2 Samuel 5:11-6:23; 1 Chronicles 13-16: Why is it that joy suckers come into our lives? You know what I am talking about, it is the person who when you are having a great day and things are going so well look at you and with one sentence can take all of the joy out of your sails. If you have someone like that in your life or several someones like that, you are not alone.

In our passage today King David was celebrating because the Ark of the Covenant which represented the very presence of God had come to rest in Jerusalem, the City of David. David had prepared with the Levites and Priests a huge celebration with dancing and music as the Ark entered the city. To David it was a reminder of God’s blessing on his kingdom and his kingship. He was elated. Then he comes home to his wife Michal who was the daughter of Saul. She belittled David for dancing in the linen ephod before the entire kingdom. Her snarky attitude was an attempt to steal the joy he had. David spoke over her his displeasure. God closed her womb and she never bore children.

How sad for Michal. She was not happy for David, but she did not respect or honor the Lord and the reality of the what the Ark’s presence could mean to her or her family. She was bitter and angry. I don’t have all of the reasons why, but her behavior is an indicator that her heart was sour toward her husband and his God. In the end the enemy used her to try to attack her husband and to steal the joy of all God was doing.

Right now you may be saying sister I know that attitude because I have someone in my life just like her. If that is true, I am so sorry. Take note of how David dealt with the situation. He recognized that the problem was hers and did not allow her attitude to rob his joy. That is a great reminder to us. If you are the one who is bitter, I urge you to get to the bottom of why you are so angry. If you can get to the root you can identify what makes you so bitter toward others. You may say, “I am not bitter.” That may be so, but I you are constantly negative or find yourself pouring a bucket of reality on someone’s joy, you may need to check your heart to find out why. In the end Romans 12 reminds us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Don’t be a Michal in a David world. Find your dancing shoes and join the party.