Saturday, 23 August 2014

Dangerous Disdain

Saul's daughter Michal looked out her window and watched the chest being brought into David's City. But when she saw David jumping and dancing in honour of the LORD, she was disgusted.
1 Chron 15:29

I can see how watching my husband dancing before the ark in what was essentially his underwear might raise an eyebrow at the very least, especially if I was used to more 'stately' behaviour in my father.

But her attitude comes from somewhere. It is not merely momentary.

As I think about this I'm reminded of the verses:

Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

and

Out of the mouth the heart pours forth. Luke 6:45b

There is a fundamental issue of pride here. A seemingly simple 'I am better than you'. There was great danger in the choice to think and feel that way. Michal lost her ability to bear children. But more dangerous still:

God knows the proud from afar. Psalm 138:6b

Father, help me to guard my heart that I might not sin against you. Scrub pride from the wellspring of my life so that I may bring sparkling, clean, living water to every situation, even those which I don't understand. Forgive me when I have done, said and thought the opposite.

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