Daniel

The Power Of The Mind

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2023-06-27

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver examines the story of Michal despising David in 2 Samuel 6 to illustrate how wrong thinking can destroy relationships. He argues that the mind is the battleground, and that unchecked perceptions and emotions can turn love into hate. The sermon emphasizes that biblical obedience requires controlling thoughts, not being led by feelings, and that love and honor are acts of the will. Practical applications focus on resolving conflict daily, dwelling on the positive in spouses, and aligning thinking with Scripture to prevent bitterness and divorce.

[John Weaver] With that in mind let's open our Bibles if you would to 2nd Samuel chapter 6 2nd Samuel chapter 6 we're going to begin reading with verse 12 read through verse 23 the title of the message is the power of the mind the power of the mind So 2 Samuel chapter 6, beginning there with verse 12. And it was told King David, saying, the Lord hath blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that pertaineth unto him because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with gladness. And it was so that when they bare the ark, and the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the Lord with all his might, And David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michael, Saul's daughter, looking through a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord.

[John Weaver] And she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in his place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for him. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

[John Weaver] And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well as to the women as the men, to everyone a cake of bread and a good piece of flesh and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed everyone to his house. Then David returned to bless his household. And Michael, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovered himself. And David said unto Michael, It was before the Lord who chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord over Israel.

[John Weaver] Therefore will I play before the Lord, and I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in my own sight. And of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor. Therefore Michael, the daughter of Saul, had no child unto the day of her death." Have you ever wondered, and have you ever considered exactly as to why There are so many marital problems today. Why are there so many separations and why are there so many divorces?

[John Weaver] And did you know that the divorce rate even among Christians is exceedingly high? And I'm just simply pointing out this truth. If Christians cannot live together, what does one expect from the world? How in the world can Christians be an example of godliness, faithfulness, steadfastness, forgiveness and of love if they cannot even maintain a relationship one with another. Now, I understand that Christians are sinners. Moreover, they have problems with the flesh as well as the unsaved having problems with their flesh. But the truth of the matter is this. Christians are supposed to be guided and controlled by biblical principles, by truth, by convictions, and those things that rule their lives and not the flesh.

[John Weaver] Now the title of this message, The Power of the Mind, should not be confused with the concept of the power of positive thinking. It was years ago that Norman Vincent Peale, whom I would not recommend to anyone, but he wrote his book on the power of positive thinking. While there may be some truth in the power of positive thinking, certainly It has nothing to do with obedience. It has nothing to do with godliness. It has nothing to do with holiness. I prefer what one man said concerning Norman Vincent Peale. He said, and I quote, I find Norman Vincent Peale appalling and the Apostle Paul appealing. And so I certainly concur with that as well. So having said that, let me acknowledge and let you also acknowledge that in reality the mind is the battleground and the control of our thoughts is the main issue. You see the mind of man was affected in the fall.

[John Weaver] So our minds are just as depraved and just as perverted as our affections and as our will. The Bible says in Ephesians chapter 4 beginning with verse 17 This I say therefore, and testify the Lord, that you henceforth won't not, as other Gentiles won't, listen, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the knowledge of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who being past failing, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with with greediness notice he said talking about the blindness being alienated through the ignorance that is in them and then when you get to the book of Colossians chapter 1 in verse 21 the Apostle

[John Weaver] Paul said this and you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind yet hath he reconciled so I desire for this message to demonstrate one simple truth And hopefully, that one simple truth will encompass other truths that are interrelated and interconnected. We're told in the book of Proverbs chapter 23 and verse 7, as he, that is as a man, thinketh in his heart, so is he.

[John Weaver] Now stop and let that sink in. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. So we are a product of our thinking. We act out, we live out, we move in regards to our thinking, in regards to our mind. If our thinking is wrong, our lives are going to be wrong. If our thinking happens to be biblical, then our lives will be biblical. That is, we will live in godly obedience.

[John Weaver] Years ago, I preached two messages. which I entitled Sinful Perceptions. I would encourage you to listen to each of those messages again. Why am I saying that? And here's the answer. Because there is a great difference between facts and the interpretation of facts. There's a vast difference between facts and your perception of facts. We always interpret everything in light of our own perspective. Our perspective may be right or our perspective may be wrong. It doesn't matter. Everything that we see we interpret in light of our own perception. So I'm just simply saying we see things the way we want to see them. We see things the way we Desire to see them. We see things many times the way we want them to be. And sometimes we see things as they not really are. An eyewitness is not always accurate.

[John Weaver] And when someone says, I know what I have seen. No, you know what you think you have seen. And what you think you saw, you interpreted. And so I could demonstrate that very easily today, but I'm just simply pointing out. Everything that we see, everything that we hear, we interpret according to our own perspective. And everything comes out of the heart. Everything. So, our Lord told you this.

[John Weaver] So I want you to hold second Samuel chapter 6. I want you to turn in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Matthew chapter 15. And then we're going to go to the book of Luke. So look, if you would, in Matthew chapter 15, beginning there with verse 18. And look, if you would, what the Word of God says. Matthew chapter 15, look if you would at verse 18. Our Lord says, But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts. Did you get that? The first thing out of the heart is evil thoughts. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies, These are the things which defile a man, but he that washeth hands defileth not a man. Now, I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Luke chapter 6. Luke chapter 6, and notice if you would please verse 45. Luke 6 and verse 45.

[John Weaver] Note if you would specifically what our Lord says. Luke 6 verse 45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is good. And an evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil.

[John Weaver] Now watch, for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." What is our Lord saying? You're going to live out what's in your heart. You're going to live out what is in your mind. You know what David said in Psalm 116 in verse 10? He said, I believe, therefore have I spoken. Whatever you believe is ultimately going to come out. Whether it's right, whether it's wrong, it is going to come out.

[John Weaver] We bring forth that which is in our minds. Now, I have used the words mind and heart interchangeably. Because that is the way they're used in the Bible. I realize that there are times in the Bible that the heart refers to the affections. But most of the time, the word heart refers to the mind. I hope you remember the message that I preached years ago entitled, Keeping the Heart.

[John Weaver] If you haven't heard that one recently, I would encourage you to go back to sermonaudio.com forward slash weaver and listen to that one. Because I've proven that message that the heart is indeed the mind. The very first time the word heart occurs in the Bible is Genesis chapter 6 and verse 5. The Bible says, and God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. So whatever the heart is, it can think and it can imagine because God saw the imaginations and the thoughts of the heart. Whatever the heart is, it can speak. Because in Genesis chapter 27 and verse 41, the Bible says, and Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father had blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, the days of mourning for my father at hand, then will I slay my brother Jacob. Notice Esau said in his heart. Whatever the heart is, it can speak. Whatever the heart is, it can either receive or refuse instruction.

[John Weaver] Because, in Proverbs 5 and verse 12, and say, how have I hated instruction and my heart despised reproof? And then the heart, of course, is intimately connected with the eyes. For our Lord said in Matthew 5, verses 27 and 28, you've heard it said of old times, that thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say unto you that whosoever looketh upon a woman, the lust after her hath committed adultery already in his heart.

[John Weaver] So looking and lusting go together. If none of that is clear to you, if you will turn very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Daniel chapter 4. Daniel chapter 4. I'm just pointing this out because I want you to understand what I'm about to say. You'll find all of this and much more in that message on keeping the heart. But if you look at Daniel chapter 4, look at it beginning there with verse 16.

[John Weaver] God is going to teach Nebuchadnezzar a lesson. He's a proud, arrogant, haughty monarch. And so in Daniel 4 and verse 16, the word of God says, let his heart be changed from a man's and let a beast's heart be given unto him and let seven times pass over him. So note, Nebuchadnezzar's heart is going to be changed from a man's heart, and he's going to be given the heart of an animal, and seven times, or seven years, is going to pass over him. So for seven years he's going to be insane. This is called Boanthropy, where a man lives and acts like an animal. Now skip down, if you would, to verse 28. Daniel 4, verse 28.

[John Weaver] All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar, and at the end of twelve months, He walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon, and the king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken. The kingdom is departed from thee, and they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, so thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth

[John Weaver] it to whomever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagle's feathers, and his nails like birdclaws. Now watch, and in the end of the days, that is after seven years, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes into heaven and mine, what? What's that next word? And mine what? Understanding returned unto me.

[John Weaver] I thought it was his heart that was changed. Well, it was. Because the heart is the mind. It's the understanding. It's your rational faculty. Notice, he said, my understanding was returned to me and I blessed the Most High. And I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. And he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth.

[John Weaver] And none can stay his head, or say unto him, What doest thou? Watch verse 36. At the same time, my reason returned unto me. And for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me, and my counselors and my Lord sought unto me, and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me." Note if you would, God said let his heart be changed.

[John Weaver] So his mind, he went insane. He thought he was an animal. He lived like an animal. He ate grass like an animal. And in the seven years, it was his understanding and his reasoning ability that was returned. Obviously, clearly, the heart and the mind are used interchangeably. So, with this understanding in your mind, I want you to go back in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 6, and I'm going to show you the verse that really needs to be enunciated, that is verse 16. I'm going to give you the context to just a little bit later, but look if you would In 2 Samuel 6, verse 16, the Bible said, And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michael, Saul's daughter, looked through a window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

[John Weaver] You want to know why there's so many separations and divorces and why there are even failed friendships. Oh, here's one. She despised him in her heart.

[John Weaver] Now, let me point something out. Michael loved David. I mean, she really, genuinely loved him with a strong love. Saul, who was king, had promised to David Mirab, his oldest daughter, if he would be valiant and fight the Lord's enemies for King Saul. Now, King Saul could care less about the Lord's enemies, and he could care less about David. King Saul wanted David dead. And Saul was so subtle, he was saying, let not my hand be upon David, but let him fall by the Philistines. Let me show you.

[John Weaver] Hold 2 Samuel 6, but go back to 1 Samuel chapter 18. And look if you would beginning there with verse 17. 1 Samuel chapter 18. Look if you would please at verse 17. Look at what the Bible said. And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab. Her will I give thee to wife. Only be thou valiant for me and fight the Lord's battles. For Saul said, Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hands of the Philistines be upon him. And David said unto Saul, Who am I?

[John Weaver] And what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king? Watch verse 19. But it came to pass at the time when Marab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel, the Maholothite, to wife. Now, isn't that interesting? David did not respond wickedly to King Saul. Saul had promised Mirab to David, and then he turned around and gave her to another man. Well, it could have been David may not have been really interested in her anyhow, I don't know. But the very fact that this was a king's daughter and he had promised her to David, well, David just said, let it pass. Now, however, Michael, the younger daughter was very interested in David. In fact, look in verse 20 and 21. 1 Samuel 18 verse 20. And Michael, Saul's daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. Here's why it pleased him. Watch. And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.

[John Weaver] Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law in one of the twain." Now, obviously, Michael did love David. When Saul said, now you can be my son-in-law, David said, look, my family is poor in Israel. I don't have the money for a dowry. And so Saul's servants told Saul that. And Saul told the servants, you go back and tell David. I don't want a large dowry. All I want is 100 foreskins of the Philistines. In other words, I want you to kill 100 men and bring me back proof that you've killed them. When David heard that, why, it pleased him. He went out and killed 200 and brought the foreskins back.

[John Weaver] And he didn't die in battle. And watch this if you would. Watch verse 28. same chapter 1st Samuel chapter 18 verse 28 and Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David the words the Philistines didn't kill him and that Michael Saul's daughter loved him and Saul was yet the more afraid of David and Saul became David's enemy continually note if you would twice now we have been told that Michael loved David I'm going to tell you something It did not take her long to prove that she loved him. If you'll look in 1 Samuel chapter 19, beginning there verse 9, because Saul was so incensed, he had tried to kill David, he had thrown a javelin at him. But David escaped out of his presence. But now, he's ready to kill him. And he's going to kill him himself. So watch 1 Samuel 19, beginning there verse 9, And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, and as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand, and David played with his hand, and Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin.

[John Weaver] But he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smoked the javelin into the wall, and David fled and escaped that night. Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him and to slay him in the morning. And Michael, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be slain. So Michael let David down through a window, and he went and fled and escaped. And Michael took an image and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed with a pill of goat's hair for his bolster. And Saul said unto Michael, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped?

[John Weaver] And Michael answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go, why should I kill thee? Now I want you to note, it was Michael who admonished David to flee. It was Michael who let David down out of the window. It was Michael who placed the image in the bed. It was Michael who pretended he was sick. It was Michael who lied to her insane father in all probability to preserve her life.

[John Weaver] So, obviously she did love him. She did everything she could to protect him. So let me ask you this question. We know that Michael loved David. Did David love Micah? And the answer is yes. I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Samuel chapter 3. Because Abner, who happens to be the captain of the hosts of Israel, when he came to David to deliver The kingdom over to David. David said, look, there's one requirement that you must meet. If you want me to be king over Israel, and you want to hand over the whole kingdom to me. He was king of Judah at that time, but not over the northern tribes. He said, there's a requirement. What is it? Look at it. 2 Samuel chapter 3, beginning there with verse 12. And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? Saying also, Make thy league with me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee to bring about all Israel unto thee. So Abner is offering him the kingdom.

[John Weaver] He can be king over all Israel. Watch verse 13. And he said, Well, I will make a league with thee, but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michael, Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face." David said, you better bring my wife back. He was willing to turn the kingdom down to get Michael. Wow.

[John Weaver] Now you have to ask, what happened? How in the world did Michael, who loved David so strongly and protectingly, come to despise him? The Bible says, in verse 16 of 2 Samuel chapter 6, that she despised him in her heart. Now the Hebrew word for despised is the word basah. And here's what it means. It means to despise, to hold in contempt, to disdain, to view as vile, worthless, and to scorn. So, Michael, at this point, counted David as vile, despicable, and worthless. Now, wait a minute. I want to show you the impact of the word despised. Okay? I want you to hold 2 Samuel chapter 6.

[John Weaver] Turn in your Bibles, if you will, to Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53. And all we're going to look at is verse 3. And of course, I hope you remember and know that Isaiah 53 deals with the Lord Jesus Christ, the suffering servant, the Messiah. In fact, we will read verse 1 and 2 just so you can see this. Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the armor of the Lord revealed? For he, that is the Messiah, shall grow up before him, that is God the Father, as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, There is no beauty that we should desire him. Now watch verse 3.

[John Weaver] He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him. He was despised and we esteemed him not. The word despised in verse 3 that occurs twice is the same exact word that is used in 2 Samuel chapter 6. Just like men hated, scorned, rejected, refused, and counted vile the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] So that is exactly what Michael is now doing to David. Now, the Bible says in verse 16, she despised him in her heart. The Hebrew word for heart is the word leb. This word is translated in our Bibles as mind twelve times and as understanding ten times. She despised him in her heart. She despised him in her mind. She despised him in her understanding. It's the same word that is used in Proverbs 4 and verse 23 when the Bible says, Keep thy heart with all diligence, listen now, for out of it are the issues of life. Everything issues from the mind. Everything issues from the understanding. And I want you to know twice in this passage, Michael is referred to as Saul's daughter, not David's wife. Why is she called Saul's daughter? You remember Saul despised spiritual things. persecuted David. Saul was rejected by God. So in this context, she's acting more like her father, rather than being just simply David's wife. Now, here's what happened. Look at it, if you would please, in verse 16.

[John Weaver] David and the people, the Levites, are bringing back the ark to Jerusalem. In fact, verse 15, So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michael Saul's daughter looked through a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. David had on, the Bible tells us, a linen garment.

[John Weaver] He did not have on his kingly robes. Now linen garment was that which the priest wore. So he was wearing the same thing as a priest and he was jumping and dancing before the Lord. He was so happy that the Ark of God was going to be here in Jerusalem. So when she looked out the window and saw David without his kingly robes and apparel, And in a linen garment, jumping up and down and dancing and praising the Lord, she looked at David and counted him as being uncouth, unkingly, vile, shameful, and disgraceful. Are you listening?

[John Weaver] That was her interpretation of what was happening. That was her perception of what was happening. Was her perception and interpretation correct? No. No. That is why, if you look, she said in verse 20, And Michael, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today! Who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovered himself. She said, David, you are so vile, you are so wicked, you are so low down. You are not acting like a king. You are acting like some Stupid, vile individual who could care less who sees him or what. Saul's daughter again. In her mind, David now was worthless.

[John Weaver] There was absolutely nothing shameful about rejoicing before the Lord. There was nothing disgraceful about bringing the Ark of the Covenant back into Jerusalem. There was nothing unethical. There was nothing vain or vile in honoring God and worshiping God. I want you to look at this. Go back to verse 20. I left out the first part of it. Then David returned to bless his household. David had just blessed the people, sent them away. Now he is on a spiritual high and he comes in to bless his household, not to greet them, but to bless them.

[John Weaver] And his wife says, how glorious was the king of Israel today? You acted like a reprobate. You're a shameful lowdown, good for nothing scumbag. That's what you are. And you just uncover yourself from your kingly robes in front of all these handmaidens, your servants. Hmm. You don't have an attitude problem. Uh, Thomas Scott said this concerning Michael. He said, David, The brave captain, bringing forth and leading forth the people to battle and returning with them in triumph, she admired. But David, the saint, leading the people in the ordinance of God and setting before him the examples of fervency of spirit in his service, she despised.

[John Weaver] I want to show you something. When she mocked David in verse 20, David very quickly let her know how the cow eats the cabbage. Look what he said in verse 21. And David said unto Michael, it was before the Lord which chose me before thy father. He said, what I did, I did unto the Lord, not to you or to anyone else. It was before the Lord who chose me before thy father and before all his house. to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord and over Israel. Therefore will I play before the Lord. I will rejoice. I'll jump up and down if I want to jump up and down.

[John Weaver] And I will yet be more vile than thus. You don't like what I've just done? Rejoicing before the Lord? I will become more vile because I will rejoice more and more and more. And I will be base in my known sight. and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour." Yeah. Michael was wrong. Her attitude was wrong. Her perception was wrong. Her interpretation was wrong.

[John Weaver] She judged David and God judged her. She unjustly reproached David for his devotion. And God therefore justly put her under the perpetual reproach of barrenness. So if you look in verse 23, therefore, Michael, the daughter of Saul had no child under the day of her death. In Bible times, and especially in the Old Testament, to be without a child was a great reproach for a woman. God placed her under perpetual reproach. Now listen to me. God does require wives to honor and reverence their husbands. He also requires husbands to love their wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. When we fail in these two areas as husbands and wives, we fail in our marriage.

[John Weaver] I want to show you, I want you to turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter five, verse 33. Hang on. Ephesians 5, verse 33. I want you to watch this very carefully. Ephesians 5, verse 33. I'm not going to take the time to go over all of this passage, but the Apostle Paul is concluding on the position of the husband, the position of the wife. Then he says this in verse 33. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular So love his wife even as himself and the wife see that she reverence her husband now the word reverence refers to a righteous and godly fear a righteous respect and honor The wife see that she reverence the husband Now, let me tell you something.

[John Weaver] I may not always be right. And I may make mistakes. And I may do things unthinkingly. And I may do things ignorantly and stupidly. But I am always Alice's husband. I am her head, according to Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 3 God gives us the his order God Christ man woman so the point I'm trying to make is this the husband's responsibility let me say it again the husband's position is a position of responsibility but it's also responsibility to lead in God the wife, but it's also a position of honor. And it is true when a marriage fails, in one sense of the word, most of the onus is laid upon the husband because he's the head. Okay? Now, having said that, the wife see that she reverence her husband, honor him in all times and all things. Having said that, Look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 3 and verse 19. Colossians 3 and verse 19. Here it is.

[John Weaver] Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them. Hmm. Let's see. One of the particular sins of a wife is sometimes she does not reverence her husband. And one of the particular sins of a husband is sometimes he is bitter against his wife.

[John Weaver] Now, the Greek word for bitter is the word picgrino, and it literally means to become embittered, to become exasperated, to become indignant, to become irritated, and to become angry. Now, let me point something out. If a wife is to honor her husband, at all times, it requires consistent biblical thinking. If a husband is not ever to be bitter against his wife, it requires constant biblical thinking. So let me just say this. The particular sin of the wife is a failure to honor her husband. The particular sin of the husband is a failure to love his wife, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. And thus he becomes bitter against his wife. So here's the truth.

[John Weaver] If I allow incidents, if I allow interpretations and perspectives to build up in my mind, if I think that Alice has wronged me. And I keep letting it build up in everything she does. I then interpret it as she's doing it again. She's doing it again. She's doing it again. And the next thing you know, there will be an explosion.

[John Weaver] Now, please remember, there are no perfect husbands and there are no perfect wives. This is why the Bible says in Ephesians 4 verse 27, be angry and sin not, let not the sun go down upon your wrath. In other words, anger and bitterness and resentment and problems are to be worked out on a daily basis. Yes, there is a righteous anger, but that righteous anger still has to be resolved. The way to avoid bitterness and anger is to resolve it daily.

[John Weaver] Now, when we have problems and we do have problems, there is no reason to question and to focus on the question as to why I could look at Alice and say, why did you do that? I know why she did it because she's a sinner. She could ask me, why did you do that? Because I'm a sinner. I'm a human. I may have done it unthinkingly. I may have done it ignorantly. The question is not why. The question is, what was done? And the next question is, what needs to be done to rectify it? You don't ask why, you ask what. What was done?

[John Weaver] What should be the biblical response? What is the biblical solution to the problem? Modern day divorces usually have something like this. This divorce is being granted due to irreconcilable differences. There is no such thing as an irreconcilable difference unless someone's not willing to reconcile. If both parties are willing to reconcile, if both parties are willing to work everything out biblically, there will be a reconciliation. The only time you have irreconcilable differences is when somebody does not want to reconcile.

[John Weaver] And that's because they've reached the place of despisement. Now, I want you to listen to me. The particular sin of the wife is dishonoring her husband. The particular sin of the husband is becoming bitter against his wife. These sins are particular, and these particular sins stem from wrong thinking. And I want you to listen carefully. Wrong thinking has the power to turn love into hate, honor into despise, respect into disgust and desire into revulsion.

[John Weaver] And consequently, when couples hit that point, they separate or head for the divorce courts. Michael failed to honor David as her husband, even as her king. and she ended up despising the man that she initially loved. Women today fall into the same trap and the same pit. Husbands, likewise, fall into the same trap and the same pit of becoming exasperated, irritated, bitter, angry, My wife doesn't understand me. And then they head out looking for another woman. And they end up in divorce court.

[John Weaver] The power of the mind cannot be overlooked. It cannot be discarded. It cannot be disregarded because all of our actions proceed from our minds. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. I believed Therefore, have I spoken." You cannot move, you cannot act, you cannot do anything without thinking. Here's a pair of glasses. I'm picking them up. Guess what? I thought about picking them up before I ever picked them up. Everything comes out of the heart. And our mind, which is our heart, has the power to turn love into hate, and honor into despisement.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to make some applications. Listen carefully. Here's the first one. And I think here is the problem. Most people, including most Christians, live by their feelings and by their emotions and not by biblical principles. Consequently, we do not control our thoughts, we do not control our thinking, Our emotions, our feelings, situations, circumstances, control them. We do not control them. Instead of sitting down and saying calmly, what should be our biblical response?

[John Weaver] How should I respond to this in honor of the Lord Jesus Christ? We just feel this way. And we live by our feelings and we give prominence to our feelings and our emotions instead of the Word of God and instead of thinking things through. We actually become enslaved to our feelings, to our emotions. Here's the second one. Listen carefully. Love, honor, obedience, reverence are acts of the will. God does not command our feelings. He does not command our emotions. He commands our wills. When He said, Wives, honor your husbands, that's an act of the will. When He says, Husbands, love your wives, that is an act of the will. When God says, Obey, that is an act of the will. God has designed our feelings to follow. Feelings are to never lead. They are to follow. What if I looked at Tom and say, I just feel like hitting you upside the head.

[John Weaver] Well, I might feel two or three coming back at me. You understand what I'm saying? I can't live by my feelings. But that's what people, how do you feel about this? What's your feelings on this subject? No, no, no, no. What does the word of God say? What do you think? Most people live by their feelings. And God has designed our feelings to follow. Listen carefully. When we do right, we feel good. When we do wrong, we feel bad. That's because our feelings always follow our actions, our conduct, our mind. So, do not ever, ever think that just because you have no feeling, you cannot obey. You can.

[John Weaver] I had one man come into my office years ago. He had already determined he was going to divorce his wife. She was a sweet woman. I knew her personally. She and he had two handsome young boys. And he had met some floozy at some bar and he's going to divorce his Christian wife and marry this floozy. And he came in and he wanted to talk with me and he let me know up front that he was going to divorce his wife.

[John Weaver] I said, well let me tell you something. I said, God commands you to love your wife. He says husbands love your wife. And he said to me, well I just can't love her as a wife. I said, really? I said, is she still in the same house with you? He said, yes. I said, well, then you would consider her at least your closest neighbor. Well, I guess so. She lives in the house with me. Well, the Bible says love your neighbor. Well, I can't even love her as a neighbor. I said, well, would you count her an enemy? He said, yeah. I said, well, the Bible says love your enemies. You can't get out of it. You can't. Love is an act of the will.

[John Weaver] I'm glad feelings were involved. But I love Alice because I will to love Alice. I want to love Alice. I'm just simply saying. Here's the next thing. The third one is this. We must remember to learn to dwell on the positive, the good and the blessed side of our spouses. It is true. It is true that everyone is going to aggravate the other every now and then. You're going to get irritated. You're going to get upset.

[John Weaver] But let me tell you something. You just better thank God that you at least have a spouse. God can remove us at any time that He pleases. Have I ever been upset with Alice? Of course. Has she ever been upset with me? Yes. I'm not going to ask her how many times, but yes, I know. But Lord willing, if He lets us live to the 13th, we'll have been married 60 years.

[John Weaver] Are you listening to me? And this is the absolute truth. In 60 years, we have never, ever had a thought of divorce. Murder, yes. But divorce, never. No, you see what I'm saying? All I'm trying to say is this, folks. And you heard me say this, if the Lord took her out, I'd have to marry 40 to take her place. I'm just simply saying, we got to remember, no one is as bad as they can be. And there are good sides and there are positives, and we need to concentrate on those, not the bad parts. And here's the last one.

[John Weaver] If we wish to live right, we must think right in order to act right. Thinking precedes action and conduct. If you think wrongly, you're going to act wrongly. If you think biblically, you're going to act biblically. Never underestimate the power of the mind. That is why the scripture says, keep your heart. For out of it are the issues of life. Everything issues from your mind. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. You live out what is in your mind. You make sure that mind is right and you make sure that mind is right toward your mate, toward your spouse. You make sure that mind is right toward your friends. Because the power of the mind can turn love into hate and respect into disgust and desire into revulsion. Think about what God says or what God requires of us.

[John Weaver] and how we're to resolve problems in a biblical manner. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee this day. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We pray, Father, that these words will help us, help others who hear, and help us, Lord, to order our lives according to Your Word. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen. ♪ ♪ ♪ you

The Power Of The Mind

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	cKUrrFyHwI8
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Daniel
Genre	Sermon
Date	2023-06-27
Dictation Name
Book	Book 087: Daniel — Chapter 18
Source Timed Segments	67

Formatted Transcript

Opening

With that in mind, let's open our Bibles, if you would, to 2 Samuel chapter 6. 2 Samuel chapter 6, we're going to begin reading with verse 12, read through verse 23. The title of the message is "The Power of the Mind." The power of the mind. So 2 Samuel chapter 6, beginning there with verse 12.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 6:12-23

"And it was told King David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with gladness. And it was so that when they bare the ark, and the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might, and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looking through a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD." "And she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in his place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for him. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts." "And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well as to the women as the men, to everyone a cake of bread and a good piece of flesh and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed everyone to his house. Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD who chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD over Israel."

Introduction: The Problem of Marital Breakdown

Weaver opens by questioning why there are so many marital problems and divorces, even among Christians, and asserts that Christians should be guided by biblical principles, not the flesh.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 6:12-23

"Therefore will I play before the LORD, and I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in my own sight. And of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor. Therefore Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no child unto the day of her death."

Have you ever wondered, and have you ever considered exactly as to why there are so many marital problems today? Why are there so many separations and why are there so many divorces? And did you know that the divorce rate even among Christians is exceedingly high? And I'm just simply pointing out this truth. If Christians cannot live together, what does one expect from the world? How in the world can Christians be an example of godliness, faithfulness, steadfastness, forgiveness, and of love if they cannot even maintain a relationship one with another? Now, I understand that Christians are sinners. Moreover, they have problems with the flesh as well as the unsaved having problems with their flesh. But the truth of the matter is this. Christians are supposed to be guided and controlled by biblical principles, by truth, by convictions, and those things that rule their lives and not the flesh.

The Mind as the Battleground

He clarifies that the message is not about positive thinking but about the mind as the control center. He cites Proverbs 23:7 and explains that actions flow from thoughts, and the mind was affected by the fall.

Now the title of this message, "The Power of the Mind," should not be confused with the concept of the power of positive thinking. It was years ago that Norman Vincent Peale, whom I would not recommend to anyone, but he wrote his book on the power of positive thinking. While there may be some truth in the power of positive thinking, certainly it has nothing to do with obedience. It has nothing to do with godliness. It has nothing to do with holiness. I prefer what one man said concerning Norman Vincent Peale. He said, and I quote, "I find Norman Vincent Peale appalling and the Apostle Paul appealing." And so I certainly concur with that as well. So having said that, let me acknowledge and let you also acknowledge that in reality the mind is the battleground and the control of our thoughts is the main issue. You see, the mind of man was affected in the fall.

So our minds are just as depraved and just as perverted as our affections and as our will. The Bible says in Ephesians chapter 4 beginning with verse 17,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:17-19

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not, as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the knowledge of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."

Notice he said, talking about the blindness, being alienated through the ignorance that is in them. And then when you get to the book of Colossians chapter 1 in verse 21, the Apostle Paul said this, "And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind, yet hath he reconciled." So I desire for this message to demonstrate one simple truth. And hopefully, that one simple truth will encompass other truths that are interrelated and interconnected. We're told in the book of Proverbs chapter 23 and verse 7, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he."

Now stop and let that sink in. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." So we are a product of our thinking. We act out, we live out, we move in regards to our thinking, in regards to our mind. If our thinking is wrong, our lives are going to be wrong. If our thinking happens to be biblical, then our lives will be biblical. That is, we will live in godly obedience.

Perception vs. Facts

Weaver explains that people interpret facts based on their own perspective, which can be wrong. He references his earlier messages on 'Sinful Perceptions' and emphasizes that everything comes from the heart.

Years ago, I preached two messages which I entitled "Sinful Perceptions." I would encourage you to listen to each of those messages again. Why am I saying that? And here's the answer. Because there is a great difference between facts and the interpretation of facts. There's a vast difference between facts and your perception of facts. We always interpret everything in light of our own perspective. Our perspective may be right or our perspective may be wrong. It doesn't matter. Everything that we see we interpret in light of our own perception. So I'm just simply saying we see things the way we want to see them. We see things the way we desire to see them. We see things many times the way we want them to be. And sometimes we see things as they not really are. An eyewitness is not always accurate.

And when someone says, "I know what I have seen." No, you know what you think you have seen. And what you think you saw, you interpreted. And so I could demonstrate that very easily today, but I'm just simply pointing out. Everything that we see, everything that we hear, we interpret according to our own perspective. And everything comes out of the heart. Everything. So, our Lord told you this.

Biblical Evidence: Heart and Mind Interchangeable

Using Matthew 15:18-20, Luke 6:45, and Daniel 4, he demonstrates that the Bible uses 'heart' and 'mind' interchangeably, referring to the rational faculty and understanding.

So I want you to hold 2 Samuel chapter 6. I want you to turn in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Matthew chapter 15. And then we're going to go to the book of Luke. So look, if you would, in Matthew chapter 15, beginning there with verse 18. And look, if you would, what the Word of God says. Matthew chapter 15, look if you would at verse 18. Our Lord says,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:18-20

"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts."

Did you get that? The first thing out of the heart is evil thoughts.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:18-20

"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."

Now, I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Luke chapter 6. Luke chapter 6, and notice if you would please verse 45. Luke 6 and verse 45.

Note if you would specifically what our Lord says. Luke 6 verse 45.

Scripture Reading — Luke 6:45

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil."

Now watch,

Scripture Reading — Luke 6:45

"for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."

What is our Lord saying? You're going to live out what's in your heart. You're going to live out what is in your mind. You know what David said in Psalm 116 in verse 10? He said, "I believed, therefore have I spoken." Whatever you believe is ultimately going to come out. Whether it's right, whether it's wrong, it is going to come out.

We bring forth that which is in our minds. Now, I have used the words mind and heart interchangeably. Because that is the way they're used in the Bible. I realize that there are times in the Bible that the heart refers to the affections. But most of the time, the word heart refers to the mind. I hope you remember the message that I preached years ago entitled, "Keeping the Heart." If you haven't heard that one recently, I would encourage you to go back to sermonaudio.com forward slash weaver and listen to that one. Because I've proven in that message that the heart is indeed the mind. The very first time the word heart occurs in the Bible is Genesis chapter 6 and verse 5. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 6:5

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

So whatever the heart is, it can think and it can imagine because God saw the imaginations and the thoughts of the heart. Whatever the heart is, it can speak. Because in Genesis chapter 27 and verse 41, the Bible says, "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father had blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob." Notice Esau said in his heart. Whatever the heart is, it can speak. Whatever the heart is, it can either receive or refuse instruction.

Because, in Proverbs 5 and verse 12, "And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof?" And then the heart, of course, is intimately connected with the eyes. For our Lord said in Matthew 5, verses 27 and 28, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." So looking and lusting go together. If none of that is clear to you, if you will turn very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Daniel chapter 4. Daniel chapter 4. I'm just pointing this out because I want you to understand what I'm about to say. You'll find all of this and much more in that message on keeping the heart. But if you look at Daniel chapter 4, look at it beginning there with verse 16.

God is going to teach Nebuchadnezzar a lesson. He's a proud, arrogant, haughty monarch. And so in Daniel 4 and verse 16, the word of God says,

Scripture Reading — Daniel 4:16, 28-36

"Let his heart be changed from a man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him."

So note, Nebuchadnezzar's heart is going to be changed from a man's heart, and he's going to be given the heart of an animal, and seven times, or seven years, is going to pass over him. So for seven years he's going to be insane. This is called boanthropy, where a man lives and acts like an animal. Now skip down, if you would, to verse 28. Daniel 4, verse 28.

"All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. And at the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. Now watch, "And at the end of the days," that is after seven years, "I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me."

I thought it was his heart that was changed. Well, it was. Because the heart is the mind. It's the understanding. It's your rational faculty. Notice, he said, "my understanding was returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth." "And none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" Watch verse 36. "At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me." Note if you would, God said let his heart be changed.

So his mind, he went insane. He thought he was an animal. He lived like an animal. He ate grass like an animal. And in the seven years, it was his understanding and his reasoning ability that was returned. Obviously, clearly, the heart and the mind are used interchangeably. So, with this understanding in your mind, I want you to go back in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 6, and I'm going to show you the verse that really needs to be enunciated, that is verse 16. I'm going to give you the context just a little bit later, but look if you would in 2 Samuel 6, verse 16. The Bible said, "And 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 dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart."

Michal's Despisement of David

Weaver recounts the history of Michal's love for David and her protective actions, then contrasts it with her despising him in 2 Samuel 6:16 when she saw him dancing before the Lord. He explains the Hebrew word 'bazah' and its severity.

You want to know why there's so many separations and divorces and why there are even failed friendships? Oh, here's one. She despised him in her heart. Now, let me point something out. Michal loved David. I mean, she really, genuinely loved him with a strong love. Saul, who was king, had promised to David Merab, his oldest daughter, if he would be valiant and fight the LORD's enemies for King Saul. Now, King Saul could care less about the LORD's enemies, and he could care less about David. King Saul wanted David dead. And Saul was so subtle, he was saying, "Let not my hand be upon David, but let him fall by the Philistines." Let me show you.

Hold 2 Samuel 6, but go back to 1 Samuel chapter 18. And look if you would beginning there with verse 17. 1 Samuel chapter 18. Look if you would please at verse 17. Look at what the Bible said.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:17-21, 28

"And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him. And David said unto Saul, Who am I?" "And what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?"

Watch verse 19.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:17-21, 28

"But it came to pass at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife."

Now, isn't that interesting? David did not respond wickedly to King Saul. Saul had promised Merab to David, and then he turned around and gave her to another man. Well, it could have been David may not have been really interested in her anyhow, I don't know. But the very fact that this was a king's daughter and he had promised her to David, well, David just said, let it pass. Now, however, Michal, the younger daughter, was very interested in David. In fact, look in verse 20 and 21. 1 Samuel 18 verse 20.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:17-21, 28

"And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him."

Here's why it pleased him. Watch.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:17-21, 28

"And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him."

"Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law in the one of the twain." Now, obviously, Michal did love David. When Saul said, now you can be my son-in-law, David said, look, my family is poor in Israel. I don't have the money for a dowry. And so Saul's servants told Saul that. And Saul told the servants, you go back and tell David, I don't want a large dowry. All I want is a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. In other words, I want you to kill a hundred men and bring me back proof that you've killed them. When David heard that, why, it pleased him. He went out and killed two hundred and brought the foreskins back.

And he didn't die in battle. And watch this if you would. Watch verse 28. Same chapter, 1 Samuel chapter 18 verse 28.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:17-21, 28

"And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually."

Note if you would, twice now we have been told that Michal loved David. I'm going to tell you something. It did not take her long to prove that she loved him. If you'll look in 1 Samuel chapter 19, beginning there verse 9, because Saul was so incensed, he had tried to kill David, he had thrown a javelin at him. But David escaped out of his presence. But now, he's ready to kill him. And he's going to kill him himself. So watch 1 Samuel 19, beginning there verse 9. "And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin."

"But he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster. And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped?"

"And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?" Now I want you to note, it was Michal who admonished David to flee. It was Michal who let David down out of the window. It was Michal who placed the image in the bed. It was Michal who pretended he was sick. It was Michal who lied to her insane father in all probability to preserve her life.

So, obviously she did love him. She did everything she could to protect him. So let me ask you this question. We know that Michal loved David. Did David love Michal? And the answer is yes. I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Samuel chapter 3. Because Abner, who happens to be the captain of the hosts of Israel, when he came to David to deliver the kingdom over to David, David said, look, there's one requirement that you must meet. If you want me to be king over Israel, and you want to hand over the whole kingdom to me—he was king of Judah at that time, but not over the northern tribes—he said, there's a requirement. What is it? Look at it. 2 Samuel chapter 3, beginning there with verse 12. "And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee." So Abner is offering him the kingdom.

He can be king over all Israel. Watch verse 13. "And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face." David said, you better bring my wife back. He was willing to turn the kingdom down to get Michal. Wow.

Now you have to ask, what happened? How in the world did Michal, who loved David so strongly and protectingly, come to despise him? The Bible says, in verse 16 of 2 Samuel chapter 6, that she despised him in her heart. Now the Hebrew word for despised is the word bazah. And here's what it means. It means to despise, to hold in contempt, to disdain, to view as vile, worthless, and to scorn. So, Michal, at this point, counted David as vile, despicable, and worthless. Now, wait a minute. I want to show you the impact of the word despised. Okay? I want you to hold 2 Samuel chapter 6.

Turn in your Bibles, if you will, to Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53. And all we're going to look at is verse 3. And of course, I hope you remember and know that Isaiah 53 deals with the Lord Jesus Christ, the suffering servant, the Messiah. In fact, we will read verse 1 and 2 just so you can see this.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 53:1-3

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him."

Now watch verse 3.

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." The word despised in verse 3 that occurs twice is the same exact word that is used in 2 Samuel chapter 6. Just like men hated, scorned, rejected, refused, and counted vile the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. So that is exactly what Michal is now doing to David. Now, the Bible says in verse 16, she despised him in her heart. The Hebrew word for heart is the word leb. This word is translated in our Bibles as mind twelve times and as understanding ten times. She despised him in her heart. She despised him in her mind. She despised him in her understanding. It's the same word that is used in Proverbs 4 and verse 23 when the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 4:23

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

Everything issues from the mind. Everything issues from the understanding. And I want you to know twice in this passage, Michal is referred to as Saul's daughter, not David's wife. Why is she called Saul's daughter? You remember Saul despised spiritual things, persecuted David. Saul was rejected by God. So in this context, she's acting more like her father, rather than being just simply David's wife. Now, here's what happened. Look at it, if you would please, in verse 16.

David and the people, the Levites, are bringing back the ark to Jerusalem. In fact, verse 15, "So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. And 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 dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart." David had on, the Bible tells us, a linen garment.

Michal's Wrong Perception and Its Consequences

Michal's interpretation of David's worship as shameful was incorrect. She mocked him, and David responded that he was honoring God. God judged her with barrenness, a perpetual reproach.

He did not have on his kingly robes. Now linen garment was that which the priest wore. So he was wearing the same thing as a priest and he was jumping and dancing before the LORD. He was so happy that the ark of God was going to be here in Jerusalem. So when she looked out the window and saw David without his kingly robes and apparel, and in a linen garment, jumping up and down and dancing and praising the LORD, she looked at David and counted him as being uncouth, unkingly, vile, shameful, and disgraceful. Are you listening? That was her interpretation of what was happening. That was her perception of what was happening. Was her perception and interpretation correct? No. No. That is why, if you look, she said in verse 20, "And Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!" She said, David, you are so vile, you are so wicked, you are so low down. You are not acting like a king. You are acting like some stupid, vile individual who could care less who sees him or what. Saul's daughter again. In her mind, David now was worthless.

There was absolutely nothing shameful about rejoicing before the LORD. There was nothing disgraceful about bringing the ark of the covenant back into Jerusalem. There was nothing unethical. There was nothing vain or vile in honoring God and worshiping God. I want you to look at this. Go back to verse 20. I left out the first part of it. "Then David returned to bless his household." David had just blessed the people, sent them away. Now he is on a spiritual high and he comes in to bless his household, not to greet them, but to bless them.

And his wife says, "How glorious was the king of Israel today?" You acted like a reprobate. You're a shameful, lowdown, good-for-nothing scumbag. That's what you are. And you just uncovered yourself from your kingly robes in front of all these handmaidens, your servants. Hmm. You don't have an attitude problem. Uh, Thomas Scott said this concerning Michal. He said, "David, the brave captain, bringing forth and leading forth the people to battle and returning with them in triumph, she admired. But David, the saint, leading the people in the ordinance of God and setting before him the examples of fervency of spirit in his service, she despised."

I want to show you something. When she mocked David in verse 20, David very quickly let her know how the cow eats the cabbage. Look what he said in verse 21. "And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD which chose me before thy father." He said, what I did, I did unto the LORD, not to you or to anyone else. "It was before the LORD who chose me before thy father and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD over Israel. Therefore will I play before the LORD." I will rejoice. I'll jump up and down if I want to jump up and down.

"And I will yet be more vile than thus." You don't like what I've just done? Rejoicing before the LORD? I will become more vile because I will rejoice more and more and more. "And I will be base in my own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor." Yeah. Michal was wrong. Her attitude was wrong. Her perception was wrong. Her interpretation was wrong.

She judged David and God judged her. She unjustly reproached David for his devotion. And God therefore justly put her under the perpetual reproach of barrenness. So if you look in verse 23, "Therefore Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no child unto the day of her death." In Bible times, and especially in the Old Testament, to be without a child was a great reproach for a woman. God placed her under perpetual reproach. Now listen to me. God does require wives to honor and reverence their husbands. He also requires husbands to love their wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. When we fail in these two areas as husbands and wives, we fail in our marriage.

Biblical Roles and Particular Sins in Marriage

Weaver cites Ephesians 5:33 and Colossians 3:19 to show that wives are to reverence husbands and husbands are to love without bitterness. Failure in these areas stems from wrong thinking.

I want to show you, I want you to turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 5, verse 33. Hang on. Ephesians 5, verse 33. I want you to watch this very carefully. Ephesians 5, verse 33. I'm not going to take the time to go over all of this passage, but the Apostle Paul is concluding on the position of the husband, the position of the wife. Then he says this in verse 33.

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 5:33

"Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."

Now the word reverence refers to a righteous and godly fear, a righteous respect and honor. The wife see that she reverence the husband. Now, let me tell you something.

I may not always be right. And I may make mistakes. And I may do things unthinkingly. And I may do things ignorantly and stupidly. But I am always Alice's husband. I am her head, according to 1 Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 3. God gives us His order: God, Christ, man, woman. So the point I'm trying to make is this: the husband's responsibility—let me say it again—the husband's position is a position of responsibility, but it's also responsibility to lead in God. The wife, but it's also a position of honor. And it is true when a marriage fails, in one sense of the word, most of the onus is laid upon the husband because he's the head. Okay? Now, having said that, the wife see that she reverence her husband, honor him in all times and all things. Having said that, look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 3 and verse 19. Colossians 3 and verse 19. Here it is.

"Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." Hmm. Let's see. One of the particular sins of a wife is sometimes she does not reverence her husband. And one of the particular sins of a husband is sometimes he is bitter against his wife.

Now, the Greek word for bitter is the word pikraino, and it literally means to become embittered, to become exasperated, to become indignant, to become irritated, and to become angry. Now, let me point something out. If a wife is to honor her husband at all times, it requires consistent biblical thinking. If a husband is not ever to be bitter against his wife, it requires constant biblical thinking. So let me just say this. The particular sin of the wife is a failure to honor her husband. The particular sin of the husband is a failure to love his wife, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. And thus he becomes bitter against his wife. So here's the truth.

If I allow incidents, if I allow interpretations and perspectives to build up in my mind, if I think that Alice has wronged me, and I keep letting it build up in everything she does, I then interpret it as she's doing it again. She's doing it again. She's doing it again. And the next thing you know, there will be an explosion.

Resolving Conflict and Avoiding Bitterness

He stresses daily resolution of anger (Ephesians 4:27), focusing on 'what' not 'why' in problems, and that irreconcilable differences only exist when someone refuses to reconcile.

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:27

Now, please remember, there are no perfect husbands and there are no perfect wives. This is why the Bible says in Ephesians 4 verse 27, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath." In other words, anger and bitterness and resentment and problems are to be worked out on a daily basis. Yes, there is a righteous anger, but that righteous anger still has to be resolved. The way to avoid bitterness and anger is to resolve it daily.

Now, when we have problems—and we do have problems—there is no reason to question and to focus on the question as to why. I could look at Alice and say, "Why did you do that?" I know why she did it: because she's a sinner. She could ask me, "Why did you do that?" Because I'm a sinner. I'm a human. I may have done it unthinkingly. I may have done it ignorantly. The question is not why. The question is, what was done? And the next question is, what needs to be done to rectify it? You don't ask why, you ask what. What was done?

What should be the biblical response? What is the biblical solution to the problem? Modern day divorces usually have something like this. This divorce is being granted due to irreconcilable differences. There is no such thing as an irreconcilable difference unless someone's not willing to reconcile. If both parties are willing to reconcile, if both parties are willing to work everything out biblically, there will be a reconciliation. The only time you have irreconcilable differences is when somebody does not want to reconcile.

And that's because they've reached the place of despisement. Now, I want you to listen to me. The particular sin of the wife is dishonoring her husband. The particular sin of the husband is becoming bitter against his wife. These sins are particular, and these particular sins stem from wrong thinking. And I want you to listen carefully. Wrong thinking has the power to turn love into hate, honor into despise, respect into disgust, and desire into revulsion.

The Power of the Mind to Transform Relationships

Wrong thinking can turn love into hate, honor into despise. The mind's power cannot be overlooked; all actions proceed from thoughts.

And consequently, when couples hit that point, they separate or head for the divorce courts. Michal failed to honor David as her husband, even as her king, and she ended up despising the man that she initially loved. Women today fall into the same trap and the same pit. Husbands, likewise, fall into the same trap and the same pit of becoming exasperated, irritated, bitter, angry. "My wife doesn't understand me." And then they head out looking for another woman. And they end up in divorce court. The power of the mind cannot be overlooked. It cannot be discarded. It cannot be disregarded because all of our actions proceed from our minds. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." "I believed, therefore have I spoken." You cannot move, you cannot act, you cannot do anything without thinking. Here's a pair of glasses. I'm picking them up. Guess what? I thought about picking them up before I ever picked them up. Everything comes out of the heart. And our mind, which is our heart, has the power to turn love into hate, and honor into despisement.

Practical Applications

Weaver gives four applications: live by biblical principles not feelings; love and honor are acts of the will; dwell on the positive in spouses; think right to act right.

Now, I want to make some applications. Listen carefully. Here's the first one. And I think here is the problem. Most people, including most Christians, live by their feelings and by their emotions and not by biblical principles. Consequently, we do not control our thoughts, we do not control our thinking. Our emotions, our feelings, situations, circumstances, control them. We do not control them. Instead of sitting down and saying calmly, "What should be our biblical response?"

"How should I respond to this in honor of the Lord Jesus Christ?" We just feel this way. And we live by our feelings and we give prominence to our feelings and our emotions instead of the Word of God and instead of thinking things through. We actually become enslaved to our feelings, to our emotions. Here's the second one. Listen carefully. Love, honor, obedience, reverence are acts of the will. God does not command our feelings. He does not command our emotions. He commands our wills. When He said, "Wives, honor your husbands," that's an act of the will. When He says, "Husbands, love your wives," that is an act of the will. When God says, "Obey," that is an act of the will. God has designed our feelings to follow. Feelings are to never lead. They are to follow. What if I looked at Tom and say, "I just feel like hitting you upside the head."

Well, I might feel two or three coming back at me. You understand what I'm saying? I can't live by my feelings. But that's what people—"How do you feel about this? What's your feelings on this subject?" No, no, no, no. What does the Word of God say? What do you think? Most people live by their feelings. And God has designed our feelings to follow. Listen carefully. When we do right, we feel good. When we do wrong, we feel bad. That's because our feelings always follow our actions, our conduct, our mind. So, do not ever, ever think that just because you have no feeling, you cannot obey. You can.

I had one man come into my office years ago. He had already determined he was going to divorce his wife. She was a sweet woman. I knew her personally. She and he had two handsome young boys. And he had met some floozy at some bar and he's going to divorce his Christian wife and marry this floozy. And he came in and he wanted to talk with me and he let me know up front that he was going to divorce his wife.

I said, "Well let me tell you something. I said, God commands you to love your wife. He says husbands love your wife." And he said to me, "Well I just can't love her as a wife." I said, "Really?" I said, "Is she still in the same house with you?" He said, "Yes." I said, "Well, then you would consider her at least your closest neighbor." "Well, I guess so. She lives in the house with me." "Well, the Bible says love your neighbor." "Well, I can't even love her as a neighbor." I said, "Well, would you count her an enemy?" He said, "Yeah." I said, "Well, the Bible says love your enemies. You can't get out of it. You can't. Love is an act of the will."

I'm glad feelings were involved. But I love Alice because I will to love Alice. I want to love Alice. I'm just simply saying. Here's the next thing. The third one is this. We must remember to learn to dwell on the positive, the good, and the blessed side of our spouses. It is true. It is true that everyone is going to aggravate the other every now and then. You're going to get irritated. You're going to get upset.

But let me tell you something. You just better thank God that you at least have a spouse. God can remove us at any time that He pleases. Have I ever been upset with Alice? Of course. Has she ever been upset with me? Yes. I'm not going to ask her how many times, but yes, I know. But Lord willing, if He lets us live to the 13th, we'll have been married 60 years.

Are you listening to me? And this is the absolute truth. In 60 years, we have never, ever had a thought of divorce. Murder, yes. But divorce, never. No, you see what I'm saying? All I'm trying to say is this, folks. And you heard me say this, if the Lord took her out, I'd have to marry 40 to take her place. I'm just simply saying, we got to remember, no one is as bad as they can be. And there are good sides and there are positives, and we need to concentrate on those, not the bad parts. And here's the last one.

If we wish to live right, we must think right in order to act right. Thinking precedes action and conduct. If you think wrongly, you're going to act wrongly. If you think biblically, you're going to act biblically. Never underestimate the power of the mind. That is why the scripture says, "Keep thy heart; for out of it are the issues of life." Everything issues from your mind. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." You live out what is in your mind. You make sure that mind is right and you make sure that mind is right toward your mate, toward your spouse. You make sure that mind is right toward your friends. Because the power of the mind can turn love into hate and respect into disgust and desire into revulsion. Think about what God says or what God requires of us.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Mind as the Control Center of Life

Summary: The mind (heart) is the source of all actions; as a man thinks, so he is. Controlling thoughts is essential for godly living.

Evidence: Proverbs 23:7 'For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.' Weaver states, 'We are a product of our thinking.'

Perception and Interpretation Shape Reality

Summary: People interpret facts based on their own perspective, which can be flawed. Michal's perception of David's worship was wrong, leading to despisement.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'There is a great difference between facts and the interpretation of facts... We see things the way we want to see them.'

Love and Honor as Acts of the Will

Summary: Biblical commands to love and honor are acts of the will, not dependent on feelings. Feelings should follow actions, not lead them.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Love, honor, obedience, reverence are acts of the will. God does not command our feelings.'

The Destructive Power of Wrong Thinking in Marriage

Summary: Wrong thinking can turn love into hate and honor into despise, leading to marital breakdown. Michal's example shows how a wife's failure to honor her husband stems from wrong thinking.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Wrong thinking has the power to turn love into hate, honor into despise, respect into disgust, and desire into revulsion.'

Biblical Roles and Particular Sins

Summary: Wives are to reverence husbands; husbands are to love without bitterness. These particular sins arise from wrong thinking.

Evidence: Ephesians 5:33 and Colossians 3:19 are cited. Weaver says, 'The particular sin of the wife is a failure to honor her husband. The particular sin of the husband is a failure to love his wife.'

Daily Resolution of Conflict

Summary: Anger and bitterness must be resolved daily to prevent buildup. The focus should be on what was done and the biblical solution, not on why.

Evidence: Ephesians 4:27 is cited. Weaver says, 'The way to avoid bitterness and anger is to resolve it daily.'

Key Arguments

Christians should be guided by biblical principles, not the flesh

Summary: Despite being sinners, Christians are to be controlled by truth and convictions, which should prevent the high divorce rate among believers.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Christians are supposed to be guided and controlled by biblical principles, by truth, by convictions.'

The mind is the battleground; thoughts determine actions

Summary: Since the fall, the mind is depraved. Actions proceed from thoughts, so controlling the mind is crucial for godly living.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'The mind of man was affected in the fall... We act out, we live out, we move in regards to our thinking.'

Heart and mind are used interchangeably in Scripture

Summary: The Bible uses 'heart' to refer to the mind, understanding, and rational faculty, as seen in Genesis 6:5, Daniel 4, and other passages.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'I've proven in that message that the heart is indeed the mind.' He cites Daniel 4 where heart change affected understanding.

Michal's despisement of David resulted from wrong perception

Summary: Michal interpreted David's worship as shameful, but it was honorable. Her wrong thinking led to contempt and God's judgment of barrenness.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'That was her interpretation of what was happening... Was her perception and interpretation correct? No.'

Love and honor are commanded acts of the will, not feelings

Summary: God commands husbands to love and wives to reverence; these are choices, not emotions. Feelings follow actions.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'When He said, Wives, honor your husbands, that's an act of the will... God has designed our feelings to follow.'

Wrong thinking can transform love into hate

Summary: Allowing negative interpretations to build up in the mind can turn initial love into despisement, leading to divorce.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Wrong thinking has the power to turn love into hate, honor into despise.'

Irreconcilable differences only exist when someone refuses to reconcile

Summary: If both parties are willing to work biblically, reconciliation is possible. Divorce often stems from reaching a point of despisement.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'There is no such thing as an irreconcilable difference unless someone's not willing to reconcile.'

Dwelling on the positive in spouses prevents bitterness

Summary: Instead of focusing on irritations, believers should concentrate on the good in their spouses and thank God for them.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We must remember to learn to dwell on the positive, the good, and the blessed side of our spouses.'

Scripture References

2 Samuel 6:12-23

Context: The main passage read at the beginning, describing David bringing the ark to Jerusalem, Michal's despisement, and her barrenness.

Ephesians 4:17-19

Context: Cited to show the depravity of the mind, walking in vanity of mind, darkened understanding, and alienation from God.

Colossians 1:21

Context: Mentioned to show that believers were once alienated and enemies in their mind, but now reconciled.

Proverbs 23:7

Context: Quoted to establish that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he; actions flow from thoughts.

Matthew 15:18-20

Context: Jesus teaches that evil thoughts proceed from the heart and defile a man, listing various sins.

Luke 6:45

Context: A good man brings forth good from the treasure of his heart; out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Psalm 116:10

Context: David said, 'I believed, therefore have I spoken,' illustrating that belief precedes speech and action.

Genesis 6:5

Context: The first occurrence of 'heart' in the Bible, showing that the heart thinks and imagines evil continually.

Genesis 27:41

Context: Esau said in his heart, demonstrating that the heart can speak.

Proverbs 5:12

Context: The heart can despise reproof, showing it can receive or refuse instruction.

Matthew 5:27-28

Context: Jesus teaches that looking with lust is adultery in the heart, connecting eyes and heart.

Daniel 4:16, 28-36

Context: Nebuchadnezzar's heart was changed to a beast's heart, and his understanding returned when his heart was restored, proving heart equals mind.

1 Samuel 18:17-21, 28

Context: Saul's plot to use his daughters as snares; Michal's love for David is stated twice.

1 Samuel 19:9-17

Context: Michal helps David escape from Saul, proving her love through protective actions.

2 Samuel 3:12-13

Context: David demands Michal's return as a condition for Abner's league, showing his love for her.

Isaiah 53:1-3

Context: The word 'despised' used of Christ is the same Hebrew word as in 2 Samuel 6:16, illustrating the severity of Michal's contempt.

Proverbs 4:23

Context: Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life; the heart (mind) is the source of all actions.

Ephesians 5:33

Context: Husbands are to love their wives as themselves, and wives are to reverence their husbands.

Colossians 3:19

Context: Husbands are commanded to love their wives and not be bitter against them.

Ephesians 4:27

Context: Be angry and sin not; do not let the sun go down on your wrath, emphasizing daily resolution of anger.

Historical References

Norman Vincent Peale and 'The Power of Positive Thinking'

Context: Weaver distances his message from Peale's concept, quoting someone who said, 'I find Norman Vincent Peale appalling and the Apostle Paul appealing.'

Thomas Scott's commentary on Michal

Context: Weaver quotes Thomas Scott: 'David, the brave captain... she admired. But David, the saint... she despised.'

Important Quotes

I find Norman Vincent Peale appalling and the Apostle Paul appealing.

Significance: Weaver uses this quote to contrast positive thinking with biblical truth, setting the tone for his message on the mind.

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Significance: This Proverbs 23:7 quote is the foundational verse for the sermon, emphasizing that actions flow from thoughts.

There is a great difference between facts and the interpretation of facts.

Significance: Highlights the theme that perception shapes reality and can lead to wrong conclusions, as with Michal.

David, the brave captain, bringing forth and leading forth the people to battle and returning with them in triumph, she admired. But David, the saint, leading the people in the ordinance of God and setting before him the examples of fervency of spirit in his service, she despised.

Significance: Thomas Scott's commentary contrasts Michal's worldly admiration with her spiritual despisement, illustrating her wrong values.

Wrong thinking has the power to turn love into hate, honor into despise, respect into disgust, and desire into revulsion.

Significance: Summarizes the destructive potential of the mind when not governed by biblical truth.

Love, honor, obedience, reverence are acts of the will. God does not command our feelings.

Significance: Key application point that obedience is a choice, not dependent on emotions.

There is no such thing as an irreconcilable difference unless someone's not willing to reconcile.

Significance: Challenges the common divorce rationale, placing responsibility on the unwillingness to reconcile.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Significance: Proverbs 4:23 is cited as the concluding exhortation to guard the mind because everything flows from it.

Discussion Questions

How does the biblical concept of the 'heart' as the mind challenge or affirm your understanding of thoughts and actions?

Context: Weaver spent time proving that heart and mind are interchangeable in Scripture, using Genesis 6:5, Daniel 4, and other passages.

In what ways can our perceptions of a spouse's actions be distorted, and how can we guard against misinterpreting their motives?

Context: Michal perceived David's worship as shameful, but it was honorable. Weaver emphasized the difference between facts and interpretation.

Why is it significant that love and honor are commanded as acts of the will rather than feelings? How does this affect marital commitment?

Context: Weaver argued that God commands the will, not emotions, and that feelings follow actions. He cited Ephesians 5:33 and Colossians 3:19.

What practical steps can couples take to resolve anger and bitterness daily, as instructed in Ephesians 4:27?

Context: Weaver stressed not letting the sun go down on wrath and focusing on 'what' was done rather than 'why'.

How can dwelling on the positive aspects of a spouse prevent the buildup of contempt, as seen in Michal's case?

Context: Weaver advised concentrating on the good and blessed side of spouses, noting that no one is as bad as they can be.

What does Michal's judgment of barrenness teach about God's view of dishonoring one's spouse?

Context: God judged Michal with perpetual reproach for despising David's devotion. Weaver connected this to the command for wives to reverence husbands.

How can Christians avoid living by feelings and instead live by biblical principles in their relationships?

Context: Weaver stated that most people, including Christians, live by emotions rather than controlling their thoughts according to Scripture.

In what ways can the power of the mind be harnessed for good in marriage, rather than allowing it to turn love into hate?

Context: The sermon's title and conclusion emphasize that thinking right leads to acting right, and the mind must be guarded.

Applications

Live by biblical principles, not feelings

Summary: Christians must control their thoughts and not be enslaved to emotions. Instead of asking 'How do I feel?', ask 'What does God's Word say?'

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Most people, including most Christians, live by their feelings and by their emotions and not by biblical principles.'

Choose to love and honor as an act of the will

Summary: Love and reverence in marriage are commanded choices, not dependent on feelings. Obey even when feelings are absent.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Love, honor, obedience, reverence are acts of the will... Do not ever, ever think that just because you have no feeling, you cannot obey.'

Dwell on the positive in your spouse

Summary: Instead of focusing on irritations, concentrate on the good qualities and thank God for your spouse. No one is as bad as they can be.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We must remember to learn to dwell on the positive, the good, and the blessed side of our spouses.'

Resolve anger and bitterness daily

Summary: Do not let the sun go down on wrath. Address problems immediately by focusing on what was done and the biblical solution, not on why.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'The way to avoid bitterness and anger is to resolve it daily.' He cites Ephesians 4:27.

Guard your mind to think biblically

Summary: Since actions flow from thoughts, keep your heart (mind) with diligence. Think right to act right, especially toward your spouse.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If we wish to live right, we must think right in order to act right... Keep thy heart; for out of it are the issues of life.'

Wives, reverence your husbands; husbands, love without bitterness

Summary: Specifically apply Ephesians 5:33 and Colossians 3:19 by honoring and loving your spouse consistently, avoiding the particular sins of dishonor and bitterness.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'The particular sin of the wife is a failure to honor her husband. The particular sin of the husband is a failure to love his wife.'

Reject irreconcilable differences; choose reconciliation

Summary: Recognize that reconciliation is always possible if both parties are willing to work biblically. Divorce often stems from a heart of despisement.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'There is no such thing as an irreconcilable difference unless someone's not willing to reconcile.'

Interpret your spouse's actions charitably

Summary: Avoid assuming the worst; remember that perceptions can be wrong. Seek to understand rather than despise.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We see things the way we want to see them... An eyewitness is not always accurate.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:24:10Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T00:22:52Z

Clean Transcript

The Power Of The Mind

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

With that in mind, let's open our Bibles, if you would, to 2 Samuel chapter 6. 2 Samuel chapter 6, we're going to begin reading with verse 12, read through verse 23. The title of the message is "The Power of the Mind." The power of the mind. So 2 Samuel chapter 6, beginning there with verse 12. "And it was told King David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with gladness. And it was so that when they bare the ark, and the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might, and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looking through a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD."
#1 | 0:11 to 1:17 | cleaned
"And she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in his place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for him. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts."
#2 | 1:18 to 1:38 | cleaned
"And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well as to the women as the men, to everyone a cake of bread and a good piece of flesh and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed everyone to his house. Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD who chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD over Israel."
#3 | 1:38 to 2:22 | cleaned
"Therefore will I play before the LORD, and I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in my own sight. And of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor. Therefore Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no child unto the day of her death." Have you ever wondered, and have you ever considered exactly as to why there are so many marital problems today? Why are there so many separations and why are there so many divorces?
#4 | 2:23 to 2:57 | cleaned
And did you know that the divorce rate even among Christians is exceedingly high? And I'm just simply pointing out this truth. If Christians cannot live together, what does one expect from the world? How in the world can Christians be an example of godliness, faithfulness, steadfastness, forgiveness, and of love if they cannot even maintain a relationship one with another? Now, I understand that Christians are sinners. Moreover, they have problems with the flesh as well as the unsaved having problems with their flesh. But the truth of the matter is this. Christians are supposed to be guided and controlled by biblical principles, by truth, by convictions, and those things that rule their lives and not the flesh.
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Now the title of this message, "The Power of the Mind," should not be confused with the concept of the power of positive thinking. It was years ago that Norman Vincent Peale, whom I would not recommend to anyone, but he wrote his book on the power of positive thinking. While there may be some truth in the power of positive thinking, certainly it has nothing to do with obedience. It has nothing to do with godliness. It has nothing to do with holiness. I prefer what one man said concerning Norman Vincent Peale. He said, and I quote, "I find Norman Vincent Peale appalling and the Apostle Paul appealing." And so I certainly concur with that as well. So having said that, let me acknowledge and let you also acknowledge that in reality the mind is the battleground and the control of our thoughts is the main issue. You see, the mind of man was affected in the fall.
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So our minds are just as depraved and just as perverted as our affections and as our will. The Bible says in Ephesians chapter 4 beginning with verse 17, "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not, as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the knowledge of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." Notice he said, talking about the blindness, being alienated through the ignorance that is in them. And then when you get to the book of Colossians chapter 1 in verse 21, the Apostle
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Paul said this, "And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind, yet hath he reconciled." So I desire for this message to demonstrate one simple truth. And hopefully, that one simple truth will encompass other truths that are interrelated and interconnected. We're told in the book of Proverbs chapter 23 and verse 7, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he."
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Now stop and let that sink in. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." So we are a product of our thinking. We act out, we live out, we move in regards to our thinking, in regards to our mind. If our thinking is wrong, our lives are going to be wrong. If our thinking happens to be biblical, then our lives will be biblical. That is, we will live in godly obedience.
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Years ago, I preached two messages which I entitled "Sinful Perceptions." I would encourage you to listen to each of those messages again. Why am I saying that? And here's the answer. Because there is a great difference between facts and the interpretation of facts. There's a vast difference between facts and your perception of facts. We always interpret everything in light of our own perspective. Our perspective may be right or our perspective may be wrong. It doesn't matter. Everything that we see we interpret in light of our own perception. So I'm just simply saying we see things the way we want to see them. We see things the way we desire to see them. We see things many times the way we want them to be. And sometimes we see things as they not really are. An eyewitness is not always accurate.
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And when someone says, "I know what I have seen." No, you know what you think you have seen. And what you think you saw, you interpreted. And so I could demonstrate that very easily today, but I'm just simply pointing out. Everything that we see, everything that we hear, we interpret according to our own perspective. And everything comes out of the heart. Everything. So, our Lord told you this.
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So I want you to hold 2 Samuel chapter 6. I want you to turn in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Matthew chapter 15. And then we're going to go to the book of Luke. So look, if you would, in Matthew chapter 15, beginning there with verse 18. And look, if you would, what the Word of God says. Matthew chapter 15, look if you would at verse 18. Our Lord says, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts." Did you get that? The first thing out of the heart is evil thoughts. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." Now, I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Luke chapter 6. Luke chapter 6, and notice if you would please verse 45. Luke 6 and verse 45.
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Note if you would specifically what our Lord says. Luke 6 verse 45. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil."
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Now watch, "for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." What is our Lord saying? You're going to live out what's in your heart. You're going to live out what is in your mind. You know what David said in Psalm 116 in verse 10? He said, "I believed, therefore have I spoken." Whatever you believe is ultimately going to come out. Whether it's right, whether it's wrong, it is going to come out.
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We bring forth that which is in our minds. Now, I have used the words mind and heart interchangeably. Because that is the way they're used in the Bible. I realize that there are times in the Bible that the heart refers to the affections. But most of the time, the word heart refers to the mind. I hope you remember the message that I preached years ago entitled, "Keeping the Heart."
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If you haven't heard that one recently, I would encourage you to go back to sermonaudio.com forward slash weaver and listen to that one. Because I've proven in that message that the heart is indeed the mind. The very first time the word heart occurs in the Bible is Genesis chapter 6 and verse 5. The Bible says, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." So whatever the heart is, it can think and it can imagine because God saw the imaginations and the thoughts of the heart. Whatever the heart is, it can speak. Because in Genesis chapter 27 and verse 41, the Bible says, "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father had blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob." Notice Esau said in his heart. Whatever the heart is, it can speak. Whatever the heart is, it can either receive or refuse instruction.
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Because, in Proverbs 5 and verse 12, "And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof?" And then the heart, of course, is intimately connected with the eyes. For our Lord said in Matthew 5, verses 27 and 28, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
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So looking and lusting go together. If none of that is clear to you, if you will turn very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Daniel chapter 4. Daniel chapter 4. I'm just pointing this out because I want you to understand what I'm about to say. You'll find all of this and much more in that message on keeping the heart. But if you look at Daniel chapter 4, look at it beginning there with verse 16.
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God is going to teach Nebuchadnezzar a lesson. He's a proud, arrogant, haughty monarch. And so in Daniel 4 and verse 16, the word of God says, "Let his heart be changed from a man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him." So note, Nebuchadnezzar's heart is going to be changed from a man's heart, and he's going to be given the heart of an animal, and seven times, or seven years, is going to pass over him. So for seven years he's going to be insane. This is called boanthropy, where a man lives and acts like an animal. Now skip down, if you would, to verse 28. Daniel 4, verse 28.
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"All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. And at the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth
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it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. Now watch, "And at the end of the days," that is after seven years, "I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me."
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I thought it was his heart that was changed. Well, it was. Because the heart is the mind. It's the understanding. It's your rational faculty. Notice, he said, "my understanding was returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth."
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"And none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" Watch verse 36. "At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me." Note if you would, God said let his heart be changed.
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So his mind, he went insane. He thought he was an animal. He lived like an animal. He ate grass like an animal. And in the seven years, it was his understanding and his reasoning ability that was returned. Obviously, clearly, the heart and the mind are used interchangeably. So, with this understanding in your mind, I want you to go back in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 6, and I'm going to show you the verse that really needs to be enunciated, that is verse 16. I'm going to give you the context just a little bit later, but look if you would in 2 Samuel 6, verse 16. The Bible said, "And 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 dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart."
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You want to know why there's so many separations and divorces and why there are even failed friendships? Oh, here's one. She despised him in her heart.
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Now, let me point something out. Michal loved David. I mean, she really, genuinely loved him with a strong love. Saul, who was king, had promised to David Merab, his oldest daughter, if he would be valiant and fight the LORD's enemies for King Saul. Now, King Saul could care less about the LORD's enemies, and he could care less about David. King Saul wanted David dead. And Saul was so subtle, he was saying, "Let not my hand be upon David, but let him fall by the Philistines." Let me show you.
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Hold 2 Samuel 6, but go back to 1 Samuel chapter 18. And look if you would beginning there with verse 17. 1 Samuel chapter 18. Look if you would please at verse 17. Look at what the Bible said. "And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him. And David said unto Saul, Who am I?"
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"And what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?" Watch verse 19. "But it came to pass at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife." Now, isn't that interesting? David did not respond wickedly to King Saul. Saul had promised Merab to David, and then he turned around and gave her to another man. Well, it could have been David may not have been really interested in her anyhow, I don't know. But the very fact that this was a king's daughter and he had promised her to David, well, David just said, let it pass. Now, however, Michal, the younger daughter, was very interested in David. In fact, look in verse 20 and 21. 1 Samuel 18 verse 20. "And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him." Here's why it pleased him. Watch. "And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him."
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"Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law in the one of the twain." Now, obviously, Michal did love David. When Saul said, now you can be my son-in-law, David said, look, my family is poor in Israel. I don't have the money for a dowry. And so Saul's servants told Saul that. And Saul told the servants, you go back and tell David, I don't want a large dowry. All I want is a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. In other words, I want you to kill a hundred men and bring me back proof that you've killed them. When David heard that, why, it pleased him. He went out and killed two hundred and brought the foreskins back.
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And he didn't die in battle. And watch this if you would. Watch verse 28. Same chapter, 1 Samuel chapter 18 verse 28. "And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually." Note if you would, twice now we have been told that Michal loved David. I'm going to tell you something. It did not take her long to prove that she loved him. If you'll look in 1 Samuel chapter 19, beginning there verse 9, because Saul was so incensed, he had tried to kill David, he had thrown a javelin at him. But David escaped out of his presence. But now, he's ready to kill him. And he's going to kill him himself. So watch 1 Samuel 19, beginning there verse 9. "And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin."
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"But he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster. And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped?"
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"And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?" Now I want you to note, it was Michal who admonished David to flee. It was Michal who let David down out of the window. It was Michal who placed the image in the bed. It was Michal who pretended he was sick. It was Michal who lied to her insane father in all probability to preserve her life.
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So, obviously she did love him. She did everything she could to protect him. So let me ask you this question. We know that Michal loved David. Did David love Michal? And the answer is yes. I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Samuel chapter 3. Because Abner, who happens to be the captain of the hosts of Israel, when he came to David to deliver the kingdom over to David, David said, look, there's one requirement that you must meet. If you want me to be king over Israel, and you want to hand over the whole kingdom to me—he was king of Judah at that time, but not over the northern tribes—he said, there's a requirement. What is it? Look at it. 2 Samuel chapter 3, beginning there with verse 12. "And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee." So Abner is offering him the kingdom.
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He can be king over all Israel. Watch verse 13. "And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face." David said, you better bring my wife back. He was willing to turn the kingdom down to get Michal. Wow.
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Now you have to ask, what happened? How in the world did Michal, who loved David so strongly and protectingly, come to despise him? The Bible says, in verse 16 of 2 Samuel chapter 6, that she despised him in her heart. Now the Hebrew word for despised is the word bazah. And here's what it means. It means to despise, to hold in contempt, to disdain, to view as vile, worthless, and to scorn. So, Michal, at this point, counted David as vile, despicable, and worthless. Now, wait a minute. I want to show you the impact of the word despised. Okay? I want you to hold 2 Samuel chapter 6.
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Turn in your Bibles, if you will, to Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53. And all we're going to look at is verse 3. And of course, I hope you remember and know that Isaiah 53 deals with the Lord Jesus Christ, the suffering servant, the Messiah. In fact, we will read verse 1 and 2 just so you can see this. "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." Now watch verse 3.
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"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." The word despised in verse 3 that occurs twice is the same exact word that is used in 2 Samuel chapter 6. Just like men hated, scorned, rejected, refused, and counted vile the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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So that is exactly what Michal is now doing to David. Now, the Bible says in verse 16, she despised him in her heart. The Hebrew word for heart is the word leb. This word is translated in our Bibles as mind twelve times and as understanding ten times. She despised him in her heart. She despised him in her mind. She despised him in her understanding. It's the same word that is used in Proverbs 4 and verse 23 when the Bible says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Everything issues from the mind. Everything issues from the understanding. And I want you to know twice in this passage, Michal is referred to as Saul's daughter, not David's wife. Why is she called Saul's daughter? You remember Saul despised spiritual things, persecuted David. Saul was rejected by God. So in this context, she's acting more like her father, rather than being just simply David's wife. Now, here's what happened. Look at it, if you would please, in verse 16.
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David and the people, the Levites, are bringing back the ark to Jerusalem. In fact, verse 15, "So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. And 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 dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart." David had on, the Bible tells us, a linen garment.
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He did not have on his kingly robes. Now linen garment was that which the priest wore. So he was wearing the same thing as a priest and he was jumping and dancing before the LORD. He was so happy that the ark of God was going to be here in Jerusalem. So when she looked out the window and saw David without his kingly robes and apparel, and in a linen garment, jumping up and down and dancing and praising the LORD, she looked at David and counted him as being uncouth, unkingly, vile, shameful, and disgraceful. Are you listening?
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That was her interpretation of what was happening. That was her perception of what was happening. Was her perception and interpretation correct? No. No. That is why, if you look, she said in verse 20, "And Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!" She said, David, you are so vile, you are so wicked, you are so low down. You are not acting like a king. You are acting like some stupid, vile individual who could care less who sees him or what. Saul's daughter again. In her mind, David now was worthless.
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There was absolutely nothing shameful about rejoicing before the LORD. There was nothing disgraceful about bringing the ark of the covenant back into Jerusalem. There was nothing unethical. There was nothing vain or vile in honoring God and worshiping God. I want you to look at this. Go back to verse 20. I left out the first part of it. "Then David returned to bless his household." David had just blessed the people, sent them away. Now he is on a spiritual high and he comes in to bless his household, not to greet them, but to bless them.
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And his wife says, "How glorious was the king of Israel today?" You acted like a reprobate. You're a shameful, lowdown, good-for-nothing scumbag. That's what you are. And you just uncovered yourself from your kingly robes in front of all these handmaidens, your servants. Hmm. You don't have an attitude problem. Uh, Thomas Scott said this concerning Michal. He said, "David, the brave captain, bringing forth and leading forth the people to battle and returning with them in triumph, she admired. But David, the saint, leading the people in the ordinance of God and setting before him the examples of fervency of spirit in his service, she despised."
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I want to show you something. When she mocked David in verse 20, David very quickly let her know how the cow eats the cabbage. Look what he said in verse 21. "And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD which chose me before thy father." He said, what I did, I did unto the LORD, not to you or to anyone else. "It was before the LORD who chose me before thy father and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD over Israel. Therefore will I play before the LORD." I will rejoice. I'll jump up and down if I want to jump up and down.
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"And I will yet be more vile than thus." You don't like what I've just done? Rejoicing before the LORD? I will become more vile because I will rejoice more and more and more. "And I will be base in my own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor." Yeah. Michal was wrong. Her attitude was wrong. Her perception was wrong. Her interpretation was wrong.
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She judged David and God judged her. She unjustly reproached David for his devotion. And God therefore justly put her under the perpetual reproach of barrenness. So if you look in verse 23, "Therefore Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no child unto the day of her death." In Bible times, and especially in the Old Testament, to be without a child was a great reproach for a woman. God placed her under perpetual reproach. Now listen to me. God does require wives to honor and reverence their husbands. He also requires husbands to love their wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. When we fail in these two areas as husbands and wives, we fail in our marriage.
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I want to show you, I want you to turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 5, verse 33. Hang on. Ephesians 5, verse 33. I want you to watch this very carefully. Ephesians 5, verse 33. I'm not going to take the time to go over all of this passage, but the Apostle Paul is concluding on the position of the husband, the position of the wife. Then he says this in verse 33. "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." Now the word reverence refers to a righteous and godly fear, a righteous respect and honor. The wife see that she reverence the husband. Now, let me tell you something.
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I may not always be right. And I may make mistakes. And I may do things unthinkingly. And I may do things ignorantly and stupidly. But I am always Alice's husband. I am her head, according to 1 Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 3. God gives us His order: God, Christ, man, woman. So the point I'm trying to make is this: the husband's responsibility—let me say it again—the husband's position is a position of responsibility, but it's also responsibility to lead in God. The wife, but it's also a position of honor. And it is true when a marriage fails, in one sense of the word, most of the onus is laid upon the husband because he's the head. Okay? Now, having said that, the wife see that she reverence her husband, honor him in all times and all things. Having said that, look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 3 and verse 19. Colossians 3 and verse 19. Here it is.
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"Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." Hmm. Let's see. One of the particular sins of a wife is sometimes she does not reverence her husband. And one of the particular sins of a husband is sometimes he is bitter against his wife.
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Now, the Greek word for bitter is the word pikraino, and it literally means to become embittered, to become exasperated, to become indignant, to become irritated, and to become angry. Now, let me point something out. If a wife is to honor her husband at all times, it requires consistent biblical thinking. If a husband is not ever to be bitter against his wife, it requires constant biblical thinking. So let me just say this. The particular sin of the wife is a failure to honor her husband. The particular sin of the husband is a failure to love his wife, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. And thus he becomes bitter against his wife. So here's the truth.
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If I allow incidents, if I allow interpretations and perspectives to build up in my mind, if I think that Alice has wronged me, and I keep letting it build up in everything she does, I then interpret it as she's doing it again. She's doing it again. She's doing it again. And the next thing you know, there will be an explosion.
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Now, please remember, there are no perfect husbands and there are no perfect wives. This is why the Bible says in Ephesians 4 verse 27, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath." In other words, anger and bitterness and resentment and problems are to be worked out on a daily basis. Yes, there is a righteous anger, but that righteous anger still has to be resolved. The way to avoid bitterness and anger is to resolve it daily.
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Now, when we have problems—and we do have problems—there is no reason to question and to focus on the question as to why. I could look at Alice and say, "Why did you do that?" I know why she did it: because she's a sinner. She could ask me, "Why did you do that?" Because I'm a sinner. I'm a human. I may have done it unthinkingly. I may have done it ignorantly. The question is not why. The question is, what was done? And the next question is, what needs to be done to rectify it? You don't ask why, you ask what. What was done?
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What should be the biblical response? What is the biblical solution to the problem? Modern day divorces usually have something like this. This divorce is being granted due to irreconcilable differences. There is no such thing as an irreconcilable difference unless someone's not willing to reconcile. If both parties are willing to reconcile, if both parties are willing to work everything out biblically, there will be a reconciliation. The only time you have irreconcilable differences is when somebody does not want to reconcile.
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And that's because they've reached the place of despisement. Now, I want you to listen to me. The particular sin of the wife is dishonoring her husband. The particular sin of the husband is becoming bitter against his wife. These sins are particular, and these particular sins stem from wrong thinking. And I want you to listen carefully. Wrong thinking has the power to turn love into hate, honor into despise, respect into disgust, and desire into revulsion.
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And consequently, when couples hit that point, they separate or head for the divorce courts. Michal failed to honor David as her husband, even as her king, and she ended up despising the man that she initially loved. Women today fall into the same trap and the same pit. Husbands, likewise, fall into the same trap and the same pit of becoming exasperated, irritated, bitter, angry. "My wife doesn't understand me." And then they head out looking for another woman. And they end up in divorce court.
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The power of the mind cannot be overlooked. It cannot be discarded. It cannot be disregarded because all of our actions proceed from our minds. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." "I believed, therefore have I spoken." You cannot move, you cannot act, you cannot do anything without thinking. Here's a pair of glasses. I'm picking them up. Guess what? I thought about picking them up before I ever picked them up. Everything comes out of the heart. And our mind, which is our heart, has the power to turn love into hate, and honor into despisement.
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Now, I want to make some applications. Listen carefully. Here's the first one. And I think here is the problem. Most people, including most Christians, live by their feelings and by their emotions and not by biblical principles. Consequently, we do not control our thoughts, we do not control our thinking. Our emotions, our feelings, situations, circumstances, control them. We do not control them. Instead of sitting down and saying calmly, "What should be our biblical response?"
#58 | 47:41 to 48:20 | cleaned
"How should I respond to this in honor of the Lord Jesus Christ?" We just feel this way. And we live by our feelings and we give prominence to our feelings and our emotions instead of the Word of God and instead of thinking things through. We actually become enslaved to our feelings, to our emotions. Here's the second one. Listen carefully. Love, honor, obedience, reverence are acts of the will. God does not command our feelings. He does not command our emotions. He commands our wills. When He said, "Wives, honor your husbands," that's an act of the will. When He says, "Husbands, love your wives," that is an act of the will. When God says, "Obey," that is an act of the will. God has designed our feelings to follow. Feelings are to never lead. They are to follow. What if I looked at Tom and say, "I just feel like hitting you upside the head."
#59 | 48:21 to 49:38 | cleaned
Well, I might feel two or three coming back at me. You understand what I'm saying? I can't live by my feelings. But that's what people—"How do you feel about this? What's your feelings on this subject?" No, no, no, no. What does the Word of God say? What do you think? Most people live by their feelings. And God has designed our feelings to follow. Listen carefully. When we do right, we feel good. When we do wrong, we feel bad. That's because our feelings always follow our actions, our conduct, our mind. So, do not ever, ever think that just because you have no feeling, you cannot obey. You can.
#60 | 49:39 to 50:27 | cleaned
I had one man come into my office years ago. He had already determined he was going to divorce his wife. She was a sweet woman. I knew her personally. She and he had two handsome young boys. And he had met some floozy at some bar and he's going to divorce his Christian wife and marry this floozy. And he came in and he wanted to talk with me and he let me know up front that he was going to divorce his wife.
#61 | 50:30 to 51:07 | cleaned
I said, "Well let me tell you something. I said, God commands you to love your wife. He says husbands love your wife." And he said to me, "Well I just can't love her as a wife." I said, "Really?" I said, "Is she still in the same house with you?" He said, "Yes." I said, "Well, then you would consider her at least your closest neighbor." "Well, I guess so. She lives in the house with me." "Well, the Bible says love your neighbor." "Well, I can't even love her as a neighbor." I said, "Well, would you count her an enemy?" He said, "Yeah." I said, "Well, the Bible says love your enemies. You can't get out of it. You can't. Love is an act of the will."
#62 | 51:10 to 52:04 | cleaned
I'm glad feelings were involved. But I love Alice because I will to love Alice. I want to love Alice. I'm just simply saying. Here's the next thing. The third one is this. We must remember to learn to dwell on the positive, the good, and the blessed side of our spouses. It is true. It is true that everyone is going to aggravate the other every now and then. You're going to get irritated. You're going to get upset.
#63 | 52:06 to 52:40 | cleaned
But let me tell you something. You just better thank God that you at least have a spouse. God can remove us at any time that He pleases. Have I ever been upset with Alice? Of course. Has she ever been upset with me? Yes. I'm not going to ask her how many times, but yes, I know. But Lord willing, if He lets us live to the 13th, we'll have been married 60 years.
#64 | 52:41 to 53:09 | cleaned
Are you listening to me? And this is the absolute truth. In 60 years, we have never, ever had a thought of divorce. Murder, yes. But divorce, never. No, you see what I'm saying? All I'm trying to say is this, folks. And you heard me say this, if the Lord took her out, I'd have to marry 40 to take her place. I'm just simply saying, we got to remember, no one is as bad as they can be. And there are good sides and there are positives, and we need to concentrate on those, not the bad parts. And here's the last one.
#65 | 53:10 to 53:58 | cleaned
If we wish to live right, we must think right in order to act right. Thinking precedes action and conduct. If you think wrongly, you're going to act wrongly. If you think biblically, you're going to act biblically. Never underestimate the power of the mind. That is why the scripture says, "Keep thy heart; for out of it are the issues of life." Everything issues from your mind. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." You live out what is in your mind. You make sure that mind is right and you make sure that mind is right toward your mate, toward your spouse. You make sure that mind is right toward your friends. Because the power of the mind can turn love into hate and respect into disgust and desire into revulsion. Think about what God says or what God requires of us.
#66 | 53:58 to 55:29 | cleaned
and how we're to resolve problems in a biblical manner. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee this day. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We pray, Father, that these words will help us, help others who hear, and help us, Lord, to order our lives according to Your Word. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
#67 | 55:32 to 56:33 | cleaned

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:24:10Z

The Power Of The Mind

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver examines the story of Michal despising David in 2 Samuel 6 to illustrate how wrong thinking can destroy relationships. He argues that the mind is the battleground, and that unchecked perceptions and emotions can turn love into hate. The sermon emphasizes that biblical obedience requires controlling thoughts, not being led by feelings, and that love and honor are acts of the will. Practical applications focus on resolving conflict daily, dwelling on the positive in spouses, and aligning thinking with Scripture to prevent bitterness and divorce.

Opening

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 6:12-23

"And it was told King David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with gladness. And it was so that when they bare the ark, and the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might, and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looking through a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD." "And she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in his place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for him. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts." "And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well as to the women as the men, to everyone a cake of bread and a good piece of flesh and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed everyone to his house. Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD who chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD over Israel."

Introduction: The Problem of Marital Breakdown

Weaver opens by questioning why there are so many marital problems and divorces, even among Christians, and asserts that Christians should be guided by biblical principles, not the flesh.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 6:12-23

"Therefore will I play before the LORD, and I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in my own sight. And of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor. Therefore Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no child unto the day of her death."

The Mind as the Battleground

So our minds are just as depraved and just as perverted as our affections and as our will. The Bible says in Ephesians chapter 4 beginning with verse 17,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:17-19

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not, as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the knowledge of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."

Perception vs. Facts

Biblical Evidence: Heart and Mind Interchangeable

Using Matthew 15:18-20, Luke 6:45, and Daniel 4, he demonstrates that the Bible uses 'heart' and 'mind' interchangeably, referring to the rational faculty and understanding.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:18-20

"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts."

Did you get that? The first thing out of the heart is evil thoughts.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:18-20

"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."

Now, I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Luke chapter 6. Luke chapter 6, and notice if you would please verse 45. Luke 6 and verse 45.

Note if you would specifically what our Lord says. Luke 6 verse 45.

Scripture Reading — Luke 6:45

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil."

Now watch,

Scripture Reading — Luke 6:45

"for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."

Scripture Reading — Genesis 6:5

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

God is going to teach Nebuchadnezzar a lesson. He's a proud, arrogant, haughty monarch. And so in Daniel 4 and verse 16, the word of God says,

Scripture Reading — Daniel 4:16, 28-36

"Let his heart be changed from a man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him."

Michal's Despisement of David

Hold 2 Samuel 6, but go back to 1 Samuel chapter 18. And look if you would beginning there with verse 17. 1 Samuel chapter 18. Look if you would please at verse 17. Look at what the Bible said.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:17-21, 28

"And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him. And David said unto Saul, Who am I?" "And what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?"

Watch verse 19.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:17-21, 28

"But it came to pass at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife."

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:17-21, 28

"And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him."

Here's why it pleased him. Watch.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:17-21, 28

"And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him."

And he didn't die in battle. And watch this if you would. Watch verse 28. Same chapter, 1 Samuel chapter 18 verse 28.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:17-21, 28

"And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually."

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 53:1-3

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him."

Now watch verse 3.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 4:23

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

Michal's Wrong Perception and Its Consequences

Michal's interpretation of David's worship as shameful was incorrect. She mocked him, and David responded that he was honoring God. God judged her with barrenness, a perpetual reproach.

Biblical Roles and Particular Sins in Marriage

Weaver cites Ephesians 5:33 and Colossians 3:19 to show that wives are to reverence husbands and husbands are to love without bitterness. Failure in these areas stems from wrong thinking.

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 5:33

"Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."

Now the word reverence refers to a righteous and godly fear, a righteous respect and honor. The wife see that she reverence the husband. Now, let me tell you something.

Resolving Conflict and Avoiding Bitterness

He stresses daily resolution of anger (Ephesians 4:27), focusing on 'what' not 'why' in problems, and that irreconcilable differences only exist when someone refuses to reconcile.

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:27

Now, please remember, there are no perfect husbands and there are no perfect wives. This is why the Bible says in Ephesians 4 verse 27, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath." In other words, anger and bitterness and resentment and problems are to be worked out on a daily basis. Yes, there is a righteous anger, but that righteous anger still has to be resolved. The way to avoid bitterness and anger is to resolve it daily.

The Power of the Mind to Transform Relationships

Wrong thinking can turn love into hate, honor into despise. The mind's power cannot be overlooked; all actions proceed from thoughts.

Practical Applications

Weaver gives four applications: live by biblical principles not feelings; love and honor are acts of the will; dwell on the positive in spouses; think right to act right.

The Power Of The Mind

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	cKUrrFyHwI8
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Daniel
Genre	Sermon
Date	2023-06-27
Dictation Name
Book	Book 087: Daniel — Chapter 18
Source Timed Segments	67

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Problem of Marital Breakdown: Weaver opens by questioning why there are so many marital problems and divorces, even among Christians, and asserts that Christians should be guided by biblical principles, not the flesh.
The Mind as the Battleground: He clarifies that the message is not about positive thinking but about the mind as the control center. He cites Proverbs 23:7 and explains that actions flow from thoughts, and the mind was affected by the fall.
Perception vs. Facts: Weaver explains that people interpret facts based on their own perspective, which can be wrong. He references his earlier messages on 'Sinful Perceptions' and emphasizes that everything comes from the heart.
Biblical Evidence: Heart and Mind Interchangeable: Using Matthew 15:18-20, Luke 6:45, and Daniel 4, he demonstrates that the Bible uses 'heart' and 'mind' interchangeably, referring to the rational faculty and understanding.
Michal's Despisement of David: Weaver recounts the history of Michal's love for David and her protective actions, then contrasts it with her despising him in 2 Samuel 6:16 when she saw him dancing before the Lord. He explains the Hebrew word 'bazah' and its severity.
Michal's Wrong Perception and Its Consequences: Michal's interpretation of David's worship as shameful was incorrect. She mocked him, and David responded that he was honoring God. God judged her with barrenness, a perpetual reproach.
Biblical Roles and Particular Sins in Marriage: Weaver cites Ephesians 5:33 and Colossians 3:19 to show that wives are to reverence husbands and husbands are to love without bitterness. Failure in these areas stems from wrong thinking.
Resolving Conflict and Avoiding Bitterness: He stresses daily resolution of anger (Ephesians 4:27), focusing on 'what' not 'why' in problems, and that irreconcilable differences only exist when someone refuses to reconcile.
The Power of the Mind to Transform Relationships: Wrong thinking can turn love into hate, honor into despise. The mind's power cannot be overlooked; all actions proceed from thoughts.
Practical Applications: Weaver gives four applications: live by biblical principles not feelings; love and honor are acts of the will; dwell on the positive in spouses; think right to act right.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Christians should be guided by biblical principles, not the flesh

Despite being sinners, Christians are to be controlled by truth and convictions, which should prevent the high divorce rate among believers.

Weaver says, 'Christians are supposed to be guided and controlled by biblical principles, by truth, by convictions.'

The mind is the battleground; thoughts determine actions

Since the fall, the mind is depraved. Actions proceed from thoughts, so controlling the mind is crucial for godly living.

Weaver says, 'The mind of man was affected in the fall... We act out, we live out, we move in regards to our thinking.'

Heart and mind are used interchangeably in Scripture

The Bible uses 'heart' to refer to the mind, understanding, and rational faculty, as seen in Genesis 6:5, Daniel 4, and other passages.

Weaver says, 'I've proven in that message that the heart is indeed the mind.' He cites Daniel 4 where heart change affected understanding.

Michal's despisement of David resulted from wrong perception

Michal interpreted David's worship as shameful, but it was honorable. Her wrong thinking led to contempt and God's judgment of barrenness.

Weaver says, 'That was her interpretation of what was happening... Was her perception and interpretation correct? No.'

Love and honor are commanded acts of the will, not feelings

God commands husbands to love and wives to reverence; these are choices, not emotions. Feelings follow actions.

Weaver says, 'When He said, Wives, honor your husbands, that's an act of the will... God has designed our feelings to follow.'

Wrong thinking can transform love into hate

Allowing negative interpretations to build up in the mind can turn initial love into despisement, leading to divorce.

Weaver says, 'Wrong thinking has the power to turn love into hate, honor into despise.'

Irreconcilable differences only exist when someone refuses to reconcile

If both parties are willing to work biblically, reconciliation is possible. Divorce often stems from reaching a point of despisement.

Weaver says, 'There is no such thing as an irreconcilable difference unless someone's not willing to reconcile.'

Dwelling on the positive in spouses prevents bitterness

Instead of focusing on irritations, believers should concentrate on the good in their spouses and thank God for them.

Weaver says, 'We must remember to learn to dwell on the positive, the good, and the blessed side of our spouses.'

Scripture References

2 Samuel 6:12-23: The main passage read at the beginning, describing David bringing the ark to Jerusalem, Michal's despisement, and her barrenness.
Ephesians 4:17-19: Cited to show the depravity of the mind, walking in vanity of mind, darkened understanding, and alienation from God.
Colossians 1:21: Mentioned to show that believers were once alienated and enemies in their mind, but now reconciled.
Proverbs 23:7: Quoted to establish that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he; actions flow from thoughts.
Matthew 15:18-20: Jesus teaches that evil thoughts proceed from the heart and defile a man, listing various sins.
Luke 6:45: A good man brings forth good from the treasure of his heart; out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Psalm 116:10: David said, 'I believed, therefore have I spoken,' illustrating that belief precedes speech and action.
Genesis 6:5: The first occurrence of 'heart' in the Bible, showing that the heart thinks and imagines evil continually.
Genesis 27:41: Esau said in his heart, demonstrating that the heart can speak.
Proverbs 5:12: The heart can despise reproof, showing it can receive or refuse instruction.
Matthew 5:27-28: Jesus teaches that looking with lust is adultery in the heart, connecting eyes and heart.
Daniel 4:16, 28-36: Nebuchadnezzar's heart was changed to a beast's heart, and his understanding returned when his heart was restored, proving heart equals mind.
1 Samuel 18:17-21, 28: Saul's plot to use his daughters as snares; Michal's love for David is stated twice.
1 Samuel 19:9-17: Michal helps David escape from Saul, proving her love through protective actions.
2 Samuel 3:12-13: David demands Michal's return as a condition for Abner's league, showing his love for her.
Isaiah 53:1-3: The word 'despised' used of Christ is the same Hebrew word as in 2 Samuel 6:16, illustrating the severity of Michal's contempt.
Proverbs 4:23: Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life; the heart (mind) is the source of all actions.
Ephesians 5:33: Husbands are to love their wives as themselves, and wives are to reverence their husbands.
Colossians 3:19: Husbands are commanded to love their wives and not be bitter against them.
Ephesians 4:27: Be angry and sin not; do not let the sun go down on your wrath, emphasizing daily resolution of anger.

Historical References

Norman Vincent Peale and 'The Power of Positive Thinking': Weaver distances his message from Peale's concept, quoting someone who said, 'I find Norman Vincent Peale appalling and the Apostle Paul appealing.'
Thomas Scott's commentary on Michal: Weaver quotes Thomas Scott: 'David, the brave captain... she admired. But David, the saint... she despised.'

Important Quotes

I find Norman Vincent Peale appalling and the Apostle Paul appealing.

Weaver uses this quote to contrast positive thinking with biblical truth, setting the tone for his message on the mind.

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

This Proverbs 23:7 quote is the foundational verse for the sermon, emphasizing that actions flow from thoughts.

There is a great difference between facts and the interpretation of facts.

Highlights the theme that perception shapes reality and can lead to wrong conclusions, as with Michal.

David, the brave captain, bringing forth and leading forth the people to battle and returning with them in triumph, she admired. But David, the saint, leading the people in the ordinance of God and setting before him the examples of fervency of spirit in his service, she despised.

Thomas Scott's commentary contrasts Michal's worldly admiration with her spiritual despisement, illustrating her wrong values.

Wrong thinking has the power to turn love into hate, honor into despise, respect into disgust, and desire into revulsion.

Summarizes the destructive potential of the mind when not governed by biblical truth.

Love, honor, obedience, reverence are acts of the will. God does not command our feelings.

Key application point that obedience is a choice, not dependent on emotions.

There is no such thing as an irreconcilable difference unless someone's not willing to reconcile.

Challenges the common divorce rationale, placing responsibility on the unwillingness to reconcile.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23 is cited as the concluding exhortation to guard the mind because everything flows from it.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the biblical concept of the 'heart' as the mind challenge or affirm your understanding of thoughts and actions?

[Context]

Weaver spent time proving that heart and mind are interchangeable in Scripture, using Genesis 6:5, Daniel 4, and other passages.

[Question]

In what ways can our perceptions of a spouse's actions be distorted, and how can we guard against misinterpreting their motives?

[Context]

Michal perceived David's worship as shameful, but it was honorable. Weaver emphasized the difference between facts and interpretation.

[Question]

Why is it significant that love and honor are commanded as acts of the will rather than feelings? How does this affect marital commitment?

[Context]

Weaver argued that God commands the will, not emotions, and that feelings follow actions. He cited Ephesians 5:33 and Colossians 3:19.

[Question]

What practical steps can couples take to resolve anger and bitterness daily, as instructed in Ephesians 4:27?

[Context]

Weaver stressed not letting the sun go down on wrath and focusing on 'what' was done rather than 'why'.

[Question]

How can dwelling on the positive aspects of a spouse prevent the buildup of contempt, as seen in Michal's case?

[Context]

Weaver advised concentrating on the good and blessed side of spouses, noting that no one is as bad as they can be.

[Question]

What does Michal's judgment of barrenness teach about God's view of dishonoring one's spouse?

[Context]

God judged Michal with perpetual reproach for despising David's devotion. Weaver connected this to the command for wives to reverence husbands.

[Question]

How can Christians avoid living by feelings and instead live by biblical principles in their relationships?

[Context]

Weaver stated that most people, including Christians, live by emotions rather than controlling their thoughts according to Scripture.

[Question]

In what ways can the power of the mind be harnessed for good in marriage, rather than allowing it to turn love into hate?

[Context]

The sermon's title and conclusion emphasize that thinking right leads to acting right, and the mind must be guarded.

Applications

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