True Humility

2 Samuel 6:16-23
16 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.
17 They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD. 18 After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty. 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.
20 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, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!"
21 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. 22 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."
23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death. NIV

Men who humble themselves and look foolish to follow God are honored;
Fools who look good and follow no one are humbled.

David knew that true humility before the Lord and all the people would endear both to him. His true humility sought only to honor the Lord, he did not desire the endearing outcome but only knew the result would produce it.

Like her father before her, Michal was concerned for the appearance and station, not the interests of the Lord and the people and as a result was not qualified to bear fruit in her life.

While David gave – sacrificially and generously to God, and all the people – Michal had a heart of exclusivity. She separated herself from everyone else as she stood at the window observing and judging the day, placing herself above everyone, reserving herself for only herself.

David, like Jesus many years later, was willing to be completely humbled and the Lord raised him up. Michal, like many others in life, was only interested in herself and her own esteem and the Lord dried her up and she died empty.

Father, may I be willing to choose true humility before you and consequently the world around me that is watching. Not that you would raise me up but that by everything I have and am, you would be raised up in my life. I desire to be like David, a man after your heart.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Jerry,
Welcome to the land o' bloging. Thanks for the insights and thanks for sharing your story again. Over the years I have known you to be a man who seeks out the heart of God without undue concern for the appearance of such to others. May the Lord continue to prosper the ministry and His Church. Blessings,
Craig

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