1 Samuel 18-20

1 Samuel 18 – Saul’s Jealousy  

Everyone expected King Saul’s son Jonathan to be the next king, which would be a good reason for David and Jonathan to become enemies.  At first Jonathan probably didn’t know that Samuel had anointed David to be king.  Jonathan and David were about the same age and became good friends.  They had a genuine sincere love for each other.  That love came from the relationship both had with God.  Jonathan wanted to honor David so he made a covenant with him and gave him a gift of his royal clothes.  He also gave him his bow and sword.

David did whatever Saul asked so Saul gave David a high rank in the army, which pleased everyone.  After the defeat of Goliath, David could have become proud because he was suddenly well known by the people and by the soldiers.  When David and the soldiers returned home after killing Goliath, the women danced and sang a song of joy.  “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” – 1 Samuel 18:7.  This upset Saul and he became jealous of David (1 Samuel 18:1-9).

God had allowed the evil spirit to attack Saul again.  Usually when David played his harp to soothe Saul it would calm him, but this time he became angry and tried to kill David twice.  Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with David and had left Saul.  Saul was afraid because David was so popular with the people and of his close relationship with God so he sent David away to command 1000 soldiers hoping he would be killed by the enemy.  David was very successful and even more popular.  This made Saul more afraid and more jealous.  Saul knew that God had chosen David to be the next king. 

Saul’s offered his daughter Merab to be David’s wife, but David was a humble man who looked after sheep and didn’t earn a lot of money.  So David turned Saul down.  Out of spite Saul gave her to another man.  Later he had a second chance to marry one of Saul’s daughters and this time David was persuaded to marry Michal.  Saul’s price for his daughter was for David to kill 100 Philistines.  Saul’s real plan was for the Philistines to kill David.  David was successful and they were married.  Saul became more afraid of David than ever before.  Saul could see he was losing power over his own country and David was gaining power. (1 Samuel 18:10-27).

When Saul realized that his daughter loved David, he became more and more afraid.  He never followed God again.  He didn’t admit he had sinned.  Instead he became more and more jealous and more afraid.  He never had peace from God.  Saul was David’s enemy for the rest of his life, but David was never Saul’s enemy (1 Samuel 18:27-30).

What lessons or warnings do you learn from Saul?

What lessons do you learn from David?

When have you been jealous of someone and what was the outcome?

Principle:  God gives His children power to serve with humility.

1 Samuel 19 – Saul’s Pursuit

Saul had secretly tried to kill David, but now he hated David so much that he told Jonathan and all the attendants to kill him.  Jonathan was wise and warned David.  He told David to hide from Saul.  Jonathan even spoke to his father and tried to stop him.  He reminded Saul of the great things David had done.  Saul realized he was wrong and made a promise to allow David to live.  David served Saul again.

Of course Saul didn’t keep his promise.  He tried to kill David again.  Saul told his men to bring David to him so he could kill him, but David’s wife, Michal was more loyal to him than to her father.  She saved his life.  She put an idol in his bed and covered it so when the men came for David she told them he was ill.  David escaped and never went back to serve Saul (1 Samuel 19:1-17).

This shows the some Israelites worshipped God and also idols, but the Bible never says that David worshipped idols.  Michal didn’t have the kind of relationship with God as David. 

David went to Ramah to visit Samuel whom he trusted.  Saul send sent three different groups of men to seize David, but he Spirit of God came upon them and controlled them.  Saul decided to go himself and get David, but he couldn’t find his way.  The Spirit controlled him, too.  He began prophesying, stripped off his robes and laid that way all day and night.  The people saw this and knew Saul was not a real prophet.  They didn’t expect Saul to prophesy when he was a young man and especially not as a wicked king.  God was still active in his life so maybe there was still hope he might return to God.  (1 Samuel 19:18-24).

The soldiers and the servants were put in a difficult spot by Saul telling them to kill David.  They all loved David yet they were commanded by Saul to kill him.  Sin is never excused even if ordered by a higher authority.

David had a deep faith in God as we see in Psalm 59.  He always turned to God in prayer for help.  He said God was his strength and his fortress.  He knew God would go before him and protect him from any harm.  David lived in constant danger for the rest of 1 Samuel, but still sang praises to God.

Where has God called you to what is right even at a personal risk?

Do you stand up to those who misuse God’s name or when they misquote His Word?

How has God protected you from your enemies?

Do you trust God to always go before you and protect you?

Principle:  God’s children can trust Him in their suffering.

1 Samuel 20:1-42 – David’s Protection

David went to Jonathan and asked what had he done for Saul to want to take his life.  Jonathan found it hard to believe that his father was trying to kill David.  So David proposed a test to prove it.  He would not go to the special meal called the New Moon festival where all Saul’s family and his important officials would be attending.  Instead Jonathan was to tell Saul that David went to his home in Bethlehem to have the New Moon meal with his family.  Then if Saul was not trying to kill David, he would be happy for David.  If Saul was still angry with David, Jonathan would be able to see it.  David would hide in the field away from the town (1 Samuel 20:1-10).

David told Jonathan if he was guilty of a crime, then he should kill him.  Jonathan refused.  Jonathan made a covenant with David.  They would remain completely loyal to each other (1 Samuel 20:11-17). 

David decided to go to warn his family in Bethlehem, because they would also have to hide to escape Saul’s anger.  He went through the fields so no one would see him. He would be gone 2 days.  During those 2 days Jonathan would find out whether Saul was really trying to kill David.  Jonathan devised a plan to tell David Saul’s intentions.  David was to hide near a particular stone and Jonathan would send a boy to shout a secret message for him to hear (1 Samuel 20:11-23).

At the meal Saul asked Jonathan were David was and he repeated the excuse David had asked him to give.  Saul immediately became angry.  His anger was against Jonathan because of his friendship with David.  Saul explained in public why he wanted to kill David.  He knew that David would be Israel’s king.  Saul opposed God’s plan to make David king and was trying to keep the rule for himself.  He was trying to control God.  Saul insulted Jonathan’s mother which upset and angered Jonathan so he left the table.  Saul was so angry that he threw a spear at Jonathan.  Now Jonathan knew his father wanted to kill David (1 Samuel 20:24-34).

Jonathan warned Davi, but not as they had planned.  He wanted to see David and warn him himself.  They knew that they had separate.  They greeted each other and shed tears showing how deeply they cared about each other.  They promised that they would always be friends.  Jonathan seemed to know that David was special and that he would be the future king.  Jonathan didn’t want to be king.  He wanted to support David so he could become king.  He knew that David would be a truly great king

(1 Samuel 20:35-42).

How ready are you to sustain your friends with truth of Scripture and comfort of prayer?

Will you make yourself available for others to come to you in times of trouble?

Would your friends say you are loyal to them?

Principle:  Troubles may increase, but God always supplies His children’s needs.

Jesus commands us to follow His and David and Jonathan’s examples to put aside our own rights and plans to trust God’s will.  Suffering will come, but Jesus is always with us.  Suffering will end, but joy that comes lasts forever.

Next time we will continue our study in 1 Samuel.  See you here.

__________________________________________

If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below. 

You can also join this site by clicking on the blue button at the top left "Join this site" or you can "Subscribe by Email".  If you follow by email, you will receive an email every time there is a new post.