- [Narrator] The story of David and Michal can be found in the book of 1 Samuel. Michal was David's first wife and the daughter of King Saul
from the Tribe of Benjamin. She's introduced as
Saul's younger daughter. 1 Samuel 14:49. "Now Saul's sons included Jonathan, Ishvi, "and Malchi-shua. "The names of his two
daughters were these: "The name of the firstborn was Merab, "and the name of the younger, Michal." Her father, Saul, is one of
the Bible's disappointments. At 30 years old, Saul ascended to the
throne with great promise. It didn't take long for Saul's personal and spiritual flaws to surface, to his detriment and
the detriment of Israel. He was impatient and impulsive, making poor decisions under duress, and then attempting to justify himself rather than admit his mistakes. Her brother, Jonathan, was a
brave soldier like his father, and would eventually become
David's friend, protector, and advocate in Saul's court. Michal's soon-to-be husband,
David, was a shepherd and musician in his youth and was known for playing the harp. He played for her dad, King Saul, before being promoted as his armor bearer. David came to national
prominence in Israel when he slew the Philistine giant Goliath, an event that resulted in
a major military victory. As David kept winning battles, Saul grew increasingly jealous. He was furious when he
heard women singing songs praising David's accomplishments
more than his own. Twice the king tried to
personally kill David, but both times David escaped. Then Saul made him captain
over 1,000 soldiers, perhaps hoping that David would be killed while fighting the Philistines. It appears that he had
formally held a larger command. As a result of David's exploits, all Israel took notice of him. As Saul's older daughter, Merab, had been promised to the man who would kill the Philistine
giant, David was offered her. However, more victories
would have to be won first. Saul hoped David would
be killed in the process. When David expressed
his social unworthiness to be a son-in-law to the king, Merab was given to another man, which was perhaps Saul's way
of trying to humiliate David. It is here we see the relationship
between Michal and David. 1 Samuel 18:20-21. "Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David, "and when they told Saul it pleased him. "Saul said, 'I will give her to him "'so that she may become
a snare, bad influence, "'source of trouble to him, "'and that the hand of the
Philistines may be against him.' "So Saul said to David, for a second time, "'You shall be my son-in-law today.'" Saul agreed to give her to David, provided he produced a dowry
of 100 Philistine foreskins. Again, Saul hoped to kill David by the hand of the Philistines, but David was not to be
eliminated so easily. He returned with a bizarre
dowry in double measure and won Michal as his bride. As continual military success made it clear that the
Lord was with David, Saul's hatred and fear
of him continued to grow. Michal and David seemed to have a great relationship at first. Like her brother, Jonathan, Michal had occasion to protect David from her father's attempts on his life. When Saul sent men to kill David, Michal helped David
escape through a window, and she covered for him with
a story that he was sick. She afterwards claimed David
had threatened to kill her if she didn't help him. After Saul died in a battle
against the Philistines, David was led to Michal. The curse of Michal concerns David's bringing the Ark of the
Covenant to Jerusalem. The Philistines previously
captured the Ark of the Covenant. After being brought back to Israel, the Ark was kept at Kiriath-Jearim. David had a desire to
relocate the Ark to Jerusalem. King David decided to bring
the Ark of God to Jerusalem. David investigated the scriptures to see how the Ark was to be transported. Afterward, the Ark was
brought to a temporary tent in the city of David and there were people
dancing in the streets. The king was overjoyed and danced before the
Lord with all his might. 2 Samuel 6:14-23. "And David was dancing before the Lord "with great enthusiasm, "and David was wearing a linen ephod, "a priest's upper garment. "So David and all the house of Israel "were bringing the Ark of the Lord "up to the city of
David with shouts of joy "and with the sound of the trumpet. "Then, as the Ark of the Lord
came into the city of David, "Michal, Saul's daughter, David's wife, "looked down from the window above "and saw King David leaping
and dancing before the Lord, "and she felt contempt
for him in her heart "because she thought him undignified. "They brought in the Ark of the Lord "and set it in its place inside the tent, "which David had pitched for it, "and David offered burnt offerings "and peace offerings before the Lord. "When David had finished
offering the burnt offerings "and peace offerings, "he blessed the people in the
name of the Lord of Hosts, "armies, and distributed
to all the people, "the entire multitude of
Israel, both to men and women, "to each a ring-shaped loaf
of bread, a cake of dates, "and a cake of raisins. "Then all the people
departed, each to his house. "Then David returned
to bless his household, "but his wife, Michal,
the daughter of Saul, "came out to meet David
and said, 'How glorious "'and distinguished was
the king of Israel today, "'who uncovered himself and
stripped off his kingly robes "'in the eyes of his servants' maids "'like one of the riffraff "'who shamelessly uncovers himself.' "So David said to Michal, "'It was before the Lord that I did this, "'who chose me above your
father and do his house, "'to appoint me as ruler over Israel, "'the people of the Lord. "'Therefore, I will
celebrate in pure enjoyment "'before the Lord, "'yet I will demean
myself even more than this "'and will be humbled,
abased in my own sight "'and yours, as I please, "'but by the maids whom you mentioned, "'by them, I shall be held in honor.' "Michal, the daughter of Saul, "had no child to the day of her death." David realized that genuine
worship is meant solely for God. We don't worship to impress others, but rather to humbly respond to God. We read, "David danced before
the Lord with all his might." David didn't hold back anything in his own expression of worship. He didn't dance out of obligation, but out of heartfelt worship. He was glad to bring the Ark
of the Lord into Jerusalem according to God's word. We don't think that dancing is strange when the baseball player rounds the bases after the game-winning home run or the winning goal is scored. We don't think it is strange when our own child scores a goal. We think nothing at hands raised
at a concert or touchdown. We should not think them
strange in worship to God. David's wife, Michal, didn't appreciate David's
exuberant worship. She felt it wasn't dignified
for the king of Israel to express his emotions before God. With biting sarcasm, Michal's criticism could have ruined this
whole day for David. Michal seemed to indicate that she didn't object to David's dancing, but to what David wore when
he set aside his royal robes and danced as a man
just like the other men, celebrating in the procession. David acted as if he were just
another worshiper in Israel. David didn't let Michal's
sarcastic criticism ruin his day. He simply explained the truth, "I did it for God, not for you." David responded by
contrasting two pursuits, people-pleasing versus God-pleasing. He told her, "It was before
the Lord that I danced. "Therefore, I will play
music before the Lord, "and I will be even more
undignified than this, "and will be humble in my own sight." God-pleasing leaders can learn three important
things from David. First, sacrifice. David made many sacrifices
en-route to Jerusalem. Second, surrender. David danced and shouted with reckless
abandon before the Lord. Third, service. David gave food generously
to all in Israel. David's actions were humbling as he did not dance to display
his spirituality to others. Michal's bareness was not necessarily the result of divine judgment. Nevertheless, the principle stands, there is often bareness in the life and ministry of the overly critical. What began as a celebrity
marriage in Israel, involved a series of dramatic events that ultimately led to David
choosing multiple wives. Michal chose to speak against her husband and went through her life childless. Though David was a man
after God's own heart, his marriage relationships
were problematic. Through David and Michal's relationship, God worked despite their sinful nature, and the Lord likewise calls
us today to live for Him, despite past failures, to pursue his direction for our lives. David's wife, Michal, worried far more about
image than authenticity. When David danced before the
Lord, she felt ashamed of him. She wanted to guard
her family's reputation and remain oh-so-sophisticated. But we wind up with shallow spirits when we focus on appearance
rather than substance. Unlike Michal, David was a
man after God's own heart. One would think that
a man who gives praise is absent of worries and
challenges, but this is not true. He's often called the
sweet psalmist of Israel, but was this always true? I would like you to know
that this lovely man experienced bitter times. The Bible says that David's daily routine included praising God seven times. This means whether he was in a great mood or weary from his assignments, he always made time to
appreciate and honor God. No wonder he was a man after God's heart. We see him in various
verses praising, rejoicing, and joyful before the Lord, even when he was facing challenges. "I will bless the Lord at all times. "His praise shall
continually be in my mouth. "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord. "The humble shall hear
thereof and be glad. "O magnify the Lord with me, "and let us exalt his name together. "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, "and delivered me from all my fears. "This poor man cried
and the Lord hurt him, "and saved him out of all his troubles. "O taste and see that the Lord is good. "Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. "The eyes of the Lord
are upon the righteous, "and His ears are open unto their cry. "The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, "and delivereth them out
of all their troubles. "Many are the afflictions
of the righteous, "but the Lord delivereth
him out of them all. "The Lord redeemed the
soul of His servants, "and none of them that trust
in Him shall be desolate." Psalm 34. From these verses, it's evident
that David is going through terribly challenging times. There was fears, troubles, crying, and no doubt he must have fainted. Yet, he found it in his heart to praise and rejoice before the Lord. Of course, this is why God's power was always powerfully revealed to him and he was delivered repeatedly. When faced with challenges,
the typical reaction is to moan or complain about the situation. Pondering on these enormous
and overwhelming challenges only brings discouragement
and can lead to depression because what we magnify will
always look bigger than it is. Our state of mind enlarges
these issues so much that they engulf our every waking moment. They affect not only our normal reactions but also our self-esteem. Part of why David is called
a man after God's own heart is that he had absolute faith in God. Through David's consistent
meditation practice, God bestowed understanding
and wisdom upon him. Because God delights in it
when we give Him our thoughts, we would do well to read the Bible and think about what it
says as the day goes on. There were times in David's life when he was filled with fear and despair, and there were also times when he was filled with
great peace and prosperity, but despite the many changes in his life, he never stopped to
forget to thank the Lord for everything he possessed. It is without question one of David's most admirable qualities. It would benefit us, as
followers of Jesus Christ, to follow David's example and offer praise and
thanksgiving to our Lord in the same way he did. Praise, thanksgiving, joy, and rejoicing are extremely
potent weapons to use because victory is assured no matter the intensity of the battle. Psalm 22:3. "But you are holy. "O you who are enthroned in the holy place "where the praises of Israel are offered." We must therefore face
whatever comes before us with confident assurance and praise for the victories we desire. Let us pray. My dear Father, thank you, because you have made
provisions for me to triumph, no matter what confronts me. I ask for your help so I will not allow the
enemy to weaken my faith by using my mind to magnify my challenges. Please, give me the grace to praise you, even what I am fainting, because that is how I win my battles. May all the praise and glory be to you, in Jesus' name I have prayed. Amen.
