"The Princess And The Country Boy"

By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

Part IV

Great change had come to "David and Michal."
Miraculous change!

A new city.
A new palace.
A United Israel.
A new Tabernacle.
A Royal Baby?
 Not yet.

No matter how hard she tried,
 Michal couldn't seem to think of anything else.
 She was obsessed.

"Macie, what is wrong with me?"
" When I see Davids children, I wish I had a baby too."
" Our baby will be;"
"Royalty!"

"I do not want to be angry."
"Angry with God."
"Angry with David."
 "Angry with myself."

"May I speak freely My Lady?"
"Yes, Macie you may."

"This is the hurt talking."
"My Lady, remember the real enemy is the one to focus your anger upon."
"There is but one enemy from whom barrenness comes from."
"The serpent, who brought Mother Eve down."
"He is the enemy."

"Have the faith of your husband My Lady."

"If he could kill the wicked Goliath,
so you must kill the giant of bitterness, anger, and jealousy."
"As David used a sling and a stone,"
"your weapon is prayer!"
"Do not give up!"

"Yes, of course."
"I will be fine!"
"Come Masie, let us go to the farmers market!"
They hurried down the stairs, where her carriage awaited.

Arriving at the market, Michal's heart skipped a beat,
 as "David" startled her, opening the carriage door.
"What a pleasant surprise, King David!"
He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the front booth.
The people clapped as he carefully put her down.

They walked together through the market, talking and laughing.

"I have been busy my "King," working on the new palace."

"It seems we have both been preoccupied, replied David."

"I missed you Michal, at the family picnic."

"It is always better when you do the entertaining!"

"Forgive me my Lord, but it seems a bit crowded."

"May I ask Michal, if you are attending the Diplomatic Dinner?"

"Of course."
"Since it is in the evening,

most of the clan will have gone to bed."

"At least the children, and the other wives."
"Will they not?"

 "I know well Michal, my family may look out of place in their country cloths,"
"but maybe you could graciously give them a royal make-over."
"Am I over the line, asking for your expertise in this?"

"David, do you not get it?"
"I am not referring to the way they dress."

"To be candid David, I can't stand to be near them!"
"I tolerate them, that's all!"
"I just can't hide it."
"I wish you would send them away forever."

David directed her attention to a huge basket of colorful sea shells.
"Which ones do you want my beloved?"

~

That morning David was up and gone before she awoke.

Michal heard whispers coming from the stairs.

"What is it Macie?"

" Do not trouble yourself my Lady," Macie responded
 while wrapping Michal in her cozy morning robe.
" I will see about it!"

"It is the little princes, playing on the stairs."
 "I have not the authority,
 but I asked them to go outdoors."

"I wonder, where is the nanny, or their mothers?"

"No real damage my Lady, only a broken garden pot, and dirty hand prints."

This little episode caused Michal to ask,

"is this any way for a royal family to behave?"
~

Macie reminded Michal that she needed to "Dress," for Dinner.
She asked Macie to call in her royal stylist and staff.

Like all stylist they knew everything that happened in the palace.
"You my Queen, have impeccable taste, unlike some."
"Thank you, but I want to know to whom you are referring?"
"Forgive me My Lady, I'm not speaking of anyone in particular."  

"My Lady, may we suggest the Lavender velvet and silk?"

"Yes, that will do nicely, and leave my hair styled down please?"

Michal left early to meet David at the entrance arch.

He had been in "back to back" meetings all day.

As he walked toward Michal, he exclaimed,
"My Beautiful Bride, you take my breath away!"

Giving her a warm embrace, and kiss,

they entered hand and hand.

Michal, adept in social settings,
 mingled well in the halls of diplomacy.

She knew the proper protocol.

 David appreciated what an asset she was.
He was in awe of her, all this time.
He was honored, humbled, to have been given,
her hand in marriage.
"Her Royal Highness Princess Michal."
She amazed him.

The people stood as they were announced.

"King David and Queen Michal"

The King and Queen of Israel

They were seated at the head of the table.
Israel's Prophet Nathan led a powerful prayer of
 gratitude and praise.
This dinner was off to a perfect start.
In part due to Michal's skillful planning.

"Cook has real talent My King, has he not?"
"Yes Michal, but nothing compares to your cooking."
"Your the best cook on earth."
"Look at my waist?"

Glancing down the table she saw some uninvited guests in attendance.
If looks could kill, they would have died on the spot!
A slow painful death!
Whispering Michal asked,
"David," why are they here?"
"Michal, I'll see to it later."
"Now David, or I shall take my leave!"
"What can it hurt, this once, asked David?"
"They are not dressed appropriately."
"They are out of place!"
"I am mortified!"

With a big fake smile, she whispered,
"Are they leaving or am I?"

Michal rose gracefully from her seat, slowly making her way
 to where they were sitting.
As she approached, she whispered,
"I"
 "Michal"
"Her Royal Highness"
 "Queen of Israel."
"I want you to leave!"
"NOW!"

The great communicator, Abigail, humbly answered.
"Your Royal Highness,"
"Our only desire is to please Your Majesty."
"Your request is our command."
They made a quiet retreat as to not attract attention.

The guests didn't even notice,
but King David did.
He also observed how happy "Michal," seemed
the remainder of the evening.

Why Michal should make such a demand,
he would never understand.
It was an unkind thing to do.
~
"Why Michal?"
"Now that we are alone I must ask you, what is wrong with you?"
"I have never seen you like this."
"You are not yourself my love."

"It is because I love you David, and I am jealous!"
"I want to scratch their eyes out."
"I cannot breath unless you are with me only."
"I cannot bear thinking these common women of low birth,
are here as "wives," to my husband and King."
"It shames me."
"All know the others share children with you, but I do not."

"Dry your tears my sweet."
"They have gone."
" Let us return to our place at table."
~
As soon as they returned home from dinner,
Michal asked David to send the others away for good.
"Michal, all Kings have multiple wives for political purposes."
"To show prosperity."
"You know this".
"Your Father did as well."
"David, I don't care what other Kings do."
"Besides, God is on my side on this issue."
"You are committing adultery."
"No, I am not."
"I am married to each one in the eyes of God."
"David, look what happened to Samson."
"He died a horrible death, because he was a womanizer."
"Michal, listen to me."
"Samson was not married."
"He committed adultery."
"I have not."
"I can't go back my wife."
"Now it is only you and I."
"Your the only one who really knows me."
"We have our past years, and our future years together."

"Prove it David!"
"Send the others away for good."

"I cannot! "They are the mothers of my children!"
"Get out David!" screamed Michal. "Go!"
He did!

Once upon a time she had commanded him to go, to save him.
Tonight she commanded him to go, out of hot anger.
If only God would give them a child.
Michal needed this to feel whole.
He needed this to continue the Royal bloodline.

She reminded David of someone.
A man!
A man named King Saul.
~
David was deeply hurt.
He agonized over his decisions.
He could now see, the years of  forced perpetual estrangement, 
had taken their toll. Especially on Michal.
She couldn't accept his children.
He would never send their mothers away.
She will not aqueous.
It was he who had to make a choice.
His true love Michal, or his children.
"What can I do Lord to make her see?" 

He spent the night in the Tabernacle seeking God.
In the weeks to come,
 he also found comfort in his large family.

After a few weeks he felt relieved to receive a
letter of apology from Michal.
She begged David to come home.
He did.

"Watch me David!"
"I am a happy girl now."
For the next few days,
Michal and David lavished love on one another.
David was overjoyed to have the real Michal back.
His Michal back.

Michal hoped the others would soon be gone.
"Macie, I shall spoil the King so much,
 he will not want to look upon the others again!"
"He is that way now, My Lady!"

The King really didn't need to see the others.
He made certain they were well cared for.
He only wanted Michal.
And his children.

He was especially close to Prince Absalom,
and his darling little Princess Tamar.
~
Weeks passed, and all was well.
His mind was centered on God and the building plans for the Temple.
His particular focus this season,
 bringing,
 "THE ARK OF THE COVENANT"
 to "Jerusalem!"

He made ready his Holy mission.
"I so wish I could convey to you, my excitement for this journey."
"Why don't you come with me Michal?"

"Thank you, but you know I'm not a happy camper in the dessert heat."
"Can you not stay here and send an envoy to bring the Ark to Jerusalem?"
"Never mind, forgive me for even asking such a question."
"I know hundreds of Goliath's couldn't keep you from going."
"I know this is a momentous journey!"
"I shall be here waiting for your soon return,"
"King David."
~
The return of David and his Honor Guard,
should have been a great triumph.
 It was not.

They returned traumatized, stressed, jumpy and confused.
They fearlessly went forth, but came home terrified.
 David wanted to forget the journey, what had transpired.

Michal wondered if her David would come back to her.
He was home, but seemed a stranger.

After 3 months of rest, prayer, and consolation,
 Michal pressed him for answers.

"What happened David?"
"It will do you good to talk about it."

"Michal, I have always trusted God, and I always will."
"I love Him with all my heart."
"But now I tremble greatly in fear of Him."
"I shall forever weigh every action as never before."

"We saw something,
 I shall never comprehend or understand."

" Holy"
"Sacred"
"Fearful"
"Sanctified"

"The Ark Of The Covenant,
contains the actual presence and power of Jehovah God!"

"We did everything very reverently."
" Exact! Precise! Perfect!"
"Except for one thing."
"The Levites are to carry the Ark."

"As the Ark was placed upon the cart."
"It was not touched."

"As the Ark was carried."
"It was not touched."

"We were all on guard."

"As we were traveling the cart bounced,
while going over very rocky ground."
"As the Ark lurched sideways,
instinctively, Uzzah, one of the Honor Guard Drivers,
reached around to steady the ARK."
"He touched it!"
"Immediately God struck him dead!"

"It was my fault!"
The Levitical Priests are to bear the Ark upon their shoulders!

"It shook me to the core of my being."
"And all my men as well."

"I know, "THE ARK OF THE COVENANT" is non-negotiable!"
"If I the King had touched the ARK, I too would have dropped dead!"
"I have always come into His presence without fear."
"Not anymore."

"Terrified to continue, we took the Ark to the nearest dwelling."
"The home of Obed-edom the Gittite."

"Now after these 3 months have passed,
  Obed-edom is blessed beyond all reason."
"God is blessing him because the Ark is on his land."
"The spot on which the Ark sits, is HOLY Ground."

"I must go and bring the ARK home."
"Do you understand Michal?"
"Yes David, I understand."

Part V
Coming Soon!

"Thou Oh Lord are a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head!"