I'd like to begin reading in
verse 15. Read down through the end of the chapter. Beginning in verse 15. So David and all the house of
Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with
sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the Lord came
into the city of David, Michael, Saul's daughter, looked through
a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord,
and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of
the Lord and set it in his place in the midst of the tabernacle
that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings
and peace offerings before the Lord. And as soon as David had
made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings,
he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. And
he dealt among all the people, even among all the whole multitude
of Israel, as well as to the women as men, to everyone a cake
of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.
So all the people departed, everyone to his house. Then David returned
to bless his household, and Michael The daughter of Saul came out
to meet David and said, how glorious was the king of Israel today
who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of
his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovered
himself. And David said unto Michael,
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. And I will yet be more vile than
thus, and will be base in mine own sight. And of the maidservants
which thou hast spoken of them, of them shall I be had in honor.
Therefore Michael, the daughter of Saul, had no child unto the
day of her death. Let's pray together. Lord, we come into your presence
in Christ's name and Lord, how thankful we are for the revelation
of yourself. How thankful we are for the gospel
of your grace, how thankful we are for the person of your son,
how thankful we are for his work in our behalf. And Lord, we ask
that we might be enabled to worship. Lord, enable us to fall at the
feet of thy son and worship him and believe on him. And oh Lord,
give us the grace to confess our sin before thee. We confess
our sins and pray for forgiveness and cleansing for Christ's sake.
Lord, give us grace to love you more and to love one another
more. Oh Lord, speak in power to our hearts. In Christ's name
we pray, amen. Now, I love to read of David's
rejoicing before the ark. How he rejoices and glories because
he had some understanding of what this ark means. This ark
means God has accepted them through the sacrifice and he's rejoicing
in this. Now, Michael, Saul's daughter,
David's wife, didn't think the same thing about the ark that
David did. So she despises him in her heart. She wasn't out
there worshiping with the rest of Israel. She was an unbeliever.
And she despised David for something she really couldn't understand.
She did not understand how David rejoiced in the ark because he
was rejoicing in the atonement of Christ and the acceptance
of God for Christ's sake. She had no understanding of that.
So she despised David in her heart. We'll get back to her
in a minute. Verse 17, and they brought in
the ark of the Lord and set it in his place. Did you notice
how they set it in his place? The ark is identified so much
with the person of Christ that the Bible doesn't say they set
it in its place, but they set it in his place. This special
representation of what the ark means. In the midst of the tabernacle,
the David had pitched for it, and David offered burnt offerings
and peace offerings before the Lord. He's rejoicing. The burnt
offering has to do with the acceptance of the sacrifice. Isn't it wonderful
to think that God actually accepts us for Christ's sake? Accepted
in the Beloved. The burnt offering speaks of
the acceptance of the sacrifice. The peace offering speaks of
the peace that we have because God accepts us for Christ's sake
completely. Now, is there any wonder that
David's rejoicing and playing before the Lord? And remember,
this is before the Lord. This is not before man. This is before
the Lord. Verse 18, and as soon as David
had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings,
he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. He
was so happy, and he dealt among all the people, even among the
whole multitude of Israel, as well as to the women, as to the
men, to everyone. Everybody got the exact same
thing, a cake of bread, a good piece of flesh, and a flagon
of wine. So all the people departed, everyone
to his own house. And then came David, he returned
to bless his household, and Michael, remember, the one who despised
him in her heart. She wasn't participating in worship.
She was back looking through the window. She didn't have any
care about any of this stuff. And she despised David in her
heart. Now, look how she responds to David. Then David returned
to bless his household, and Michael, the daughter of Saul, came out
to meet David and said, and you can just Feel the sarcasm dripping
out of this. How glorious was the king of
Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids
of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers
himself. Should the king of Israel be
acting in such a shameful manner? This is disgraceful. You, the
way you acted. You've made a fool of the office
you have, and you just made yourself too base. Now look at David's
reply. Verse 21. And David said unto
Michael, 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. And I will yet be more vile than
this. You think that I've acted shamelessly?
I'll be even more shameful and will be base in my own sight. And of the maidservants which
thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor. Therefore,
Michael, the daughter of Saul, had no child under the day of
her death." Now, I want us to consider what David had to say
to Michael. And we can see Michael, she despised
him. She had no understanding of the gospel. And his response
to her was this, the Lord chose me. The Lord chose me. Now, this is a, I don't know of anything other
than the person of Christ himself. I don't think of anything more
glorious, more soul-warming to realize that God has chosen me. Now, if you're one of God's elect,
you know what that means? That means God himself chose
you. Now, that's why David was dancing
before the Lord. That's why he was jumping for
joy. He was rejoicing in the sacrifice. He was rejoicing in
the fact that God had chosen him. He says to Michael, you
don't have any understanding of this, but God chose me. Now, let me repeat, there isn't
anything other than Christ himself that's more comforting than the
doctrine of divine election. God chose me. How David rejoiced
in this. Turn over to Psalm 65 for a moment. Psalm 65. Verse 1, Praise waiteth
for thee, O God, and Zion. Marginal reading says words wait
for thee, O God. In Zion unto thee shall the vow
be performed. O thou that hearest prayer, unto
thee shall all flesh come. Iniquities prevail against me.
As for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. Isn't
that interesting how that's in the same verse? Iniquities prevail
against me. That's how he felt. But he says,
as for our transgression, thou shalt purge them away. Now look
what he says in verse four. Blessed is the man whom thou
choosest. That's election, isn't it? Blessed
is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto
thee, that he may dwell in thy courts, we shall be satisfied
with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple." Now,
I want to talk some about what David rejoiced in. He said, God
chose me. Over your father, he chose me.
I want to talk some about this glorious truth concerning God
choosing his people. Now first, What is meant by election? What did he mean by God chose
me? Well, election is God's choice
of his people from before the foundation of the world. That
means before time ever began, God chose me. Now I don't know of anything
more comforting, more exciting than that. God chose. He chose Todd. He chose me. Before time began. Now, Romans, there's so many scriptures
about this. Romans 9, 11, for the children
being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the
purpose of God, according to election, might stand not of
works. It was his purpose that my salvation
might not be of works, but of his choice. Thessalonians 2,
13, we're bound to thank God always for you, brethren, beloved
of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning, from the
beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification
of the spirit and belief of the truth. This is what David was
rejoicing and he was rejoicing in the accepted sacrifice and
he was rejoicing that God had chosen him. Ephesians 1 verse
4 says, according as he has chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world that we should be holy and without blame before
him. Now I want you to just think
of God choosing you. What's more humbling? What's
more comforting than that? And knowing His choice of you
wasn't because He foresaw you would be good or believe or anything
like that. It was the sovereign choice of
His will. He chose you in Christ before
the foundation of the world. Now why is this so comforting?
This is what David mentioned when Michael was making fun of
him. She was being critical of him. She said, you've made a
fool of yourself. You've acted far below the dignity
of a king. She was upset with him, and he
said, well, here's where we're at. God chose me. God chose me. That was his reply
to her sarcasm and to her criticism. You don't understand anything
about this. God chose me. Now, why is it that election,
because many people, you know as well as I do, many people
are very critical of this doctrine and think the Bible doesn't even
teach it. Why is election so comforting to a believer? And
really, you can't separate election and God. It's the God of election. It's more than the doctrine of
election. It's the God of election. You see, election tells us who
God is. And that's one of the reasons
we get so excited about it. It tells us who God is. It tells us of a God who is really
God. If election were not true, you
would not have a God that is the first cause of all things.
You would have a weak God. You would have a pygmy God. You
would have a God that really is no God. As a matter of fact,
now you listen to me. The only alternative to the God
of election is atheism. Blind fate, chance, good luck,
bad luck. If there is a God, Election is
true. Election is who he is. He's the first cause behind all
things whose will is always done. How we love the God of election. David did. Oh, blessed is the
man whom thou choosest and causes to approach unto thee. Oh, how
David gloried in this. And this is how he responded
to Michael's, I think Spurgeon entitled his sermon, The Jeer
of Sarcasm and the Reply of Piety. I thought that was an interesting
way to announce that. She was so sarcastic and his
response, God chose me. Election is a powerful reminder
that salvation is all of grace. And I can't even express how
happy that makes me. It's a powerful reminder that
salvation really is all of grace. As a matter of fact, it's called
the election of grace. Turn with me for a moment to
Romans 11. Romans 11. Verse 5, Even so, at this present
time also, there is a remnant, a small number, according to
the election of grace. And if by grace, then it's no
more works. Otherwise, grace is no more grace.
But if it be of works, then it's no more grace. Otherwise, work
is no more work. Now, election excludes any aspect
of salvation by works. Aren't you thankful? I've already quoted this, the
children being not yet born, neither having done any good
or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might
stand not of works. That's God's purpose, not of
works. Does that set your heart to joy
to know that salvation really is not by works, but it's all
in Christ Jesus? Election is a powerful reminder
to us that salvation really is by grace. Now, what is the evidence
of election? How can I know that I'm chosen
of God? I wanna know, I wanna know. What
is the evidence of election? Turn to Acts chapter 13. This is after these people heard Paul
preach the gospel. Verse 48, and when the Gentiles
heard this, they were glad. When they heard the gospel, they
were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as were
ordained to eternal life, what? Believed. They believed. Now that's the evident of divine
election. They believed. I love that verse
of scripture, to him that worketh not, but believeth. on him that justifieth the ungodly,
his faith is counted for righteousness. You know, election is God's saving
purpose for holiness. You know, people object to an
election saying, well, that will destroy any motive for obedience. It'll destroy any motive for
holiness. I mean, God just says you're going to be saved. You're
going to be saved no matter what. You know, to say you're going to
be saved no matter what is really a bad statement. You're going
to be saved as He saves you. You're not going to be saved
no matter what, but listen to Scripture. According as he has chosen us
in him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy. Election is the very foundation
of holiness and without blame before him. You know, I've heard
people say it destroys zeal for missions and so on, and that's
a bunch of hogwash. That's all I can say. As a matter
of fact, the only reason we preach the gospel is we believe God
has an elect people, and we know that he's going to call those
people out. We rejoice in that. and all the great missionaries
of the past, every single one of them, all of them believed
in election. They believed God chose who would
be saved. And that was what motivated them to go out and suffer such
hardship to preach the gospel. So God's elect will hear. Paul
put it this way, I endure all things for the elect's sake. He was beat with a cat of nine
tails everywhere. He'd been beaten with rods. He was stoned. This is overwhelming. He knew everywhere he went, he
was going to be beat up. He was going to be imprisoned.
He was going to be tortured. He was going to be mistreated.
And he says, I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they
also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with
eternal glory. You can tell me election destroys
the zeal for other people to come to know the Lord and to
hear the gospel. There's no way. It's never happened. Anybody that really believes
election, they've got a reason to preach the gospel to every
creature, don't they? We see what effect it had on
Paul, that's overwhelming. And you know, with regard to
election, you can't really understand the death of Christ without understanding
election. You see, when Christ died, he
was dying for a specific people, the elect. And he wasn't making
salvation possible, he was saving. He was saving, and everybody
he died for must be saved. There's no understanding of the
atonement of Christ, what he was actually doing on Calvary's
tree, apart from the holy, beloved doctrine of election. And truly,
it is a beloved doctrine, isn't it? It is a doctrine that causes
thanksgiving. We're bound to thank God always
for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from
the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the
Spirit and belief of the truth. Now, I say strongly and dogmatically,
and I hope because of love to the God of election, you can't
preach the gospel and not preach election. It's impossible. Election is just as necessary
to the preaching of the gospel as the work of the Son and the
work of the Spirit. This is the work of the Father. We believe
in a triune salvation. The work of the Father is to
elect, the work of the Son is to redeem, and the work of the
Holy Spirit is to regenerate. Now, consider the effect this
had on David. It made the triune God the leading
thought of his life. He was dancing before the Lord.
That's before the face of the Lord. He was before the face
of the Lord, and how he rejoiced You look at the joy and the devotion
this brought forth where he was dancing before the Lord. I think
that's so beautiful. Dancing before the Lord, playing
before the Lord. Look at how it humbled him. He
said, I'll be more base than this. You accused me of being
base. I'll be more base than this. I'll be base in my own
sight. I'm so amazed that the God of all grace would choose
me. That's what he chose me. That's
what he was rejoicing in. And you know, it also made him
utterly disdain what men thought about him. Now, Michael was very
critical of him. Did it bother him? No. He said it was before the Lord
that I was acting thusly, and I'm not real concerned about
what you think about it. Now, if you really believe that
God chose you, you're just not going to be that concerned about
what anybody thinks. So you want people to think well
of you. Don't misunderstand me. But what I mean is if you really
believe God's hands on you and he's chosen you to salvation,
if somebody has a hard time with you, that's okay. God loves you. God's hands on you. You're in
Christ and you're not going to be too concerned about what people
think. And look what he says to Michael. And David said unto
Michael, it was before the Lord which chose me before thy father,
verse 21, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over
the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore will I play
before the Lord, and I will yet be more vile than thus, and will
be base in mine own sight, and of the maidservants of which
thou hast spoken of. You know, somebody that doesn't
believe in election, they're always gonna think themselves
above somebody else. You know, the only way you're truly humbled
in your own self is if you're one of God's elect. If you're
one of God's elect, you don't have anything to be but humbled
and amazed at His grace toward you, and amazed at His love toward
you, and amazed at His choice toward you, and humbles you.
But here, Michael, she talks about these base maid servants
who were impressed with David while he was dancing. And she
felt herself to be above these people. She thought she was something
special. And I know that a lot of times
people have even accused people of elections. Well, that's awful
proud. You think God chose you and he didn't choose me? You
think you're somebody special? Well, yeah, I guess in a sense
we do if God chose us, but not in a haughty, arrogant way of
looking at ourselves above somebody else. Now, she was speaking in
disdain of the maid servants who were so impressed with David.
And David said, they'll honor me. You don't, but they will
because we're all on the same plane. You remember how David
took off his kingly garments? We saw that last week when he
was dancing like this and had that humble white linen robe
on. You see, election levels everybody
to the same, doesn't it? And the only difference is God.
The difference is not in the flesh. It's not in men. The only
difference is in God. And he said, those women will
honor me. Those women that you look down
upon, they're not going to have the same attitude you do. And
then we read that Michael had the, I guess it was the most
difficult thing for a woman to ever deal with. Her womb was
closed. She was never allowed to have
a baby. She bore that reproach all the
way until her death. But this attitude, God chose
me. May we all be filled with wonder,
gratitude, thanksgiving, amazed at his grace toward us. To think
that God chose me. Amazing grace. How sweet the
sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now
I'm bound. Was blind, but now I see. Amen.