close to the Holiness of God. Did it catch him by surprise?
The answer to his question is found in Ps. 15:1 where he asks, Who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
David is going to have to do the same thing that Abinadab
had to do when they first brought the Ark to his house - clean
up his act and do right.
Jer. 25:6, 7 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to
worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your
hands; and I will do you no hurt. Yet ye have not hearkened unto
me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the
works of your hands to your own hurt.
For us, if we will do right and meet his conditions we will receive only blessings from the Lord. We can look forward for those blessings with great expectations.
V. 10. So David would not remove... God wouldn't approve of the way David wanted to do it (cart), so he left the Ark with someone who was qualified this time, Obededom (servant of Edom), instead of lining up with the law of the Lord. And this is strange, why didn't David go ahead and do this the way that was required of him??
Obededom knew all about he Philistines 70 years before, he knew about the Bethshemites who died for looking into it. He knew about Uzzah, but he welcomed the Ark anyway. 1 Chron 15:18, 24 and 26:4 tells us that Obededom was a Korhite.
For us. I think that this is an extremely important point.
Here we see that he sprang at the opportunity to have the Ark.
He knew that the same law of God that was a message of death,
destruction and a curse to the law-breaker, was a message of life,
prosperity and hope to those who respected, honoured, reverenced
God. It still is. What is death to those who take God for granted
(Uzzah), is life to those who take God serious and keep His commandments.
We who look to obedience to God's law rejoice in hearing and knowing
it. Those who see it as a curse and read it.
We who look to obedience to God's law, rejoice in hearing and knowing how to apply it. Those who see it as a curse, dread it.
V. 12, his willingness to accept this responsibility resulted in such blessing upon him that all the kingdom heard of it, all the way to King David. This message is true today.
For us: And let us ask here, if it were on the spur of the moment, would we have been able to accept the Ark of God into our home, or would there be some things that would have to be thrown out? Maybe some books, cloths, records, music, pictures? How willing are we to take on a responsibility for the Lord.
V. 12 And this is strange. Why did David wait the 3 months until he heard of the prosperity of the house of Obededom before he goes and gets the Ark? But, David hears of how the Lord had blessed Obededom, so he determines to go get the Ark. Only this time he is going to do it right.
As a speculation; Could it be that upon seeing the blessings of God upon Obededom for doing right with the Ark, he now has a new determination to do right?
We should read biographies of Godly men to gain new encouragement to continue to serve God right.
(date in hand notes, 7/12/84)
David was willing to clean up his act and do it right here, where the Bethshemites were not back in 1 Sam. 7. Rather than Saul getting right with God so he could have the Lord close to him, he left it at the house of Abinadab.
1 Chron. 15
gives us a detailed description of David making these preparations.
1. He prepared a place for it.
2. He gathered the right people to carry it, the sons of Koath.
3. He called upon them to sanctify themselves.
4. He admits (v.13) that they tried to do it wrongly the first
time.
5. He sees that they must do this according to the command of
Moses, v. 15.
This is the point! 1 John 3:4, anything and everything we do must be done according to the command of Moses, or it is sin. Notice this doesn't say that the motives must be right, it says that the actions must be right. This is not to downplay the importance of the motives.
6. 1 Chron. 15:25, then he and all Israel moved the Ark with
joy.
7. NOTICE 1 Chron. 15:26 And it came to pass, when God helped
the Levities that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that
they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.
When God's people got right with the Lord and decided to do His work His way, God becomes their supernatural helper instead of being their supernatural enemy with His hand against them, Ps. 54:4 Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
To try to do God's work without the right method as revealed in the law of Moses, and that right motive is all for His glory, is sin. The result will be death just as sure as it was for Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6.
(See my handwritten notes for a message for me, 7/12/84 and closing the School)
(date, 7/13/84)
Conclusion:
1. David desires to bring the Ark of God to himself out of love
for God and what God has done for him. He desires to have the
presence of the Lord near to himself.
2. He tries to do this work (move the Ark) after the manner of the Philistines.
3. God hand is against David, and He makes a breach upon Uzzah. 2 Sam. 6:7, And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah. We would think that this anger would have been against David, but it was against Uzzah who followed David's lead.
4. Rather than David making the change and doing this work properly, he leaves the Ark at Obededom's house for 3 months.
5. The Lord blesses Obedeom and David hears about it.
6. He determines he is going to move the Ark to him, only this time he is going to do it in the manner prescribed in the law of Moses.
7. He makes all of the proper preparations and goes and gets the Ark.
8. God now becomes David's helper as David does this work according to the words of Moses, 1 Chron. 15:26.
There is a wonderful promise over in Isaiah 58:12. Under the
new covenant which is Christ our Lord, we can become a repairer
of the breach.
Breach sort of refers to a ruptured dike. The rupture can be
restored but the escaped water cannot be reclaimed, but the rupture
being restored will prevent more water from escaping through.
David stopped the unlawful activity, but he could not restore
Uzzah.
We can stop the escape of water, and fix the leak. How? David
gives us the steps.
> Stop what we are doing that is contrary to the law of Moses
in our motive and action. Or start doing as we are commanded to.
> Then go back and do it right. God is merciful. He doesn't
hold those past things against us if we will make them right,
although the natural result will take place. He is not the cause
of that, He lets 'nature take its course' but may decide to supernaturally
intervene.
(Again, see hand written notes for me, 7/12/84.)
2 Samuel 6, David gets the Ark to bring it to the place he has repaired for it.
For us: This is just what we need to do. We need to prepare a place for the Holy God to dwell, a place where we can meet Him every day and especially in the time of need, Hebrews 4:16.
Our boldness comes not from our sinlessness, but from the confession and forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ our Lord. But confession involves repentance, turning from our sin and doing God's work God's way, with the motive of glorifying Him. And let me emphasize that all of our work is God's work, not just what we would consider spiritual activity.
The desire of our life should to have the blessed presence of the Holy God and Lord of all creation dwelling close to us, but He will not do that on our terms. He is Holy and He dwells among His Holy people. His Holy presence will be according to what He has revealed to us through His servant Moses. His blessed presence will be with the humble and through His Son, the BLOOD on the mercy seat.
to here, 4/21/91
Start, 4/28/91 pm
2 Samuel 6:17 David pitched for it.. David saw that the Ark was close to him. And David offered... He acts the part of the priest.
V. 17-19, the joy of the Lord's presence spilled out over everyone. David shared his blessing with everyone.
For us: A Christianity which does not spill out and share the blessings of God to others, is not much of a Christianity. Christianity is an external religion, it must be worked out. Christianity will be seen and felt by those around us.
V. 20. Uncovered..
Saul's daughter chided with David for dancing (joyful leaping)
before the Lord and uncovering himself as one of the vain fellows
would shamelessly do.
Now, this is not what we see today at dances. People, girls especially, uncovering themselves and dancing. David removed his royal robes and became just like one of the vain fellows, or just like everyone else in the eyes of his servants. He did this before the Lord, v. 21., and it was something that Michal's father would not do. David's humility was before the Lord, yet it was obvious for all to see.
Remember Saul? He had so much pride he even wore his royal apparel and crown into battle, which was crazy. It was an open invitation for the enemy to kill him. For us: Pride will cause us to do some crazy things in the sight of the Lord. Yet men will praise us. Humility before God will cause us to do some crazy things in the sight of men.
David had humility before the Lord, so that as he moved the Ark he left his crown and royal robe behind and became like one of the 30,000 servants.
V. 14, linen ephod. V. 17 and David offered.. V. 18 he blessed the people... He wore the garment and did the duties of one of the priests instead of the garment of a king. Then in the Book of Psalms he fulfills the office of prophet. Thus, he filled the office of prophet, priest and king.
For us: If we are going to walk before the Lord, it will be only as we take off the crown and robes of pride and cloth ourselves in humility.
We wear our pride before the Lord into battle as Saul did, and we will fall to the Philistines. In fact, kill ourselves as Saul did. When we refuse to lay aside pride, the natural result is death. God doesn't have to kill us, the natural law of death is in effect just as sure as it is for the drunk who cannot lay aside his bottle. God isn't the One who makes him drink, or drunk if he will not stop his drinking.
God doesn't give the cancer to the one who refuses to lay aside his cigarettes. God doesn't kill the man who refuses to listen to the warning against wearing lose clothing around machinery.
Illustration: Curt Jackson told me about Wayne Nevitt who had been warned about getting too close to a PTO with loose clothing. He did it anyway, not heeding the warning. The PTO caught him, tore his pants off, but he was spared. God didn't cause him to get caught, but God did spare him. I was warned about wearing a ring around construction. I mashed my ring once and caught my finger once. Both times the Lord spared my finger.
There are natural laws that we place into motion. Drinking=drunk, and Saul's pride put the natural law into effect. He would fall. David's humility here before the Lord, of removing all his pride and putting on the lined Ephod, standing before God in someone else's righteousness (an OT picture of Christ of course) resulted in the covenant God made with him in 7:13. establish thy throne forever..
We want both - to be able to ware our pride before God and men, still have the throne. We are more like Saul than we are David. Saul wanted his pride and the kingdom also. He couldn't have both. Like the drunk wanting to drink all he wants without getting drunk, and of course, man has tried everything to bypass that law. Drink all you please and avoid the results, sin and avoid the results. Of course, he can't escape.
Do your own thing in pride and avoid the results. That is
the dream of man which was offered in the Garden, you shall not
surely die. But he did.
We need to lay aside all pride, robe and crown.
We need to leap for joy before the Lord, clothed in the lined
Ephod of Christ our Saviour and Mediator. Lay aside all our pride
and God will lift us up. What more can a man desire?
Results of not doing that? Saul fell on his own sword. He didn't even get to die fighting the Lord's enemies, but killed himself out of fear of them. The man who is killed by his own pride and stubbornness has no one to blame but himself.
V. 20 (16) Michal despised David..
Notice in this also, the attitude Saul had toward the Ark (things
of God) in the home was transferred to his daughter. Saul saw
no need to keep things straight between himself and the Lord and
neither did his daughter.
Illustration: In my own home growing up. The Lord was sort of a second class job for my dad. My sister and youngest brother both failed to follow the Lord. I probably would have also if it hadn't have been for a couple in Indianapolis who looked after me when I got out of the service.
Michal picked up her dad's unconcern for the Lord. The result is that her husband's dedication to the Lord is now foolishness to her. This is the very reason Saul encouraged David to marry her, 1 Sam. 18:21. This is typical of the world. Those who do have a concern for the things of the Lord are looked upon with amazement, and seen as in need of mental help.
V. 20 - 23. Several points.
When Michal ridicules David for humbling himself, he reminds
her that the Lord had rejected the house of her father, Saul for
not humbling himself.
Notice who David's humility was before... the Lord. To his wife,
he was the proud giant-killer who had made a fool of himself before
the common people. But David knew it was before God that he had
humbled himself.
He tells Michal he is going to humble himself even more before the Lord, and be even more of a fool in the eyes of the people. He knew this was the only way to be exalted and this was why he was chosen over her dad. It was not his fault Saul would not humble himself.
Of course, humility before God will look strange before the proud natural man, but we must do it.
Notice v. 22, of them shall I be had in honour. What do you think he meant by this?. 1 Pet. 5:5, 6 Obviously, he meant that his humility before God would result in the Lord raising him up in the sight of the very ones his wife was concerned about.
Then notice the last verse, V. 23. What was the absolute worse thing which could happen to a Hebrew woman? Gen. 30:1; 1 Sam. 1:5-7.
Pro. 16:18; 11:2 Because Michal mocked David's humility before the Lord, she died in shame, childless.
David knew the answer, humility before the Lord. We have the same message over and over in under the new covenant. Humility before God.
Ph. 3:15, And we must ask the Lord to reveal this to us. Sin is so deceitful that we can be involved in this pride and not even realize it. BUT WE MUST!
Who do we want our honour from, the Lord or Michal? We can't have both.
finished, 4/28/91