Cold As Ice Series

COLD AS ICE

A STUDY ON FROZEN RELATIONSHIPS: DAVID & MICHAL

INTRO: Icebreaker #3: “Barrow, Alaska, Coldest Place in America.” It is available online at fbclsl.org, click on Bible Studies and click on Ice Breakers.

Transition: Now that we have discussed some details about the coldest place in USA, let’s transition to some of the coldest events in the Bible.

I. BIBLE VERSE: 2 Samuel 6:20-23

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

And of Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Recall: This event, the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant home to Israel, had probably been the highlight of David’s life up to this point. Sure, he was a bit flamboyant in his celebration, being so pumped that he was unable to even realize that his own clothes had fallen off, but this was the Super Bowl, and his team just won! And then…he runs into his wife. Are you beginning to get the picture?

The Papez Translation:

A. When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today,

PT: “Buddy, you sure made an idiot out of me today. You’re so-called celebration was stupid, and my family’s name and good reputation is thoroughly embarrassed. And you call yourself a king!”

B. disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

PT: “And to make matters, you exposed yourself to lowly, small, unimportant peasant people. You make me sick.”

C. David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD.

PT: “Wife, I don’t really care what you think. I am theologically correct (notice the scripture reference during a heated exchange, not always with the best motives when this is done by the way). But more importantly, God put me in charge. Not you. Not your father. I am in charge. And I will celebrate regardless of what you think.”

D. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.

PT: “What’s more, is I am not done. If you think that I have somehow screwed up, you haven’t seen nothing yet. I will screw up more, and more, and more, and there is nothing you can do about it.”

E. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

PT: “And about those lowly peasants you talked about…they were impressed.”

F. And of Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

PT: The result of this cold exchange of words, left their relationship empty, and without intimacy. Probably for the rest of their lives.

*Note: there can be an obvious number of different interpretations here. Because the specific topic is cold relationships, it is used in that manner here. This verse can also be used more positively in describing David a man loyal to God in the face of even family adversity. But because the result is a permanently cold relationship, the communication can only be described as something less than desirable.

II. BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 24:10-12

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.

This relationship is NOT between David & Michal, or _______________, but between Us & God. How are we measuring up? Or are we…COLD.

A. Turn Away From Faith.

Article discussing the new “fall away” problem with our current generation (portions underlined will be the stressed sections):

A New Generation Expresses its Skepticism and Frustration with Christianity

September 24, 2007

“(Ventura, CA) - As the nation’s culture changes in diverse ways, one of the most significant shifts is the declining reputation of Christianity, especially among young Americans. A new study by The Barna Group conducted among 16- to 29-year-olds shows that a new generation is more skeptical of and resistant to Christianity than were people of the same age just a decade ago.