*Michal’s story is told in 1 Samuel 14-2 Samuel 6
Who Is Michal?
- The younger daughter of King Saul and sister to Jonathan.
- Married to David before he became King of Israel.
- Known for helping David escape her father Saul’s assassination attempt.
- The only woman in the Bible stated to have loved a man, David.
Strengths and Accomplishments
- Loyalty: Risked her own life to save David from King Saul (1 Samuel 19:11-17).
- Love: The Bible explicitly mentions her love for David (1 Samuel 18:28).
- Courage: Displayed courage in face of danger and showed quick thinking in deceiving her father’s messengers (1 Samuel 19:12-17).
Weaknesses and Mistakes
- Contempt: Showed contempt for David when he danced before the Lord, leading to conflict (2 Samuel 6:16-23).
- Lack of Understanding: Failed to comprehend the spiritual significance of David’s dance before the Ark of the Covenant.
- Barrenness: The Bible records that she had no children till the day of her death (2 Samuel 6:23), interpreted as a punishment from God for her scorn.
Lessons from Michal’s Life
- The Importance of Understanding: Michal’s misunderstanding of David’s worship underscores the importance of having spiritual understanding and a shared faith in relationships.
- The Consequences of Scorn: Michal’s contempt for David’s public display of devotion led to punishment, illustrating the severity of belittling genuine worship.
- The Courage of Loyalty: Michal’s courage to protect David from Saul’s murderous intent shows the lengths one might go in loyalty and love.
Key Verses
- 1 Samuel 18:28: “When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David…”
- 1 Samuel 19:11-17: “Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning… Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped.”
- 2 Samuel 6:16: “As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.”
- 2 Samuel 6:20-23 – “When David returned home to bless his household, Michal, the 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!’ 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 Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.'”