“Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight the LORD’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 1 Samuel 18:17 (NKJV)
What would you have felt like if you had been Merab? Her feelings and preferences weren’t taken into consideration. King Saul was using her as a pawn in a chess game – someone to be sacrificed for the good of getting rid of someone who was in Saul’s way. Of course, King Saul didn’t think the marriage would last long because he planned that the Philistines would kill David for him.
Fortunately for David, the Philistines didn’t kill him off, but that was also unfortunate for Saul. His plan hadn’t worked out. However, in verse 19 the Bible record shows that Saul went back on his promise to David and had Merab marry someone else.
“Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. So Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.” ” 1 Samuel 18: 20-21 (NKJV)
Well this time at least one party to the proposed marriage held affection for the other party – Michal loved David! At this point in the story the Bible record doesn’t speculate on David’s feelings toward Michal.
Have you ever loved someone else but they didn’t at least openly admit that they cared for you? That’s a tough position to be in. In real life, our Lord and Savior openly loves us, but how often do we not show our love for Him by our words, actions and thoughts?
Listen to the Don Marsh Chorus as they sing “Oh How He Loves You and Me.”
Published on MyBibleRoom.com 2/6/25, 6:00 am