The Lord Was With David

INTRO

We’ve just finished the story David destroying Goliath, the Philistine champion, with one stone as he walked out his anointing as king. David was anointed in the privacy of his family at the age of 12, and at the age of 17, he faced and defeated Goliath. However, for more than ten years, David had to stay on the run as a fugitive from King Saul. Saul was clearly in charge during this period, but the people wanted David’s leadership. Wiersbe points out that “during the ten years or so that David was a fugitive, the Lord not only thwarted Saul’s plans repeatedly, but He even used the king’s hostility to mature David and make him into a man of courage and faith. While Saul was guarding his throne, David was being prepared for his throne.”¹

TEACHING

1 Samuel 18:1–4: Jonathan, Saul’s son, committed himself to David rather than his father (v. 1). Jonathan and David were probably about 25 years apart in age. Jonathan was a seasoned warrior who had already had two major victories; David’s only victory was at the age of 17 against Goliath. From that day, Saul kept David with him, not allowing him to return to his father’s house (v. 2). Jonathan committed himself to David and made a covenant with him by cutting up an animal and they both walked

through the pieces (v. 3). Jonathan should have followed his father as the next king, but through this covenant, Jonathan was expressing, “If I am unfaithful to my word in this covenant, may I end up in pieces as this animal.”²Jonathan then gave David his own clothes: his robe, his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt (v. 4). Davis explains that “clothes signify the person and the position—hence Jonathan renounces his position as crown prince and transfers, so far as his own will goes, the right of succession to David.”³DeGraaf states, “This deed on his part was an act of faith. Only faith makes us willing to be the lesser. Faith causes us to surrender our rights that we pretend that we have over against Christ, who is truly Israel’s king.”⁴

1 Samuel 18:5–9: David marched with Saul’s army and was successful in every assignment Saul gave him. The soldiers and Saul’s servants were pleased with David being put in charge (v. 5; Proverbs 3:3–4). As the troops returned, the women met King Saul in celebration, singing that Saul had killed thousands, and David had killed tens of thousands (vv. 6–7). Saul was furious with resentment and jealousy that David was receiving the credit and the honor (v. 8). Puritan minister John Flavel said, “It is a dangerous crisis when a proud heart meets with flattering lips.” From then on, Saul watched David jealously (v.9).

1 Samuel 18:10–16: The next day, an evil spirit took control of Saul, and he began to rave or prophesy. David was playing the lyre for Saul and Saul took his spear and threw it at David. But David avoided him twice (vv. 10–11). Saul’s emotions were running high—jealousy, anger, envy, and fear. Saul became afraid of David because the Lord was with David and not with him

(v. 12). David continued to have success. Saul assigned David more than 1,000 men (v. 13). Wiersbe explains Saul’s reasons for reassigning David: “If David was killed in battle, it was the enemy’s fault; and if he lost a battle but lived, his popularity would wane. But the plan didn’t work because David won all the battles!”⁵(vv. 14–16). Saul continued to scheme where David was concerned. Wiersbe writes, “Envy is a dangerous and insidious enemy, a cancer that slowly eats out our inner life and leads us to say and do terrible things… Envy is the pain we feel within when somebody achieves or receives what we think belongs to us.”⁶(Proverbs 14:30). Wiersbe goes on to say, “Envious people max out their credit cards to buy things they don’t need just to impress people who really don’t care!”⁷(Psalm 5:12).

1 Samuel 18:17–30: Remember, as part of his reward for defeating Goliath, David was promised Saul’s daughter in marriage.

Saul finally offered David his daughter Merab (v. 17). In humility, David turned her down so Saul married her to someone else (vv. 18–19). But Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and Saul offered Michal to David in marriage (vv. 20–21). Saul also instructed the servants to tell David how he was pleased with David (v. 22). But David again responded in humility, and he recognized that he was too poor to pay the bridal price (v.23; Exodus 22:16). When the king heard David’s reply, Saul asked for 100 Philistine foreskins for the bride-price, hoping the Philistines would kill David (vv. 24–25). David accepted Saul’s terms, killed

200 Philistines, and married Michal (vv. 26–27). Saul realized how deeply God loved David and became even more frightened. Saul became David’s enemy from then on (vv. 28–29). Despite all Saul tried to do, David was more successful than all other officers (v. 30).

CLOSING

Clearly the hand of God was on the life of David. Psalm 92:8-11 says, "But You, Lord, are exalted forever. For indeed, Lord, Your enemies—indeed, Your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered. You have lifted up my horn like that of a wild ox; I have been anointed with oil. My eyes look down on my enemies; my ears hear evildoers when they attack me."

Romans 8:28 sums up David’s life: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” In reality David is just walking out his anointing and God is saying, "I got this.”