February 16 - David & Michal

February 16 - David & Michal

Michal was Saul's youngest daughter. After David's triumph over Goliath, Jonathan wasn't the only one that saw how amazing this young man was. She fell completely in love with him. however, there was a lot of intrigue happening in the King's court. Saul was afraid of David by this point. He knew that the Lord has left and was now with David. (1 Samuel 18:12)

Saul intended to do away with David by sending him out into battle. The problem was that since the Lord was with David, he was successful in everything that he attempted. This made Saul even more afraid. In his twisted mind, he had to come up with something that would eliminate David from his life. He offered his older daughter, Merab as David's wife on the condition that David fight battles. But, David admittedly didn't believe that he was suited for the daughter of the king and the marriage didn't happen.

Michal, on the other hand, spoke up to her father and told him that she was in love with David. Saul discovered another opportunity to be rid of David. He hoped that Michal would be a snare to David and the Philistines would be against him (1 Samuel 18:20-21). David tried to refuse, saying that he was just a poor man and not very well known.

The plan was set into place. Saul demanded that David pay the price for his bride of one hundred Philistine foreskins. Saul could not imagine that David would live through that task. But before the alloted time elapsed, David brought Saul the foreskins and Michal was given to David as his wife. When Saul realized that not only was the Lord with David, but Michal loved him he became even more afraid. (1 Samuel 18:28-29)

In the middle of Saul's first blatant attempt to do away with David, Michal helped him escape. She warned him and then let him down through a window. She took an idol, laid it on the bed, covered it with a cloak and put some goats' hair at the head. When Saul sent men to capture David, Michal said, "He is ill." Then Saul sent them to return and they discovered the idol. Saul couldn't believe that his daughter had deceived him. He didn't understand what a woman would do for love! (1 Samuel 19:8-17)

When David was in exile, Michal was married off to Paltiel, from Gallim. In 2 Samuel 3:12-16, we find that David insists on her return following Saul's death. Though Paltiel followed her weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim, he is forced to return home without her and she returns to her husband.

Michal, however, destroyed a part of her marriage to David on the day that he celebrated the return of the Ark to Jerusalem. In 2 Samuel 6:16-23 we find David dancing unrestrainedly before the Lord. Michal watched this happen and the scriptures says that she despised him in her heart. Then, in 2 Samuel 6:20, she took him to task. He had embarrassed her!

His words to her endear him to us, but alas, finished their relationship.

David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel - I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by those slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor." (2 Samuel 6:21-22)

The end of this chapter describes the final blow to Michal, "And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death." (2 Samuel 6:23) The lines of Saul and David would never be blended. David's love for the Lord was so much greater than the amazing love he felt for his wife. No one will come between a man (or a woman) and the Lord!