2 Samuel 6:20-23 – Be an asset to our spouse in the ministry

David's quality as the head of the state was second to none. As a  worship leader and a worshipper he had also shown excellent quality. But we cannot say the same about his home life, not at least from what we see in 2 Samuel 6:20-23. Passages telling us that he had many wives and concubines hinted that troubles would come from this front. If we suspect that this would be where the fault-line in his life would be, we won’t be too far off.   

David’s love for the LORD made him a passionate worshipper. When the Ark of God returned to the city, he was so overtaken with an exhilaration that he expressed his unrestraint joy before the LORD and his people energetically. He also offered both a burnt offering and a peace offering to the LORD. In the burnt offering, he was aligning his relationship with God and consecrating himself to Him. In the peace offering he was renewing his relationship with his people in a fellowship meal. He did it to galvanize the people and to motivate them to commit themselves to advance the cause of the kingdom together with him. There was a great celebration where he showed great generosity and when it was over, everyone returned to their home with gladness.  

The same cannot be said of David’s home for when he returned, Michal his wife upbraided him. She said to him, “How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!” David had earlier disrobed himself and dressed only in a linen ephod, danced joyfully before the LORD. Michal felt that what he did was a flagrant undignified display that was unbecoming of a king. She failed to see the reason for David’s unrestraint expression of joy and worship. He was expressing his worship to the One who made him who he was. And he would gladly do anything to express his love for Him.  

So in verse 21 he retorted Michal giving her the reason for his exhilaration. “It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the Lord.” David was essentially saying that what he did was for the LORD who had chosen and made him king over all of Israel. And he would gladly humble himself before Him and his people. He was confident that the people whom Michal deemed would view him in less honorable light, would actually view him as more distinguished and treasured. And he was right. What was said of Michal in verse 23 was tragic. She became barren and childless till the day she died. This is a warning to all of us never to despise the way others worship God, less we inherit a barren life.

The home is one institution that will strengthen a person’s ministry. When we have an understanding spouse, we will find effectiveness in serving the Lord. When we have a spouse who cannot stand with us in the ministry, we will find it hard to be effective in our service to the LORD. So for every married man or woman, please be sure to support our spouse in serving the LORD. When we do so we become an asset to our spouse and not a liability in his or her service to the Lord. To the singles, when you get married be sure to be supportive of each other’s ministry. This is one area to bring fulfilment to the ministry of each other. This can be better achieved when you are equally yoked, so choose your spouse carefully.