"The Princess and the Country Boy"
Part V

By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

Based on The Old Testament II Samuel 6

" I your King failed in my attempt to bring

 The Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem."

"After much study, prayer, and repentance, I will attempt to retrieve the Ark again."

"I have asked the Holy Priesthood to do that which I the King tried and failed to accomplish."

"The Levites shall do this, indeed, they are the only ones 
who know how to do this God's way!"

"I will accompany these Sanctified men who have been set apart for this purpose."

"For such a time such as this."

David had been constant in his attempt to build Jerusalem,
the new Tabernacle, and the new palace.
All this had been done in a short span of time.

All the while "David," was planing the grandest mission of all,
 "A Holy Temple."
To bring "The Ark of the Covenant" to Jerusalem, the first step in this process!
 His top priority. It was all he could think about.
Everything would fall into place once the Ark sat on Mount Mariah.
It would not sit in the Tabernacle for long.

"The Holy Temple would stand on the place where the Tabernacle now sat!"
It would be a huge permanent structure, constructed from the finest materials on earth.
~
"I have planned a little get away for just us David."
"Michal, I know things will calm down in a few months."
"We need to spend some time together, David, before you set out to retrieve the Ark."
"You are so sweet Michal. I would love to go, but I leave in the morning."
"Shall we go as soon as I return?"
"Of course, but at least I will have a romantic supper with you tonight!"
"Michal," my Love, I'm sorry, this will also have to wait."
"I must say farewell in a few minutes."
"But why David?"
"I am meeting with the Levitical Priests for a prayer vigil."
"We are fasting and praying until our return with the Ark."
"I hope you understand."
"I do "My King."
He did not come home that night.

 Michal met him at the city gate early the next morning to say farewell.
With all the prayers and religious activity, he barely had time to tell her goodbye.
"David, can you not kiss me goodbye?"
"Alas I cannot! I have been sanctified for this mission."
"Soon my Michal. I will be back soon."
She and half the city waved goodbye.

~

Michal was never bored. She had so many interests and projects.

This would be a perfect time to have a spa and beauty treatment.
"Macie" called in the royal entourage of beauticians.

Michal had four stylists working away on her treatment.
She nearly fell asleep, during the facial mask application.
The stylists were chattering away.
Michal paid no attention.
Suddenly her heart stopped when Estee' casually mentioned,
"Maachon," was starting to show.
Michal ripped the cloth from her face and walked to her bed chamber.
Macie followed.
"Tell them to leave Macie!"
"Yes, My Lady."

Michal wept as only a woman can.
For hours.
Turning away every tray of food Macie tried to bring her.
Maybe it's just gossip.
From this moment, she would never trust again, if the gossip proved to be true.

Macie made inquiries.
It was true.
"My Lady, you must be strong."
"What they say is true."
"Remember you are First Wife, you are David's Queen."
"You are Israel's Queen."
A Blood Royal by birth.

Michal counted the months.
The King had found comfort during the time Michal had thrown him out.
With one of his political wives.
She knew it would not have happened if she had not kicked David out.
I was not there for him.
But another wife was.

Michal yielded her heart to despair.
~
The city was all aflutter with excitement.
The messengers came with news of King David's arrival within the hour.
everyone packed the streets, hoping to get a glimpse of the Ark.
It was the grandest day since the parting of the Red Sea.

"My Lady, may I speak? asked Macie."
"Yes You may!"
"Will My Lady be going to the city gate?"
"No I will not!"

As Macie hung her little gray head, she sadly turned to leave.
"You may attend Macie."
"Bless you My Lady."

I have suffered
 these indignities long enough, thought Michal.
Think of all the ways I have humbled myself.
I am a Royal Princess from the tribe of Benjamin.
I am the daughter of King Saul.
I do not have to put up with this!
David was not born into Royalty.
I helped make him into the dignified King he is today.
He must make a choice.
Does he not remember who I am?
Who my Father was?
Where would he be without me?

Negative thoughts were racing through her mind!
She could not recall being this angry in her entire life.

As Michal began to take Davids cloths and stuff them into a bag,
she heard music and cheering throngs of people.

She could not resist the urge to see this for herself.
If she did not she would be the only one in Israel who missed it.
She walked to the open window and watched.

She had never seen so many people.
There on the side seated under a Royal canopy were David's other wives and children.
Her Royal chair was empty.
How dare they think I would sit with them.
As the procession proceeded down the avenue she saw her husband,
King David out in front, but she couldn't see him well just yet.
The music was very exciting and upbeat.
The people worshiped God.
They were celebrating in songs of praise.
The palace indeed the entire city shook from the vibration of the music and worship.

The Levites looked marvelous in their formal priestly attire.

They were actually bearing the authentic Holy Ark of the Covenant,
on their shoulders, as God instructed.

As David came in full view of her window,

She was shocked.
"What is he doing?"
"Shame on David!"

She did not want anyone else to see him like this.
His muscled body covered only by an ephod.
He was very handsome and the lowest of the low
 women were looking at him.
How dare he let them see him in this way.
Was this any way for a King to conduct himself?
Michal's heart was filled with scorn,
 as King David began to dance down the street,
 with the Ark of the Covenant following behind.

David danced unto the Lord in Worship.
He danced with all his might.
He danced all the way to Mount Mariah,
with the awesome "Ark of the Covenant" following close behind.


The people of Jerusalem, packed in and around the Tabernacle.
The Levites sat the Ark of the Covenant on the sacred spot.
Amidst shouts of praise, blasting trumpets, pounding drums, applause and dance.
Culminating in a powerful worship service in the Tabernacle,
A soul would have to be dead not to feel something this day!

Today,
God's Glory Shined Down on Israel!

Michal was not there.
She was "too good!"
She was better than the rest of them.
Even the King of Israel.

Her destiny hung in the balance.
It hung by a thread.

She should have been there out of respect.

To God!
To Israel!
To the King!

Today was not about her.
Today was not about David.
It was about God!
About Jerusalem for all eternity ever after.

The "Celebration of Worship," lasted well into the night!
Michal's seat sat empty.
David was very concerned.
She must be quite ill to miss this, thought David.
He sent his messenger to inquire as to the whereabouts of his queen.

 He returned with news David could not believe.
He would not believe it.
Michal was not ill?
 She did not care to attend?
No way would he believe this.

When David returned home, Michal didn't run down the stairs to greet him.
When he walked through the Bedroom door,
She wasn't there to kiss him.
The room was silent.
No warm fire.
No supper.
No cozy turned down bed.

What he saw puzzled him.
His cloths stuffed in a bag by the door.

He called to her. "Michal, where are you?"
"I'm here David."
She ran to greet him, but stopped short.
"Michal."
David tried to hug her.
She pushed him away.
Again he tried to hug her, "don't you dare touch me David!"

"What is it?"
"What in the world is wrong with you," asked David?

"How wonderfully the King has distinguished himself today."
"Dancing around while every woman, even the lowest of the low," 
"saw you wearing nothing but an ephod."
"Like some common male stripper!"

Michal was arrogantly attacking his worship of God.
She was jealous even of his worship.

It was over!

"Michal, in God's Holy presence I"ll dance all I want. With all my might."
"I will become even more undignified than this!"
"I am honored to worship God in front of everybody."
"Even country girls."

David's whole life flashed before his eye's.
"Michal," on this most Holy Day all you could see was your pride and jealousy."
'If you don't know or care deeply for what this day was about, it's over."
He picked up the bag of his cloths, and left.
The Princess and the country boy never saw one another again.
Princess Michal was alone and barren for the rest of her life.

The End





Authors comment:

In the end, "Michal chose her fathers way of royal arrogance.
She lost David and Israel's Throne.
I believe Michal would have had David's children eventually,
continuing the bloodline of King Saul.
Their son would have been "The King of Israel."

I know David loved her.
What if Michal had not made fun of David's Worship?
What if Michal had the same passion in her heart, that David had in his?
Their love story may have had the happy ending God intended.
David always overlooked her proud and haughty ways, but not this time.
This time it was about God.
She just didn't get it!

Because of pride,
 Saul was replaced by David,
Michal was replaced by Bathsheba.
History bears this out, in Davids choice of succession.
David and Bathsheba's  son Solomon was the next King of Israel.

It could of been Michal's son.


Authors Notes:
The Old Testament I & II Samuel King James

The Message Bible