Bible Reference: 2 Samuel 6:16, 2 Samuel 6:20-23

“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.

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal 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. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.”

Root of her Bitterness

Michal was the youngest daughter of King Saul and was promised in marriage to David pending his collection of 100 Philistine foreskins (1 Samuel 18:20). David went above and beyond and brought back 200 instead, and he was wed to Michal. Reading further, it can be concluded that perhaps Michal never felt truly loved and was added to the number of other wives. As time went on after being given to Paltiel in David’s absence while he was being hunted down by her father, it appeared that Michal finally had a man who would love her, Paltiel.

Upon Saul’s death, David requested his wife, Michal, back as he had fairly won her hand with his procurement of the 200 Philistine foreskins. She was taken from her new husband, Paltiel, and his grief was nearly palpable as he followed the horse that carried Michal until he was ordered to turn back and go home (2 Samuel 3:13-16).

Reflection: What are some feelings you may have felt about your life at this point if you were Michal?

Now we find her in 2 Samuel 6 watching from a window, seething as the community celebrated the Ark of the Covenant’s return, and making insolent commentary, judging the worship of David. She was not mindful of God or the huge deal that this was for the Ark to be brought back to its rightful place. She only saw David dancing in view of slave girls and voiced her disdain at his audacious dancing.

What’s the Opportunity?

The Bible does not speak of any personal relationship that Michal had with David’s God, and I believe this is where her fate was sealed. What I found in studying Michal’s life is a root of bitterness that bore from the seed of pain that was not dealt with spiritually.

Michal’s absent relationship with God is a stark comparison to her husband’s devotion as the writer of the majority of Psalms where he poured his heart out to God about all sorts of encounters and disappointments. Such commitment and connection to God sealed his identity as a ‘man after God’s own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14) and continues to help many Christians to weather the ups and downs of our walk with God on this fallen earth.

In His sovereignty, God allowed everything Michal endured and even gave her the opportunity to be influenced to seek Him with her whole heart as she was married to a man of God who was doing just that.

Reflection: How can I become a woman who sees pain as opportunities to work through and move past my feelings, as I move closer to God?

The power of pain is its ability to transform—how we deal with pain determines much of our character, future success, and spiritual standing before God.

Purpose Behind the Pain

Bitterness is the result of pain that has not been dealt with spiritually. We can have many responses to pain like numbing out, self-medicating, dissociating, and even projecting, but anything outside of casting it onto God leaves us at risk for a hardened heart that in its dissatisfaction, seeks to defile others and ourselves. The purpose behind our pain and the salve to our sorrows many times is that God is allowing and using pain in order to test our character and make us holy for his ultimate use (Hebrews 12:4-13 / Psalm 105:17-19 NLT). Many of us can relate to Michal’s emotions and reaction, but our outcomes do not have to mirror hers. Let us be women who take our pain to God and cultivate it into what gives Him the most glory!

Living it Out

• Carve out a designated time for daily prayer and talk about your pains and disappointments.

• Find a spiritual mentor–someone who can help you obey God’s word about bitterness in spite of the depths of your pain.

• Imitate those around you who have persevered through hardship while maintaining an admirable walk with God.

Rise & Shine Bright.

By: Stephania Brooks – Our Writers.