Michal Is Embarrassed By David’s Lack Of Dignity

When David tried to bring the Ark to Jerusalem based on human ideas of what was best, it had cost Uzzah’s life.  The second time, when they did it the way God had intended, they made the entire journey without incident.  David and the people were dancing and leaping about in excitement that finally they were going to be able to worship God in a proper manner, as II Samuel 6:14-describes.  “And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.  So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

Michal had loved David and Saul had encouraged them to get married in hopes of using that love to get David killed.  When that failed, he had sought to have David murdered, but he had escaped into the wilderness with Michal’s help.  Saul forced her to marry another man, as I Samuel 25:44 tells us.  Several years later, David had insisted that she be returned to him, and she had been taken from her second husband and restored to him, with no say in the matter.  Apparently her marriage to Phalti had been good, and she was resentful about being forced to leave him.  Instead of being happy for him, she was embarrassed by his exhuberance and her resentment turned to disgust, as II Samuel 6:16 tells us.  “And 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 dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.”

David had had the Tabernacle moved to Jerusalem, and they offered sacrifices and offerings that had not been offered for about a hundred years, as we see in II Samuel 6:17-19.  “And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.  And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.  And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.” 

David and the people made it a day of celebration, with David serving everyone that came a good meal.  Instead of rejoicing in what having proper worship restored, Michal sat at home fretting about David’s lack of dignity.   When he returned home she jumped him about it, accusing him of having no self respect and acting like some drunken fool, in II Samuel 6:20.  “Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!”

David had done nothing wrond and was hurt by her accusations.  He appreciated what God had done for him and his had just been trying to show his appreciation.  If she was going to get upset over his love for God she better get used to being upset because he was not going to forsake God to please her, as II Samuel 6:21-22 states.  “And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.  And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.”  While she might think it was undignified to associate with and act like the common people, the people would appreciate it.

Though they would remain married for many years, the marriage would never be emotionally or sexually satisfying because of Michal’s resentment as II Samuel 6:23 tells us, “Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.”  She would later adopt five boys in an attempt to satisfy her desire for children, only to lose them in II Samuel 21.  It would have been far better for both had they followed the directions in Deuteronomy 24:1-4.  “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.  And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.  And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”

As I Corinthians 6:16 tells us, the sexual act causes an emotional bonding that is not easily broken.  “What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.”  The emotional effects of that bonding will affect other relationships in the future, making it more difficult to have a proper marriage.   Because they have such an emotional impact, what should be a minor issue becomes a major problem.