A NATION IN CIVIL WAR
Last week we studied how civil wars began between Northern Israel and Judah. The wars were lead by Abner (for the House of Saul) and Joab (For the House of David.) These sad civil wars lasted a long time, approximately seven and one-half years. All of the people of Israel suffered. Eventually, The House of David grew stronger and stronger while the House of Saul grew weak.
So much of the seven and one-half years of David’s reign over the southern kingdom of Judah during this time reminded me of the tribulations to come. It was a time of great unrest. At the end, David’s Kingdom prevailed and Saul’s Kingdom was extinguished.
THE UNSEEN CIVIL WAR
We can look at the spiritual side of this story and see this spark of symbolism. As this civil war broke out between the two factions of the nation of Israel, we know there is also an unseen civil war constantly going on in the heavens.
One of God’s creation has rebelled against Him. This rebellion is very similar to the one where Abner used Ish-Bosheth to gain control of Israel. In the parallel and unseen realm of the spiritual world we know that Satan is power hungry. He is always busy trying to take the place of God. It is his desire to be King. He will use whatever means he can find to destroy the rulership which God has brought about.
In today’s story, David symbolizes how Yeshua fights for us. He is busy following God’s plan for evolving Israel into the nation to lead all nations.
GOD’S WAY ALWAYS PREVAILS
However, the end of the seven and one-half years will finally come. Satan/and or Judah’s enemies will be defeated. This is a constantly repeated biblical pattern. We always know how it ends. It is always a matter of holding on and trusting God for the answers. The created will never be more powerful than The Creator. It is always just a matter of time.
So it was with David, God’s Anointed. David was waiting on God’s timing. He was remaining obedient and listening for further instructions. David clearly understood who was in charge of the universe. As King he had this fresh perspective that the King was for the people, not the people for the King. He truly loved the people of Israel. David had great respect for God’s leadership over them. To David, the King was merely a vessel to implement God’s will and ways. This was most likely the reason Judah was strengthened and grew stronger.
MAN’S WAY IS NEVER BEST
On the other hand, we see Ish-Bosheth who did whatever Abner told him to do. As a result, he ruled a kingdom which was growing weaker all the time. This weakening of power typically happens when God isn’t involved in our decisions. Men’s plans eventually decay. God’s plans are eternal and everlasting. We do not hear any indication that Ish-Bosheth was consulting God to make his decisions. To the contrary. Ish-Bosheth was consulting a mere man. His name was Abner. The weak King was using Abner’s advice for every move he made.
THE SONS OF DAVID
In Deuteronomy 17: 16-18, we find a scripture which required that a King should not possess many wives:
But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold. When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.….
We have spoken many times of how David had his faults. Here is one thing he seemed to overlook that mattered. During his reign over Judah, he possessed six wives within his household. The scriptures spell out the fact that it is not good for a King to have many wives. Here is the beginning of some of the troubles David’s flaws will bring to the Kingdom. Though his leadership as King seemed to be flawless, his home life certainly had some questionability.
SEVEN AND ONE-HALF YEARS WITH SIX WIVES
David ruled in Hebron as King of Judah for seven and one-half years. It is interesting to note that most people think the tribulation will last for seven and one-half years. It has been noted by many of today’s prophets that we will have 3.5 years of tribulation, then 3.5 years of great tribulation. Could this period of 7 years when David ruled over Judah be symbolic of the times of tribulations? Maybe. It is worth pondering. Perhaps his many wives played into the picture.
In this 7 year period David had only six sons who were born to six different wives. Only one son per wife. Why do you think David’s kingdom wasn’t becoming more fruitful in the way of sons? With so many wives you would think he would have conceived many more sons to carry on the throne. We are told of six at this time.
WIVES AND SONS AT HEBRON
Ahinoam of Jezreel gave David his firstborn son. That son was named Ammon. Abigail gave David his second son. His name was Kileab. Kileab was also called Daniel.
When we hear of the birth of David’s third son, we realize he had taken another wife. Her name was Maakah. She was the daughter of Talmai who was King of Geshur. This appeared to be a marriage of political alliances. Her son (David’s third son) was called Absalom.
It seems that David married again. Her name was Haggith. Haggith gave David his fourth son. His name was Adonijah.
Then we hear that David marries again. This time the woman was Shephatiah. Shephatiah gave David his fifth son. That son was named Abital.
Again, we hear of another wife. Her name was Eglah. Eglah had David’s sixth son. His name was Ithream.
SIX WIVES AND SIX SONS
Altogether, six sons were born to David while he was living in Hebron.
If the subject of David’s wives is interesting to you, we previously shared a lesson on that specific subject. You can find that lesson by following this link: ( https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/davids-wives/.)
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE HOUSE OF SAUL
Let’s take a look at what is going on at the house of Saul while David is busy being King of Judah, marrying, and siring his first six sons. As Ish-Bosheth ruled over the House of Saul in Israel, Abner kept strengthening his position. He became very powerful. All of the elders of Israel trusted and respected Abner’s judgement.
One of Saul’s concubines was named Rizpah. Apparently, Rizpah was still living in Israel during this time. I suppose it was possible that Rizpah could have been Ish-Bosheth’s mother. Maybe that was why he had questions. At any rate, Ish-Bosheth approached Abner and asked him why he had slept with his father’s (Saul’s) concubine.
ABNER RULED BY EMOTIONS
Abner was very angry to be accused of this offense. Emotions overtook him. He lashed back with his answer to Ish-Bosheth saying, “Am I a dog’s head – on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman!”
ABNER’S ANGRY DECISION
Abner continued, “May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath and transfer the kingdom from the House of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.”
This statement tells us a lot about Abner. Apparently, from his own words, he KNEW that God intended David to be King over Israel. Funny, that until he was angry with Ish-Bosheth, he had never considered acting on this knowledge.
Abner was one of those people who used knowledge as leverage to get his own way. He wasn’t just an angry man seeking revenge. Abner was determined to be the one at the top of the stack. He considered himself a ruler and always desired to be the one in charge. Until now, Ish-Bosheth had been convenient for him to use in swaying the people and gaining quick power. Now he is thinking maybe David would be a better choice. It wasn’t at all about Ish-Bosheth or David though. Abner’s decisions were always all about Abner and whatever power he could gain for the moment.
With Abner, nothing was sacred. There was no true loyalty. His actions here reminded me of Esau begging Jacob for a bowl of porridge. He was willing to give up his birthright for a bowl of soup. Abner seems to be of the same spirit.
WE SEE THE TRUE ABNER
Abner had his pride and his reputation as a great man to consider. That was all that mattered to him. He thrived on his own importance. There was nothing humble about his thoughts or decisions.
Also, Abner was a user. He had used Saul’s mental illnesses to gain control. He had connived his way into becoming the head of Israel’s army. When Saul died and Abner’s position seemed threatened, he then used Ish-Bosheth in like manner. Ish-Bosheth was like a puppet-king. Abner helped this weak man to stay in control in order to maintain his own position of importance.
In Abner’s emotional act of disloyalty, when he declared the switching of sides whenever it was more convenient for him, we see that Abner’s loyalties are truly for himself. Though it would have been wise for him to support David all along, and moving over to David’s side might have been the correct decision, his motives were all wrong. Abner’s actions showed his true identity. His decisions as a leader labeled him as a disloyal, self-serving user. Instead of trusting God for direction and guidance, he used politics to maneuver whomever he could in order to gain whatever he could.
DAVID DEMANDS HIS RIGHTS
So, Ish-Bosheth becomes afraid of what Abner might do against him. He does not say another word to Abner about this matter. But Abner was still seething with anger. Ish-Bosheth was no longer valuable to him. He sent word over to David by way of a messenger saying, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.”
“Good” said David. “I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me.”
Now here is an interesting twist to the story of David. Remember Michal? She was David’s first wife and the daughter of Saul. Saul ran David off and gave her to be the wife of another man. Now David is demanding her back. She had been another man’s wife for many years, but unlawfully.
THE MYSTERIOUS MICHAL
The mysterious life of Michal has inspired many artist and poets. Her story is sadly unique and bittersweet. The fact that twice she stood by a window and made life-changing decisions is noted. The first time she was helping David escape from Saul. She is painted as a heroine. This part of the story is often compared to the actions of Rahab, as she helped the men of God escape from her window. David’s escape was of the same sequence and order.
The second window-scene for Micah was when David danced in front of the Ark and she insulted him with her bitter words in their next brief encounter. This window scene carried an opposite fate for Micah. By her bitter words she condemned her relationship with David. She criticized his worship of God and shamed him publicly.
THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW
Hence, Michal has often been referred to as “the woman in the window.” She has been depicted by artists and poets in this way over the generations.
The best poet’s description was from a poem called Michal by Rahel Blunstein. Below are some of her picturesque words. Utilizing the biblical trope of the window, Rahel evokes the ancient woman, still standing by the window, as if frozen in time, and highlights their similar destinies:
“More than once I have seen you standing fixed by the small window, in your beautiful eye pride and tenderness are mingled. Michal, distant sister, like you, I’m sad. Like you, condemned to despise the one I love.” (Michal – by Rahel Blunstein 1891-1931.)
OTHER REFERENCES
There is one other reference of a woman in a window which is scriptural. I refer to Song of Songs 2:9 which says, “My Beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.”
I cannot read this scripture passage without imagining Michal hoping for David to return for her. My imagination can see her gazing through the same window from which he left her. Also, we know the Song of Songs has long been interpreted as a love letter from Yeshua. This is the letter to His future bride. Layers of love stories are painting this event all the way through the scriptures.
All of these many references to the woman in the window remind me of a fairytale. It is a story about a woman named Rapunzel. There was a beautiful woman standing isolated forever in a tower. She cannot escape. This beautiful woman is waiting for the One who will come to her rescue. Do you think even this fairytale was inspired by the author’s reading of 2 Samuel? We will probably never hear the answer to that question.
RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE
I tend to see a bit more in this story than most of the researchers. This sharing is with caution and the knowing of the power of my own imaginations. I am capable at times of overreach. Even with that in mind, my feelings lean toward the thought that David never truly lost his feelings for Michal. I believe he kept loving her, even with all that happened to ruin their relationship.
This final situation of David demanding that Michal be returned to him speaks to the power of first love. Something here also sounds faintly familiar. How many scripture references speak of remaining true to your first love? These passages containing this phrase are all the way through our bibles. Also, we are constantly presented with the thoughts of a first love returning. Of course, the meaning behind these passages are speaking of staying true to God. They are about remembering to not participate in idolatry and the ways of the world.
RETURNING
Revelation 2:3-5 comes to mind. I consider this passage as I read about David demanding that Michal be returned to him. That scripture is one of the letters to the seven churches where Yeshua is speaking to the Church of Ephesus. It says, “Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name. But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
Michal’s worst mistake was that she let bitterness and jealousy overcome her first love for David. Can you imagine how different their second meeting might have been if she had not allowed this to happen? This tragedy can happen in any love story. See it for what it is, because it should never happen in our love story with Yeshua. Michal longed for David to behave more in the manner of her concept of how a King should be. She did not accept him for being the true King when he danced in the every-day common priestly garments. This was her terrible and fatal mistake.
THE HIDDEN STORY WITHIN THE STORY
Was God showing us a picture of how to stay loyal to Him? Did He show us through the story of David demanding Michal be returned to him? Isn’t this what God does for us when He confronts Satan and demands that he no longer trouble us?
“First love” is often interpreted as a call to rekindle one’s relationship with God. The theme of returning to God, or rekindling one’s faith, is prescribed in many examples in the scriptures.
Think about how David proved his love for Michal. He paid a heavy price for her hand from Saul. David, knowing Saul’s personality, had actually given double the bride-price that her Father had required. He could have died in this pursuit to win Michal’s hand. We know he had to battle many of Israel’s enemies in the process.
Hence, we can see David’s love was for Michal was strong. Yet, all that David did to obtain Michal’s hand in marriage was nothing compared to what Yeshua did for us.
DON’T FORGET TO OVERCOME
How sad for us (and David) to learn that Michal had weakened her resolve. Again, she had allowed Saul’s power to overcome her. She had proven herself to be bold and true to David in her youth. It was noted that she had broken Saul’s yoke over her life.
In those early days Michal had been clever and intelligent in the way she responded to her circumstances. Her handling of the situations with Saul were masterful. This has been compared to the way Rahab handled the enemies of God. She too let the men of God escape from her window.
But in the later scenes of Michal’s life, we notice she has grown weak. The weight of the world she lived in took its tole on her. Her passion is gone. Eventually, she quit fighting for her true identity. She allowed the forces of the world to arrange her life. She submitted, like a conquered lioness.
You may be asking, what else could she have done? There are always alternatives. Why did she not try to escape, to run away to find David? Why did she let Saul force his hateful and unloving rule over her again? He kept using her like an object instead of a human being. It appears that Michal had given up on ever being David’s love again.
Years later, Michal did have one brief chance to speak with David again. She allowed her bitterness and jealousy to prevail. This was done despite the fact that she was still very much in love with David. That had ended their relationship. David did not stay to pursue her again.
THE KING IS COMING AGAIN
However, all these years later, David WAS pursuing her again. Apparently, He never gave up on the fact that she belonged exclusively to him and no one else. What a beautiful picture of God’s love for us. As He watches Satan lure us away to another kingdom, He finally does return. Yeshua will return to demand that we belong to Him. He paid for our redemption with His life. Satan has no legal rights to hold the child of God.
David’s pursuit of Michal reflects Yeshua’s pursuit of our hearts. He longs for us to come out of the world. He encourages us to remember our first feelings for Him. We are urged to return.
So much has happened since Michal and David pledged their love to one another. There has been a lot of water under the bridge. Many years have passed. Now both David and Michal are involved in other relationships. Yet, it seems that David never forgot his love for Michal. Even if he was not allowed to be intimate with her again because it would be breaking the law. It was enough for him to have her near him. He longed to have her back inside his home. She was the one thing he demanded as the condition to his final Kingship over all of Israel.
OLD TESTAMENT STORY OF NEW TESTAMENT LOVE
This last part of the story explaining the final fate of Michal is the part of the story many overlook. I love how the old testament paints these pictures of God’s love for us. We can see this in almost every story and character we read. David’s life was full of such stories. When you open your eyes to see these stories, they will always pull at your heartstrings. If you are headed in the wrong direction, they will turn you around in your tracks. The concepts will put you back on the path God intends for your life. The realities of the life of David run parallel to the fate of every man.
RETURN FOR THE BRIDE
At any rate, God is all about returning. He wants to restore our broken relationships. Our Father wants to provide every blessing to us. He dries our tears and heals our wounds from the world. All we have to do is to return to Him. He is always waiting for us to turn.
Michal and David experienced some rocky times together. However, she saved David’s life by jeopardizing her own safety. Michal protected David as he ran from Saul. They had seen each other in the streets only once since that time of parting.
On that fateful day, Michal’s very different actions showed David how bitter she had become. She was obviously jealous of his other wives and other successes. But mostly she was jealous of how he worshiped God. That day was when Michal realized David had not returned to find her. She must have been broken hearted.
Yet, how could David have returned for her? First he had to gain the power to overcome the corrupted throne of Saul. During those days it still prevailed in much of the land. Thus we see this love story is one of fascinating twists and turns. This new demand of Abner proved David still loved Michal. Otherwise, he would not have made such a demand for her return. Now David stood ready for the confrontation to reclaim his bride. God had put him into a position where he could exercise the power needed to take her back.
CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
However, sin does have its consequences. David had that familiar sin of so many famous kings. He had taken way too many wives into his Kingdom. He had not returned to His first love. Her place in his life had been usurped by the footsteps of many other women.
Our story leaves us wondering what really happened during those silent years after Michal was brought back into David’s House. There is no mention of a joyous reunion. There is only silence about this relationship from this point forward. Though it had been a forced relationship brought about by Saul, Michal had been with another man. By law she was still considered to be an adulterous woman. How could David love her again without becoming caught in the sin of adultery?
Pondering this thought, I remember the woman caught in adultery being brought to Jesus for judgement. He stooped down and wrote something in the sand. Exactly what did He write that day? No one truly knows. Could He have been thinking of David’s love for Michal? Was He considering the love in His heart for His own Bride? We know he forgave the woman. Afterward He told her to go and sin no more.
Perhaps this is how the fate of Michal played out. She would live the rest of her life knowing the heart of her first love toward her. Yet, she would never be allowed to be intimate with him again. She would never have the blessing of giving him a son.
COST OF REDEMPTION IS PAID
After David sent a message back to Abner, he also sent a message to Ish-Bosheth. David demanded that Ish-Bosheth give him back his wife, Michal. David reminded Ish-Bosheth he had gained her hand in marriage by offering the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins. Legally, Michal belonged with David. This was a huge price to pay for a wife David no longer had in his home. Legally, Ish-Bosheth had no rights to stop David from taking Michal.
Michal’s illegal husband was Paltiel. He was the son of Laish. Ish-Bosheth gave orders for Michal to be taken from Paltiel. When they came for her, Paltiel followed the king’s men all the way to Bahurim weeping. Abner was there. He advised Paltiel to go back home. Finally, Paltiel returned home, but with a broken heart.
RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE
So, within this mysterious story of David and Michal we see a message from God. It is written in love letters to His people. The message is “Return to your first love.” Stay true to God at all cost. Do not wander into the courts of the enemies of God. If you do, you will be stained with sins which have grave consequences. You will suffer. Best to never stray in the first place.
The precious relationship you have with Yeshua is worth the battles you must fight. Stay loyal and true to your covenant. Fight boldly, always and forever, never wavering from a loyalty worthy of His love. Do not let your love story with God end the same way the story of David and Michal ended. Do not let the ways of the world ruin your relationship with Yeshua. Remember His last words to us and overcome.
PRAYER: Father help us to return to You. Let all that we do exemplify Your Kingdom. Help us to know how to faithfully express our love, loyalty and respect for you. If we wonder and fall, call us back. Forgive us. Protect us from those who would cause Kingdom divisions. Show us the way to peace. Give us the strength to wait on Your perfect timing. Help us to trust Your perfect love for us. Teach us that we always belong to you and no other.