Completed the challenge....

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

The last two years, our youth pastor has kind of low-key challenged the kids to start off the year by doing the 30-Day Shred. No, it's not a diet plan...it's a plan to read the ENTIRE BIBLE in 30 days.

This year, I happened to remember that on January 1.  So I decided I'd give it a go and downloaded the guide.  And I also gave myself a slightly different goal...read the entire Bible in January, which gave me an extra day,  lol.

We had a major conference at church in the middle of the month, too, so that kind of blocked out 3 whole days.  And when you're reading 42 chapters a day, missing several days like that throws a real wrench in the works. 

Fortunately, one of my talents is that I am a fast reader, so I had that going for me.  And I started off by doing 50 chapters a day instead of 42, just to get a bit of a running start to carry me through the conference days.

Then I got involved in a sewing project and completely missed reading the day before the conference.  Never even thought of it.  So I was a bit behind, despite having read extra earlier, when the conference actually started.

I was reading mostly from my NIV 84 study Bible; it's very familiar, which made it easy to push my reading pace; I was mostly reading words I can almost quote.

But I did have some doctors appointments this month, so whilst I was waiting at the Dr I opened up the Blue Letter Bible app on my phone and read from the NLT, just to see how that translation went.  I was in Ezekiel for part of that reading...and the NLT puts the measurements in feet and inches instead of cubits, which I really appreciated.

Finished Revelation 22 about an hour ago.

It was an interesting exercise.  The idea is to just get the 50,000 foot view, not to do in-depth study.  I kept wanting to stop and dig and...couldn't.  Nope.  Keep reading.

I was surprised at the relentless bombardment of judgement in the prophets as I read through.  It has never really struck me that way before, studying through them at a slower pace.  But pushing through 60 chapters or more a day (I was trying to catch up after the conference) it really hammered in.  I would get mixed up...was the particular judgement against Israel or Judah?  Or was it Egypt, Syria, Damascus, Edom, Babylon....?  There was the occasional relief of 'I will preserve a remnant' and 'I will give you a heart of flesh instead of your heart of stone' type verses, but mostly what I saw is...God is serious about consequences.  

Part of me thinks it would be easier for someone who is well acquainted with the scripture to finish, since that person would be covering familiar territory, but, on the other hand, speed reading through the Bible in a month does kinda take the intimidation factor out of it.  

And I think I want to get a NLT to read and compare, lol.  A new Bible to ponder and mark up always peels back layers of assumptions, especially if it's a translation I haven't read much.

I don't know if I will do it again next year.  Right now...I kinda think it's a one and done.  I prefer a slower pace, as y'all know from the slow plodding study of 'heart/hearts', lol.

But it was a good challenge and I'm glad I did it.

Blogging Bible Study: The Heart of The Matter -- 1 Kings Part 1, Solomon comes to power

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Looks like we'll do 1 Kings in 4 chunks; the narrative is long and the pieces don't really mesh with each other.  I could put the 1st two weeks together, but there are a lot of verses in part 2 so in the interest of tying to keep from writing all night, lol, I'll just keep this bit to the verses dealing with Solomon becoming king.  

David had apparently made his intentions to pass the throne to Solomon known to at least a few folks (Nathan, Bathsheba), but his oldest living son, Adonijah, had his eye on the throne himself. Furthermore,  he had the support of Joab and Abiathar, the priest.  I suspect Joab figured he had a better chance of retaining his power with Adonijah...in any case, once again, he believed he knew better than David.  I have no guess as to why Abiathar, whose support saved David when Absalom revolted, decided to ally with  Adonijah.  Anyway, there was a feast with sacrifices and dignitaries, all with the intention of proclaiming Adonijah king before David could abdicate in favor of Solomon.  David, however, got word  and beat them to the punch, publicly passing the crown to Solomon with a grand celebration before all the people.  They raised such a sound that the would-be usurpers heard the celebration.  THAT party came to a screeching halt when Abiathar's son, Jonathan (who had warned David to cross the Jordan before dawn when he was fleeing Absalom) told the people at Adonijah's event what had happened down in the city.  Adonijah famously ran to the altar and grabbed the horns and begged for his life...which he was granted, so long as he behaved himself.

All of that is important as it plays into what Solomon did after David's death to consolidate his power.   And all of it was according to David's directions.

But first, David instructs him to be strong and follow God:

"and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: 'If you descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to  have a man on the throne of Israel.' "  -- 1 Kings 2:3-4  (Heart:  one we have seen several times before, Strong's H 3824)

Then, David proceeded to give him instructions regarding folks who had supported him -- or not -- in his critical moments.  Solomon was instructed to kill Joab, for his murderous past, and Shimei, for his attack on David when he was fleeing Absalom; and to be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead, who stood with David in that same revolt.  Solomon promised to do so; but he waited until Adonijah messed up by asking to marry the young woman who had been the companion of David in his final years (Remember, this is a whole power grab thing regarding wives/ concubines in that culture).  Adonijah was executed for this backhanded attempt to legitimize his claim to the throne.  Abiathar, being a priest, was removed from the priesthood and exiled to his land; and Joab was killed at the altar, to which he had run to try and obtain mercy.  Shemei, who had agreed not to leave the city of Jerusalem on pain of death, lived there three years and then apparently forgot?...Or thought Solomon forgot?...and left town to go after some runaway slaves.  Solomon had he brought before him:

The king also said to Shemei, "You know in you heart all the wrong you did to my father David.  Now the LORD will repay you for your wrongdoing." -- 1 Kings 2:44 (Heart: also  H 3824)

Shemei was immediately executed, and we read in 1 Kings 2:46 that 'the kingdom was now fully established in Solomon's hands.'

And he went up to Gibeon, where the Tabernacle and the altar made in the wilderness during the Exodus had been set up.  There, God appeared to him in a dream and said, basically, 'Ask me for whatever you want'. Solomon's reply is famous.

Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart.  You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on  his throne this very day.  Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David.  But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.  Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.  For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" -- 1 Kings 3:6-9 (Heart: 1st reference is H 3824 again, the second one is both Strong's H 3820, which we've seen even more than H 3824)

Whether or not Solomon picked the absolute best thing or not is kinda up for debate, but he did choose well and God was pleased.  

"I will do what you have asked I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be." -- 1 Kings 3:12 (Strong's H 3820 again)

Of course, God also promised Solomon the things he DIDN'T ask for...like wealth, fame. power, etc., but the number one thing we ALL think of when we think of Solomon is his renowned wisdom...his discerning heart.

So, Solomon was exhorted by his dad to seek God with all his heart, he reminded an old antagonist of his father's of the ill intent of his heart long ago, and he asked for, and was given, a discerning heart to be able to govern the people.

Sounds like he was soundly prepared to lead his people.  Might be a couple of good points there for any one of us who might be moving into a leadership position...

Blogging Bible Study: The Heart of the Matter - 2 Samuel Part 3, Absalom's Fate

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Our journey through the Bible looking at the word 'heart/ hearts' has brought us to Absalom's revolt; last week we saw that David had heard of the conspiracy and had fled Jerusalem just in the nick of time.  There's a ton of narrative that happens between verses that mention 'heart/hearts', so I'm trying to do a synopsis of the events so that the verses have some context to make sense.

One of David's trusted advisors, Ahithophel, had joined Absalom's faction, and David knew he was a shrewd tactician, so when another friend, Hushai, met David and asked to go with him, David hatched a counterespionage plan.  Hushai was sent back, to feign allegiance to Absalom, in order to send word to David about Absalom's plans and, if he could, thwart advice given by Ahithophel (2 Sam. 15:32-37).  

So David, with some other small drama, headed to the ford to wait for news while Hushai headed into town to meet up with Absalom and Ahithophel.  Hushai convinced Absalom that he was really and truly on his side, and in the first strategy meeting, Ahithophel advised Absalom to violate all ten of the concubines David left behind to care for the palace....publicly.  Now, this is nonsense to us, but in that day it was a way of demonstrating dominance over a leader...to lay with his women (remember the accusations Ish-Bosheth made about Abner and one of his dad's concubines?  Same logic.  It also comes into play later between Solomon and one of his brothers).  So Absalom did this thing  in order to cement his place as his father's successor while his dad was still living.

Next, Ahithophel advises Absalom to take  a quick tactical force and pursue David's entourage immediately and hit them while they were still tired, kill only David, and bring the rest back safe. The elders agreed to this, but Absalom wanted to hear Hushai's advice.  Hushai reminded Absalom of his dad's  incredible Mighty Men, and his experience of hiding from Saul, so the chances of the smaller band being successful in finding and killing David at all, let alone without suffering a great loss, were not good:

"Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt in fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave." -- 2 Sam 17:10 (both instances of 'heart' is Strong's H3820). 

Hushai advised Absalom to muster a large army and then go after David's troops with an invincible force.  Absalom and the other leaders liked that idea better and put that plan into place. Meanwhile, Hushai sent word to David...again, with some drama...to cross over the river immediately and get to a defensible position.  David's entire party crossed the river before dawn the next day.  Ahithophel, when he saw that his advice was not taken, went back to his village, put his house in order, and hung himself....which I have always thought was a very sad end to the life of a king's advisor.

David was met by allies on the east side of the Jordan, at Mahanaim, and his party was given provisions. Once they had rested and eaten, David drew up his battle plans, dividing his force into three parts.  He fully intended to ride to battle himself, but he was overruled by the men, who pointed out that the enemy was coming for him.  David's last words to the men commanding the three companies was 'Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake" (2 Sam 18:5)

The battleground was the forest of Ephraim (2 Sam 18:6), and David's forces soundly defeated Absalom's army, It must have been very rough terrain, because we are told  'the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword.' (2 Sam 18:8).

In the course of the battle, Absalom came upon David's forces, but his luxurious, thick hair got caught up in the branches of an oak tree and his  mule ran right out from under him, leaving him hanging helpless in the branches.  I suppose it's possible that he might have started hacking at his hair with a knife or dagger, to free himself, but one of David's men saw what happened and quickly reported it to Joab, who chided him for not striking Absalom dead on the spot.  The soldier protested, reminding Joab of David's specific instructions regarding Absalom.

Joab said, "I am not going to wait like this for you."  So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom's heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. And ten of Joab's armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.  -- 2 Sam18:14-15 ('Heart' - Strong's H3820 again; this time, clearly referring to the heart as an organ or physical center of the body).

Once more, Joab acts on his own authority, this time going directly against specific words of the king.  And he has some very strong words for David, who, instead of rejoicing over the military victory, went into deep mourning over the death of his son.  Joab chewed him out for mourning the death of an enemy and demanded that David to go out and encourage the men who had fought for him. 

So David went out to the city gate and sat with the rulers of the city, and the men came to him.  He went so far as to extend mercy to the troops who had fought for Absalom, even telling Amasa, his nephew, who had been Absalom's military commander,  that he would replace Joab as David's captain.

He [David] won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man.  They sent word to the king, "Return, you and all your men."  (2 Sam 19:14)

There was more drama over bringing David back to Jerusalem, and another rebellion headed by Sheba, son of Bicri, because of the tensions between the tribes.  Joab murdered Amasa, his cousin,  much the same way he had killed Abner years before--bringing Joab's 'I know better than the king' death count to three.  

The last mention of 'heart' in 2 Samuel is in David's song of deliverance, praising God for giving him victory over his enemies:

You  have delivered me from the attacks of my people; you have preserved me as the head of nations.  People I did not know are subject to me, and foreigners come cringing to  me; as soon as they hear me, they obey me.  They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. -- 2 Sam. 22:44-46 ('lose heart' is actually translated from a verb, Strong's H5034 nâbêl,  a primitive root; to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint)

That's just one point in a long list of things for which David praised God; that whole chapter is a psalm of thanksgiving and praise.

I think it is rather remarkable that David, having lost so much and been through so much grief, still praised God for the good God had done for him.  It would have been so easy for him to have become bitter and angry and disillusioned...but he did not.  He was still a man after God's heart.

Blogging Bible Study: The Heart of the Matter - 2 Samuel, Part 2, Absalom's Revolt

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Just a little blurb for anyone who's late to the game...this is not intended to be a polished up Bible study.  This is me, real time blogging a study I'm doing and sharing any insights I've gained.  Currently, I'm cruising through the Bible looking at all the references to Heart/ Hearts as identified by my Exhaustive Concordance for the NIV 84, so all scripture references are from that text, unless specifically identified as being from a different one.

Normally I post on Fridays, but sometimes things come up and I miss one here and there.  Today being a holiday, it's standing in for last Friday, which I missed.

And today we are looking at the tragedy of  two of  David's  oldest sons...Amnon, who was the firstborn and son of David's wife Ahinoam, about whom we only know her name and that she was from Jezreel,  and Absalom, David's third son, born to David's wife Maacah, who was the daughter of the king of Geshur and likely given to David as wife as part of a political alliance.  David's second son, Kileab, was the son of Abigail, Nabal's widow, but as we have absolutely no record of him other than his name it's possible that he died while still a child.  At some point Maacah bore David a daughter, Tamar, who is also part of the story.

It's interesting to me that there is no reference to heart/ hearts in the entire narrative pertaining to David's sin with Bathsheba.  But David's sin and the following cover up led to the violence in his house.  Did his sons...especially Amnon...believe that because their dad had  behaved in such a way it was ok for them?  Did David's guilt over what he had done prevent him from disciplining his sons as they grew up?  The whole story smacks of a lack of real relationship between David and his older sons.

But Amnon became infatuated with his half-sister Tamar in a most unhealthy way, and, by way of deception and sheer physical strength, violated her (2 Sam. 13 1 - 14).  Once he'd done so, however, he was repulsed by her...likely because she was going on about him marrying her and being responsible for what he'd done; I'm basing this on what she said in 2 Sam 13: 16 ("Sending me away would be a greater wrong than you have already done to me.").  So long as she was out of reach, he wanted her.  But when she threw herself at him, demanding he now fulfill his duty to her, he hated the sight of her and had her thrown out.  

He treated her shamefully...but he did, perhaps, rationalize that his dad had done a similar thing so...why not?

Tamar went into mourning, and went to her full brother Absalom, who minimized her trauma:

Her brother Absalom said to her, "Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet now, my sister; he is your brother.  Don't take this thing to heart."  And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's house, a desolate woman. - 2 Sam. 13:20 'Heart' is Strong's H 3820, which we have seen before.

He basically told her it was no big deal...can you imagine?  He did, however, despise Amnon for what he'd done and he quit speaking to his half-brother.  David was furious when he heard about what Amnon had done, but he did nothing about it.   Two years later, Absalom finally managed to get Amnon isolated and had him killed, then hightailed it out of town.  David mourned both his boys...the one who died and the one who went into hiding.  I actually think he mourned for Absalom more, because Absalom had held his brother accountable for what he'd done.  

We do not know if Tamar had peace after she was avenged or not.  She's not mentioned again, but Absalom named his first daughter after her.

As time passed, David missed Absalom and wanted to go to him...but he did not.  Was Absalom his favored son?  I kinda suspect he was, which makes the rest of the story even more poignant.

Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart longed for Absalom -- 2 Sam. 14:1 (Strong's H 3820 again), so he set up a lady to come to David with a story that moved his heart, much like Nathan had done earlier,  then called him a hypocrite for not allowing Absalom to return. 

So, David called Joab to go get Absalom and bring him home, but...and this is a big but...Absalom was not permitted to come into David's presence.  Now Absalom was frustrated, and grew even more frustrated as two more years passed and he still was not allowed to see his father.  He tried twice to talk to Joab, but Joab ignored him until Absalom burned his fields.  Absalom basically said, "Why was I allowed to return home if I can't see the king?  If I'm guilty of anything, just go ahead and sentence me to death."

Joab spoke to David, and David finally received Absalom and they were reconciled.

Or so it seemed. But Absalom was not someone who allowed an injury to go unavenged, and he had a plan.  He started small...ingratiating himself into the hearts of the people.  He was handsome, he was sympathetic, he was personable, and he was accessible to the people.  

Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel. -- 2 Sam. 15:6 (Strong's H 3820 again).

Absalom did this for four years, then he sprung his plot to have himself anointed king when  he took an entourage to Hebron to 'worship'; even David's long time advisor Ahithophel joined Absalom's faction.  When Absalom went to Hebron, some one...it's not mentioned who...caught wind of the conspiracy and sent word to David.

A messenger came and told David, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom." -- 2 Sam. 15:13 (once more, H 3820).  I have always marveled that that statement was enough for David to recognize his peril.  Had it been me...I might have thought, good!  He will be king after me!  The people should love him!  But David immediately recognized the implication that Absalom was usurping the kingship and that he and all his household were in immediate danger.   They packed up and fled (all but ten concubines, who stayed behind to do the housekeeping) to the wilderness, so when Absalom and his entourage came back ready to assassinate David...he was gone.

It was now a civil war.  Because the hearts of the people had turned from David to his son.

In Which She Muses about Imposter Syndrome...

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

 Unrelated sunset post for Facebook thumbnail

Tonight I took part in an online chat for an online artistic community that I kind of follow.  I had difficulties getting my computer to talk to Zoom for some reason and I was a couple of minutes late...and kind of quickly got asked to share about my current wins/struggles/ inspiration/ etc.  Didn't really have time to come up with something eloquent, so I just went with my gut and confessed to dealing with imposter syndrome...like, I am here hanging out with creatives to try and convince myself that I really am one.

Now, I do have some objective evidence that at least a few people appreciate my creativity, but I always kinda brush it off as 'yeah, well they're friends/ family so it doesn't really count' (Hi, Mom...).  A number of my closest friends/ family are NOT fans of my creative efforts, so that kinda cancels it out, right?  I mean, folks in the online community I was chatting with have artwork in shows, are published authors/ songwriters/ have actually gotten formal education in their area of talent and I'm...just out here winging it.  And often getting shot down.  Which makes me think, hey, maybe what I'm creating just really isn't that good.  I mean, it's a possibility, right?

But when I confessed to Imposter Syndrome tonight, the chat moderator offered his thoughts... remember, we are accepted in the beloved. It's not about how my art/ creativity compares to any one else, or even if it gets a big audience.  It may just hit one person and inspire them in some way, and ...that's worth it.

And suddenly I remembered a moment at a women's conference back in 2008...the very conference that gave me the impetus to start this blog, now that I think about it...at which Wellington Boone himself gave me a prophetic word, with the central theme that I was 'Accepted in the Beloved'.  I hadn't thought about that moment in a long, long time.

There are some challenges coming in the next couple of months...I'll talk about them when I have to...but it's good to remember that whether or not the end product gets published or performed or even recognized, it's still creativity, it's still my voice...and we all know from reading Dr Seuss that even the tiniest 'Yop' makes a difference, right?.

So...for anyone who happens to stumble on this post who may be struggling with creativity or whatever is in your heart, and you are starting to think that you don't measure up...just remember, if it's your way of sharing what God stirs in you, it's not fake or cheap or bad.  He hears; He sees; He smiles.  

Because you, too, are Accepted in the Beloved.  Whether you have any kind of audience or not.  

You are not an Imposter.  Just a different sort of The Real Thing.

Blogging Bible Study: The Heart of the Matter - 2 Samuel, part 1...David is King

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Heart/ Hearts doesn't have nearly as many mentions in 2 Samuel as it did in 1 Samuel...in fact, nearly all of them are involved in one particular narrative arc, so I am going to put all those together next week. 

Which means this week we're looking at two completely unrelated references.

At the start of 2 Samuel, both Saul and Jonathan had been killed in the battle with the Philistines at Mount Gilboa. The tribe of Judah declared David to be king, but there was still a faction loyal to the house of Saul, led by Saul's general, Abner.  Abner made the next son of Saul, Ish-Bosheth, king over pretty much everything else. There was, of course, war, and David's nephew Asahel tangled with Abner and Abner killed him, even though it seems he didn't mean to.   Unfortunately, Asahel was Joab's younger brother...which comes into play later.  After some time, David's support grew stronger while the support for Ish-Bosheth dropped.  Finally, Ish-Bosheth accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father's concubines.  Now, there is no evidence given as to whether or not this was a valid accusation, but Abner got disgusted with Ish-Bosheth and declared that he was going to support David as king, and bring all of Israel with him.

Abner sent straight away to David offering to support him and, in response to David's request for proof of his intentions, returned David's first wife, Michal, to him after she had been given to another one of Saul's allies. Abner also conferred with leaders of the other tribes, declaring to them that they should make David king. Finally, Abner and David met at Hebron, over a feast David had prepared in Abner's honor.

Then Abner said to David, "Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a compact with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires."  So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. - 2 Sam. 3:21; 'Heart' is Strong's H5315 - nephesh; 'properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):—any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature'. 'Heart' here is the seat of David's ambition. And Abner fully intended to support him.

Well, no sooner had Abner left than Joab and a number of other soldiers came in from a raid, carrying plunder. And Joab had a fit, stating that Abner was there just to spy out David's camp and movements. He left David, sent messengers after Abner so that Abner, thinking Joab had some important information for him, returned.

And Joab took him aside privately and stabbed him to death to avenge his brother Asahel.

This is the first of Joab's 'I know better than the king' dealings that left someone dead. David mourned Abner and honored him and, furious with Joab, pronounced a curse against Joab and his house, demonstrating to anyone that David was not responsible for Abner's death. Ish-bosheth was murdered in his bed shortly after, and there was no longer anyone to oppose David. All of Israel united to make him king.

David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and began the process of making it his capitol; and, as part of making Jerusalem the focal point of the nation, decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant to the city. Now, the Ark had been stashed at the house of Abinidab since the Philistines had sent it back to Israel; Saul, in his entire reign, never considered doing anything else with it. David wanted it in Jerusalem. He constructed a tabernacle to house it and went to bring it back. Of course, they botched the first attempt, treating the Ark as cargo instead of as the holy thing it was, and it landed at the house of Obed-Edom while they researched the proper way to move it. After about 3 months, they tried again...this time, carrying it on the shoulders of the priests, as Moses had directed. David had a massive worship service to move the Ark, sacrificing a huge number of cattle as the Ark progressed down the road. Ultimately, he stripped down to his skivvies ('a linen ephod') and 'danced before the LORD with all his might' (2 Sam 6:14).

As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart. -- 2 Sam 6:16; 'Heart' is the familiar Strong's H3820, leb.

To be honest, I really hadn't considered Michal very much. It's always been easy to scorn her bad attitude, but as I read this just now I thought a bit about her story.  It may not have taken much to push Michal over the line to judging David here.  She had loved him, back before all the crazy happened with her dad (1 Sam 18). But David had more or less abandoned her, leaving her in an unsafe place...if Saul had thought for a moment that Michal had aided David in escaping him, he could very well have killed her (1 Sam. 19:11-17) .Now, I don't know that it would have been possible for David to have done anything else; circumstances being what they were.  But she basically said that David would have killed her if she hadn't aided him...which wasn't the truth.  In any case, Saul didn't kill her for helping David.  Instead, he gave her to be another man's wife (1 Sam 25:44), which may have been his way of punishing both David and Michal. But the other dude, Paltiel,  apparently loved her and did not want to let her go (2 Sam 3:16).  As the time passed, Michal may have been happier with Paltiel than David.  For David, she was a symbol and a token.  Now, don't get me wrong, her spewing her bitterness on him was not the way to deal with the situation...I am just saying I kinda get where she was coming from.  But David was done with her after that.  Her bitterness cost her any hope of a future.  To live as a childless woman, in that society, was a life of failure. Was her life fair?  No. Not in the least.  She hadn't had much of a say in any of the things that had happened to her.  But she allowed it to make her bitter.  David was coming to bless his household at the moment she threw her venom on him.  He was excited, happy, rejoicing.  Had she rejoiced with him in that moment...it could have been a whole new start for her.  But she didn't see what he saw.  He saw the triumph of God and celebrated.  She saw a man acting a fool  and was embarrassed by him.  And what was in her heart came flying out of her mouth and she ruined whatever future she might have had.

I'm having trouble writing a summation here...I feel really sorry for Michal, which is a switch from my previous smug dismissal of her...and hope I can learn from her mistakes.