Can we say that David is a good picture of the child of God? Was he one of the Lord’s men? Assuming that to be true, we still find a man whose life fell short of God’s standards at times. David committed some terrible sins even as one of the Lord’s servants. Besides others, there were those which were directly connected with the Ark of the Covenant. One of the lessons we have seen over the past couple of weeks has been that different people face the problems and the effects of their sins differently. Ideally, as we mature our response to problems should improve. And when there is judgment against us, we should respond responsibly. Obviously it is possible to try to do the right things in the wrong ways. Bringing the Ark to Jerusalem was a good idea, but not on the back of oxen or a cart. And so the hand of God fell in judgment on the man who was leading the project. And with that it becomes our responsibility to learn the lesson the Lord wants to instill. How did David learn about the proper way to bring the Ark to Jerusalem? It wasn’t by reading some handbook or watching a u-tube video. In effect, he got out his old Bible and started studying what the Lord had revealed.
There is a right way of doing the right thing. We have a responsibility to learn the way of the Lord. And we should not be surprised when we find that some people don’t like it.
David’s soul was stirred in direct correlation to the Ark of the Lord.
Bringing the golden Ark, the symbol of the presence of Christ, into the City of David made this the greatest day in David’s life. This was the return of the Lord into the limelight of Israel. For about 40 years the nation had been living under a monarchal government; they had an earthly king. Now David was erasing the Ichabod from the black board of the nation. As far as he was concerned Israel would once again become a theocracy with Jehovah as the King.
David ordered the proper transportation for the Ark with the Kohathites carrying it on their shoulders. And David was delighted to find that the judgment of God was stanched – no one died. God is not going to judge His people for serving Him in His proscribed way. After a number of sacrifices were offered the Ark was marched up the road towards the city. It went into one of the western or northern gates. They apparently walked past David’s new, beautiful palace and into the temporary tabernacle. Multitudes of people came out of their homes and even out of the city to welcome the Ark. It was a great, great day in the spiritual life of the nation. BUT Michal, the daughter of King Saul, and the wife of David, did not go to welcome the Ark.
As far as David was concerned, this great stirring couldn’t be confined to his soul alone. He was overcome with emotion, perhaps for a while the tears of joy poured down his face. David was happier than a child with a new toy, or of a man learning that his best friend had not been killed. I think that we can see four things which characterized the results of the revival in David’s heart.
The first was his exuberant and uncontainable joy. The joy of real revival and the fullness of the Holy Spirit rivals the joy of the first taste of salvation. Perhaps like David, I remember the joy that I felt when I realized the peace which comes with salvation. David had missed the Lord so much; now he was rejoicing “with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” He was so happy with the return of Christ to His proper place of prominence that David was hopping around like a new born lamb. This dancing wasn’t the least bit artificial – no 3 steps forward and 2 back – timed to orchestrated music. There was no “spin that partner, doe-see-doe – no prominade around .” David was simply spinning, singing and twirling around like a top gone wild. I’m sure that he was shouting “Hosanna,” “Glory to God”, and “Praise the Lord.” He certainly was not behaving like a proper independent, fundamental Baptist. He was causing a ruckus, disturbing the peace and quiet meditation of the theologians. What disgusting behavior. How disruptive. (I speak as a fool – facetiously.) This was genuine joy, flowing from the depths of his heart and was almost uncontrollable.
Billy Bray, a well-known Cornish preacher was ministering to a dying saint, who had always been prim and proper in his worship. He was so close to the gates of splendor his heart radiated the glory & echoed the praise of Heaven. “Oh, Brother. Bray, if I had the strength, I’d shout from the house top, ‘Glory to God.’” Billy replied, “Hae mon, what pity it was thee didn’t shout ‘glory’ when the hadst the power.”
What a pity God’s people are too proud to let the joy of the Lord show through them from time to time. Some of us have the hides of rhinoceros or elephants, and I include myself. The only time some mutter “Amen” is when we’re trying to impress the visiting evangelist. Why is it we don’t feel God’s Word down in the depths our hearts? Why is it we can barely stay awake in the house of the Lord? Isn’t it because we lack the joy which comes with David’s revival?
Another characteristic of David’s revival was real down-to-earth humility. Look at him throw down his royal robes of purple and scarlet, taking up the plain linen ephod. When these people stood before Jehovah there was no difference between the king or the cleaning lady. When people are truly touched by the Holy Spirit there is no pride left in them, but pride in Christ. David’s attire declared, “I count it an honor to identify with the servants of God.” Although anyone could wear something like it, a linen ephod was known as priestly attire. From what I read between the lines, I think David would have gladly traded his royal robe to become one of the Lord’s priests. He couldn’t do that of course, but we can. Ye are, by the grace of God, part of a royal priesthood. Why is it that we are ashamed to put on the ephod of service? David one said, “I’d rather be a door-keeper in the house of God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” When the Holy Spirit came upon him, the king became nothing but a sinner saved by grace.
A third characteristic of David’s Revival can be seen in his sacrifices. There were burnt offerings made because David and the people were still sinners. But then were offered the sacrifices of peace offerings. It was out of the remains of the peace offerings that Israel had their feasts. Once peace is established there can be growth and enjoyment in the Lord. On this occasion there were peace offerings enough to give food to every person in attendance. In addition to that David opened the storehouses of the nation. Everyone received food and drink in celebration of the grace of the Lord. These gifts must have drained the treasure house of the king to some degree. But hearts on fire for the Lord, care nothing and worry little about such sacrifices. They give and give and give out of the abundance of the heart rather than out of the wallet. David’s revival made him open up his purse strings.
He had a desire to be a blessing to others. Although there was a priestly blessing that was ministered by the Levites – “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” David was so filled with the Spirit of Christ that he too wanted to give and give. His giving wasn’t confined to just food and drink – he wanted to share the spirit which he had. People who are truly filled with the heart of revival can’t sit idly by until the next meeting. They are out on the street like Peter saying, “Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give thee.” They go out into the highways and hedges to share God’s grace with others. Spirit-filled people are concerned about others who are not spirit filled. They care whether or not their neighbors are still buried in the guilt of their sins. David wanted to be a blessing his nation.
But in contrast, we see Michal’s reaction to the presence of the Ark.
There is a sense in which David’s wife stands as his spiritual antithesis. If David possessed Christ then she possessed the spirit of Anti-Christ. That may be too strong, but there is evidence that leads in that direction. She was not completely irreligious, atheistical or demon-possessed, but she was formal, cold, selfish and Pharisaical.
For example, David was joyful beyond compare, while she was miserable, and she wanted everyone else to be miserable too. One of the conundrums of the ministry is that two people can be sitting in the same service, hearing the same message, but one is blessed while the other dislikes it. One is filled with the luscious fruit of the word while the other tastes only the bitter peel. Michal couldn’t understand David’s excited devotion to God, because it was thoroughly foreign to her. She was miserable because she lacked the meek and quiet spirit. She was not in submission to her husband, because she was not submissive to the Lord. She was truly the daughter of her father – Saul
And in contrast to David’s humility Michal was choking to death on pride. Years earlier when she fell in love with David, it was not with David the saint of God. She was in love with David the military hero; the victor over Goliath and the Philistines. With one relationship she didn’t have to sacrifice her pride, but with the other came humiliation. Her anger with David is base on the fact that he put down his royal robes and uncovered his simplicity. She accused David of leudness and impropriety – indecent exposure. The charges were utterly false. He may not have been behaving like a king, but he wasn’t behaving unseemly either. David was simply behaving like a Christian who was caught up in the excitement of Christ – the Ark.
In contrast to David’s generosity and sacrifice there might have been Michal’s covetousness. It could be that she didn’t like her husband giving so much to the people. She may have despised him for tithing and giving to missions. She couldn’t understand how he could want to honor God with his finances when they could have used a new chariot and wall to wall carpeting.
In contrast to David’s desire to bless others, Michal lived to scorn others. He was so close to Christ he could almost smell the Lord’s cologne. She was so far from the Lord she couldn’t even sense her nearness to Hell.
And then came the inevitable – her punishment. Barrenness carried with it a sense of shame in that society, which doesn’t exist in the same way today. To be without children was considered to be the stamp of the Lord’s disapproval on a married couple. Today, it seems to be accepted as an honor among some, not to be burdened with hungry childish mouths.
In the spiritual realm the parallel continues. Christ is the vine and we are the branches, created in Christ Jesus to produce fruit. Putting the Ark of the Covenant in its proper place in people’s hearts guarantees fruit production. And conversely, the lack of spiritual fruit is an indication of kinship with Michal.
Oh how it should grieve us not to see our own spiritual growth and souls coming to Christ through our lives and our witness. “We have been created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” Can you see them? Can you see the fruit of the Spirit? Love, joy, peace. Who more closely pictures your life – Michal or David?