1 Samuel 19 Footnotes

19:13-17 Was Michal right to deceive and lie? God hates lying (Pr 6:16-17; Zch 8:16-17) and expects people to tell the truth (Ex 20:16; Lv 19:11; Eph 4:25; Col 3:9; Rv 22:15). On the other hand, Saul’s intentions were to kill an innocent man; Michal was not obligated to give him information that would help him carry out this wicked act. If Michal did not hide David’s escape and then lie about her cover-up, both she and David would probably have died.

Michal’s example does not give Christians, or anyone else, permission to lie for the sake of personal convenience, or to hide wrongdoing. But Michal’s actions demonstrate that, within an environment where human sin abounds, it is not always possible to choose between pure good and pure evil (see note on Ex 1:19).