Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Just One Of David's Women: Michal

It was last in my stack of summer-must-reads...but that's ok cuz I'm a sucker for Christian historical fiction and this book helped to remind me why.

Her face glows from the cover as her eyes left me wondering exactly what she is thinking...until I began to read her story and then I knew exactly what was going thru this chickie-poo's mind.  (Well at least from the viewpoint of Jill Eileen Smith, anyway.)

Michal was the first wife of King David...the one who captured his heart and caused him to double the dowry price asked by her father, King Saul.  But, this sweet girlie is also the same one who is later on listed as "despising David in her heart" as she watched him dance in the streets in praise over the return of the Ark of the Covenant.  I'm sure you can understand when I say that I've read this Bible story many times and have always just thought Michal to be a "spoiled little rich girl"...but as I experienced her thru new eyes, I found myself feeling for her as her life is played out before me. 

This princess is traded to a handsome husband and then very soon abandoned as David flees from the murder-plotting Saul.  She then is forced to get married to yet another man at her father's whims only to be re-claimed (over 15 years later) by the now King David when he decides he wants her back.  What girl wouldn't throw a bit of attitude on the cover of her story after all that, I ask you?!?

I love the way Jill presented characters with such depth and emotion that you can't help but feel as though you know them..and since King David is one of my all time favorite Biblical characters, it was an added bonus to get to experience his rise to power in a book so well-written and researched.  If you like a great story that is wrapped around Biblical accuracy and characters you can learn to love (either again or for the first time)...this is a definate title to check out!   Can't wait to dig into Abigail...the second in the series.

Welp...it's been a long hard day...made up of staying in bed till 10 and in PJ's till almost 3.  I am off to snuggle with my hubby for a bit before bed as I feel I have deserved it today.  Woo hoo!!

Looking up as always...