This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
1SAMUEL
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.
When Jonathan heard David speaking to Saul, he was touched by David's personality.
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.
David's genuine humility and his physical ability made him a great name. Saul promoted David to be "over the men of war," and David was quite well respected (verse 5).
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.
At first sight, this passage would seem to be very contradictory. However, the book of Proverbs gives us some insight here. Proverbs 21:16 says,
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.
Saul realized that God was protecting David. This probably enraged him even more; because in himself, he realized a LOSS of God's presence due to his disobedience and self-will. But Saul knew David sensed God's PRESENCE in his life.
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.
Here is another deception by Saul. He promised David his oldest daughter but then gave her to someone else. Another reason for David to allow hatred into his heart - but it didn't happen! David continued to walk with God.
Michal was Saul's younger daughter, and she fell in love with David. Sual thought he'd use this to trick David. (And, by the way, it worked, but not until after Saul was dead. See 2Samuel 6:16-20)
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.
But Saul realized something. Michal really loved David! And Saul already knew that God was protecting David. This all just served to intensify Saul's jealousy (verse 29).
Please continue to follow along with us in Bible Study.
CHAPTER 18
David told Saul quite humbly, "I am the son of thy servant, Jesse..."
Ah! That we should teach our children to respect authority! What genuine humility David showed here. He did not eve consider himself worthy to be called servant. Instead, he was "son of thy servant."
Jonathan made a covenant with David. Now this was probably like we did when we were kids. We cut our hands and put them, bleeding, against one another and said, "Blood brothers."
Jonathan IDENTIFIED with David. They became as brothers. he even gave David his robe to seal the covenant partnership.
But soon, David's fame began to overshadow Saul. Then there was a real problem (verse 8). Remember, we have already seen that Saul has become very proud and vain (see 1Samuel 13:13).
Verse 9 tells us that Saul focused on David from that day on. We can see that this focus came from JEALOUSY!
"The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
Isaiah 45:7 says,
"I from the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
God created all things GOOD (See Genesis 1:31).
But God also created man with a mind and spirit to CHOOSE between right and wrong, good and evil. And when we choose to do WRONG, then we become servants to evil!
Now, looking at what happened there in verse 10: Saul departed from God's way and chose his OWN way. And Saul, by way of pretense, demonstrated a troubled soul that was prophesying. This was a sham so that he could get David to come in and play the harp. Then Saul tried to kill him, not once but twice (verse 11).
((Take notice here that David is a warrior champion; but is humble enough to come and minister with his harp.))
Friends, when people choose their OWN way over GOD'S way, they will use Christianity as a pretense and take advantage of everyone they can! Remember that all this happened because of JEALOUSY!
But David, under persecution, continued to act "wisely" (verse 14).
And this made Saul even MORE afraid. Verses 12 and 15 speak of Saul's fear.
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.
Saul granted Michal to David on the basis of killing 100 Philistines.
This is the third time now that the Scriptures says that Saul became David's enemy.
Now tell me something: Do you not think this was FROM the LORD? Was it not a punishment upon Saul for his disobediente, selfish manner? Was it not also a difficulty that was constantly calling to his spirit to REPENT? Was it not also a challenge to David to remain humble and faithful?
The chapter ends telliing us how Daid was a better warrior and gentleman than all of Saul's other servants and warriors.
This serves as a transitional statement to introduce the next chapter which tells of another plot by Saul to kill David.