2 Samuel 6:21

It was before theLord] Before the LORD, who chose me rather than thy father, &c. … yea I will play before the LORD. "Before the Lord" stands emphatically at the beginning of David's answer. No service offered to the God to whom he owed all his advancement could be degrading. Thus he defends his own conduct, and at the same time he humbles Michal's pride by alluding to Saul's rejection.

The Sept. (B) reads, "Before the Lord will I dance: blessed be the Lord who chose, &c."

It is related of Sir Thomas More that he used, even when Lord Chancellor, to put on a surplice and sing in his parish church at Chelsea. The Duke of Norfolk one day found him doing so, and expostulated with him: "A parish clarke, lord chancellour, a parish clarke! you dishonour the King and his office." "Nay," quoth Sir Thomas, smiling upon the duke, "your grace may not thinke that the King, your maister and myne, will be offended with men for serving of God his Maister; or by this my present behaviour account his office dishonoured." Wordsworth's Eccles. Biogr.II. p. 68.

ruler See note on "captain" in ch. 2 Samuel 5:2.