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1 Chronicles 15 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Chapter 16 ends with an interesting and dramatic detail.
And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.
1 Chronicles 15:29 ESV
In 1 Samuel 18, David had married Michal during his service in Saul’s court. It was an up and down relationship, mostly because David was constantly on the run from Saul for about 10 years. In 1 Samuel 25, Saul gives Michal to another man. After Saul’s death, and David is anointed king, part of the agreement is that Michal be returned to him. Although this was most likely against her wishes, it was done.
As she sees David celebrating and dancing with all his might, she despises him. There is actually much more to the story as found in 2 Samuel 6.
And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod.
2 Samuel 6:14 ESV
And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD, and I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
2 Samuel 6:20-23 ESV
Bitterness. Although David’s heart was to praise the Lord, Michal could not get past her jealousy. She was bitter and resentful and ultimately it affected the rest of her life. This is what sin does when it remains unbroken through repentance. The sin grows and grows as our heart becomes more and more callused. It’s a great reminder of how we must test our feelings against the Lord’s desires. A simple question like, “Why do I hate him so much?” or “Why do I despise him when I see him?” would have gone a long way in determining the source of Michal’s attitude. Though I fail daily, I try and ask myself these same questions!