Celebrating in the Spirit - 2 Samuel 5-9

 2 Samuel 6:20-23 (ESV)

And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD—and I will celebrate before the LORD. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

Apparently David’s celebration about bringing the Ark back to Jerusalem did not sit well with David’s wife, Michal.   As she observed out the window, she saw him “dancing before the Lord,” but interpreted it that David was flirting with the young females watching and possibly celebrating as well.   We have to understand, first, that the Ark returning to Jerusalem was the pinnacle of David’s life.  He will later want to build a house for it, a Temple.    David had just lost the life of one of his men, Uzziah, when he first attempted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.   Michal did not share this enthusiasm and, instead, became resentful.  It would be a good guess that she resented that she was not the center of attention vs this Ark and the David’s fellow worshippers.   But, her suspicions were completely wrong.  David was in a state of worship.  Notice, however, how she mistook it for pleasure for David vs a sacrifice or praise.   This same thing happened in Acts 2 when the church was anointed with the Spirit.  Note:

Acts 2:12-13 (ESV)

And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Those observing the disciples thought they were drunk with wine.   This might be why Paul used that word picture to tell us what it looks like to be filled with the Spirit of God:

Ephesians 5:18 (ESV)

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Apparently there is some likeness to the celebration in the Spirit and the being under control of pleasure and new wine.  Perhaps the outward appearance is the same, but the inward motivation is not.   One is indulgence in self-gratification.  The other is self-sacrifice in Spiritual indulgence.    David was truly in the Spirit and rejoicing in the hope that God was now with them in visual form via the Spirit of God.   This is the joy that came to David’s heart that came out in song and dance.   We don’t celebrate enough like this before God and His people.   We are so worried about the world’s view of our celebration we fail to say what David said to Michal:

It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD—and I will celebrate before the LORD. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes.