June 30, 2008

The Bible is filled with stories of larger-than-life heroes and heroines, many well-known, others not so. Sometimes I get caught up in the verses I’m reading, wondering what it must have really been like at the time. There are relatively few details given and some of the women, especially, have gotten a bad rap down through the ages. We need to remember that these were real women, not just characters in a book. We do them a disservice when we refuse to allow them to become flesh and blood as we study.

Eve has long been pegged the source of the world’s woes, but there are also others who, I believe, remain largely misunderstood. Job’s wife, for one—her husband said she was foolish to suggest he “Curse God and die” in the midst of incredible trials and suffering, but I hear a woman who loves so deeply she can hardly bear to watch her husband’s pain. Foolish, yes, in light of God’s plans and purposes, but also, from a human standpoint, perfectly understandable.

Of all the women I’ve heard dealt with harshly, however, whether in print or from the pulpit, I think Michal, David’s first wife, deserves the prize. When she is spoken of, it is almost always with disdain. What audacity, to cop an attitude with King David, the man after God’s own heart! How dare she criticize him for worshipping God!

We’re so quick to judge.

Let’s look briefly at her sad, sad circumstances. Clearly she and Dad haven’t been close—King Saul believes his little girl will “be a snare” to David (1 Samuel 18:21), not a blessing. In love with David (who may have preferred her older sister), her father, all but dares David to marry Michal by requiring him to circumcise a hundred Philistines as a bride-price. He’s refused to marry for love, but he jumps at the chance to kick a little Philistine butt! Michal faces life as a newlywed caught between an overbearing father who hates her husband, and her beloved husband, destined by God to take over her family’s reign. She saves his life by helping him escape, only to receive word that David’s taken another wife. And then another…

Meanwhile, Daddy Dearest decides to publicly humiliate his son-in-law by giving Michal to a man named Paltiel. In that culture and day, it’s unlikely that Michal had a choice. Saul takes his life in battle, her brother Jonathan is killed, David is finally anointed king. Years pass. David has six wives, more concubines, numerous children. But Michal is, perhaps, at peace for the first time in her life, content to live with a man who actually loves her, who doesn’t have to fear for his life, who comes home each night.

Unfortunately, David goes into “payback” mode when an enemy wishes to get into his good graces. He agrees to accept the man—if he will bring back Michal (note that David never tried to get her back himself). Apparently Paltiel is much more heartbroken by his separation from Michal than David ever was--when she’s removed by force, he follows, weeping, until ordered to return home.

Within the context of all this turmoil and emotion Michal becomes embittered toward the man she once loved. Perhaps she has a problem seeing David worshipping God in the context of all the hurt, from her perspective, that he has caused her. Obviously she’s holding on to some baggage from the past when she confronts David with biting sarcasm in 2 Samuel 6. David responds with equal hardness. The chapter, and all mention of Michal, ends with verse 23 “And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.” The implication? No relationship of any kind between her and David…which probably suited Michal just fine. Unwilling to forgive, possibly unschooled in the ways of Jehovah, we can only guess that she spends the rest of her life in obscurity and self-pity.

But remember 2 Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching…”—the stories in the Bible and the characters the Lord chose to include are there to instruct us, even the ones who appear to have gotten everything wrong. When my David and I were engaged, I prayed for a scripture for our upcoming marriage and was led to 2 Samuel 6:16: “When (Michal) saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.” It became my goal and desire to do just the opposite—to not despise my husband for obeying God, even when I didn’t understand.

“What Would Jesus Do?” is a trendy phrase, but the next time we’re tempted to judge one of Bible’s sadder characters, I suggest we ask ourselves, “What would I have done?” as we try to understand the context of their behavior. If we had undergone the same trials and hurts. And without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who would eventually come to guide and teach.

Ellen Gillette is a freelance writer and author in Lillington, NC. She may be reached at ellenofgillette1@aol.com. Her comments and views do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the membership or leadership of Crossroads Church, but they’re kind enough to let her ramble on here. And her husband David has been kind enough to consistently forgive her over the last 31 years when she has failed him miserably.