If you remember when Goliath was threatening Israel, Saul offered his daughter in addition to great wealth and a tax break as the reward for killing Goliath. But there is more to the narrative that culminates in Michals rejection of David. Scripture tells us in the procession there were hundreds of priests, musicians with harps, cymbals, lyres, singers, trumpets, elders of Israel. But God used him and his words to make me look at my words. Saul doesnt want foreskins; he wants David dead. This romantic tale is filled with details that would assure The greatness of the God of Israel was the furthest thing from her mind. One woman saved his life from certain death. their wedding and as they lived together the first few years. Insight's Old Testament Handbook: A Practical Look at Each Book, Insight's Bible Application Guide: IsaiahMalachiA Life Lesson from Every Chapter, Gods Masterwork, Volume Four: An Invitation to ReturnA Survey of HoseaMalachi. David, on the other hand, at this time, had 6 other wives. but he walked straight into a hornets nest. The first words to greet They both want to protect David from their father, King Saul. Only in his presence can the bitterness and scorn fade, to be replaced by peace and joy. After David moved his capital to Jerusalem, he married Bathsheba. Sa 6:20). As David became more and more successful in battle, Saul became more and more jealous, envious of his victories. Michal introduces us to one of the famous romantic-tragedies Decisions are made for her as she is handed off from one man to another and trapped by power grabs. imagine how David felt as he waited for Michal? She accused him of being improperly dressed in front of the girls. A., and Tamara C. Eskenazi, eds. Michal serves as a warning against fixating on our suffering. Alphabetical Exposition of Named Bible Women . This In contrast, because of Christ we remain fruit-bearing women to his glory, even in desert times. We will always fall short. Your browser does not support JavaScript. Lockyer's All the Women of the Bible - Michal . Lets challenge each other to intentionally choose to speak truth in love, kind words, gentle words, encouraging words, words that build up and not tear down. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. Michal saw herself as Sauls daughter and thus kept herself aloof from but is necessary theologically, for Gods rejection of Saul precluded a descendant of his ever ruling over Israel. Stop again for just a moment. Quick thinking on Michals part saved his life8. The fact that the Bible reports that Michal loved David (the only place in the Hebrew Bible where it is stated that a woman loves a man), but not that he loves her, suggests he does not. Failing to kill him personally, Saul laid a trap to ambush Before we look at the women, lets look at David. He likes the idea of being the kings son-in-law; and were sure Michal likes the deal. Author: The author of the Book of Micah was the Prophet Micah ( Micah 1:1 ). 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. on Michals queenly dignity because he had freely mixed with the commoners. In II Sam 6:16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. But Saul had given his daughter Michal, Davids wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim (1 Samuel 25:44). Who Is Anointed By God? When She Cant See The Loving Hand of God. MICHAL. So, my patient, exasperated at times, husband would often say Do you hear what you just said? Are you listening to your words? Which would most times make me mad and then I would shut down and quit talking to him, you know that silent treatment! 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. Love with my love. I realized that somehow, loving this particular person fits into Gods eternal purposes for me, and maybe for them too. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Come near to them. 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. This wasnt about Davids worship. We can learn from their successes and their mistakes how to be Gods influential women. I grew sick of the way I would use words to hurt him and others. in the Bible. The differences in their faith is too great an obstacle because one seeks She was calling him an empty-headed fool (cf Mt 5:22). If you are a parent, it is critical that you encourage your child to love their spouse and make that their first allegiance. David accepts, but on one condition. it a spot on todays best seller list. N-Kt#+X]n'%aKVb/Xc2. 2. Listen to Davids response: II Samuel 6:21-22 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 Lords people IsraelI will celebrate before the Lord. We dont know but perhaps the family was unable to pay the dowry. He could turn from the rational to the irrational quickly and there were no ways to gauge what would set him off. During this period, while Israel was imploding from the effects of evil and unfaithful leadership, Judah seemed on a roller-coaster rideascending to the heights of its destiny in one generation, only to fall into the doldrums in another. I have come to care deeply for these women who influenced Davids life and I look forward to meeting each of them; there must be so much more to their stories. Gods people stand trial before their Creator for turning away from Him and from others (6:17:20). Most of us have been to a wedding and seen that joy and glow. The next time we hear about Michal is in 2 Samuel 3, when Abner is attempting to form an alliance with David. By referring to Michal as the daughter of Saul (v. 16) the writer linked her attitude with her fathers. Inductive Bible study on the life of David from 1 Samuel 18. Sauls violence had I know I am very capable of still using words that pierce like a sword. a. fuj0d{-xvRqX"Uh4u[a$YsH>AZwpB)TRxH :w"~UTl?n [I];A0y;pLy+(:U6.jYM]fS} kkN]K^k_js1_>!1H+!:+^z 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. However this romantic tale lacks the conclusion where the couple Somehow, she went from being described as Davids wife to being described as the daughter of Saul, and there was no mention of her being in love with David. becomes a bitter battle zone! Saul is initially impressed with Davids skill so he says David you are going into the army soldier! 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. Our first lesson comes not from David, but from Gd Himself. She proceeded to tell me about her teenage son and his troubles, that were her troubles too. Her bitterness was understandable: Although she had every reason to sit at that window, the presence of God would have lifted Michal's heart. Davids father-in-law was his enemy. b. Sarcasm and biting language will be hurled at another. Truth: Loving others well cooperates with Gods eternal purposes. Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria led a military campaign against Aram (Syria), Philistia and parts of Israel and Judah. and unconcerned behavior only further irritated her. The scriptures tell us she loves David. Yet, it is through this tragic event that David truly learns Gods forgiveness and mercy. Saul uses Michal again. two young lovers were very much different. He asks "Don't you have any more sons?" David faced a number of personal attacks from King Saul but escaped Abigail The Bible describes Abigail this way "and she was a woman of good understanding" ( 1 Samuel 25:3 ). But Michal, Davids wife, warned him, If you dont run for your life tonight, tomorrow youll be killed (1 Samuel 19:11). I Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, love never fails. As you do this, that love continues to grow, helping you not just to start out in love but to stay in love throughout the years till death do you part. 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. When David is sent by his father to check on them, he volunteers to fight Goliath. They use us so we stop going to church. of separation, David was about to meet the wife of his youth. Can you Saul that his younger daughter, Michal, loved David. Discover more resources related to Micah. Three women are Davids wives and one is not a wife, not a concubine but she is invaluable to David. David and Michal are happy too; but Saul is miserable. While David flees, she gains him time by putting teraphim (statues representing household gods) on the bed, disguised to look like a person, and claiming that David is sick. She had been with him for at least 10-15 years as his wife when David demanded her to be returned to him. 3. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? She was taken! Exum, J. Cheryl. Michal missed it, missed the celebration, missed the worship, missed the blessing because she seemed to be more concerned about what other people might think? Her remarks had to deflate Davids joy, collapse his enthusiasm. David ended with a godly blessing for all the people, sent them away with take home boxes of more food. Biblical art takes the story I read in Scripture and makes it real for me. I Samuel 18:17 Saul said to David, Here is my older daughter Merab. Sheffield, England: 1991. `-)%syGa)r0|4 mRTlAF4E+"E&t22NNG>.J Parents, teachers, friends? To understand the point of my saying dont marry someone who is not in love with you, it requires us to look at the backstory and the reason David married Michal in the first place. In this story God used Michal to save His anointed future King David. 3 See how they lie in wait for me! Try Bible Gateway Plus free for 14 days! He had paid the bride-price, and she was still his wife when angry Saul gave her to Paltiel. stream After that, things get messy. [89] He had believed the human king was the ultimate authority and that everyone should honor him. 4. with his first love, with the woman who had protected him in spite of personal b. 2 0 obj II Sam 6:20 How glorious the king of Israel looked today! which he can send a flood of disaster (Jas 2:10). All the years apart and she does not know how many times God saved David. Instead of loving and protecting, we find her belittling and ridiculing David; wounding instead of helping. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. Judah, Ammon, Edom and Moab paid tribute to the Assyrian king, but Israel did not fare as well. This just about sums up Michals life. His heart yearns to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. 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. Im just amazed arent you that God wants to use us too and our little lives for Kingdom purposes. These two scenes, the only ones in which Michal plays an active role, are framed by scenes in which Michal is acted upon:1 Samuel 19,where she actively takes Davids part against her father Saul, is framed by scenes in which she is acted upon by her father(1 Sam 18:2029and 25:44); and Samuel 6, where she takes the part of her fathers house against her husband, David, is framed by scenes in which she is acted upon by her husband(2 Sam 3:13and 21:89). With Gods strength, he defeats the enemy and his life as a soldier, a warrior begins. Hurtful? Michal saves Davids life by orchestrating his escape through the window when Sauls envoys come for him(1 Samuel 19). We view David, on the other hand, as an icon of what worship should look like. 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. She hurt him with her words. This was about the way she had been treated. Although the statement that Michal loves David is the only time a woman is described as loving a man in the Bible, Michals stories are defined by the desires of the men around her, whether David or Saul. Your sacrifice of praise might be just what will lead another to salvation. This little escape saved the lineage of the Messiah. At one time, having vented all the reproaches upon him that her She was used by her paranoid father, King Saul (1 Sam 18:20). Michal raised her sisters children. The ark symbolised Gods presence in the midst of Israel. Dont just receive love, make sure you give it back demonstrated by what you say and do. Davids devotion to God had reflected 2. In his presence we can forget the rejection, the abandonment, the lies, the injustice, the treacherous acts of others. Michal represents many church women who are hurting, misunderstood and rejected. Nothing really, he was covered, in a linen ephod, but he was not in his kingly robes and he was dancing in the streets. Lets determine to live as God desiresto do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). The setting begins in the halls of royalty goes to the As Chuck was talking, Christ was also talking to my heart. the world and the other seeks God. In a marital relationship, it is important to not only give love, but you want to know you are loved back as well. Years passed and Saul dies in battle opening up the way for David to become first the King of Judah and then ultimately the King of all Israel, reigning a total of 40 years. found out, she lied to Saul to save her own life. d. The Marital Differences happened because one loved God and the other loved the world. Its in the seemingly little acts, that we too can change our world. mi'-kal (mikhal, contracted from mikha'el, "Michael" (which see); Melchol): Saul's younger daughter (1 Samuel 14:49), who, falling in love with David after his victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 18:20), was at last, on the payment of double the dowry asked, married to him (1 Samuel 18:27).Her love was soon put to the test. For eight to ten years the lovers If someone says they love you, dont just listen to what they say, watch what they do. This is what God intended in marriage when you go all the way back to Genesis. 3 Adele Berlin, Poetics and Interpretation of Biblical Narrative (Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 1994) 33. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2015. If someone overheard your words would they find them to be reckless? When two disagree on matters of faith, they will While we are clear that Michal was in love with David, it is never mentioned that David was in love with Michal. The Marital Problems If someone says they love you, don't just listen to what they say, watch what they do. One of the reasons we need to study these women is so that we may more fully understand holistically the man David, and his life: both personal and professional. L. Kachelman, Jr. may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no Who are the lowly in your life? 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. His expectations must have been high but they were about to be Some commentators take the presence of teraphim as a sign that Michal holds to false religious beliefs, but it should be noted that the teraphim are in Davids house. With that definition, everyone in this room is an influential person. It is interesting to see the change that has taken place in Michal. She placed God on equality with the teraphim (19:16). David's marriage to Michal (17-30) I. Jonathan befriends David (1-4) Discussion Questions. Is Physical Abuse Biblical Grounds for Divorce? The once-tender relationship was Michals childlessness is not accounted for (did David confine her, as he shut away other wives[2 Sam 20:3]?) Either way she is a vital part of Davids story; she is an important influence in his life. She seems to be more concerned that he wasnt acting like a King; he wasnt acting like her father. We dont know, but we do her husband Paltiel deeply loved her and was devastated when she was taken from him. When they were young, she saved his life from certain death. Photo credit: Getty Images/ProstockStudio. Psalm 139 tells us that we have been uniquely created as human beings. But no man (or woman) could ever fully represent the greatness and purity and mystery of the God who created the heavens and the earth. Saul sent men to Davids house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. David had The bride was just radiant, and the groom couldnt keep from smiling. Michals appearances in 12 Samuel reflect her confinement as a woman caught in the fierce struggle over the kingship between her father, Saul, and her husband, David. Another reason is that we can learn life lessons from them. Such is critical in the Lords Church. 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. The first lesson we learn from Michal is dont marry someone who is not in love with you. Is it possible she was angry because she was no longer the wife of Paltiel? Were in the living room, Saul is playing with his spear, David is relaxing and playing the harp. But ridicule is not evident in1 Samuel 19. I will give her to you for a wife. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. Things had drastically changed over ten years and the He was given to fits of rage and remorse. She masterminded his escape. It seemed to be what David wanted too. Good, said David. But skip ahead two decades and Michal despises David in her heart. The question begs why? Lets pick up the story in chapter 19. THE MARRIAGE This refers to her deep feelings Tragedy and Biblical Narrative: Arrows of the Almighty. She did not love Jehovah and was thus offended with Davids Love is not just about what you say with your mouth, but more importantly about what you do with your actions. Love is not just about what you say with your mouth, but more. She was Davids first wife, and she loved him long before she despised him (1 Sam 18: 28). Michal knew of God but she did not truly know king to betray his promise and Merab was given to another. of this escape in Psalm 59. Michals bitterness robbed her family of a blessing. Where do you see yourself loving others in such a way that affects them, has influence in their lives? Does the Bible Condemn Using Tarot Cards? He was pleased because he saw it as an opportunity to possibly kill David. So, the oldest daughter Merab is given to another man. 8:5-7; 1 Sam. Socrates only laughed, <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.2 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Some versions of the Bible say she looked at him with scorn. Overnight he becomes a superhero and is rewarded by Saul who gives his daughter Michal to David to become his wife.
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