2 Samuel 6:16

MICHAL DESPISED DAVID

"As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart."

Most of the commentators we have consulted take a very negative view of Michal, accusing her of pride, irreligion, lack of love for David, of dishonoring him and failing to show proper respect for him. In view of the very high place which King David occupies in the Holy Scriptures, we cannot contradict those views rashly, but we pray that this writer will be forgiven for a different viewpoint which we feel should be injected into our consideration of this episode.

In the first place it was sinful for David to take back Michal as his wife (Deuteronomy 17:17). Michal and Paltiel evidently loved each other, and David's sinful act in taking her away from her husband was probably never forgiven by Michal. A lonely and extremely competitive place in David's godless harem was a mighty poor substitute for the happy home she had been sinfully forced to leave behind her.

We cannot believe that David really loved Michal. All of his marriages seem to have been founded upon political, financial or other motives, none of which demanded his re-marrying Michal. Yes, some commentators say it re-enforced his claim on Saul's throne, but we do not accept that. It appears to this writer as having been motivated more by spite than by anything else. Added to all this was that pagan dance in which David shamelessly exposed himself and which was sinful, certainly in one aspect - that of his not wearing the required breeches.