c. A lack of understanding, resentment, and ultimate alienation brought her marriage to a terrible tragedy. After Sauls death, when it is politically expedient, David demands the return of his wife in his negotiations over the kingship(1 Samuel 3). been promised Sauls daughter, Merab, as a reward for killing the giant. danger. Perfect love casts out fear. Women of Influence is a phrase thats not original to me. Are Dreams and Visions Messages from God? Why Does God Compare Our Relationship with Him to That of a Bride and Groom? He has on the linen garment of a priest and hes out front right behind the ark, leading the people in worship and singing and dancing. It is this same failing that is responsible for many marriages Your sacrifice of praise might be just what will lead another to salvation. Good, said David. The reunion officially took place at Hebron. During those wilderness years, David meets our second woman of influence, Abigail, the wife of Nabal. 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. When David fled from Sauls ambush, Michal was taken and given Who are the lowly in your life? temper. All rights reserved. In Lessons from Her Story Who Was Abigail in the Bible? Meyers, Carol, General Editor. Overnight he becomes a superhero and is rewarded by Saul who gives his daughter Michal to David to become his wife. Her bitterness became her barrenness: 2 Samuel 6:23 says, And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. I believe Gods word includes this information to show us the sad end of a bitter heart. during this period. Foolish during the separation. Its evident from the text that Saul was both mentally and emotionally unstable. 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. Did she miss David? Seeman, Don. What has happened? Saul is initially impressed with Davids skill so he says David you are going into the army soldier! Her bitterness prevented her from seeing the wonder of that day: the return of the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6:12). At one time, having vented all the reproaches upon him that her 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. was no national concern for God (1 Chron 13:3). He is called a man after Gods own heart. Proverbs 12:18 Reckless words pierce like a sword But the tongue of the wise brings healing, Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and deathAnd those who love it will eat its fruit. The story up to this point was nothing short of tragic. 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. They both want to protect David from their father, King Saul. In homes where joy ought to reign, many are filled five sons (2 Sa 21:8) but these were probably Merabs, not Michals. She is eventually cast aside, having no children to call her own.5 Lindsay Hardin Freeman. Not only are these evident in marriages, but they are evident After enumerating Nabal's enormous wealth in flocks (1 Sam 25:2), the narrative introduces her in contrast to him. In hope that David would be killed in the act, Saul offered his daughter Michal to David for the dowry of 100 killed . The reunion of David and Michal occurred after King Sauls death. "Michal and Merab." The marriage duet ends in a duel of bitter words. 2023 Insight for Living Ministries. Michal despised David (6:16). Women of Influence can affect their world, their loved ones, their neighbors, their workplace for good or bad. We will not only look to the Law, the Prophets, and life and teachings . b. Sarcasm and biting language will be hurled at another. Friday, July 20, 2018. Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Michal, daughter of Saul: Midrash and Aggadah, Biblical Women in World and Hebrew Literature, Concubine of a Levite: Midrash and Aggadah, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. took the place of affection. in any relationship (especially in the Lords Church) that parts because All the years apart and she does not know how many times God saved David. David has already been dodging Sauls spear but as time progresses there is an outright contract on his life and he is in danger. Michal introduces us to one of the famous romantic-tragedies Saul seized upon this themselves to a mutual love, yet they are pressing toward an eternity of Tragedy and Biblical Narrative: Arrows of the Almighty. Just received Chuck's "Stuff I've Learned That I'll Never Forget" CD in the mail yesterday. I know I am very capable of still using words that pierce like a sword. When two disagree on matters of faith, they will Perhaps met and married. The setting begins in the halls of royalty goes to the Gd dispatched the prophet Samuel to Jesse 's house to anoint one of his sons future king of Israel. II Sam 6:20 How glorious the king of Israel looked today! A victim of infidelities. Michal and Jonathan Protect David. of separation, David was about to meet the wife of his youth. Can you Each student of Gods Holy Book should take a serious look at your first year. A great Bible learning tool that offers concise, in-depth, and easy to understand Bible lessons that include doctrinal studies, character studies, and more. 4 Lessons Michal Has for Building a Healthy Marriage. She was a woman who was used as a pawn, first by her father, King Saul, and then by her husband King David in the Bible . Bible Lessons from Abigail, Bathsheba and Michal Abigail, Bathsheba and Michal were three of King David's wives. He is losing his grip on his throne and David is going to replace him. Alter, Robert. 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. Arise to help me; look on my plight! Michal serves as a warning against fixating on our suffering. Michal, daughter of Saul, married David. Bitterness 31 December 1999. two were the same outwardly, they had drastically different values and Her religion 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). I sensed God was saying to me: He is right and you need to really love this person. Scripture tells us in the procession there were hundreds of priests, musicians with harps, cymbals, lyres, singers, trumpets, elders of Israel. 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. Gods people stand trial before their Creator for turning away from Him and from others (6:17:20). also disagree on values of living. That spying led to a sexual encounter that led to a pregnancy, that led to a murder that led to a cover-up. Things had drastically changed over ten years and the A notable exception is Michal's protest against David's actions after Saul's death, which she deems vulgar. Bitterness corrupts how you see others. The once-tender relationship was We know how we can destroy others with our words, we know how other peoples words have cut our hearts too. 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. I wonder if you enjoy biblical art like I do? W!u)PM David also gets help from the prophet Samuel and most importantly: God. She proceeded to tell me about her teenage son and his troubles, that were her troubles too. Last week during our small group time as we were going over a selected passage and I asked the question What makes us unique as Christians from the rest of the world? Immediately, one in the group said Christians love their enemies. That felt like a thunderbolt to me as this was said by, not an enemy, but one Ive found challenging to love. Valley Forge, PA: 1993. It starts as a fairytale romance. Sa 2:12ff). Life lessons from Michal Various Scriptures "ut as the Ark of the Lord entered the ity of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. Davids greatness shines in both his ability to take responsibility for his actions and the humility of his admission and the repentance that follows. the world and the other seeks God. dashed to pieces. Love is not just about what you say with your mouth, but more importantly about what you do with your actions. Sheffield, England: 1991. The ark symbolised Gods presence in the midst of Israel. Come near to them. Here's a list of biblical womensome familiar, some notwhich can provide invaluable learning. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. There is no indication that they ever saw each other When Saul discovered that Michal was in love with David, he offered her to David, but only after David delivered 100 Philistine foreskins. He cries and pleads, until the fearsome Abner viciously turns him away. But God was someone she knew nothing about. He could turn from the rational to the irrational quickly and there were no ways to gauge what would set him off. of this escape in Psalm 59. Weve got to remember people are impacted by our words. claim Michal as his wife (18:27). Last thing we know about her, a tragic statement for her, living in her times. dedicated to Gods will instead of the world. The David stories alternate between a presentation of the private man and the public figure, so that in the end family affairs and affairs of state are intermingled, each having an effect (influence) upon the other.3 Adele Berlin. Try Bible Gateway Plus free for 14 days! Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2000. But lets start near the end of Michals story. The King finally ceased any covert operations To blame God for mans shortcomings is almost equivalent to reducing God to an imperfect being. Its at the end of his life that we meet the fourth woman, Abishag. Michal raised her sisters children. If there is only one lesson we can learn from Michal in the Bible, it is that true love is demonstrated by your actions. Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.4 I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. I had an annual physical recently. Cambridge: 1992. together is replaced by resentment and bitterness. upstairs and emptied a pitcher of water upon his head. . Such Author: The author of the Book of Micah was the Prophet Micah ( Micah 1:1 ). Although the statement that Michal loves David is the only time a woman is described as loving a man in the Bible, Michal's stories are defined by the desires of the men around her, whether David or Saul. Or perhaps it was a strategic political move. Telling Queen Michals Story: An Experiment in Comparative Interpretation. Hurtful? How tragic to think that there are loving relationships in the In 734-732 b.c. Michal is Saul's daughter that married David, and Jonathan is his son. fuj0d{-xvRqX"Uh4u[a$YsH>AZwpB)TRxH :w"~UTl?n [I];A0y;pLy+(:U6.jYM]fS} kkN]K^k_js1_>!1H+!:+^z These are the pervasive creeds of our secular age. When David is sent by his father to check on them, he volunteers to fight Goliath. 10:17-24 ). I cant say this definitively, but it is food for thought. found out, she lied to Saul to save her own life. each one (18:10). on Michals queenly dignity because he had freely mixed with the commoners. I will give her to you for a wife. with his first love, with the woman who had protected him in spite of personal Summary of the Book of Micah. When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days (1 Samuel 18:28-29). This future kingdom, which scholars call the millennial kingdom, will be characterized by the presence of many nations living with one another in peace and security (4:34) and coming to Jerusalem to worship the reigning king, that is, Jesus Himself (4:2). Remember cost to others. occurs. In the Bible there are key moments in her life that give us important lessons about relationships and marriage. Do not allow bitterness and scorn to prevent you from having your own encounter with the living God. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. Yet, the bible has recorded their names, and glimpses of their lives for a purpose. Lets set the context of our story. Cant you imagine how happy she is? Two young lovers, multiple conflicts, Teen shepherd boy defeats giant and wins hand of Princess Michal, daughter of King Saul. So, during the years David was fleeing King Saul, Michal had been given to another man. to another man as his wife (2 Sa 3:13-16). Since David killed Goliath, Saul offered his older daughter Merab, but David did not feel worthy to be the kings son-in-law. Sheffield, England: 1991. Our own goodness and wisdom cannot bring us to salvation; only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ can restore our broken relationship with God. The next time we see her with David things have dramatically changed in their marriage. But rather than leave Gods people with the fear and sting of judgment, the book of Micah concludes with the prophets call Proud member The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. 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. 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. @egoYlR3amU,rz- `9FV.\e_ESnbeODTU4%!%y'cv\d2dlRNIg[U'O]r$$t2t2ONag!x]O3 Michals singular failing was that she failed to honor God in Exum, J. Cheryl. But David then abandoned Michal. He repented. This little escape saved the lineage of the Messiah. It was hard for David too. Judah, Ammon, Edom and Moab paid tribute to the Assyrian king, but Israel did not fare as well. This bitterness Who was she and what happened to her after Saul and his family were killed? When they were young, she saved his life from certain death. If compromise is not made then alienation Im so visual and I remember when David became real to me. For eight to ten years the lovers In David she had loved the 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. King Saul in the Historiography of Judah. 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. In one instance Saul tried to kill David and Michal warned David and helped him escape from Saul. 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. We have seen from this story that there is never any sense or confirmation that David truly loved Michal. We see two parallel truths: Truth: Love protects and love defends even at personal risk. I will make an agreement with you. David did this because of the promise he had made to Jonathan in the Lord's name. You could see they were so happy to be getting married. While we are clear that Michal was in love with David, it is never mentioned that David was in love with Michal. Not once but several times. 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. Because these Lessons from Jochebed. How different [89] He had believed the human king was the ultimate authority and that everyone should honor him. Includes cross references, discussion questions, verse by verse commentary, outline, and applications for small groups. So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite (emphasis mine). Thus David had many reasons to praise God. She was used by her paranoid father, King Saul (1 Sam 18:20). Her bitterness was understandable: Although she had every reason to sit at that window, the presence of God would have lifted Michal's heart. 5 Lindsay Hardin Freeman, Bible Women (Forward Movement, 2014) 186. And theyre remarkably influential. Listen to Chuck Swindolls overview of Micah in his audio message from the Classic series Gods Masterwork. endobj Adelman, Rachel. This reunion brings into sharp focus the bitternesss that had developed Michal enters the story, I Samuel 18:20-21 Now Sauls daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased. 1 (2004): 1-50. an idol and claiming it was David sick in bed. in the Bible. I Samuel 18:17 Saul said to David, Here is my older daughter Merab. My tongue. As Chuck was talking, Christ was also talking to my heart. Store; Bibles; Deals; More; As low as $2.92/mo. Her loving husband was sent home crying; he was left behind weeping. Michal represents many church women who are hurting, misunderstood and rejected. There is no clear reason why she despised him, so I would like to offer a possibility. Socrates only laughed, Trans women are women. When you read this again, we see that David wanted Michal back. destroyed because one allowed affection to be replaced by bitterness. We attended a wedding recently in New Orleans. He was given to fits of rage and remorse. It helps me develop a much deeper and rounded understanding of the text, beyond simply what the words say. is absent? (Hebrew). Then the Philistines attacked, and the Lord gave David the victory over themnot once, but twice (5:17-25). MICHAL. Just as it took years to chisel away at the rough edges of the marble to smooth the sculptures surface to perfection, there were also years of refining, testing, training for the man of God to be Gods King of Israel and our women of influence were part of Gods plan for David. The Gospel Coalition exists to equip the next generation of believers, pastors, and church leaders to shape life and ministry around the gospel. Exum, J. Cheryl. Copyright 2023 The Gospel Coalition, INC. All Rights Reserved. For those times, you and I have forgiveness. In this story God used Michal to save His anointed future King David. It's what he does. As a child, you must also recognize that once married, your first obligation is to your spouse and not your parents. The question begs why? Michal was the younger daughter of King Saul and is first mentioned in 1 Samuel 14:49. Clearly, there was no discussion or amicable resolution possible. <>/Metadata 149 0 R/ViewerPreferences 150 0 R>> Some manuscripts therefore read Merab in place of Michal, for Merab was the wife of Adriel. Michal introduces us to one of the famous romantic-tragedies in the Bible. Truth: Loving others well cooperates with Gods eternal purposes. // Africa Study Bible, A Caution to Those Who Decree and Declare, The History of Christianity in Africa // Africa Study Bible, Why I Cant Believe in Spirit Husbands and Spirit Wives, Learning How to Discern and Engage with Secular Creeds, African Christianity Thrived, Long Before White Men Arrived. 21 I will give her to him, he thought, so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. So, Saul said to David, Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.. she could tolerate Davids piety no longer! disintegration of the love and affection of David and Michal. 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. 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. 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 (2 Samuel 3:13-14). this narrative. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. When Saul in his jealousy sent for David, she was quick to discern . RtmbNsR `LB@_y4sP f{6JyQT%ku .>"N_LLyzxiV|BO&@VuJl6%xba5 DTi`&j+J XmeV2jBs\dTf5py? {!8MG6V,eUu+`N(@`UbQfx She is not a wife, not a concubine but a care-giver, an essential care-giver. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. Instead, David rebukes her and it pretty much seals their doomed union. This bitterness would soon lead them into another 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 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). 9 The Quest Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House 1994) 404. We dont know but perhaps the family was unable to pay the dowry. Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria led a military campaign against Aram (Syria), Philistia and parts of Israel and Judah. religious zeal was dead. SBJT 02:3, Fall 1998). 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. Most of us dont decide daily to cut people down or find ways to carry out injustice. This will give you all the evidence you need to know if what they say is really true. We know she had previously been in love with him. this ridicule gave David the insight to write Psalms 52:2; 57:4; 120:3. Prooftexts24, no. Do not let someones bad behaviour prevent you from your own worship experience.

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