Unforgiveness Is Dangerous

When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD, so I celebrate before the LORD. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life. [2 Samuel 6.20-23]

I always thought God made Michal barren. But from the looks of it, David made her barren. He basically vowed that the servant girls would get all the sex and Michal would not.

I'm not making this up, read it! David said, "But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!"

It was immediately following this statement that the Word of God records the word "so..." "So" what? The Word says, "So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life." Why? Because David vowed that the servant girls would think he was distinguished! 

Michal had failed to think David was distinguished and instead scolded him for his celebration before he LORD. It seems as a result, David cut her off sexually.

In a world of possibilities, it is entirely possible that David's vow that the servant girls would think him distinguished was, in fact, a seed of unforgiveness that predictably and fatefully germinated in David over time. David made allowance for himself to ignore his wife Michal sexually (which is forbidden in the Bible) and sought fulfillment elsewhere (in the servant girls - kings were specifically forbidden to have many wives also in the Bible). This 'allowance' is very possibly the mindset that further digressed into the mindset that allowed David to call for Bathsheba.

Unforgiveness is dangerous.

Wow, I didn't see that coming today.

Father, help us all to understand how dangerous unforgiveness is for all involved.