1 Samuel 18:20 Commentary and Bible Study

‘And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul .’ You might imagine, his eyes lit up, Why, the promise of a king's daughter would perhaps persuade David to be all the more daring, and put himself at risk. Michal, Saul’s younger daughter, loved David, but Saul feared him and plotted his death. Clearly he did not love either of his daughters either, for he used them as weapons against his great rival. He was ready to sacrifice their happiness in order to preserve his own kingship, for what he once declined take, he now held onto with murderous intent. His daughters were mere paws, and everything was made to serve his interests, however devious it may be. Now he heard that Michal loved David, and that suited him well. Again the wicked motivation of Saul is revealed to us by the Lord who reads every heart. Again Saul thinks he can hide his intentions with generous words and noble feigned kindness. ‘Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain’, or as others render it, ‘Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.”’ This time however Saul puts his lies into the mouths of others. Did they know that what he instructed them to say to David was a lie? Probably; Saul’s servants had previously seen him try to murder David, and they had seen how worthless his promise was concerning Merab, his older daughter. One liar looks for others to recruit as liars on his behalf. There are few who are not prepared to lie for another when that other is their master or someone else who has power over them. Even if they did not fully understand what Saul was doing, he calculates that this message, coming supposedly through those who have no interest in the matter, will be more likely to be received by David.But again David meets this situation with canny discernment. Is he going to be flattered by this proposal? Will he allow this net set for his feet to trip him up? No, he knows what is happening, and he is on his guard. The news of the king’s offer is whispered in his ear, as if he had received some tasty morsel of information which he would be unable to resist. The believer is ever alert to deception, and flattery is sure sign of it. David almost rebukes the servants who have given him this information. He knows that they expect him to be bowled over by it, but he rebuffs them as those who are acting against his true interests in putting it this way. In spite of the duplicitous way he has been treated by Saul up till now, he will do nothing to dishonour the king, and therefore speaks highly of this proposal. He will not allow his humility to be eroded. It remains true for him that it is an honour he does not deserve: to be offered the hand of the king’s daughter in marriage.