2 Samuel Chapter 6: Verse 20
When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, ‘How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!’
1 Samuel Chapter 18: Verses 28-29
But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.
1 Samuel: Chapter25: verse 44
But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel, son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
2 Samuel Chapter 3: verses14-16
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.’So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, ‘Go back home!’ So he went back.
I do have a degree of sympathy for Michal. She was the daughter of a king, but she did not have an easy life. She fell in love with David, and her father used that as a means to try and have David killed. Then she was abandoned by David when he went on the run from Saul. Perhaps to spite David, she was then given to another man as his wife, and he seemed to have loved and cared about her. Then David demanded her return. I don’t know when they had last seen each other, and by this time David had taken other wives and even concubines. Perhaps she was the trophy wife, the princess. But Michal had allowed her circumstances to make her bitter, and we see that in the way of her response to David when he returned with the Ark. Her attitude and behaviour then impacted on the rest of her life.
We need to be careful that we don’t allow our emotions impact on the way we deal with the circumstances we find ourselves in. Perhaps Michal had lost her faith in God when she saw the way that her father Saul changed. The presence of God was no longer evident in her home, and I think that would impact her too.
No matter what our circumstances are, and how difficult things appear, the best thing we can do is draw near to God who will be everything to us that we need. He is the one that will bring us comfort, strength and consolation. By letting her emotions have the upper hand, poor Michal denied herself that. I think that’s sad, but an important lesson to learn.
Dear LORD,
I’m so grateful that You are a very present help in times of trouble. Help me never to allow my emotions get the better of me. Help me also remember that the way I treat others and the way I behave, can have a long-lasting impact on the lives of others, so help me to treat others with the grace that You have shown to me. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.