7/7
2 Samuel 6:12-23
(NRSV)
12It
was told King David, “The LORD has blessed the
household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of
the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God
from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with
rejoicing; 13and when those who bore the ark of the LORD had
gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14David danced
before the LORD with all his might; David was girded with a
linen ephod.15So David and all the house of Israel brought up
the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the
trumpet. 16As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David,
Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw
King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she
despised him in her heart. 17They brought in the ark of
the LORD, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had
pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of
well-being before the LORD.18When David had finished offering
the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed
the people in the name of the LORD of hosts,19and distributed
food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both
men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and
a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.
20David 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’ maids, as any vulgar fellow
might shamelessly uncover himself!” 21David said to Michal, “It
was before the LORD, who chose me in place of your father and
all his household, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the
people of the LORD, that I have danced before the LORD. 22I will
make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be
abased in my own eyes; but by the maids of whom you have
spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” 23And Michal the
daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
GROW BIBLE STUDIES
GERMANTOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
(DIS)CONNECTED
01/04/14 – 02/15/14
Week Seven
2 Samuel 6:12-23
02/15/14
(DIS)CONNECTED
Week Seven: 2 Samuel 6:12-23
1)
In this final week in our series “(Dis)Connected,”
we look at the relationship in a marriage. In this passage,
we catch a glimpse of David’s marriage to Michal,
daughter of the former king Saul.
Scan through some other passages (1 Sam. 18:1729; 19:8-17; 25:43-44; 2 Sam. 3:12-16). What was David’s
history with Michal? From their history, how would you
describe their marriage?
2)
After solidifying his kingship (2 Sam. 5:1-5), David
in this passage brings the ark of the covenant to the new
capital Jerusalem, dancing while the ark is being carried
into the city.
Why do you think David was dancing in front of the
ark? Why was bringing the ark of the covenant to
Jerusalem so important?
3)
How does Michal respond to David’s dancing? Why
do you think she responds this way?
4)
Obviously David expresses his faith in the Lord
differently from his wife and in a way differently than
might be expected of a king. How do you think a king
would be expected to act in such a situation? What do
David’s actions show about how he thinks of his kingship?
See especially vv. 21-22.
5)
David and Michal did not share the same devotion
to the Lord, or at least they did not agree on how that
devotion should be expressed publicly, something that
leads direct tension between them. How might differences
of faith lead to tension and conflict?
6)
See 2 Corinthians 6:14, printed in the third
quotation below. Many refer to this verse when it comes
to the issue of marrying someone who is not a Christian,
or even of interfaith marriages. Others say that is taking
the verse out of context.
How do you think we as Christians should
approach faith in a marriage? How do you think we
should approach differences of faith in a marriage?
---------------------------------(1)
“David’s action—bringing the ark of God to Jerusalem—
proclaims that whoever he is as king is subordinate to the kingship of
God: God is King; God is King. God rules authoritatively: There is no
higher court of appeal. God rules comprehensively: There is no
neutral ground or no-man’s land in which to take refuge or go into
exile.” –Eugene Peterson
(2)
“[Michal] speaks sarcastically about ‘the king’ (v. 20). Perhaps
she suggests that because she is the daughter of a king, she knows
how a king should act, in contrast to David, who acts unworthily.”
–Walter Brueggemann
(3)
“Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what
partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what
fellowship is there between light and darkness?” -2 Corinthians 6:14