It was after David defeated Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, that his life began to escalate like no other. Although he grew up very pour, all this changed from that day forward. And why is this? It is because the Lord, our God, was with him. God took him to this place and had much more in store for him still. So not only Saul, but Jonathan loved him in the beginning, along with the towns people, especially the women. Concerning them, it is written that 1“when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” (1 Samuel 18:6,7) This may have been good for David’s sake, but Saul took offense. It even caused Saul to be angry with David. As it is recorded that 1“Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.” (1 Samuel 18:8,9) Saul even tried to kill him twice with a javelin, of which he tried to through at him, but missed. All this was because an evil spirit had entered him, once again. Because of the anger in his heart, the Lord God allowed him to be tormented by the hands of the evil one.
Concerning the evil spirit and Saul’s attempts to kill David, it is recorded, 1“that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.” (1 Samuel 18:10-15) Even though Saul was felt comforted by David playing the harp for him in the past, he was not willing to let go of his anger. This is why he let it escalate to the point of almost murdering him in his own house. However, because the Lord was with David, he was able to deflect the blows of the enemy. God’s armor was upon him, of which made Saul to the more upset and jealous over time. So he decided to plot against him, even though it would never work out in the end. Surely, when God has a greater purpose for somebody, no person can take that from him, for the Lord is more powerful than anyone on earth. If you are following the Lord, you would know this to be true also?
It was in this time that Saul began plotting against David that, 1“Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.” (1 Samuel 18:20,21) Later on, when Saul was preparing to put David in the heat of battle, in order for him to fall by the sword, David found out that he would become Saul’s son in law, of which pleased him. He then went out to war, of which 1“David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.” (1 Samuel 18:27-29) And so it was that Saul was unable to kill David. No matter how hard he tried to cause him to stumble, God had his back each time. Even his daughter Michal loved David and that must have made him all the more upset. Anyhow, David is a great example of how to live our lives. He chose to follow God and He was protected. Do this also, and the Lord will be with you, no matter where lives trials will take you.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray for every person that desires to be saved. May they also be willing to allow You to lead them. Then can they be safe in this world and not stumble by the hands of the enemy. You are our shelter and are able to give us the strength we need to carry on. Even when we think our patience is dried up, You fill us up and we have more patience than ever before. Even our love for others is elevated to the point of loving all people, as You love us. Thank You for putting your kindness in our hearts, that we might demonstrate what true love is. Oh how I love Your ways, God. Surely, the enemy has no chance of taking us down, when Your presence is in inside of us. You’ve build me up with armor, that I might be able to fight against temptation and win the battle. Thank You for giving me such strength and determination to go all in and never look back. It is all because You have saved me. I was once so lost and You rescued me. Though I was covered in all my sins, You heard my cries and showed me mercy and compassion. In my tears did You wash me of all my transgressions and put inside of me a new heart. How could You save a wretch like me? Wow, You are so good. I don’t deserve Your forgiveness, but still You’ve shown it time and time again, no matter what. I love You Lord. You are my God and I am so glad to have found and to be in Your light. It gives me great joy to follow You now. All the praise and glory to Your holy Name, Jesus. Thank You Lord for everything you do for my life and others through me. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
11 Samuel 18 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.
15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law.
23 And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired.
27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
28 And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.
29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.
30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
