What She let slip out . . .

Origin stories aren’t just for action heroes or fictional characters. These stories give the why behind the what, often revealing the heart of the matter. For leadHERs, willingness to dive into the origin of your own story can be an effective tool for uncovering what informs your present thoughts, actions, and motivations. Origin stories can also provide a clarifying lens on the actions of others. When we learn what fueled the development of someone’s character our understanding of their history can provide important lessons for our own lives.

“But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him” (II Samuel 6:16, NLT).

Does Michal’s story start in the moment when she reprimands David for his demonstrative worship? Is this the moment when bitterness begins to fill her heart and spill out of her mouth? Unfortunately, her history was more complicated than just this one glimpse into her life. While much of what we know about Michal is solidified in the moment when she ridicules David’s worship, what you may not know is the backstory.

You would think that being the daughter of the first king of Israel would have plenty of princess perks, right? But if you came of age at the time your father’s loose grip on power and popularity were both being challenged, your experience might be something other than a posh, “royal” life.

“In the meantime, Saul’s daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and Saul was delighted when he heard about it. ‘Here’s another chance to see him killed by the Philistines!’ Saul said to himself. But to David he said, “Today you have a second chance to become my son-in-law!” (I Samuel 18:20-21, NLT).

Threatened by the David’s growing prowess that had endeared him to hearts of the nation, Saul saw an opportunity to put David in harm’s way, when he realized that Michal’s heart too had been captured by the young giant slayer. Using her blossoming affection to his advantage, King Saul sent David on a dangerous mission into the Philistine territory with the promise of marrying Michal upon successful completion.

“Then Saul sent troops to watch David’s house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, ‘If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead by morning’ “(I Samuel 19:11, NLT).

Later, when King Saul’s growing angst against David reach a boiling point, Michal helped David escape from her father’s deadly plan and was thrust into a second marriage with a man named Palti. As David became a fugitive from King Saul’s wrath, many years would pass before Michal would be reunited with her husband.

“Saul, meanwhile, had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to a man from Gallim named Palti son of Laish” (I Samuel 25:44).

The pain of being a pawn in the hands of her vengeful father, the presence of circumstances that she could not control took their toll on Michal’s heart. The anger, bitterness, and resentful words she hurled at King David on the day he brought back the Ark of Covenant had been festering in her soul for some time. Although he was not the author of her original pain, David became the object of some very deep-seated emotions in that infamous moment.

“When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” (II Samuel 6:20, NLT).

Has this ever happened to you? Has your past, your pain, your poor judgment caused you to release a flood of negative emotions on those around you? As leadHERs, what fills our hearts now is often the product of past experiences both positive and negative. Broken trust in our relationships may not only leave a bitter taste in our mouths but become a source of bondage in our hearts.

While many cite the negative aspects of Michal’s outburst and even highlight the barrenness that resulted from her exchange with David, fewer recognize the important lessons her story teaches about digging beneath the surface of our emotions. When we recognize the signs of bitterness brewing, that’s the moment to ask God for the courage and wisdom to delve into the backstory of our negative feelings. Going back to the origin is a necessary journey for inner healing and an important exercise in our development as leadHERs.

Recognize the signs of Bitterness by investigating recurrent negative emotions.

Reexamine past experiences that introduced Brokenness into your heart.

Find Release from the Bondage of past wounds through God’s love and forgiveness.

Refuse the Barrenness that could overwhelm your life and become its outcome.

LeadHERs, my prayer for you today is that you will come to understand God’s desire for your peace and inner healing. Use Michal’s story as a reminder of what can result when we don’t do the hard work of heart work. Rely on God for the courage and strength needed to take the journey beneath the surface of your emotions.

Your Sister in LeadHERship,

Dr. Margaret R. Frye

Want to learn more about Michal’s story? Find it in I Samuel 14, 18, 19, 25; II Samuel 3, 6; I Chronicles 15

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