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Prosperous Reign of David
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The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
Then hundreds of voices, uniting, swelled the triumphal chorus:
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Again was heard, “Who is this King of glory?” And the voice of
the great multitude, like “the sound of many waters,” was heard in
rapturous reply:
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory.
Psalm 24:7-10
Then the gates were opened wide, and with reverent awe the ark
was placed in the tent prepared for it. As the service ended, the king
himself pronounced a blessing on his people.
This celebration was the most sacred event yet in the reign of
David. As the last beams of the setting sun bathed the tabernacle
in holy light, the king’s heart was uplifted in gratitude to God that
the blessed symbol of His presence was now so near the throne of
Israel.
But there was someone who saw the scene of rejoicing with a
very different spirit. “As the ark of the Lord came into the city of
David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw
King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised
him in her heart.” She went out to meet him and a torrent of bitter
words, sharp and cutting, poured from her mouth:
“How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself
today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base
fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
David felt that Michal had despised the service of God, and he
answered: “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your
father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the
Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. And