What Does the Story Mean? - The lesson before us begs the question, what does this story mean? The meaning may lay in the idea of "transfer."

Authority transfer-from the old order to the new. It transferred the protection of God to the protection by God’s anointed king.

Custodial transfer-from the house of Abinadab to the house of David and from the community to the ruler.

Religious transfer-from a variety of worship centers to a single worship cultus in Jerusalem.

Political transfer-from honor of the ark as Israel’s possession to the acknowledgement of the David theology.

Loyalty transfer-from loyalty to other leaders in the north or south to David.

Marital Spat Writ Large - Behind the "spat" of Michal and David over the appropriateness/inappropriateness of David’s behavior as the ark entered Jerusalem is that of the Saul dynastic future. Whatever the specific reason that caused Michal to disparage David’s uncouth behavior-there are several tantalizing suggestions-the political implications are clear: The house of Saul will have no say in matters of the kingdom. David will draw his authority and legitimation from the Lord and from the people, not from protocol or Saul’s house. [1]

 

Mechtild of Magdeburg - I cannot dance, O Lord unless you lead me. If you will that I leap joyfully then you must be the first to dance and sing. Then, and only then, will I leap for love. Then I will soar from love to knowledge, from knowledge to fruition from fruition to beyond all human sense. And there I will remain and circle for evermore.

Please see the sermon for this week on DPS based on this text.

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