How to avoid the root of bitterness (2 Sam 6:12-23)

A pastor once told the story of a friend, who went into Christian ministry. While the friend’s classmates earned big salaries and became high-profile and successful people, he was involved in humble service with little pay and no name or prestige. It was galling for a man who was a high-flyer when a student and could easily have achieved the kind of status and esteem his classmates had. He felt bitter about it for years until one day he came across the description of Jesus’ humbling in the King James Version, ‘But [Jesus] made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant’ (Phil 2:7). He made himself of no reputation… If Jesus had done it, who was he to hanker after recognition and honour? The phrase struck the man to the core and his heart was healed.

David learns humility

We likewise see a change in David in the next attempt to bring the ark to his city. In the three months that have elapsed (2 Sam 6:11), he has learnt to value God’s honour above his own. This time, the ark is given due honour by using bearers (2 Sam 6:13) who would have been carrying it holding wooden poles put through rings attached to the box (Exod 25:14; Num 4:15). While there were celebrations during the earlier attempt (2 Sam 6:5), there is more this time. Sacrifices are offered to God at the beginning of the ark’s journey and at the end (2 Sam 6:13, 17), but the most striking element is David’s abandon at dancing exuberantly before God (2 Sam 6:14). As he honours God’s presence by observing the regulations around transporting His ark, so he cares less about the impression his dance may create in people (2 Sam 6:22). He knows that humility and unconcern for his honour in public opinion will, paradoxically, earn him respect (v.22).

Michal looks for human dignity

Enter Michal, David’s first wife, who once loved him passionately (1 Sam 18:20) and even saved him from her father’s murderous intention (1 Sam 19:11-17). Tellingly, she is now described as ‘Saul’s daughter’ (2 Sam 6:16, 20, 23) and it seems that somewhere along the line she has adopted his perspective on what matters. Michal, who was shuttled between husbands and was eventually returned to David (1 Sam 25:44; 2 Sam 3:14-16), missed out on a significant portion of her husband’s life and found herself now one of many wives. Additionally, as daughter of a failed and dead king, she no longer had the pre-eminence she had once enjoyed. Thus, like Saul who clung to his honour even when he knew he lost his kingdom (1 Sam 15:28, 30), she now desperately clings to some dignity, at least in her now-royal husband, because she has so little left herself. Her contempt and withering scorn of David (2 Sam 6:16, 20) no doubt masks the bitterness of her life. Yet, much as we might pity her for the human tragedy behind her attitude, we must acknowledge that her choices put her at enmity with God’s way. Thus, her childlessness (2 Sam 6:23), whether due to human reluctance to come together (David’s or Michal’s) or a direct judgment from the Lord, underlines God’s verdict that Saul’s and David’s dynasty cannot ever be united because they are at cross-purposes.

Avoiding bitterness and honouring God

We may all encounter at times circumstances that bring with them the potential for bitterness against God and His ways, where we may lose our sense of worth and not be recognised for who we are. In our loss and heartbreak, we may turn to transitory things or to people to give us recognition and heal our pain, but such choices only lead to losing our way. David likewise faced situations during his years on the run when he was betrayed by his own (1 Sam 23:12), unappreciated for his work (1 Sam 25:14-16) and accused of scheming to kill his rival and grab the throne (1 Sam 24:9, 11). Yet in all that time, he refused to be bitter and continued to entrust himself to God’s care, honouring Him. May we take hold of God’s grace in our time of need and avoid bitterness growing in our heart.

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