But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me. 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins., Why does he want her back? Understanding in Hebrew means: . Episode 91: Israel at 75: Voices of Protest. Like a pale and spindly sapling forever caught under a canopy of larger trees, Michal is emotionally trapped by the men around her: her father, King Saul and her husband, King David. Her idea seems to have been that the king should avoid mixing with the people, and be aloof and inaccessible. Public worship was neglected; Love with my love. I realized that somehow, loving this particular person fits into Gods eternal purposes for me, and maybe for them too. The prophet Micah identified himself by his hometown, called Moresheth Gath, which sat near the border of Philistia and Judah about twenty-five miles southwest of Jerusalem. Truth: Our words have the power to help or harm. Is Physical Abuse Biblical Grounds for Divorce? I grew up in a Christian home where I felt loved and would always be taken care of, but at times the climate was critical and judgmental of others. As low as $2.92/mo. The scriptures tell us she loves David. Never Judge by Appearances. Exum, J. Cheryl. Micahs impassioned plea for Gods chosen people to repent will cut many of us to the quick. Michals love for David helps explain both the risk she takes to save Davids life in1 Samuel 19and, later, her angry outburst at him in2 Samuel 6, when her love has turned to hate. Davids devotion to God had reflected Meyers, Carol, General Editor. The first story is when she falls in love with David, marries him and protects his life from her father Saul. Today's lesson is found in 1 Samuel 19. Do not judge Gods nature by a humans failure. David comes back with proof of not 100 but 200 dead Philistines that he has killed. and kill David. All the years apart and she does not know how many times God saved David. It is important to note that the customs of that day were different, and Michal didnt have much choice in who she married, but you do. When we focus on God and Gods glory, there is very little room for anything else. Many who begin marriage with a strong faith and love for God Love is not just about what you say with your mouth, but more. Michal, the princess, is in love with David, the dashing commoner. If someone says they love you, dont just listen to what they say, watch what they do. But rather than leave Gods people with the fear and sting of judgment, the book of Micah concludes with the prophets call So the king did not let them hurt Mephi This is part of the reason that the ultimate redeemer of the Jewish people and the world will descend from Davids line- he will be Messiah son of David.2. Another saved his career and reputation; one saved the Kingdom and the last woman saved him from pain and loneliness in his latter days. took the place of affection. Gay rights are civil rights. I grew sick of the way I would use words to hurt him and others. She was used by her paranoid father, King Saul (1 Sam 18:20). Abandoned. We have seen from this story that there is never any sense or confirmation that David truly loved Michal. Much of Micahs indictment against Israel and Judah involves these nations injustice toward the lowlyunjust business dealings, robbery, mistreatment of women and children, and a government that lived in luxury off the hard work of its nations people. Michal lies to her father to conceal her involvement; that she took a great risk is indicated by the parallel to her brother Jonathan, whom Saul tries to kill for abetting David(1 Sam 20:3033). The greatness of the God of Israel was the furthest thing from her mind. However, she made the right decision because she chose her husband. x\[o8~}X*bHN:vv-v8Mf.uj[EQ|B7etItuxP%kwY[j~xlyx7HFlwWDt.3Qf FY~?mk1rZu7y;;mt"7F-|xp&hKaM[ (v. 16) Despised means to regard with contempt, distaste, disgust, or disdain, scorn, loathe. (Websters Dictionary). The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), Women of Influence Surrounding the Life of David, In the Bible we first meet David when the Lord sends the prophet Samuel on a mission to find and. together is replaced by resentment and bitterness. Lets set the context of our story. The number one condition in Davids negotiations was the immediate alienation. Where does the injustice dwell in your own life? Entrust your hurting heart to Christ alone. Biblical art takes the story I read in Scripture and makes it real for me. The differences led to the death of the marital love. Michal is often regarded as the shrew who did not approve of Davids exuberant worship. At one time, having vented all the reproaches upon him that her You can read 1 Samuel 18 to fill in the gaps. David also expressed that he had a prior claim to Michal. Their quarrel raises another important issue by repeatedly referring to the kingship: the rejection of the house of Saul in favor of the house of David. 2 Samuel 3:13-16 paints a very poignant picture of Michals husband following her. 7 Larry R. Helyer, Hero and Heroine Narratives in the Old Testament (Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, Vol. Good, said David. The love that brought the couple Such is critical in the Lords Church. All Israel was there, celebrating with David, except Michal. She seems to be more concerned that he wasnt acting like a King; he wasnt acting like her father. After enumerating Nabal's enormous wealth in flocks (1 Sam 25:2), the narrative introduces her in contrast to him. She protected him. your first year. This time, Saul gives him a way to pay the bride price: go to battle and bring back 100 Philistine foreskins and you can have my second daughter. This scene of It's what he does. What is fascinating about the story of Michal is that we are certain that she was in love with David because the Bible tell us. return of Michal to him (2 Sa 3:13). that Satan needs only one fault and he will use that as a crack through His expectations must have been high but they were about to be Many Christians have been de-spiritualized by this action. The reunion of David and Michal occurred after King Sauls death. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Parents, teachers, friends? 2. Instead, we do it out of habit. This is what God intended in marriage when you go all the way back to Genesis. Because these Thus, in the end, this is no fairytale romance. In love with David, Michal proved her loyalty to her husband over her father when she saved David from her father's attack on his life. destroyed because one allowed affection to be replaced by bitterness. to bless his home (6:20). I Samuel 19:9-16 But an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. Dwelling in a largely agricultural part of the country, Micah lived outside the governmental centers of power in his nation, leading to his strong concern for the lowly and less fortunate of societythe lame, the outcasts, and the afflicted (Micah 4:6). 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. The story is that in 1501 a large block of uncut marble sat in a dusty cathedral workshop. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. I know that seems confusing, but I will make it clear shortly. How about you? Thanks for the good work you do. She could not see the goodness of God because someone she knew, was a bad representation to her, of who God really is. Purpose of Writing: The message of the Book of Micah is a complex mixture of judgment and hope. If we are going to sum up the lessons we can learn from Michal, I think it is clear to see how important a role love plays in a marital relationship. Thus she serves as a warning, a warning against fixating on our suffering to the point that we fail to worship our loving heavenly bridegroom (Ephesians 5:31-32). Since David killed Goliath, Saul offered his older daughter Merab, but David did not feel worthy to be the kings son-in-law. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. 5. Do you speak differently to your family than you do at work? Davids family life gets very messy and complicated: Theres incest, murder, rebellion, plagues and political upheavals all the rest of his life. and unconcerned behavior only further irritated her. These <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.2 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> What can we learn from them? Another reason is that we can learn life lessons from them. Her words revealed she despised David. Is it really a mystery that she was not moved by watching him worship God? fuj0d{-xvRqX"Uh4u[a$YsH>AZwpB)TRxH :w"~UTl?n [I];A0y;pLy+(:U6.jYM]fS} kkN]K^k_js1_>!1H+!:+^z Her character shows us that women of God can be humble, wise, and diplomatic. This reunion brings into sharp focus the bitternesss that had developed Lets allow the words of Micah to break us out of our apathy about extending justice and kindness to others and press on toward a world Weve got to remember people are impacted by our words. Come near to them. Michal was incensed as she shouted at David. I dont know if you caught it, so let me make you aware of it. THE MARRIAGE occurs. I cant imagine how painful her words felt to him at this moment. affection to be replaced by bitterness? I will make an agreement with you. Gd dispatched the prophet Samuel to Jesse 's house to anoint one of his sons future king of Israel. love were fondly treasured in his mind. This just about sums up Michals life. Do you need a call toward repentance, like the people of Israel and Judah did? <> What was wrong with his clothes? Michals bitterness robbed her family of a blessing. Its that cover-up that becomes a breaking point in Davids life. Critical? remained separated. With that definition, everyone in this room is an influential person. His first plan is to offer David his oldest daughter in marriage. As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. Some manuscripts therefore read Merab in place of Michal, for Merab was the wife of Adriel. Micah stated in his introduction to the book that he prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah, failing to mention the simultaneous string of dishonorable kings that closed out the northern kingdom of Israel. Socrates only laughed, In fact, he brings double. When Michal was given to Paltiel, there is no record of David having such an emotional reaction. (Hebrew). Between Michal and RachelReflection of Misery. In Beit Mikra: Journal for the Study of the Bible and its World 48, 289-301. For her tragic story is not unlike many of our own. these had become concrete during the ten year period of separation. Lockyer's All the Women of the Bible - Michal . What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. His heart yearns to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. Have we loved well those that God has put in our lives? . Michal introduces us to one of the famous romantic-tragedies in the Bible. The Marital Separation In the Bible there are key moments in her life that give us important lessons about relationships and marriage. The story up to this point was nothing short of tragic. 2. 13 Then Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats hair at the head. In the Midrash, Michal is praised for her loyalty to her husband and her rejection of her father's authority. What Michal and many of us dont see is that when we give ourselves over to worship with fervour, its not because we think ourselves worthy to be in Gods presence. Thinking of your own life, in what ways do you see God using you for His purposes? Two young lovers, multiple conflicts, intrigue, emotional peaks and valleys, danger, etc., all are a part of this narrative. cost to others. been promised Sauls daughter, Merab, as a reward for killing the giant. 1 (2004): 1-50. That spying led to a sexual encounter that led to a pregnancy, that led to a murder that led to a cover-up. Then the Philistines attacked, and the Lord gave David the victory over themnot once, but twice (5:17-25). With Gods strength, he defeats the enemy and his life as a soldier, a warrior begins. Im not blaming my parents, or their parents, that was just the way I was. The next time we see her with David things have dramatically changed in their marriage. But when we do this we ignore who Michal was and what she went through. After escaping he does not bother coming back for her. This great love story offers a sad conclusion. David, on the other hand, at this time, had 6 other wives. This romance ends in disaster. events have not yet occurred, we look forward to the millennial kingdom at some undetermined time in the future. Here are five lessons from Michal's bitterness. Telling Queen Michals Story: An Experiment in Comparative Interpretation. After he flees Sauls court, David has two secret meetings with Jonathan, but none with Michal. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Pursuing her life passion to teach the Word of God, train leaders and connect people in community, Dianne Miller has dedicated years as a teaching leader in Bible Study Fellowship as well as directing Womens Ministries at the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia and Northwest Bible Church, More. On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon Israel . Therefore its return meant the return of Gods presence to his people. Kalmanofsky, Amy. Saul gives Michal to another man(1 Sam 25:44) in an apparent move to block David from claiming the kingship through her. This will give you all the evidence you need to know if what they say is really true. Is it possible she was angry because she was no longer the wife of Paltiel? But we do know God was using her to accomplish His plans. So, I came into a marriage with the thinking I could say anything that was true, or honest, or right even if it was harsh and critical. Because of the differences between these two people there arose Her bitterness prevented her from seeing the wonder of that day: the return of the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6:12). ASK What does affection do for a marriage? 3. The seemingly little acts of these four women dramatically influenced David and radically changed the world around him. She has not seen his hand of provision. 9:15-21; 1 Sam. Michal knew of God but she did not truly know 4 Lessons Michal Has for Building a Healthy Marriage. And theyre remarkably influential. Who are the lowly in your life? Michals childlessness is not accounted for (did David confine her, as he shut away other wives[2 Sam 20:3]?) <>/Metadata 149 0 R/ViewerPreferences 150 0 R>> Michal represents many church women who are hurting, misunderstood and rejected. Failing to kill him personally, Saul laid a trap to ambush They use us so we stop going to church. a. David also likes the deal. Surrounding Micahs prophecy of Jesuss birth is one of the most lucid pictures of the worlds future under the reign of the Prince of Peace (5:5). After Saul was killed, his throne was passed on to his surviving What occurs whenever affection that better resembles the harmonious millennial kingdom to come. Michals husband Paltiel is grief-stricken, but of Michals feelings we hear nothing until2 Samuel 6, where she watches David dancing before the ark and despise[s] him in her heart (v. 16). Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. A victim of infidelities. But skip ahead two decades and Michal despises David in her heart. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Joy dispels bitter people. A proud and haughty spirit will appear. Life of David: 11. hero and King. In Judah at this time, good kings and evil kings alternated with each other, a pattern seen in the reigns of Jotham (good, 2 Kings 15:3234); Ahaz (evil, 2 Kings 16:14); and Hezekiah (good, 2 Kings 18:17). This little plan of Michals was used of God for eternal purposes. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in Gods likeness. VxI@h=\* @~i:_%+z B)_ 4 Or take ships as an example. Either way she is a vital part of Davids story; she is an important influence in his life. a) She became David's wife (1SA 18:27). This little rescue, saved the life of the future King of all Israel. It seemed to be what David wanted too. But Michal, Davids wife, warned him, If you dont run for your life tonight, tomorrow youll be killed (1 Samuel 19:11). This one sentence, verse 20, drips with sarcasm, ridicule and criticism. 9 The Quest Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House 1994) 404. Michal introduces us to one of the famous romantic-tragedies While waiting for the doctor, I was in the examining room talking to the nurse who was taking my blood pressure How are you doing today? I asked. danger. becomes a bitter battle zone! humility and pious enthusiasm as he joined with Israel to celebrate (2 MICHAL. Let the Philistines do that!, Saul was hoping the Philistines would kill David and that would be the end of it. Seeman, Don. She is not part of the celebration; she is watching from a window; watching with disgust. d. The Marital Differences For a brooding history linked her to this man, celebrating wildly in the streets. You may have had or currently have a difficult father-in-law or mother-in-law, but this is the extreme: to have your father-in-law want to kill you. Truth: Loving others well cooperates with Gods eternal purposes. Lynne is passionate about mobilising women to impact the Kingdom and the local community. Last thing we know about her, a tragic statement for her, living in her times. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart (2 Samuel 6:16). Fragmented Women; Feminist (Sub)versions of Biblical Narratives. When Saul discovered that Michal was in love with David, he offered her to David, but only after David delivered 100 Philistine foreskins. . Cambridge: 1992. Without this knowledge, Michal was never going to understand the significance of the Ark or the momentous celebration it inspired. Now she was one of many wives. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. This romantic tale is filled with details that would assure She seems to have regarded kingship in Israel as her father had. The bride was just radiant, and the groom couldnt keep from smiling. She was the youngest daughter of King Saul, and she was also Davids wife, then she wasnt and then she was again. Livestream: Zambia Reformed Family Conference 2020. her life! In fact, he brings double. David cried Oh God, save me, save my life. God lovingly did save him and God used Michal to deliver David from certain death. However, it doesnt seem to be motivated by love, but because of the price he paid for her. He was anointed king over Israel. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David. Before he could get the blessing out, she vehemently scolded him. Her words were meant to shame him. Its because only in his presence can our sinful nature and human failures be overwhelmed by his grace. Michal despised David (6:16). way they reacted to Sauls persecution (19:11-17). Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. This wasnt about Davids worship. Things had drastically changed over ten years and the Sheffield, England: 1991. She masterminded his escape. This bitterness would soon lead them into another falling apart today. If someone says they love you, don't just listen to what they say, watch what they do. She was Davids first wife, and she loved him long before she despised him (1 Sam 18: 28). Do not let mans misdeeds prevent you from seeing Gods goodness. The next time we hear about Michal is in 2 Samuel 3, when Abner is attempting to form an alliance with David.
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