2 Samuel 6:21

2Sa 6:21 And David said unto Michal, [It was] before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.

Ver. 21. Which chose me before thy father.] It is hard for the best men to recriminate without some tincture of tartness, and to keep quick the fire of zeal without all smoke of sin.

Therefore will I play.] Ludam ut illudar, as Bernard hath it.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Sa_6:21

David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father.

David dancing before the ark because of his election

I What effect had this doctrine, this experience, this inward conviction upon David?

I. It made God the leading thought with David.

1. This was especially the case with David in his devotion. David that day worshipped God in spirit and in truth. The effect of this truth upon David was also that, as the Lord had become the great influence of his life, and the great object of his adoration, so he was to him his supreme Lord.

II. Secondly, it will create in us a proper disregard for human opinion.

1. In his worship David did not allow the opinions of men to weigh with him. He worshipped before the Lord, and there he left it.

2. He does not seek honour from the many. David sought not the honour which cometh from men.

3. David did not even consult the judgment of the few.

4. Beloved, the doctrines of grace put the very idea of honouring man out of court with us.

III. Then, thirdly, a sense of election causes a low opinion of self. David said, I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight. David would more and more abase himself before the Lord. A sense of electing love will render you base in your own sight. I will tell you why.

1. First, you will never understand why the Lord has chosen you. Often will you sing:

What was there in me that could merit esteem,

Or give the Creator delight?

Twas even so, Father, I ever must sing,

Because it seemd good in thy sight.

2. I dare say David, in a few quick thoughts, reviewed his former estate.

3. Then the king recollected the dangers and troubles he had experienced.

4. Davids high position must have made him feel lowly when he knew to whom he owed it all. All the while David had a deep sense of his personal unworthiness. He did not know his own heart fully--no man does so. But he knew enough of himself to make him base in his own sight; for he could never think himself worthy of the choice of God, and all that it involved. Our heart adores and wonders as we think of the election of God. As we rise in the assurance of the Divine choice, we sink in our valuation of ourselves.

IV. A sense of Divine election fosters a feeling of holy brotherhood. It is wonderful how democratic the doctrines of grace are, and how aristocratic they are too. The chosen are all kings, and when we mix with the poorest of them we are kings with kings. Free grace strips the proud, but it adorns the humble. David honoured the humblest of the Lords chosen; for when Michal talked about what the handmaids of his servants would say, he answered, Of the maid-servants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. To be esteemed by them was a cheer to him.

V. A sense of being chosen of God stirs a desire for the service of God.

1. Such service will be personal.

2. This personal service will be cheerful.

3. This service will be in connection with the great sacrifice.

4. This service should be thoughtful.

5. This service must be obedient.

6. This service should be practical.

7. This service must be seen at home.

If you are chosen of God you will, like David, bless your household. You will long to see your sons and daughters brought to God.

VI. A sense of Divine election will excite sacred enthusiasm.

1. David had an inward delight in God. God was his exceeding joy.

2. In Davids case his inward peace boiled over in holy excitement. Before the ark he was singing, he was harping, he was worshipping, and at last must show it by the joyful motion of his body.

3. David felt so exultant that he wished everybody to know of his joy in God. He told all the crowd around of his delight in God; and he sang that day, Declare His glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

Irrepressible praisefulness

Once robbers besieged a monastery to rob it of its treasures. The monks carried the golden organ to a river near by, and sunk it in the water to keep it from the robbers hands. At certain periods, so the legend runs, the organ would rise out of the river and give forth such ravishing music as was never elsewhere heard by mortal ears. Such an instrument is a truly thankful heart--one in which is the joy of the Lord. The floods may go over it, but it ever rises out of them and sings its sweetest songs. Nothing can ever check its praise. It sings in the darkest night, its music rolling out into the gloom to cheer the weary pilgrim. A thankful heart always finds something good, even when all things seem evil.

When to shout Glory

Billy Bray, the Cornish preacher, was a constant visitor among the sick and dying. On one occasion he was sitting by the beside of a Christian brother who had been always very reticent, and afraid to confess joyously his faith in Christ. Now, however, he wast filled with gladness. Turning to Billy, whose beaming face and sunny words had done so much to produce this joy, he said, Oh, Mr. Bray, Im so happy that, if I had the power, Id shout Glory! Hae, mon, said Billy, what a pity it was thee didnt shout Glory! when thee hadst the power!

Reasonableness of religious zeal

In the Natural History Museum at Central Park, New York, a valuable butterfly may be seen. It is estimated that the insect cost its former owner, a Pennsylvanian doctor, at least £2,000. The butterfly is to be found only in a certain part of West Africa, and the gentleman fitted out an expedition and maintained it for more than two years, in order that the rare insect might be added to his entomological collection. If such zeal is shown by one who desires to secure a butterfly, is it to be wondered at that Christians at times display an unusual enthusiasm? Ought they not rather to do so more widely and frequently, when the glory of God and the salvation of never-dying souls are at stake?

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Sa 6:21-22. It was before the Lord — In his presence and service, which, though contemptible to thee, is and ever shall be honourable in my eyes. Who chose me before thy father — Who took away the honour from him and his, and transferred it unto me, whereby he hath obliged me to love and serve him with all my might. I will yet be more vile than thus — The more we are vilified for well-doing, the more resolute therein we should be, binding our religion the closer to us, for the endeavours of Satan’s agents to shame us out of it. And will be base — I will always be ready to abase myself before God, and think nothing too mean to stoop to for his honour. Of them I shall be had in honour — So far will they be from despising me on this account, that they will honour me the more.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

6:21 David’s response to Michal might hint at the real reason for her indignation—that she resented David’s success in light of the tragic decline of her father’s family.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

It was for no worldly affection, but only for that zeal that I bare to God’s glory.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 21. It was before the Lord, which chose me] David felt the reproach, and was strongly irritated, and seems to have spoken to Michal with sufficient asperity.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(21) Therefore will I play.—Rather, have I danced. (See 2Sa_6:5.)

Before the Lord.—David first gives the true and sufficient reason of his conduct—what he had done was before the Lord, in honouring whom no man can be really humbled; and then he turns with a reproof to Michal, which should have shown her the utter unworthiness of her objections. God had set aside her father and his house for this very spirit of pride in which she was now indulging, and had chosen him instead.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

21. It was before the Lord] Before the LORD, who chose me rather than thy father, &c. … yea I will play before the LORD. “Before the Lord” stands emphatically at the beginning of David’s answer. No service offered to the God to whom he owed all his advancement could be degrading. Thus he defends his own conduct, and at the same time he humbles Michal’s pride by alluding to Saul’s rejection.

The Sept. (B) reads, “Before the Lord will I dance: blessed be the Lord who chose, &c.”

It is related of Sir Thomas More that he used, even when Lord Chancellor, to put on a surplice and sing in his parish church at Chelsea. The Duke of Norfolk one day found him doing so, and expostulated with him: “A parish clarke, lord chancellour, a parish clarke! you dishonour the King and his office.” “Nay,” quoth Sir Thomas, smiling upon the duke, “your grace may not thinke that the King, your maister and myne, will be offended with men for serving of God his Maister; or by this my present behaviour account his office dishonoured.” Wordsworth’s Eccles. Biogr. II. p. 68.

ruler] See note on “captain” in ch. 2Sa_5:2.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And I will yet be more vile than thus,.... If this is to be vile, I will endeavour to be viler still; if to dance before the ark, and sing the praises of God, be reckoned a lessening of me, I will more and more be found in doing such things, or what is similar to them:

and will be base in mine own sight: humble himself, and lie low in his own eyes, admiring the grace and goodness of God to him, thinking he could never condescend too low to exalt the Lord, and magnify the riches of his goodness:

and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour; who the more humble I am, and the more I condescend, by laying aside all state in acts of devotion and religion, the more shall I be honoured and spoken well of by them.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Play - See 2Sa 6:5 note. The speech might be paraphrased, Before the Lord which chose me, etc., yea, before the Lord have I danced. He humbles Michal’s pride by the allusion to her father’s rejection, and shows by Saul’s example how little pride contributes to the stability of greatness. Therefore, for his part, he will not think anything done for the glory of God too mean for him; and if he cannot have honor from Saul’s daughter, he will be content to be honored by the maid-servants.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

It was before the Lord; in his presence and service, which though contemptible to thee, is, and ever shall be, honourable in mine eyes.

Which chose me before thy father, and before all his house; which took away the honour from him and his, and transferred it upon me, whereby he hath obliged me to love and serve him with all my might.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

21. Chose me before thy father — A remark calculated to humble Michal by reminding her of her father’s fall.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

It was before the Lord. The Hebrew is much more forcible than the confused rendering of our version. "Before Jehovah, who chose me above thy father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over Jehovah"s people, over Israel, yea, before Jehovah I have rejoiced" (Authorized Version, "played;" but see notes on ver. 5). The preference of David over Saul was proof that that king"s affectation of royal state, and his self-importance, were not pleasing in God"s eyes.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Before the Lord - In his presence and service, which though contemptible to thee, is, and ever shall be honourable in mine eyes. Who chose - Who took away the honour from him and his, and transferred it unto me, whereby he hath obliged me to love and serve him with all my might.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

who chose me above your father

Here "your" refers to Michal. (See: Forms of You)

over the people of Yahweh, over Israel

Here "the people of Yahweh" and "Israel" mean the same thing. (See: Doublet)

I will be even more undignified than this

David is being ironic and means the opposite of what he said. He does not believe what he did was actually undignified or that his actions in the future will be undignified. (See: Irony)

I will be humiliated in my own eyes

Here "in my own eyes" represents what a person considers or thinks about something. AT: "I will consider myself humiliated" or "I will consider myself a fool" (See: Metonymy)

But by these slave girls you have spoken about, I will be honored

This can be stated in active form. AT: "But the slave girls of whom you have spoken will honor me" (See: Active or Passive)

had no children to the day of her death

"was never able to bear any children"

translationWords

Yahweh

ancestor

appoint

people of God

die

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.