“Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the Lord.” For Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!” 18 But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” 19 So[b] when the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah. 20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased. 21 “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.” 1 Samuel 18.17-21
In the 1980s, we had the TV show Dallas. In the 2020s, we have Yellowstone. But three thousand years ago, they had the saga of Saul and David—every bit as dramatic as the TV shows we watch today. There is nothing new or surprising under the sun!
Saul was willing to honor the pledge he made to David after he defeated Goliath. One of the promises was that his oldest daughter would be given in marriage to the man who slew the giant. But for some reason, David did not want to marry Merab. His excuse? “Who am I, and what is my family or clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” However, when presented with another daughter, Michal, who just so happened to be in love with David, he eventually gave in. This pleased Saul, who thought, “She may be a snare to him so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.”
I do not fully understand why marrying Michal might have caused the Philistines to turn against David, but I do know that some relationships can be snares. Sometimes, the person we marry, the family they are part of, or the relationship itself can bring drama, difficulty, and hardship. Saul’s intentions for David were not good. He was jealous of David’s fame and plotted against him by using his daughter in marriage. Again, imagine what a great TV show this would make!
Many potential snares were thrown at David by the enemy. Likewise, we have an enemy who seeks to do the same. He wants to kill, steal, and destroy. He wants to ruin our lives and tear apart our healthy relationships. The devil—our enemy and the enemy of God—wants nothing more than to pull us away from God and the holiness He desires for us. Sometimes, all it takes is one “fall from grace” for our influence to take a hit.
Our purpose is to run from sin and run to Jesus. And as we run to Jesus, we obey His commands by making disciples and building His kingdom. As we strive to serve God and reject the tempting lures of the enemy, God is doing a great work in us—building us up as His people to reflect His nature and rejoice in His name.
Just as David faced difficult situations and demanding standards, we too must seek wisdom and discern the Lord’s guidance. Seek Christ today. Lean into His love. Allow the light of the Holy Spirit to guide you into paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
“O Lord God, you are good and faithful. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to love and serve you. This life is not always easy to navigate, but your love is enduring. Come now, fill me with your power and love. Protect me from the evil one, and let your light shine on me so others might know your love. For you are good, and your love endures forever.” Amen.