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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE

LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE
II Samuel 3:12-15
 
"Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying ... 'Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you.' And David said, 'Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face.' So David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, 'Give me my wife Michal ... And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel, the son of Laish. Then her husband went along with her to Bahurim, weeping behind her....."
 
Michal had been a pawn throughout her life. The story goes back to I Samuel, when David was promised one of Saul's daughters after he killed Goliath (I Samuel 17:25). When it came time to fulfill that promise, David was offered Saul's daughter Merab. But then Saul gave Merab to Adriel as a wife. Now Michal loved David, so Saul gave her to David for the price of 100 Philistines (I Samuel 18:17-27). Michal proved to be a loyal wife and helped David escape when Saul wanted to kill him (I Samuel 19:12-17). After David fled into exile, Saul gave Michal to Palti as wife (I Samuel 25:44). To cloud the picture even further, Michal apparently had children by Merab's husband, Adriel (II Samuel 21:8). What a mess!!!  But I think there is a moral to this story: "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie." Sometimes we look with nostalgia at times gone by and fantasize how wonderful they were, and we want to recreate them.  David was trying to relive the past.  But a lot of water had gone under the bridge, and to try to relive the past only brought pain and regret, not only for David but for others as well. Palti was a loving husband, but David wrenches that family apart. I think David probably rued the day he did that, because Michal no longer loved David. In fact she despised him and mocked him, and she bore him no children (I Samuel 6:16-23). I need to let the past be the past.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Trying to relive the past is never as good as it was.
 
[end]
 
Have a "today" day. Love you.
 

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