There’s one more section I want to bring out in this story. After Michal’s criticism of David, David made a very profound response: “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.”” (2 Samuel 6:21-22)

David knew who his worship was directed to. He was celebrating before the Lord. He wasn’t trying to impress Michal nor anyone else. He wasn’t seeking their applause nor their approval. What he did, he did before the Lord.

Does that mean we shouldn’t be concerned about those around us when we worship? No, I don’t think we can make that argument. The discussion about the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11 is all about being aware of those around us and including them in our worship. Paul’s argument in 1 Corinthians 14:23-25 is based on thinking about those who might observe our worship. And the passages on “the weaker brother” could even come into play.

However, I know that I’ve spent way too much time listening to the Michals of this world, trying to keep them happy. It can’t be done. As the moral of Aesop’s fable of the man, the boy and the donkey says, please all and you will please none. You can’t please everyone.

In the end, I need to focus on the God I’m worshiping and doing what pleases Him. Sometimes that will mean doing certain things for the good of those around me. But other times, it will mean worshiping Him with reckless abandon, unconcerned about the praise of men.

For some time, I subscribed to a discussion list with a number of preachers who would probably consider themselves to be more conservative than I. I felt that hearing their voices and their concerns would help me to keep a bit of balance. (I also subscribed to some lists with some I thought more liberal than I) A few weeks ago, however, I realized that the negativity I was subjecting myself to was doing me more harm than good. It was pulling me away from my focus.

I don’t want to go back. Not just to that group, but to the whole game of trying to dance to the tune others would play. I will seek to edify. I will seek to evangelize. I will not seek to offend, trying to be all things to all men.

But above all, I will serve my God.