That David, he's a piece of work!

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc.org

Michal had had enough with her husband. David . . . again. She had loved him as no other. And she knew that, at least for a time, he had loved her. She had risked her own life to save his. She had been torn from him and forced to marry another. And he hadn’t come for her. After a long time they had finally been able to be back together, but it wasn’t the same. She didn’t think David was at all grieved when she was in the arms of another. After all, he wasted no time in marrying others and having children with them.And now they were back together. But instead of celebrating with her, he was out dancing nearly naked with everyone.

“Who does he think he is?” she thought. “I hate him. I hate him so much!”

How many times have you really wanted to give someone a piece of your mind? What do you do when the person who makes your skin crawl is respected and loved by everyone?

It’s a small part of this week’s reading from 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, (we conveniently skipped the part where Uzzah was struck dead after reaching out and touching the ark) but it’s one that stood out to me. Michal’s emotions are not, I would guess, much unlike the emotions many of us have felt. Her anger and disdain for someone who dances around as if they were ‘all that and a bag of chips’ is likely similar to feelings any of us have in situations where we feel exploited or manipulated by others.

How do we, knowing of God’s unconditional love for those we love and those we despise, find ways to be reconciled to the ones we wish would simply go away and leave us alone?