is to compromise Gods will. How would you have felt? With that definition, everyone in this room is an influential person. When Saul in his jealousy sent for David, she was quick to discern . What are the consequences of allowing Michal must have been in a very uncomfortable position, stuck between her husband and her father. It was hard for David too. Michal is important in biblical history because she fell in love with David, even though her older sister, Merab, had been promised to David as a wife as a prize for killing Saul's enemies ( 1 Samuel 18:17 ). But God was someone she knew nothing about. Yet, the bible has recorded their names, and glimpses of their lives for a purpose. The story continues as David flees and escapes into the wilderness, Michal does not see him again for many years. 3. of celebration. Every fall I attend the All about Influence Conference at Dallas Seminary. The Art of Biblical Narrative, 118-123. Here are five lessons from Michal's bitterness. imagine how David felt as he waited for Michal? After that, things get messy. What had happened to her in those 10-15 years? return of Michal to him (2 Sa 3:13). This was about the way she had been treated. Her bitterness blocked her blessing: 2 Sam 6:20 says, And David returned to bless his household. was no national concern for God (1 Chron 13:3). 2. 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. ( See 2 Sam 3:2-5 chart in the handout). She has not seen his hand of provision. After her introduction in1 Sam 14:49as Sauls younger daughter, she appears next in 18:20, where we read, Michal loved David. Saul uses her, as he did her older sisterMerab, as a trap, in the hope that David will be killed while trying to meet the bride price of one hundred Philistine foreskins. The marriage duet ends in a duel of bitter words. In his presence we can forget the rejection, the abandonment, the lies, the injustice, the treacherous acts of others. Because these This bitterness would soon lead them into another Havent we often been in such situations? In Bethlehem, Samuel meets seven of Jesse's amazing sons, but not the one God had chosen. Kidnapped. King Saul in the Historiography of Judah. Joy dispels bitter people. A proud and haughty spirit will appear. She was taken! Or at church? Date of Writing: The Book of Micah was likely written between 735 and 700 B.C. So, lets look at the women surrounding the life of David, the man after Gods own heart. She seems to be more concerned that he wasnt acting like a King; he wasnt acting like her father. She went from being in love with David to despising him. 5. In this sequence, God reminds the people of His good works on their behalf, how He cared for them while they cared only for themselves. David did this because of the promise he had made to Jonathan in the Lord's name. She could not see the goodness of God because David was a bad representation of who God really is. If you take away anything from Michals story, perhaps it will be this: Lynne is a member of Christ Church Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa and serves within the Support Ministries Team in Griefshare. She was the youngest daughter of King Saul, and she was also Davids wife, then she wasnt and then she was again. Tissot Michal Watching David from a Window,18961902, byJames Tissot. A notable exception is Michals protest against Davids actions after Sauls death, which she deems vulgar. David also likes the deal. I know I am very capable of still using words that pierce like a sword. 8:5-7; 1 Sam. He had paid the bride-price, and she was still his wife when angry Saul gave her to Paltiel. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. They use us so we stop going to church. Maybe hes called you to love someone whos unlovely or unloving? He wandered in the wilderness. Store; Bibles; Deals; More; As low as $2.92/mo. Come near to them. Michal was the first, and in some ways, the most interesting, of Davids wivesshe is a full-fledged character with opinions and emotions of her own.4 Adele Berlin, Michals story is a sad one. humility and pious enthusiasm as he joined with Israel to celebrate (2 him were sarcastic. Either way she is a vital part of Davids story; she is an important influence in his life. Lords Church today that are destined for this same disaster because brotherly He took Jerusalem from the Jebusites by force and made it his capital (2 Samuel 5:1-16). "The Watcher at the Window: Cultural Poetics of a Biblical Motif." In those moments he would hurl his spear at David trying to pin him down, to intimidate him, to scare him, ultimately to kill him. This little escape saved the lineage of the Messiah. Try Bible Gateway Plus free for 14 days! Ephesians 2:10 says we have been uniquely re-created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us. Finally negotiations were successful and the two 2 Samuel 6:23 And Michal, the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. Exploring the lives of people in the Bible is this type of learning lessonthe best type. Women in Scripture. differences were not that noticeable as they were dating, and planning Lockyer's All the Women of the Bible. Scripture tells us in the procession there were hundreds of priests, musicians with harps, cymbals, lyres, singers, trumpets, elders of Israel. Bible Lessons from Abigail, Bathsheba and Michal Abigail, Bathsheba and Michal were three of King David's wives. The reunion officially took place at Hebron. David comes back with proof of not 100 but 200 dead Philistines that he has killed. She answered not so good. Surprised, I asked her why? MICHAL. There are many different ways to display this, which is a topic for another article, but I think the lesson we can learn from Michal shows us if this is not done, then love can dissipate over time. The once-tender relationship was The statue of David by Michelangelo was on loan from Florence, Italy. David then returns and sends for Michal. A., and Tamara C. Eskenazi, eds. God used these three women to teach Christians about living for Him! All would do well to remember this story and how cost to others. Copyright 1999 by John Michals singular failing was that she failed to honor God in It helps me develop a much deeper and rounded understanding of the text, beyond simply what the words say. View Chuck Swindoll's chart of Micah, which divides the book into major sections and highlights themes and key verses. 31 December 1999. After enumerating Nabal's enormous wealth in flocks (1 Sam 25:2), the narrative introduces her in contrast to him. The Ark was a symbol of Gods law; a reminder of his provision; a place to know Gods will; a token of Gods holiness; the place of atonement; and a powerful reflection of the very presence of God. The Marital Problems Entrust your hurting heart to Christ alone. 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. 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). Truth: Loving others well cooperates with Gods eternal purposes. Lets remember how we need to not only start well, but also finish well for the Kingdom. His calm her life! She could not see the goodness of God because someone she knew, was a bad representation to her, of who God really is. When bitterness replaces affection there will be definite consequences Public worship was neglected; My tongue. Please note, our website requires JavaScript to be supported. Just to be clear, Saul wasnt pleased because he loved David and thought he would be a great son-in-law. While David was playing the lyre, 10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. Summary of the Book of Micah. Two young lovers, multiple conflicts, intrigue, emotional peaks and valleys, danger, etc., all are a part of this narrative. 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. Exum, J. Cheryl. 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. Michal introduces us to one of the famous romantic-tragedies David has killed Goliath, thats what everyone is talking about; this young, good-looking guy. Here are these lessons! 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. He repented. Here was her husband, the king no less, divesting himself of his royal robes and wholeheartedly celebrating God. She is our first influential woman that we will study. All rights reserved. The scriptures tell us she loves David. Michals love for her husband David is evidenced by her efforts to deceive her father, Saul, as he tries to capture David. "Michal: The Kings Daughter or the Kings Wife. In The Female Ruse: Women's Deception and Divine Sanction in the Hebrew Bible, 137-150. 18:20 ). This is such a critical lesson we can learn from Michal. But we do know God was using her to accomplish His plans. We have seen from this story that there is never any sense or confirmation that David truly loved Michal. . Chuck has a way of saying it the way it is! After escaping he does not bother coming back for her. Who are the lowly in your life? becomes a bitter battle zone! Along the way, David remarries. Saul is Israel's first king. We know she had previously been in love with him. sarcasm is tragic when it appears in any relationship! The first lesson we learn from Michal is dont marry someone who is not in love with you. Art by Sefira Lightstone. David, on the other hand, at this time, had 6 other wives. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. Please contact us or click here to learn more about how to enable JavaScript on your browser. We will not only look to the Law, the Prophets, and life and teachings . this narrative. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. God has created us, as women, all of us, with purpose and the ability to affect our world for good or bad. 1. d. The Marital Differences Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press, 2014. That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh (Genesis 2:24). He could turn from the rational to the irrational quickly and there were no ways to gauge what would set him off. She is not a wife, not a concubine but a care-giver, an essential care-giver. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. Lets set the context of our story. 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. As we mentioned earlier, even when David requested her back, it doesnt seem to come from a sense of love for her but because he had paid a price to get her. that better resembles the harmonious millennial kingdom to come. What can we learn from them? information to plot Davids death. Abigail The Bible describes Abigail this way "and she was a woman of good understanding" ( 1 Samuel 25:3 ). Bitterness corrupts how you see others. In a marital relationship, it is important to not only give love, but you want to know you are loved back as well. How about you? He came in expecting to find a joyous feast, 9:15-21; 1 Sam. I mentioned earlier that Michal was his wife, then she wasnt and then she was again. Bitterness 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. Thus David had many reasons to praise God. When Michal was given to Paltiel, there is no record of David having such an emotional reaction. own heart. She and David ceased living as husband and wife. As a woman of beauty and brains, she counsels David, prophesies his kingship, and becomes one of his wives who is actually named. Remember Michals upbringing was under Saul. She placed God on equality with the teraphim (19:16). Witchcraft, Spiritual Powers & New Life in Christ Jesus. We know how we can destroy others with our words, we know how other peoples words have cut our hearts too. As a child, you must also recognize that once married, your first obligation is to your spouse and not your parents. Their love for their child was greater than the fear they had . 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. differences grew and finally erupted on one of Israels most festive days But stop for a minute. The seemingly little acts of these four women dramatically influenced David and radically changed the world around him. But beyond all that, if David was seen as Sauls son-in-law once again, David could claim to be legitimate successor to Sauls throne.9. 4. I will make an agreement with you. He has also just released his new book The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Her bitterness kept her separate: If Christ promises us all suffering in this world, then your pain makes you more like the people of God, not strange to them. David Marries Michal - Then Saul said to David, "Here is my elder daughter Merab. Meyers, Carol, General Editor. You have that influence. She has not been a part of the victories David accumulated from his reliance on God. These I dont know if you caught it, so let me make you aware of it. We see two parallel truths: Truth: Love protects and love defends even at personal risk. Cambridge: 1992. Lessons from Jochebed. Therefore its return meant the return of Gods presence to his people. He cries and pleads, until the fearsome Abner viciously turns him away. their wedding and as they lived together the first few years. 7 Larry R. Helyer, Hero and Heroine Narratives in the Old Testament (Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, Vol. 2 David The King, SimpleToRemember.com; Judaism Online. If someone says they love you, dont just listen to what they say, watch what they do. After Sauls death, when it is politically expedient, David demands the return of his wife in his negotiations over the kingship(1 Samuel 3). Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Not so fast. I will give her to you for a wife. Prooftexts24, no. Michal is Saul's daughter that married David, and Jonathan is his son. %PDF-1.7 4 Lessons Michal Has for Building a Healthy Marriage. 10:17-24 ). `-)%syGa)r0|4 mRTlAF4E+"E&t22NNG>.J it applies to Christians. That night David made good his escape.11 Saul sent men to Davids house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But skip ahead two decades and Michal despises David in her heart. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. David pays double the bride price, and Michal becomes his wife. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Michal is the daughter of King Saul ( 1 Sam. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. A reference is made to her having Listen to Chuck Swindolls overview of Micah in his audio message from the Classic series Gods Masterwork. But Michal, Davids wife, warned him, If you dont run for your life tonight, tomorrow youll be killed. So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped. Understanding in Hebrew means: <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.2 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> 3 See how they lie in wait for me! It's what he does. Three women are Davids wives and one is not a wife, not a concubine but she is invaluable to David. For those times, you and I have forgiveness. Weve got to remember people are impacted by our words. Quick thinking on Michals part saved his life8. others. The differences in their faith is too great an obstacle because one seeks Only in his presence can the bitterness and scorn fade, to be replaced by peace and joy. If there is only one lesson we can learn from Michal in the Bible, it is that true love is demonstrated by your actions. They both want to protect David from their father, King Saul. They have been disappointed, abused, misused, refused, hurt, stepped on and are hurting inside. She is a bookworm who loves to write. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Women of the Bible Speak: The Wisdom of 16 Women and Their Lessons for Today. to the Kings palace. Sa 6:20). His heart yearns to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. 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. All rights reserved. People mistreat us so we turn our backs on Christ. How different This bitterness How does love turn to hurt? As the daughter of King Saul, Michal might have enjoyed a life of privilege. 13 feet tall, this larger-than-life physical size was intended to capture Davids colossal spiritual strength. 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. Telling Queen Michals Story: An Experiment in Comparative Interpretation. The differences led to the death of the marital love. N-Kt#+X]n'%aKVb/Xc2. 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 one sentence, verse 20, drips with sarcasm, ridicule and criticism. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? 5 Lindsay Hardin Freeman, Bible Women (Forward Movement, 2014) 186. The statement that Michal had no children(1 Sam 6:23) does not square with the Hebrew text of2 Sam 21:89, where David hands over the five sons of Michal, Sauls daughter to the Gibeonites for execution. Then Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats hair at the head (1 Samuel 19:11-13). One woman saved his life from certain death. Why is the Bronze Snake in the Desert Significant? Overnight he becomes a superhero and is rewarded by Saul who gives his daughter Michal to David to become his wife. The Women of the Bible Speak: The Wisdom of 16 Women and Their Lessons for Today - Kindle edition by Bream, Shannon. Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. Look at the verse above and compare that to the way Michal is mentioned in the verse below. hero and King. The King finally ceased any covert operations When we focus on God and Gods glory, there is very little room for anything else. But a deal is a deal. The first story is when she falls in love with David, marries him and protects his life from her father Saul. Stop again for just a moment. She did not love Jehovah and was thus offended with Davids I will make an agreement with you. He asks "Don't you have any more sons?" While parents still can play an important role, the role must change and can no longer be the primary relationship in your life. The tragedy of Michal the joyous home filled with affection What Kind of Friend Was the Apostle Paul? If someone overheard your words would they find them to be reckless? The podcast is also a really great way to help me learn and develop an understanding of the Bible the way it was meant to be. in the life of Socrates. She is eventually cast aside, having no children to call her own.5 Lindsay Hardin Freeman. 2. However, she made the right decision because she chose her husband. I Samuel 18:28-29 When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,29 Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days. When they were young, she saved his life from certain death. However, it doesnt seem to be motivated by love, but because of the price he paid for her. As we look at her life, there are some great relationship lessons we can learn from Michal. What was wrong with his clothes? dedicated to Gods will instead of the world. 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). Michal, daughter of Saul, married David. 2 0 obj on Michals queenly dignity because he had freely mixed with the commoners. And theyre remarkably influential. Her words revealed she despised David. of David and Michal are married, both for the first time. themselves to a mutual love, yet they are pressing toward an eternity of Such an ending could Why are they included in the Word of God? She protected him. Photo credit: Getty Images/ProstockStudio. 1. and unconcerned behavior only further irritated her. Ish-bosheth has a falling out with his army general Abner after which Abner then switches sides, offering his allegiance and his army to join with David. the story might have ended if only Michal had been a woman after Gods Instead, we do it out of habit. which he can send a flood of disaster (Jas 2:10). Bath-shua ( Bathsheba) the daughter of Ammiel The Number, Location, and Mothers of David's Children David was married to Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacha, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah during the 7-1/2 years he reigned in Hebron as king of Judah. But ridicule is not evident in1 Samuel 19. fury could suggest, Socrates went out and sat on his front steps. This little plan of Michals was used of God for eternal purposes. When Saul discovered that Michal was in love with David, he offered her to David, but only after David delivered 100 Philistine foreskins. David faced a number of personal attacks from King Saul but escaped Klein, Lillian R. Michal, the Barren Wife. In A Feminist Companion to Samuel and Kings, second series, edited by Athalya Brenner, 37-46. He was about to be reunited It is interesting to see the change that has taken place in Michal. of this escape in Psalm 59. On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon Israel . Marriage is a lifetime of giving and receiving love, over and over again. As she grew older, When she saw King David leaping and dancing before and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him." -2 Samuel 6:16 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. If someone says they love you, don't just listen to what they say, watch what they do. Michal saves Davids life by orchestrating his escape through the window when Sauls envoys come for him(1 Samuel 19). What a fascinating story, filled with intrigue and suspense. Chapter 9: Out of Step 1 Samuel 18:1-30, 19:1-18, 2 Samuel 3:13-16, and 6:12-23 When we first meet Michal, she has fallen in love with a handsome young musician named David. have been possible but love was not enthroned in its rightful place and This was about the way she had been treated by David prior to this moment. Her loving husband was sent home crying; he was left behind weeping. I wonder what Michal was feeling when she said goodbye to her husband Paltiel? 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. lives happily ever after as the curtain comes down. His first plan is to offer David his oldest daughter in marriage. found out, she lied to Saul to save her own life. After Saul was killed, his throne was passed on to his surviving Then there would be no criticism. K5_zG;p*+h_Rukf'Wy2?. When David fled from Sauls ambush, Michal was taken and given Love is love. Saul hoped that David would die in the process of obtaining these foreskins, which could mean he had no real intention of giving his daughter to David in marriage. Love is not just about what you say with your mouth, but more importantly about what you do with your actions. 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 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. upstairs and emptied a pitcher of water upon his head. The setting begins in the halls of royalty goes to the While he had only uninhibited praise to give, all she could think of was the many disappointments she had faced at his hands, and the hands of her own father. What I simply mean by this is not that you neglect or stop loving your father or mother, but your hierarchy of importance changes. Today's lesson is found in 1 Samuel 19. Judah, Ammon, Edom and Moab paid tribute to the Assyrian king, but Israel did not fare as well. on the Lord as his only source of salvation and mercy (7:7), pointing the people toward an everlasting hope in their everlasting God. David and Michal are happy too; but Saul is miserable. 1. Chapter 2. Saul soon uses David for target practice.6 Given to great mood swings, Saul would get fearful and mad. Rejected. We view David, on the other hand, as an icon of what worship should look like. brought her marriage to a terrible tragedy. your first year. Each student of Gods Holy Book should take a serious look at Biblical art takes the story I read in Scripture and makes it real for me. Do not judge Gods nature by a humans failure. He was not the kind of father to nurture his child in building a relationship with God. Does God Really Work All Things Together for Good? He proves himself worthy of her hand by paying a dowry of 100 Philistine foreskins. (Jonathan was Saul's son.) met and married. In the Midrash, Michal is praised for her loyalty to her husband and her rejection of her father's authority. Sauls violence had

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