Accepting Your Honors

Scripture: When David returned home to bless his household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel honored himself today!” she said. “He exposed himself today in the sight of the slave girls of his subjects like a vulgar person would expose himself.” David replied to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord who chose me over your father and his whole family to appoint me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the Lord, and I will humble myself even more and humiliate myself. I will be honored by the slave girls you spoke about.” And Saul’s daughter Michal had no child to the day of her death. 2 Samuel 6:20-23

Observation: Michal was David's first wife, given to him by Saul for his defeat of Goliath. Later when David fell out of favor, she was given in marriage to another man, but when David ascended to the throne he reclaimed her as his wife. She was in this manner granted the place of greatest honor ... the daughter of the first king, first wife of the heir, who thus united the royal succession, and by that circumstance likely to then give birth to the favored heir of David.

Instead, Michal despises David for all manner of things, including the fact he is willing to publicly worship God. She is shown in resistance to David, wrongly chastising him for effectively being un-kingly ... like a spoiled princess would. For this, she is effectively shut out of the royal household, virtually ignored by David, and cursed to barrenness.

Michal had been handed a blessing by God. In truth, she was the daughter of a slightly backwards, often confused, quality soldier, who was handed the kingship. She was then pledged to the handsome, strong, confident heir. By having so much handed to her, she become privileged, arrogant, and snooty. Michal is never humble in any circumstance, even those that effectively have nothing to do with her (like David dancing in public). As a result, she becomes an abandoned character in history.

Application: Blessings in my life are not of my own doing, and I need to remain conscious of this fact. I often acknowledge God in my blessings and in the provisions of my life, but I need to also humble myself. It is not enough that God is elevated - something that he is worthy of without my existence - but I too must remain in my place.

God has blessed me, through no deed of my own. Like Michal, I have done absolutely nothing to 'earn' my current life, and I do not deserve any position, rank, or reward for anything I could do. I must not boast, or become proud, or act arrogant. Instead, I look to God for hope and wisdom so that I may do his will alone, and humbly walk with him every day.

Prayer: Lord, you know my usual prayer. May I walk humbly with you this day, seeking justice and mercy in all things. My life is not mine, for I have not earned it. My life is yours, as it has always been nothing more than a gift you have granted me. Thank you for your love. Amen.