Daily Devotional

“Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him” (1 Samuel 18:20). 

Although David didn’t hold a world record for the number of wives he had (that record probably goes to Solomon), the Bible does say he had many wives. Michal, King Saul’s youngest daughter, became David’s first wife. 

Saul agreed to the idea because it went along nicely with his plot to kill David. He told David that to earn the privilege of marrying Michal he would have to kill one hundred Philistines, formidable enemies of Israel. Saul thought David would certainly be killed in trying, but David not only succeeded but destroyed twice as many as required. 

When David returned triumphant, he and Michal were married. Apparently, things went quite well for awhile between the newlyweds. When Michal heard of her father’s plan to have David murdered, she warned David and helped him to escape by letting him down through a window and then hiding a large idol in David’s bed in order to fool everyone into thinking he was sick in bed. 

Soon, David had to flee in earnest from King Saul, who was determined to destroy him. When David and Michal did finally reunite, things were never the same between them. During her absence, she had acquired another husband, and David demanded her return. Furthermore, during those years that he was a fugitive, David had taken several other wives. 

When David, as the new king, “danced before the Lord” (2 Samuel 6:14), Michal despised him. Her cutting words to him afterward were proud and arrogant and showed her loss of respect for him. 

Faithfulness is critical to a marriage. Faithfulness is critical to our spiritual lives. God is always faithful to us. His Word says, “Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds” (Psalm 36:5). Will your choices in thought and deed demonstrate your faithfulness to Him today? 

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your constant faithfulness in Your desire to save me.