1 Samuel 18:1-4
David was brought before Saul after killing Goliath and the great slaughter of the Philistines. Jonathon and David immediately become good friends. We know that Saul was interested in David because he made him look good in helping to kill Philistines. Jonathon, however, had every reason to be jealous of David. We get a glimpse of the heart of Jonathon. It's almost as if Jonathon recognized that David was to be King.
Jonathon loves and submits to David like we love and submit to Christ. Jonathon is ready to give up his coat, armor, bow and sword.
1 Samuel 18:5-9
David served his king well and as was successful. People noticed David and were drawn to him. People in general are starved for strong leaders. The world promotes ruthless leaders and tyrants while God tells us a good leader is a servant of all and humble in his ways. This kind of leader is rare and folks are drawn to him and often can't even explain why.
David acquired a reputation and while it wasn't unusual for a song to be sung regarding the king, it wasn't prudent to place the king's military leader in higher regard. This wasn't done to spite Paul, just to celebrate David. Obviously this didn't sit well with Saul. As far as Saul was concerned, David was more popular than him and therefore a threat. From this time on Saul kept his eye on David. There is a feel that Saul was also keeping an eye out for the opportunity to deal with David and remove the threat.
1 Samuel 18:10-16
It was the next day that opportunity presented itself and Saul threw a spear at David in an effort to pin him to the wall. This evil spirit was controlling Saul's life more than he would want to admit. The 'prophesying' was really the babbling of one out of their mind.
Saul was afraid of David because the presence of God in his life, while God had left Saul. The void in Saul's life was filled with an evil spirit. This had to cause unrest to Saul when in the presence of the Spirit of God in David's life. Saul's answer to this problem and discomfort was to remove David from his presence so as not to be reminded of this fear.
1 Samuel 18:17-19
Saul had already promised his daughter to the one who killed Goliath, but he had not done this yet. He now offered his daughter to David as a reward to war against the Philistines. This also was a plot and a trap to get David on the battlefield and let the Philistines kill David to remove him and the fear from his life. It appears Saul had no intention of giving this daughter to David. Even if he did, he later changed his mind; giving his daughter to another, possibly in an attempt to make David jealous.
We can see David's humble heart in responding, "Who am I?"
1 Samuel 18:20-32
Saul finds out Michel loves David and offers her to him so as to snare him. It seems that nothing Saul says or does at this point can be taken at face value, but everything has a self centered motive. Saul encourages David to become his son-in-law again. Even with the encouragement of others we see David is reluctant to step into this trap. Yet, it is only because of his heart; he feels he is poor and lightly esteemed; unfit to be the kings son in law. Saul waves the dowry for his daughter Michel but in fact asks for a hundred Philistine foreskins to honor the king. Saul thought surely this would be the death of David.
David responds to this attempted manipulation by taking control. He goes to the Philistines and not only kills one hundred men but kills two hundred and brings back the foreskins to Saul. What a gruesome and disgusting presentation this was. Saul had no choice but to give Michel to David.
As time went one, David became more highly esteemed as well as being hated all the more by Saul.
God allowed an evil spirit to come on Saul. Saul cast his javelin at David twice but David alluded it. Everything David did he was successful at. Saul offers his daughter Merab to David if he agrees to serve him. Saul wanted to get David in battle so the Philistines would do his dirty work. Saul gave Merab to another and then offers Michal who loved David. David was too humble to marry the king's daughter. Saul gave him a price of 100 Philistine foreskins to earn his daughter. David and his men went out and collected 200 foreskins and Saul had to give Michal to David.
©2015 Doug Ford
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