Friday, August 17, 2012

II Samuel 6:16, Part 2

Now that we see what brought Michal to this point, we can understand her better, and maybe not be so harsh on her.  Michal was hurting.  She was alone - her family was dead, she was separated from the husband who loved her, and her current husband considered her merely one of many.  And here was David, rejoicing and celebrating His God, while he had little to no affection left for her.  This is the Michal who publicly chastised her husband.  She was speaking out of pain.

I see similarities between Michal and Leah (Genesis 29).  Leah, too, had been used by her father and found herself in a loveless marriage, having to share her husband.  Leah also felt that ache, that betrayal, and that loneliness.  But here's the big difference - in the midst of her pain, Leah turned to God, not against Him.  Remember Leah's son Judah (Genesis 29:35)?  Leah said, "This time I will praise the Lord."  Her circumstance hadn't changed, but her heart had.  Lacking Jacob's affection, Leah found refuge in God's love.  Michal, on the other hand, let her broken heart lead to bitterness, both towards David and towards God.  She could not worship with David, because she had pulled away from God.  Instead of turning to Him and allowing Him to dry her tears, she turned her back on Him and ended up more alone than ever.

Maybe you're trapped in a loveless marriage.  It might be for a season; it might be this way for the rest of your life.  But never forget that God is faithful.  God is loving.  God is with you always.  Let Him be your comforter.  Let Him heal your heart.  He can bring joy where there is pain.  Isaiah 54:5 says "For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is His name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;  He is called the God of all the earth."  He will never leave you nor forsake you.

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