Crown or Crowd?

2 Samuel 6:21-22

“David said to Michal, ‘It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from this house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel – I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor’.”

I have a 34 year old brother with Down Syndrome. He is God’s wonderful gift to us. He loves music, especially the percussions, and we allow him to play with the worship team in church, guided of course. He sings in tune, although he mumbles the words, and almost everybody cries when he offers a song to God, usually during his birthday. I’m so proud of him. Although when I was in grade school, I was quite embarrassed to be seen with him. I’m just so sure the teasings would come and I’d be forever identified with his disability.  I wonder now if it’s to his disadvantage having us as sisters, haha :> But really, if there’s one in the family who has the purest joy and the sincerest love, that’s him. In God’s sight, he’s the norm :>

Michal was so embarrassed seeing his husband leaping and dancing before the Lord, even disrobing himself in the sight of the slave girls of his servants. She despised David for debasing himself by identifying with the crowd instead of making a distinction of having the crown. Being raised as a princess in the palace of King Saul, she has been accustomed to everything fine, regal and courtly. They are to be looked upon and everyone else looked down. Even David’s devotion to God is foolishness to her. And so when he came home to bless his household, his elation was greeted with a nagging negation. I remember my excitement sharing the full story of how I said ‘yes’ to Tris and some of the girls in the group gave me cold shoulders and proceeded with their personal concerns. I can so relate how David’s inmost being was boiling hot here. Michal did not just disapprove his actions, she despised his God. She prided herself so high she did not join the celebration and bow to heaven’s King. And so God justly returned her dishonor with barrenness. But to David who disregarded all princely clothing for His glory, who kept his shepherd’s heart for His leading, and who’d rather be a doorkeeper in His house for a day than a thousand elsewhere, God bestowed long life, wealth and honor. He may be unbecoming for a king, but in God’s sight, he sure is a beloved.

The world applauds coolness and charm and high-end careers, and it’s where everybody is moving. If you’re not IN, obviously you’re out. So much for Christianity, character and convictions. Who gets popular with those? The message of the cross is foolishness to many, but to us who are being saved know it is the very power of God. To be identified with Him nowadays is expecting name calls and yes, regarded out of the norm.  We don’t get invited to Sunday parties, they lower their voices when we arrive, and they keep secrets from us. And so we adapt to the culture and have a rush, wide-eyed prayer in the cafeteria, bring the smallest, pocket-fit bibles to church, and give a carefully-no-mention-of-God, but moral enough advice to a friend in need. What’s wrong with us that we wouldn’t want to be associated with the King of kings? Followers of Jesus may be outnumbered but it doesn’t make the rest of the world the norm. Would you exchange your crown by being one with the crowd? Both meaning applies.

Don’t Lie To Me

1 Samuel 19:17

“Saul said to Michal, ‘Why did you deceive me like this and send my enemy away so that he escaped?’ Michal told him, ‘He said to me, ‘Let me get away. Why should I kill you?”

I will lie to you if I say I’m always a good mom. In the area of truthfulness alone, I daily fall short. Let me name a few. SIN-ario#1: When my always-hungry kids ask for more bread, especially after a heavy rice meal, I usually say ‘There’s no More’.  I could have said, ‘That’s enough’ but it will just momentarily pause their plea. Plus, I’d rather make them feel bad about the supplies, not me. SIN-ario#2: When it’s time for them to sleep and they struggle, begging to watch some more DVDs, here's what I say: “Barney will now sleep. He’s tired.” Amazingly, they’ll believe it. I just don’t know ‘til when. SIN-ario#3:  When they’re so unruly, overly noisy, and I felt I fairly needed some sanity, I send them to their room and seriously say, “Mom’s working. Stay there.”  It’s my script even when I’m just playing Cityville. Effective statements, but untrue.  May seem harmless, but still untrue.

White lies are considered beneficial statements, used for the better good. But who are we fooling? Michal, like Rahab, used it to help people escape from sure death. But God can save regardless of our input. He was able to make David fight ten thousands of Philistine warriors without a girl’s protection, right? It was not her lies that bought him time, it was God’s providence. Rahab was commended not because she lied either. The end doesn’t justify the means. God’s righteous standard runs from purpose to process to product. Call it bluff, exaggeration, flattery, excuse, or half-truth, a lie is still contrary to God’s character. He hates it and sees it as an abomination. It was the enemy’s first weapon and it never went obsolete. Paul said, “Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body”. The reason he gives is our identity in Christ. We cannot say we are God’s children and behave otherwise.

In the article ‘The 15 Most Common White Lies and Why’, the writer said, “I think the world is probably a better place because of our white lies. As long as we aren’t hurting others or breaking the laws, these innocent lies make life more pleasant.”   Now that’s a lie. We are hurting Someone and breaking His law when we lie. He created the best garden but one lying serpent painted it with discontent. Nothing untrue is pleasant. Don’t be deceived.