013 David and Michal the Daughter of Saul Pt 1

Elevate Your Marriage Newsletter: A 3 minute read that will bless your marriage all week.

How a thing starts isn't always how it ends. 

After David killed Goliath the 9'6" giant, Saul the king became jealous and he vowed to spend the rest of his life hunting David. To Saul, the best way to get at David was to keep him close by offering him one of his daughters in marriage. In 1 Samuel 18:20-21

Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” 

While there is much to take from that passage (this is just Part 1). Don't miss this- Michal loved David - that's how it started. But like I said, the way a thing starts isn't always how a thing ends. So a couple of years later...

As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.2 Samuel 6:20-21

What started as love in 1 Samuel 18 had turned to despise by 2 Samuel 6. What happened? 

We will look at that (what/how happened), next week in Pt. 2 for now let’s focus on the fact that it did - and does - happen, perhaps even in your own marriage. What we didn’t see at the altar or the beginning of our marriage has become a point of concern over time.

Just last weekend I officiated my 157th wedding, in all those times I have stood at the altar I have never heard a couple say, "Someday I am going to despise you". In fact in the beginning, thoughts of despise or even mere dislike are the furthest thing from a couple's mind.

But for many, somewhere along the way there is an exchange of love for...less than love. For some it is subtle, just little shifts along the way, in others the shift of emotions from where they started to where they are now is huge - like with David and Michal the daughter of Saul. 

Takeaway: Guard against the shifts in your marriage by adopting and keeping a daily routine of connecting, here are some ideas:

• Prayer Walk

• Date Night

• Daily Devotions (YouTube Interview with Dr. Harold Arnold)

• Read together: Bible, Novel, Audio book, etc...

• Take a class

• TV Show

Just a few quick ideas, and you too can add your own. There really is no amount of activity that will guarantee we won't still have challenges. The point is to become intentional about being and staying connected.

Discussion Questions: Where have we grown or changed in a good way? What has changed in a not so good way? How will we strengthen our relationship with the Lord in this area?

Prayer: Lord teach us where we are shifting from You which is causing us to shift and drift from each other. 

Thanks for checking out this week’s newsletter, please share with friends and other couples. Each week we reach more and more couples for Christ, so keep sharing and again - Thank you. I will see you next week for Part 2.

Have a great week!

Edward Lee