FIRST SAMUEL 13-18
A Devotional Commentary by Nate Wilson
With the ASV Text
Click here to download a map of cities mentioned in I Samuel.
I Samuel CHAPTER 13
1 Saul was forty years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel, whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mount of Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba: and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. 4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal. 5 And the Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude: and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed), then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in coverts, and in pits. 7 Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; but as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 And Saul said, Bring hither the burnt-offering to me, and the peace-offerings. And he offered the burnt-offering. 10 And it came to pass that, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. 11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash; 12 therefore said I, Now will the Philistines come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of Jehovah: I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt-offering. 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly; thou hast not kept the commandment of Jehovah thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would Jehovah have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: Jehovah hath sought him a man after his own heart, and Jehovah hath appointed him to be prince over his people, because thou hast not kept that which Jehovah commanded thee.
15 And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. 16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual; 18 and another company turned the way to Beth-horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looketh down upon the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: 20 but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock; 21 yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to set the goads. 22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out unto the pass of Michmash.
v.4--Saul takes the credit for Jonathan's victory. Lord, give me grace to give credit where credit is due. And I guess all credit should ultimately go to You!
v.8-- A time had been set, but the appointed time came and went, and neither God nor Samuel showed up. It looks like Saul jumped the gun, for if he had waited just a couple more hours, Saul would have seen Samuel to do the sacrifice (v.10). One thing's for sure; we cannot be impatient with the God of the universe. He does as He pleases. As the song says, "He may not come when you want Him, but He's right on time!" He likes to build trust, patience, and perseverance in us by waiting until the last minute to come through. And when His timing is like that, it becomes all the more obvious that it was His hand rather than ours that does the work.
However, instead of keeping his eyes on God, Saul was watching the people. With his eyes in that direction, he couldn't help but have a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as more and more people got nervous and decided to desert the army and go home. It was perfectly legitimate to let the faint-hearted or the preoccupied soldiers go home. Saul should have remembered Gideon (Judges 7), how God made his little band of 300 soldiers victorious over just as large an army of Midianites "a multitude...as the sand of the seashore." But Saul didn't have faith like Gideon. As Saul saw his army dwindle from 3,000 to a mere 600, he decided, in a desperate move to stop the ebb of Israelite soldiers, to offer sacrifices to invoke God's favor and go ahead to war.
But Saul offered sacrifices that only a priest could do. The people should have stayed his hand; the priests should have rebuked him, but no one did! Lord, let me not stand idly by when others are sinning!
v.10ff--And Saul gets into trouble. Samuel, when he arrives, rebukes Saul and declares his punishment: God is going to set up another kingly family in the place of his. "For you have not kept that which Jehovah commanded you." Oh God, how many times do I disobey?! Saul was irresponsible with his kingly authority and so he had his kingdom taken away. If we are irresponsible with our position at work or our position as parents, we deserve to have our job or our children taken away. Oh Lord, thank You that You are gracious and that you allow me to keep the positions You've given me. Help me to be patient in waiting on You, diligent in obeying You, and careful to be responsible with my charges!
v.15--Israel was about to get massacred. Hundreds of thousands of Philistines vs. 600 Israelite soldiers--and weaponless at that, because the Philistines controlled the blacksmiths! Saul and Jonathan were the only men with swords.
v.20 Could some parallel be drawn about going to the enemy to have them sharpen your tools? That was more than embarrassing! In our country there are a lot of trades that Christians have let fall to the enemy, such as our government, media, and schools, and sometimes even churches... Instead of Christians taking bold strides in these areas, we're dealing with the enemy on their terms, trying to introduce legislation that will get voted down, trying to introduce moral music or reporting--but not too Biblical, mind you, lest they not play it--even on the "Christian" stations, trying to use government funding and textbooks for our Christian schools, and trying to teach the Bible when the pastor undermines the authority of God's word. Is this the way to go about it???
I Samuel CHAPTER 14
1 Now it fell upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on yonder side. But he told not his father. 2 And Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate-tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men; 3 and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Jehovah in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. 4 And between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba. 6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few. 7 And his armorbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thy heart: turn thee, behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. 8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto the men, and we will disclose ourselves unto them. 9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. 10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up; for Jehovah hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be the sign unto us. 11 And both of them disclosed themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. 12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armorbearer, Come up after me; for Jehovah hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. 13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armorbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armorbearer slew them after him. 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armorbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land. 15 And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled; and the earth quaked: so there was an exceeding great trembling.
16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went hither and thither. 17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there. 18 And Saul said unto Ahijah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was there at that time with the children of Israel. 19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thy hand. 20 And Saul and all the people that were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. 21 Now the Hebrews that were with the Philistines as beforetime, and that went up with them into the camp, from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise all the men of Israel that had hid themselves in the hill-country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23 So Jehovah saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over by Beth-aven.
24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted food. 25 And all the people came into the forest; and there was honey upon the ground. 26 And when the people were come unto the forest, behold, the honey dropped: but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. 28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food this day. And the people were faint. 29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for now hath there been no great slaughter among the Philistines. 31 And they smote of the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint; 32 and the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people did eat them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Jehovah, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, ye have dealt treacherously: roll a great stone unto me this day. 34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against Jehovah in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there. 35 And Saul built an altar unto Jehovah: the same was the first altar that he built unto Jehovah.
36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. 37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day. 38 And Saul said, Draw nigh hither, all ye chiefs of the people; and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. 39 For, as Jehovah liveth, who saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. 40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee. 41 Therefore Saul said unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, Show the right. And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot; but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and, lo, I must die. 44 And Saul said, God do so and more also; for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. 45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far from it: as Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. 46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.
47 Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he put them to the worse. 48 And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that despoiled them. 49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first-born Merab, and the name of the younger Michal: 50 and the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the captain of his host was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
Jonathan was a free spirit--always striking off and doing something different -- usually to his father's chagrin. But it's hard to blame him when he had a father like Saul!
v.6-7--The Philistines were moving closer, anticipating a landslide victory, so Jonathan decides to pull a crazy stunt and just walk right into one of the Philistine forts and invite them to fight with him and his armor-bearer (Brave armor-bearer to agree to do this!). Jonathan's rationale? "Maybe Jehovah will work for us--nothing is impossible for Him, so He could win a battle if we are many or if we are few." Dear God, please give me and my children this kind of bold faith! Nothing is impossible for You; let me not be discouraged when I see so few people walking fully in Your ways.
v.4, 10, 12--Jonathan chose an easily-defensible spot in the rocks that would give an advantage to a duo fighting against a mob. Then he decided to crawl up to the Philistine fort -- much to his disadvantage -- with the sure faith that "God has given them into our hands!"
v.13-16--And, wonder of wonders, they wasted the 20 Philistine warriors there! This caused no little consternation in the Philistine camp ("We thought the Israelites had no swords!"). It sounds like God must have followed up with an earthquake then, and it put the Philistines over the edge! They started running every which-way.
v.18-19 Spiros Zhodiates says that it was probably the ephod with the Urim and Thumim, not the ark of the covenant that Saul used. But why did he call for it? Was he asking God where Jonathan had run off to this time? Was he consulting God as to what he should do in these dire straits in this hopeless battle situation? It's not clear. Saul did have a habit of being a poor decision-maker and making decisions based on fits of anger, prophetic words from God, and consortations with mediums.
God, I want to make wise decisions, but how can I do so without Your wisdom? Do I go to a certain conference or not? Do I go on a short-term mission project next summer or not? (Where?) Should we make changes in our observance of the Christmas holiday? Should I start a Southeast regional office? How should I organize the follow-through on my current work? What am I gonna be when I grow up? Should I stick with my church fellowship despite our disagreements with it? Help, Lord! How much easier it would be if You'd just speak out of the sky and tell me what to do on each matter! I'm not very sure of myself (not like Jonathan was!) in discerning Your will and where I should strike out in faith. Should I just strike out in faith, assuming that You'll give me success because I believe You will? Do I need to go through the agonizing process of asking scores of people for advice and spending months in limbo? Whatever the case, Lord, please guide me in Your way, in Your timing, and let me never turn to wrong ways of decision-making, as Saul did.
v.21--The rumbling in the Philistine camp grabbed the Israelite's attention ("THEY'RE COMING!") and they prepared for a last stand. But, what a shock to find the Philistines panicking and fighting each other! As if this were not enough, all the Israelite defectors in the Philistine army joined back up with Saul and the fearful ones came out of their hiding places in the caves, and together they whuped up on that Philistine horde!
v.23--Who gets the credit? Again, not Jonathan, but GOD. Let me be quick to give You credit, God, for things I do!
v. 24--Rash words spoken by Saul nearly led him to kill his own son. It makes no sense to tell a disadvantaged army to fast, for they are outnumbered to begin with and are only going to get weaker! But the men respected King Saul and didn't eat.
Apparently, Jonathan was out fighting the Philistine fort at the time his father made this command, so he ate. No problem. But when they told him of his father's command, he dishonored his dad by harsh criticism. Jonathan was right about how his father "troubled the land," but wrong to dishonor his father.
How can a child of unbelieving parents obey the 5th commandment? I think, although I have not been in this position really, that children of bad parents must honor them anyway. When a child speaks of his parents to other people, he must not complain about their unreasonableness, but rather find some good point about them and proactively honor them in word somehow, even if it is a small thing. Such children should obey parents as fully as possible and disobey them only when they command something directly against the Bible. At the same time, the child must realize that he is not dishonoring his parents but rather following God's law when he witnesses to them of Jesus, speaks to them about God's law, or secondarily calls for government retribution for a breach of law that is in accord with God's civil law, such as sexual abuse, theft, attempted murder, etc.
v.32 Saul's soldiers were so hungry that when they had fulfilled the oath by destroying the Philistines and their livestock, they started eating everything they could get their hands on -- even raw, bloody meat! God didn't want His people eating blood (Lev. 3:17, 17:10-14).
Rather than admitting that the fast was a bad idea, Saul rebukes the men for eating blood! However, I think Saul was wise to say, "Bring the animals here to slaughter them," so that he could hold them accountable to draining the blood properly before eating the animals. He also built an altar to Jehovah, thanking Him for their deliverance that day and thanking Him perhaps for the booty, too. In some things he did, Saul was right, and these are certainly two things he did right: accountability to God's law and thanking God.
v.37--Again, Saul asked the priest for a word from God as to whether or not he should plunder the Philistines some more ... but no word came immediately. (Saul was not a patient man.) Saul discerned that there must be some sin in the camp. (Individual sin affects corporate bodies; all the more reason to live a holy life!)
v.39-44--Why did Saul say, "If it is my son, Jonathan..."? Why single Jonathan out? Didn't he know his son was out fighting Philistines when he gave the command and was the least likely to have obeyed? Was this just a fit of rage at God for not speaking to him, or was it a deliberate attempt to knock off his son for political reasons? It's like he knew it was Jonathan, the way Saul organized the casting of lots, starting with a cast to determine between Saul and Jonathan and the rest of Israel. Interestingly enough, God caused the lots to fall to Jonathan! Saul was ready to kill him for breaking a vow he had never consented to.
v.45-46--The people saved Jonathan. It looked like a "lose-lose" situation -- God caused the lot to show Jonathan's guilt, but he was surely not worthy of death. Yet he had been disrespectful to his father. The people were acting out of the line of authority to overrule the king. All these problems could have been solved by small exercises of self-discipline early on - especially on the part of Saul - not to become angry and speak rashly. Jonathan could probably have come out from under guilt if he had manifested a humble and repentant attitude about his father's counsel, even after unwittingly breaking it.
v.47--Anyway, Saul was a great warrior, and he, by God's power, subdued the nations around Israel and set the foundation for Israel's future unity and sovereignty under David and Solomon. It's interesting that Saul was about the only monogamous king and also that he named one of his sons Malchishua "king saves" - did Saul see himself as a savior of Israel as king?
I Samuel CHAPTER 15
1 And Samuel said unto Saul, Jehovah sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of Jehovah. 2 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 4 And Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley. 6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as thou goest to Shur, that is before Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
10 Then came the word of Jehovah unto Samuel, saying, 11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And Samuel was wroth; and he cried unto Jehovah all night. 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a monument, and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal. 13 And Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of Jehovah: I have performed the commandment of Jehovah. 14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. 16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what Jehovah hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. 17 And Samuel said, Though thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Jehovah anointed thee king over Israel; 18 and Jehovah sent thee on a journey, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. 19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of Jehovah, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah? 20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of Jehovah, and have gone the way which Jehovah sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God in Gilgal. 22 And Samuel said, Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Jehovah, and thy words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah. 26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. 27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, Saul laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, and it rent. 28 And Samuel said unto him, Jehovah hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent. 30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah thy God. 31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped Jehovah.
32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him cheerfully. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. 33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before Jehovah in Gilgal. 34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul: and Jehovah repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
God wanted to punish the Amalekites. It was time for them to be annihilated. "Their time is up," said God. God has the prerogative to destroy anyone at any time - and we would all deserve it because we have all violated His standard of holiness.
Anyway, the Amalekites were the second army to oppose the Israelites after the Exodus - after Pharaoh's army. They were the ones (Ex. 17) whom Israel was able to conquer as long as Moses' arms were held up. God had it out for Amalek. He promised in Ex. 17:14-16 that Israel's initial victory over the Amalekites would not be the last of it; there would come a time when there would be more war and Amalek would be totally wiped out. This is the fulfillment of that prophecy five generations (100 - 300 years?) later (Num. 1:1,7; Matt. 1:4-6).
So, with 210,000 soldiers, Saul set out to obey the Lord. But his obedience was only partial; he did not obey all of God's orders. He did only the parts he wanted to do. Oh God, how tempting that is! To obey the easy and agreeable parts of Your will and neglect the difficult, unpleasant things that make no sense to us. Saul killed all the people but their king, and all the animals but the really choice ones.
God, please make me like Samuel, who cried and prayed all night for Saul and who grieved over him for the rest of his life (v.35). God, my compassion for the lost, my grief over the sins of my leaders, and my burden for the nominalism in the American church just doesn't reach that kind of proportions of crying, sleeplessness, and true grieving. Please deepen my concern for these things.
v.13--Did Saul really think he had carried out the Lord's command? Could it be he didn't realize his sin? When Samuel called his bluff, Saul blamed the people. He never thought it was his fault: "They brought the sheep ... the people spared the sheep ... I listened to the voice of the people" (emphasis mine). Not a convincing case for Democracy, huh? Democracy means majority rules, and that means they'll usually be wrong, for mankind naturally tends toward fudging on God's rules.
In this case, the people were overcome with GREED for the booty; they disobeyed God's order to utterly destroy it all. Saul was ready to rationalize his sin, compromising with the sin of the people by obeying God only in part. Instead of killing them all as God commanded, they were going to offer some animals as sacrifices to God.
v.22-23--This is where the familiar phrase comes in, "to obey is better than sacrifice." God wants His people to OBEY Him. It makes Him so happy and it is the best thing for us! Conversely, "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft." (Teraphim were household idols. It's a transliteration from Hebrew.) God hates disobedience! I don't know if I can really fathom this. I can't really imagine hell, and I have been forgiven so many times, my rebellion somehow doesn't seem so serious. Oh God, could You change my heart so that it is no longer rebellious but completely obedient in every way? My flesh bucks against this. I don't want it, much as I need it! Please change my heart.
Saul's tune didn't change until Samuel told him that his job would be terminated and that he would be replaced by "a neighbor who is better." It was too late then; His pleas got the cold shoulder from Samuel and God. How did Samuel know to be unflinching? It would have been easy for a lesser man to be moved by the king of his country desperately begging your forgiveness on his knees! Perhaps Saul's repentance was not sincere -- perhaps he was more interested in "saving face" (v.30) and keeping his power as king.
I have done the same thing. When in rebellion and confronted with possibility of getting caught, I'm suddenly very interested in smoothing it out with God. This isn't true repentance. It is self-preservation. It is simply wanting to have the "pleasures" of sin without catching the bad consequences. That's not a repentance of true love for God and turning away from sin to righteousness! Oh what a wretch I am! I want to go through TRUE repentance, where I repent and never turn back to that sin again.
I want so much to be zealous for You like Samuel was (except for his child-rearing faults!). I want to know what You want said and done and do great things for You and always do right. Why am I so mediocre?
Samuel fulfilled the last of the prophecy over Amalek by killing the last person in that race, King Agag. Not content to decapitate him, Samuel chopped him into little pieces, he was so zealous!
Two last questions: If God is perfect and does all things perfectly, how could He regret His action of enthroning Saul? Was He just shaking His head in amazement, as it were, at mankind's depravity? Maybe wishing Israel hadn't asked for a king?
Secondly, who were the Kenites, spared from the annihilation of the Amalekites? What was the kindness they had done to Israel? This is in fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant: "...those who bless you, I will bless, and those who curse you, I will curse..." The Amalekites had been a curse to Israel, so they got wiped out. The Kenites had been a blessing to Israel, so they were protected.
I don't think that the Bible records the kindness that the Kenites did to Israel that prompted Saul to spare them, except for a hint in Numbers 12:29 that Moses' father-in-law, Hobab was a help to Moses in the practical details of living in the wilderness while Israel was wandering out there, because he was from the area. Ah, but you say, Hobab was a Midianite. Well, apparently, Kenites were descendents of Cain, and they included Midianites (Judges 4:11), Jews in Caleb's line (I Chron 2:55), and even the merchants who brought Joseph from his brothers (Gen. 37:28).
The Kenites/Midianites are mentioned as being together in Judges 6:3, supporting our text in I Sam. that says they lived in the same city/area. And although they were spared in this raid, they were wiped out later by Israel (Num. 31:2, Gideon - Judg. 6-7). Perhaps it had to do with the fornication going on in Num. 25:17.
I'm not sure, however, if the covenant is extended to the modern-day country of Israel, for though they may be the physical descendents of Abraham - and they may not even be that; see Natural History Magazine Oct/Nov. 1993 -- they are NOT the spiritual seed of Abraham. They do not acknowledge the true God or keep their end of the covenant. On the other hand, it does seem true that those countries who have afforded Israel protection from the Arabs have been blessed...
At any rate, it is fascinating to me that this is all in fulfillment of Baalam's prophecy back in Numbers 24: 20-21! This pagan prophet through whom God spoke said that the Kenites would be spared for a time, but later be consumed! What an amazing Book You have given us, Lord!
I Samuel CHAPTER 16
1 And Jehovah said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and go: I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite; for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And Jehovah said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4 And Samuel did that which Jehovah spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5 And he said, Peaceably; I am come to sacrifice unto Jehovah: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely Jehovah’s anointed is before him. 7 But Jehovah said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for Jehovah seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath Jehovah chosen this. 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath Jehovah chosen this. 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Jehovah hath not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he is keeping the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look upon. And Jehovah said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
14 Now the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him. 15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 16 Let our lord now command thy servants, that are before thee, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. 18 Then answered one of the young men, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty man of valor, and a man of war, and prudent in speech, and a comely person; and Jehovah is with him. 19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, who is with the sheep. 20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. 21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armorbearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight. 23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
How about that for a coup d'etat? An aged prophet is told that because God has rejected the current king he should go anoint another man to be king. Would that all coups were that peaceful! Of course, this would have been a crime worthy of death if Saul had found this out! God says, "I have seen a king for Me among [Jesse's] sons." Wow! Would that You could say that of my sons! Lord, whether or not my sons are leaders, let all of them be men "for You," in whom You will take delight!
Samuel disguised his mission by making a sacrifice to God when he came to Bethlehem. Apparently, Samuel went to the place of sacrifice and invited all the elders of the city and their families to sacrifice with him, as was his custom as an itinerant Levite. At some point, Jesse, a city elder, came to sacrifice, and this gave Samuel an opportunity to scope out Jesse's sons. Each son had to be ceremonially cleansed in the process of making the sacrifice, so Samuel was able to scrutinize each one as he officiated the cleansing and the sacrifices they brought.
v.4-5--There is power and authority in a Godly man. The world teaches us that brute strength and financial or political leverage is the way to make people respect you, but here we have an old prophet's presence causing the leaders of a city to tremble. Why? Because they knew that Samuel was a man of God, and they were afraid of what GOD might do through him! God, would that I and my children be known for what You do through us, that men might fear You, as they did in Samuel's presence. And, conversely, when men of the world, (or even in the church) come before my eyes, give me the wisdom to not fear them based on their appearance, but respect them based on their relationship with You.
v.7--"Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart." Left to himself, Samuel would have used the same criteria by which Saul was chosen, namely, outward appearance!
What was it like for Samuel to be holding actual conversations with God? Was he really hearing God speak and having an actual verbal chat, or were these merely impressions he received? I haven't met anyone who clearly and audibly heard God speak, but I've run into lots of people who say, "God told me...," or "God laid this on my heart..." If it sat quietly and focused on my own thoughts, I could come up with all sorts of thoughts and impressions that I was not consciously generating, but does this mean that they came from God? Am I supposed to just use common sense and my understanding of God's word to filter ideas through those grids? If an idea is in line with the Bible, can I say, "I believe God wants me to say this" -- so much of this is based on vague impulses, the origin of which I have no clue. It would certainly be unwise to say, "Thus says the Lord," if you're not absolutely sure of it! It was an offense punishable by death in the Old Testament to speak a false prophecy. I'd think that if the God of the universe wanted to communicate something specific, He'd do it clearly, obviously, and with demonstration of the supernatural power He possesses. I'd think He'd communicate in a way that was irresistibly compelling and unmistakably clear. He certainly has done so in the Bible; do we need more than that? At any rate, I would love to be able to hold actual conversations with God. I envy Samuel and the other prophets for this, because I want to walk closer with God. I am assured, however, that when I die, I will no longer be separated from God by this shroud of flesh and mortality. I will SEE God and revel, not just in hearing Him clearly, but in His PRESENCE FOREVER! I CAN'T WAIT!!!
Samuel must have started getting nervous -- Had he heard God right? God had told him that there was a king among Jesse's sons, yet none of Jesse's seven sons were God's choice for king! Have patience, Samuel, God will make it clear in time ...
Why hadn't David been brought along? If David loved God, wouldn't he have wanted to see Samuel and sacrifice to God? Maybe his passion for the Lord came after his anointing (v.13b).
v.14 If we believe in the perseverance of the saints, how can the Spirit of God have left Saul? Furthermore, how can an evil spirit be from Jehovah?? Perhaps Saul never was part of God's elect and he merely was receiving blessings and power from God's spirit because of his office. Or maybe this didn't mean a loss of salvation but a loss (a transfer to David) of the special power, wisdom, and favor that God added to leaders. As for the "evil spirit from the Lord," perhaps this is simply a recognition that the activity of this evil spirit was permitted by God, not that the demon was somehow part of God's nature or fellowship. The teaching of Jehovah's authority over evil spirits is at least as old as the book of Job. On the other hand, this word רוחָ
can also have the double meaning of "spirit" which the English language shares: "spirit" can mean a personal spiritual being (as in an "evil spirit" or "demon") or "spirit" can mean a certain disposition or attitude. If we take it in the letter sense, we could say that Saul had a "bad temper" -- which certainly bears out in history! I will suspend my judgement as to whether or not this bad temper was demonically-induced. Whatever it was, it was dissipated by good music.
v.16 See the respect with which Saul's servants laid out a request to Saul? How much more respectfully should we approach the God of the universe in prayer!
v.18 What a marvelous reference David got from the king's counselor! How would such an important officer in the royal court have heard so much about this little shepherd boy? David must have been a remarkable young man, indeed! Lord, I desire that these things be said of my children -- skillful in playing [music], mighty warriors [both physically and spiritually], skillful in speech, good-looking, and -- most importantly -- showing clear evidence that You are with them! Lord, please grant this!
Despite having been anointed as king, David is still out in the fields, tending sheep -- a rather inglorious occupation. Were his brothers jealous and trying to keep him in his place? Perhaps he just enjoyed the outdoors, and the nature of the job gave him time and place to practice music and military skills.
v.19--Now comes the first confirmation of the anointing: David was given royal summons to meet the king and later to live with him. (Notice that the invitations were given to David's father. Even King Saul realized that his authority as king did not transcend the sovereignty of a father over his family!) Now, this was not unusual for Saul to summon a good fighter to join him -- he did it all the time (I Sam. 14:52), but Saul loved David greatly and made David armor-bearer and personal musician!! This was putting David very close to the king, a position of high honor and influence!
I Samuel CHAPTER 17
1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle; and they were gathered together at Socoh, which belongeth to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and encamped in the vale of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. 4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was clad with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a javelin of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and his shield-bearer went before him. 8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 9 If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11 And when Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man was an old man in the days of Saul, stricken in years among men. 13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the first-born, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 And David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Saul. 15 Now David went to and fro from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Beth-lehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. 17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to thy brethren; 18 and bring these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the vale of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the place of the wagons, as the host which was going forth to the fight shouted for the battle. 21 And Israel and the Philistines put the battle in array, army against army. 22 And David left his baggage in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, and ran to the army, and came and saluted his brethren. 23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel. 26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. 28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why art thou come down? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thy heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 30 And he turned away from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant was keeping his father’s sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 And David said, Jehovah that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and Jehovah shall be with thee. 38 And Saul clad David with his apparel, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his apparel, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his wallet; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and withal of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the birds of the heavens, and to the beasts of the field. 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to thee in the name of Jehovah of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will Jehovah deliver thee into my hand; and I will smite thee, and take thy head from off thee; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day unto the birds of the heavens, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that Jehovah saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is Jehovah’s, and he will give you into our hand.
48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou comest to Gai, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. 53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent. 55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell. 56 And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is. 57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.
Saul's army was facing off the Philistine army across a valley. Much detail is given to the description of the Philistine champion who offered to engage in one-on-one combat any Israelite soldier in lieu of a battle between the armies. Goliath was over nine feet tall, and he was so big and strong that he could wear a 125 pound coat of armor without it impeding his fighting! The tip of his spear alone was 15 pounds -- how well would YOU be able to aim a 10-foot long spear with a 15-pound weight at the end of it? The shaft may even have been bronze - talk about HEAVY! This guy was huge to begin with and strong enough to carry this heavy armor and spear; he was almost completely covered over in metal armor, and he had a shield-bearer that you'd have to get past before you could even reach him. And on top of all that, he had a foul mouth. I can't imagine anyone more intimidating! But David didn't seem the least bit intimidated or afraid!
David was taking a real risk (and so was Saul). If he lost, then Israel, according to the terms, would have to become slaves to the Philistines. Perhaps Saul felt he was going to lose anyway and that it would be better to be vassals than to "push up the daisies." Saul was the biggest man in Israel physically, and his ability in fighting was renowned. He was the logical one to engage the Philistine champion, but he was too afraid to take up Goliath's challenge. Saul was shown up by David ... and this wouldn't be the last time!
v.13--Interesting that even in a big war, families sent less than half their sons to battle, I suppose to keep the family name from dying out. It couldn't have been that the rest were too young, because David was the youngest, and he was old enough to kill lions and bears singlehandedly! Can you imagine how wonderful it would be to have eight sons who had been raised to be obedient, industrious, godly men? Just think of the manpower you'd have for jobs. (Apparently, David tended the family's herd of sheep.) Oh God, however many children You give me, I look forward to them and the blessings they will bring me. Only help me parent them properly so that they WILL be blessings.
v.20--I can imagine that David was really excited to be able to go see his big brothers at war. He woke up early in the morning to go see, just as some little boys wake up early out of excitement to see what's under the Christmas tree.
Israel had set up a barricade, and the soldiers were standing behind it, prepared to fight defensively if the Philistines attacked. The Israelite army also had particular formations in which they were arranged. The Philistine army was across the valley. Both armies were situated on hills to give the aggressor a disadvantage of attacking while climbing uphill. The food was kept by a "storekeeper" in the army, indicating a centralized feeding of the army rather than every man bringing food for himself. And the men were "shouting for battle." Perhaps they were getting pep talks and were getting themselves psyched up for fighting by yelling. Or it may mean that they did not want to have a single combatant fight Goliath, but that they wanted to fight together as an army. Well, all this was very exciting for David, and he was asking his brothers about all the details.
v.26--"Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should disgrace the armies of the living GOD?" Asks David. Quite a different outlook on things he has. The rest of the men were just trying to ignore Goliath's taunts, while David took it personally that he would blaspheme God. In our culture today, are we grieved when a movie-star takes the name of our Lord in vain or when a professor denies His existence, or when a radical group makes fun of Christians? David did not passively ignore it, because he wanted "all the earth to know that there IS a God in Israel" (v.46-47). Oh God, help me to be just as zealous and courageous for the glory of Your Name as David was!
v.28-30--David didn't let his brothers' rebuke or Saul's practical advice dampen his zeal. There are always going to be brothers and sisters in Christ who will see us stepping out in faith to further the knowledge of God's Name and who will accuse us of impure motives -- or at least use worldly wisdom to discourage us from taking the course God would have us take. I know this from much personal experience!
What was David thinking? Did he really think he could kill their champion, or was he just talking big? It's hard to know. But he says that he believes "Jehovah ... will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." He believed that God was real and that God would help him subdue this giant who had denigrated God's Name and His people. That makes sense, but it sure takes FAITH!
2 Sam. 21 and I Chron 20 speak of four other giants from the same area during David's lifetime. I have heard it said that those four were Goliath's brothers and that David chose five stones because he had his eye on Goliath's brothers, too!
v.41--It sounds like Goliath didn't even notice David until he was quite close. That's understandable; my 6'4" stature often prevents me from seeing things on the floor until after I've tripped over them -- especially then I'm thinking of something else! And Goliath was thinking of something else -- giants are generally portrayed as stupid in modern movies, but this one had a quick wit and was always giving out derogatory taunts. How frightening to be the sole recipient of those taunts, knowing that he wasn't kidding and really WAS going to squash David like a bug! But David must have remembered that the curses Goliath swore were harmless because they were sworn in the name of Goliath's gods rather than in the name of Jehovah! Besides, as God told Abraham in Gen. 12, "He who curses you I will curse!"
v.45--How about David's evangelism strategy? Preach and kill! Are slingshots really capable of penetrating a human skull? In college, someone used a slingshot to launch a water balloon from the ground through the window of my third-story dorm-room, and it hit so hard that it embedded shards from the window in the oak door on the other side of the room! Perhaps God Himself increased the velocity of David's missile and it felled Goliath. I'm sure everyone was stunned and stared with their mouths gaping. God gave David the presence of mind to take advantage of the lull and saw off Goliath's head with the giant's own sword -- the stone may have only rendered Goliath unconscious.
So much depends upon the attitude of a group of people. Even though the Philistine army hopelessly outnumbered Israel, they fled, and Israel, with a new psychological advantage now fought and won against the Philistines!
God, what an amazing story! And what a story the escaped Philistines had to tell! I can imagine that lots of boys thereafter asked David if they could see Goliath's sword and hear David re-tell the story ... and I'll bet that David gave credit to God every time.
v.55-58 How come Saul didn't recognize David, who had been his personal musician and armor-bearer? Spiros Zhodiates suggests that perhaps David had gone home since then and that his stature and appearance had changed enough in adolescence for Saul not to recognize him.
I bet Jesse was one happy father to hear what his son had done! To know that my teenage son was so zealous for the glory of God would absolutely thrill me -- and, of course his victory would too! God, please bless me with the privilege of having sons who are strong and victorious and zealous for the glory of Your Name, just as You blessed Jesse. And help me to rear my children in such a way that they will have the faith, discipline, and knowledge they will need! And if there is anything I should do -- any challenges I should meet for the world that blasphemes Your Name, please give me the faith, courage, and victory You gave David!
I Samuel CHAPTER 18
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 apparel, 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 it was good 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 returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels, with joy, and with instruments of music. 7 And the women sang one to another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands. 8 And Saul was very wroth, and this 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 an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as he did day by day. And Saul had his spear in his hand; 11 and Saul cast the spear; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12 And Saul was afraid of David, because Jehovah 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 Jehovah was with him. 15 And when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David; for 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 Jehovah’s battles. For Saul said, Let not my 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 a second time. 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 the 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 a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to 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. And the days were not expired; 27 and 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 number 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 Jehovah was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him. 29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually. 30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, as often as they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
Jonathan respected the kind of free spirit and courageousness which David showed. (He had probably considered taking up Goliath's challenge himself!) And Jonathan's father liked him too: David was conscripted into Saul's army and household. But how was David to live with such an impossible man as Saul? David did three very significant things:
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