If a husband and wife are going to be of maximum use to the Lord, they must share the same spiritual desires. A divided house cannot stand. Clearly, the link between Michal and David was a tenuous one. It was based on natural, rather than spiritual, attraction. More often than not, Michal is referred to in the Bible as ‘Saul’s daughter’, rather than ‘David’s wife’. She had a greater affinity to the man God rejected than to the ‘man after God’s own heart’.
The commencement of her association with David set the scene for what was to follow. She initially loved David because of his exploits in battle, 1 Sam. 18. 20, but she had no appreciation of the spiritual exercises upon which his success was based. Saul used her as bait in a plan to bring about David’s death and ultimately he was forced to give her, grudgingly, to be David’s wife.
She did not bring out the best in David. She led him to display the carnal side of his character; e.g. he slew two hundred Philistines in order to gain her as his wife, 1 Sam. 18. 27; he used her to bargain with Abner, causing great distress to a man, Phaltiel, who loved her deeply, 2 Sam. 3. 13-16.
She was happy to share in David’s glory, but not in his rejection. When Saul pursued him, she assisted him in his escape, but she did not go with him, 1 Sam. 19. 11-18. She was content merely to have an image of him, v. 13. When questioned, she happily blamed David for her actions, v. 17.
She was capable of changing her affections. Saul took her away from David and gave her to Phaltiel, 1 Sam. 25. 44, and it is clear that a close relationship had built up between the two, 2 Sam. 3. 16.
She did not share David’s love or enthusiasm for the Ark of the Covenant and God’s sanctuary. This caused the greatest division between them. David could not rest until the Ark was back in the sanctuary in Jerusalem. Michal had absolutely no feelings about this and when she saw David’s enthusiasm and joy, ‘she despised him in her heart’, 2 Sam. 6. 16, and offered only criticism to him on his return.
She remained childless in relation to David, 2 Sam. 6. 23. There was no fruit in her life for God.’
