Michal, Daughter of Saul

#Michal #DaughterofSaul #1Samuel18 #1Samuel19 #2Samuel3 #2Samuel6

Embedded within the story of David, Israel’s most beloved king, and of whom the Lord said was a man after God’s own heart, is the tragic story of Michal, a Benjamite princess and daughter of king Saul.

Her story begins in Late Bronze Age Canaan. The twelve tribes of Israel were still in the throes of coalescing into a kingdom, beleaguered by battle after battle with the powerful Philistines, until representatives from across the tribes came to the prophet Samuel and insisted a king be found to lead them to victory.

So, Saul, the tallest, handsomest, and best-loved wealthy young son of a Benjamite family was crowned.

“When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side—against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; wherever he turned he routed them. He did valiantly, and struck down the Amalekites, and rescued Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.”
1 Samuel 14:47-48 (NRSV)

He was a success! But the war with Philistia waged wearily on, until finally Goliath came forward with his famous challenge,

In response, Saul produced a challenge of his own, saying

“The king will greatly enrich the man who kills him, and will give him his daughter and make his family free in Israel.”
1 Samuel 17:25 (NRSV)

David took up that challenge, but not for wealth nor the hand of a princess. Rather, he fought for the honor of God’s name, in the might of God’s divine power. And all Israel could not help but fall in love with this young, handsome, fiery shepherd, musician, and courageous warrior. Including, it seems, Saul’s youngest daughter, Michal.

In Michal’s story we meet a young women in love, who soon becomes courage itself in her quick-witted rescue of her husband. But as the years go by, she becomes an abandoned wife given to another man, then a political pawn and finally the outraged and rejected queen.

Where was God in all this? Had God rejected Saul’s family on Saul’s behalf? Or is there a whisper of hope in an otherwise bleak tale of objectification and abuse?

I A Princess in Love, I Samuel 18:17-30
II A Parting in Haste, I Samuel 19:8-17, 25:39-44
III A Political Pawn, 2 Samuel 3:12-16
IV No Prospect of Honor, 2 Samuel 6:11-23

Each video is designed to offer background scholarship on the topic, including setting, culture, original language, and archaeology, as well as a theological study.

The "Broken, Searching, Trusted, Powerful" series is a companion to the book, available on Amazon, and published by Wipf and Stock.

[TheAlexandriaMoreland]

Everyone talks about the moment she was “cursed” & shamed David — but never acknowledges the abandonment and pain she went through to get to that point

[abimbolaitaloye]

Thank you so much for sharing this story. One can only imagine Michal's life in this modern age. A woman who loved her husband but never got loved back

[moniqueforrester]

Michal's story has haunted me for years, but this in depth study really blessed me. I couldn't help but feel she was disproportionately punished for a momentary snap, while David got no consequences after consistently behaving so cruely. This presentation was so well rounded and well researched that it really balanced my perspective. While it's still a tragic story, I'll remember the lessons learned.

[MsLemonpielover]

Thank you so much for this exceptional video. Holy Spirit highlighted Michal to me in Bible study last night. I felt so sad reading about a love turned so very sour 😢. I'm afraid she was deeply misunderstood. As believers, it's so important that we read scripture not just as text, but ask the Holy Spirit to being it to life. Tragic story, my heart genuinely bled for her 💔

[plitheko]

You explained the story of Michal so well. Thank you for the teaching.

[robertpanes]

I love how every story of the history in the bible is given for a reason, thank you for this, as I was working I was quickened to these characters and was able to find and listen to your teaching. We always need to be aware of the ancient laws that to modern day make little sense but explain the time and the story.

[Jochabed]

Thank you - It always disturbed me how Michal's love, devotion, and courage was ignored.

[michellethomas]

This still makes me feel sad, but thank you for the presentation.

[yannsymartinez]

Amazing video! Michal story really stud out to me as I am reading the book of Samuel. Your video provide me a lot of information and a better understanding about her story. Thank you!

[ingridbergman-vzgo]

This is so appreciated. Will continue to tune in.

[Christina_Hira]

Such a beautiful and touching and sad story, thank you for teaching me.

[sublime]

God's judgment in this case was loving protection from the Lord towards Abigail. Flaunting the Lord's law in their days brought with it consequences that would last generations. Whatever Saul messed up was going to follow his lineage, including Michal's issue. Therefore it was mercy towards her to not give her children who would suffer and she would suffer doubly watching them suffer. A case in point is David himself watching his own sons devastated by a spirit he brought in the family when he slept with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah - it hit no less than 3/4 of David's sons/ daughter, if we add adonijah to the fray. Just one ignoring of God's laws could devastate your whole lineage. So Michal's barrenness was a blessing in disguise! Look what happened to her sisters 5 sons, who had to be given to the Gibeonites to be killed for Saul's ignorance of the Israelite/ Gibeonite agreement. Had Michal had children, would they have escaped that? I do t know why people see barrenness only as a curse. Whatever God does is always good if you follow it properly, you will be able to see the kindness and mercy of the Lord. The Lord loved Michal. Watch all the barrewomen of the Bible, they were special to the Lord. He would not just give them children until He had eradicated Whatever was against those children. Saul, at the last minute had even visited a necromancer. His descendants may have been attacked by those spirits too thereafter. That's why his family had to be terminated quickly and stop future misfortune. Look at the accident that happened to his youngest whom a maid had managed to escape with. In God's world, there are no accidents! That was lack of protection first Saul's family because of the bloody lineage he had made it. All termination of it was a mercy. It is terrible to ignore God's laws.

[mehello]

Thanks for bringing out this side of the story. It always really bothered me when Bible teachers disnissed her as disobedient and evil. When its so obvious when you read that it didnt just come from nowhere.
David is always pictured as a hero, favored by God, but the man had some major screw ups that came with heavy prices.

[cassandraswer]

Beautiful Bible Story.
I am touched. I pray for the Lord's guidance each day.

[kirm]

I'm a man, but I love your take on the scriptures from a woman's point of view. I find it fascinating and it gives me a newfound respect and understanding regarding women. I never would have seen the story of Michal with such depth.

I always thought though, that Michal despised David's dancing not because it was provocative but because she felt he acted silly in front of his subjects and she felt that this was no way for a king to act. He should be stately and dignified at all times. But after watching your whole video, I believe you're on to something. ("by the maids of whom you have spoken I shall be held in honor") David wronged her gravely and she grew to hate him, some would say rightly so. Their relationship was over and they both knew it. She became nothing but a political tool to him. It could be said that she was then trapped in a loveless marriage.

The upside is that if God can forgive this type of behavior in "a man after his own heart", then surely he'll forgive my many sins if I ask him with humility and exercise repentance.

Ah, the depth you bring to the Bible with your videos.

Thanks!

[clos]

Thank you for this in-depth study of Michal. I've always been interested in her side of the story because she is such a complex character. She went from loving princess to resentful wife (with just cause). It's sad because she was used as a pawn all her life, yet she is portrayed as evil and disobedient. Her love, devotion and loyalty are often forgotten. She's been done wrong in so many ways by the people whom she loved. David might have been attracted to Michal at first, but he realized his feelings weren't the same as hers. After that he just put up with her. An unrequited love is one of the worst things in this life and seeing the person you love pursue others is heartbreaking. Then to have your own father use you for his ambitions is another slap in the face. On top of that Michal gets taken away from her second husband who truly loved her and she was probably content with only because David needed a prize model to unify Isreal. David did pay a hefty price later on in life for his wrongs by never having peace in his own house. I've always had pity, compassion and respect for Michal. ❤

[missgretchenthapa]

Such an amazing explanation. Thank you so much

[gracelandioane]

Such a tragedy! thank you for explaining her story in such detail and depth

[KingofgraceSARA]

She helped him one time and then when asked about it by her father, she lied and said, he was going to kill me.
1 Samuel 19
17Then Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this, and sent my enemy away, so that he has escaped?And Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’ ”

Why is it extraordinary that a wife would help her husband? Is that not the purpose of being a wife?
Michal was duplicitous and had loyalty only to herself.

-from a woman!

[fernandafortes]

Could you also make a video like this about Tamar, daughter of David ?