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.
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