“Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.” 2 Samuel 6:16 (NKJV)
Remember that Michal had been given to David by King Saul, then later King Saul took her back and gave her to another man. When King Saul and his sons were killed in battle, David became well known as a leader of Israel.
Abner was one of King Saul’s leading soldiers, but after King Saul’s death, he decided to choose to be on the winning side – David’s. Abner sent messengers to David and said he would bring all of Israel to side with him, if David would make an agreement with him.
David said he would make an agreement only on the condition that Abner brought him David’s first wife, Michal. Abner got Michal away from her current husband and brought her to David. (2 Samuel 3:14-16)
Time goes by. The ark of covenant had been captured by the Philistines and then was returned by the Philistines due to God’s intervention. David wanted to bring the ark back to the tabernacle after a disastrous first attempt. This time King David followed God’s requirements for moving the ark. Every six paces the priests would set the ark down and a sacrifice would be made.
Throughout this process, King David danced in the street, dancing before the Lord. But, Michal despised King David for his public display of dancing. She did not feel that his behavior was fitting for a king. David rebuked her and told her that he would play music and dance before the Lord. Then the Bible says that Michal had no children until the day of her death (v. 23).
What can I learn from this part of Michal’s story? Michal had been used as a pawn by her father even though she had affections for David. King Saul had disregarded her desires when he decided to take her from David and give her to another man. After the war between the household of Saul and the household of David ended she again was given no choice, but returned to David. Her personal feelings and emotions were never taken into account by any of the men in her life. Yet she felt justified in rebuking David for dancing before the Lord.
I may have times in my life when it seems that I have little or no control over what happens to me in certain circumstances. However, unlike Michal, I need to realize that God has ultimate control over everything that happens to me as well as to everyone else on earth.
Listen to Ron Dais as he sings Steve Green’s song, “You Are God Alone“
Published on MyBibleRoom.com 2/9/25, 6:00 am