1. Two Very Different Responses to David’s Success (18:1-9)
18 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,
“Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.”
8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.
Did you see in the text the two different responses? After David defeated Goliath, the Israelites begin to write songs about him.
Jonathan and David were close to the same age. They were both men of faith and deeply cared about God’s will. Remember, Jonathan would sneak away and defeat small bands of Philistines soldiers while Saul and his men were asleep.
David with his great trust in God went up against Goliath and won the victory in the name of the Lord of Hosts.
Jonathan and David had many things in common but most importantly they loved and trusted God. This brought them together in an unbreakable bond. They truly loved each other and were devoted to each other regardless of what Saul did.
As we think about the local church and the relationships we have with each other, the one thing that glues us together is our shared love for Jesus. We may be of different social classes, races, whatever but we share in our love for Christ. He is what has brought us together.
They loved each other so much they cut a covenant together.
3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.
Jonathan took the lead and they cut up an animal and placed the two halves on the ground and each walked between the animal parts and declared before God that if either fails to keep his promise of friendship toward the other may what happened to this animal happen to him who fails to keep the covenant.
Look at what Jonathan does next…
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.
Jonathan knew that he was not God’s choice to follow Saul as King even though he was the crown prince of Israel. Jonathan did the unthinkable. He humbly submitted to God’s will and gave David the robe of the prince. I believe Jonathan would have made a great king but in the providence of God, David was chosen.
Most likely, Jonathan already sensed something in the role David would play in the future of Israel. This deed was an act of faith for Jonathan. Only faith makes us willing to take a lesser role than someone else. Only faith makes us in tune with God’s will and not our own.
Jonathan was looking forward to the true King, Jesus who was the fulfillment of even David’s Kingdom.
So, we see the first response of love and trust in God from Jonathan toward David…
he loved him as his own soul.
Now comes the songs that the women in Israel sang as the soldiers returned. It’s always good to analyze the lyrics of the songs that are sung in worship. Here, their songs are not good.
8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.
Saul’s response is that of jealousy and hatred toward David because the women have ascribed greater numbers slain to David than to Saul.
The reality is that the songs should have had lyrics attributing the victory to God and not to David or Saul. Faith was hard to find in Israel in those days.
So, from that time on, Saul was out to kill David.
2. God is With David (18:10-30)
10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. 11 And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. 15 And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19 But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.
20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.” 22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.’ ” 23 And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” 24 And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’ ” Now 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. Before the time had expired, 27 David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 28 But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.
30 Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.
The fact that God is with David and David is successful and everyone (almost) loves David is the thrust of Chapter 18.
5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him
14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him
15 And when Saul saw that he had great success,
30 Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul,
Jonathan loves David, Michal loves David, Israel and Judah love David.
Almost everyone loves David. Even Saul’s jealousy is from the awe that he has for David. This Chapter pounds that into our heads.
No matter what Saul would try to do, to get David out of the picture, God was there to protect him. The more Saul tried and failed the angrier he became.
10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. 11 And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.
Then Saul thought that since David is so good at fighting Philistines I will send him out to battles. He probably thought the more he fights, sooner or later he will be killed. But David was always successful in battle, and the people loved him more and Saul hated him more.
Saul was going to give David his oldest daughter in marriage. However, for some reason he changes his mind. Saul is very happy though when his other daughter Michal loved David and he loved her.
This romance would play right into Saul’s hand. David, if you don’t have a bridal price to give me for my daughter, don’t worry…I’ll take 100 Philistine foreskins and she’s yours. Perhaps he will be killed in this quest.
We may think this arrangement to be barbaric. This was the ancient world when enemies were killed and body parts collected. Egyptians counted severed hands, Assyrians numbered cut off heads, this was typical. I would add that this is far less barbaric than what we do today in abortions of innocent babies. They are dismembered while alive. They are helpless. They have never been anyone’s enemies.
So, who is the most brutal? We are by far.
So, what does David do? He doesn’t bring back 100 foreskins but 200 and gives them to the king and walks away with his daughter. God is with David and no one can touch him.
So, it’s like David could walk into a fiery furnace and not be burned or even scorched. He could step into a lion’s den and not be eaten. Nothing Saul did was effective in doing in David and his rage was kindled.
God is with His people. Beloved, God is with us…
Isaiah 41:10–13 (ESV)
10 fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
11 Behold, all who are incensed against you
shall be put to shame and confounded;
those who strive against you
shall be as nothing and shall perish.
12 You shall seek those who contend with you,
but you shall not find them;
those who war against you
shall be as nothing at all.
13 For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.”
Matthew 10:29–31 (ESV)
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
The Scriptures are full of promises like these. God is with us and will watch over us.
Resources Used:
Promise and Deliverance by DeGraaf Vol 2
1 Samuel by Dale Ralph Davis
1 Samuel by Tsumura
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