| 1 Samuel 1-2 | 1 Samuel 3-4 | 1 Samuel 5-7 |
| 1 Samuel 8-9 | 1 Samuel 10-11 | 1 Samuel 12-13 |
| 1 Samuel 14 | 1 Samuel 15-16 | 1 Samuel 17 |
| 1 Samuel 18-19 | 1 Samuel 20-21 | 1 Samuel 22-23 |
| 1 Samuel 24-25 | 1 Samuel 26-28 | 1 Samuel 29-31 |
| Ark of the Covenant | Fall of Philistine god | Saul Rescues Jabesh-Gilead |
| Saul’s Journey to Kingship | 1 Samuel Setting | Battle of David & Goliath |
| David on the Run |
1 Samuel 1:1-2:21
The book of 1 Samuel transitions the nation of Israel from the judges to the kings. The book is named after Samuel who is the final judge, a prominent prophet, and the man used by God to anoint the first two official kings of Israel, Saul, and then David.
We open with a man named Elkanah from the mountains of Ephraim who had two wives. God never endorsed polygamy, but unfortunately the practice of the culture had permeated God’s people; needless to say, it led to big problems. There was a rivalry between Elkanah’s two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah harassed Hannah because she had no children, something seen as a personal curse back then.
Hannah wept, and prayed. Her husband tried to comfort her – to no avail. Year after year they would visit the Tabernacle in Shiloh until one year she wept, prayed, and poured out her soul to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:15) a good way to pray. It was then that her prayer changed:
1 Samuel 1:11 (NKJV) “Then she made a vow and said, ‘O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.’”
Hannah basically prayed, “Lord, if You grant me a son, I will give him back to You, completely consecrated to be a permanent servant in the Tabernacle.” God would grant her that prayer.
Eli was the High Priest at the time. He lacked discernment, thinking that Hannah was drunk. He also lacked discipline in not putting his sons in check. God was about to move, He was about to judge, He was about to raise up a boy, to be a man of God, to be a prophet to the nation, his name would be Samuel, whom Hannah would bear in answer to prayer.
When Samuel was born, Hannah waited until he was weaned, and then brought him to the Tabernacle and left him there, giving him to God – Samuel was an answer to many, many prayers.
1 Samuel 1:27 (NKJV) “For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.”
May this be the case for all of our kids, “For this child I prayed…”
We see the godliness of Hannah, in her prayer recorded in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. She could now smile at her enemies – she had no fear or frown, because of God’s faithfulness. She praised God for His holiness, there is NO ONE like Him! (1 Samuel 2:2)
Her prayer is a strong expression of confidence in the ultimate defeat of the proud and arrogant. Her prayer is an appropriate acknowledgment of the Almighty, who was about to defeat the mighty, feed the hungry, give life to the barren, kill, protect, make poor and rich, bring low, lift up, even to the point of a throne of glory (1 Samuel 2:8).
At the closing of her prayer there are Messianic implications, how one day the LORD would judge the earth, and the King of kings (Jesus) would be exalted. It’s the ultimate destiny of all the earth, it’s something God has placed in the depths of the hearts of His people, and there it was in the heart of Hannah.
Meanwhile, the sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were ripping the people off. Stealing from the offerings of the LORD and worse (we’ll read the details next time). The Judge was on His way for judgment, and the judge Samuel was too. He would be the vessel for a new work of God and a new administration altogether.
We sometimes think God is distant or indifferent, but He’s not. He sees everything that’s going on and gives people time to repent (Revelation 2:21). But if they don’t, if they won’t, He will deal with them accordingly – it’s a warning to some, and a promise to others.
1 Samuel 3:1-4:22
Imagine being the High Priest of Israel and your sons are serving in ministry as priests along side of you – but – they’re stealing from the offering AND engaged in sexual sin with the women who came to the Tabernacle. It’s a horrible thought, but that was the reality of Eli’s world.
Now, let’s delve further into that situation – what would you do about it? There are many approaches, but one thing’s for sure, as a father of a family and High Priest of the nation, surely you could not allow it to continue! Surely you would not permit such men, even if they were your sons, to continue in ministry! But that’s exactly what Eli did – he spoke words of correction, but did nothing about it. Even when God warned him of a coming family catastrophe, Eli did nothing differently, he simply resolved to accept his fate. He should have fallen to his knees before God and disciplined his sons, but instead he shrugged his shoulders.
God had no other option, but to take this family down. But behind the scenes, God was also raising up a replacement, preparing a boy named Samuel. The Word of the Lord was rare in those days (due to sin), but the Word of the Lord was sent to Samuel. God called him by name, repeatedly. God spoke to him audibly, sharing once again the coming judgment upon the household of Eli for honoring his sons above the Lord (1 Samuel 2:29).
Eli commanded Samuel to tell him everything, which Samuel did. The High Priest’s sins would not be forgiven, the iniquity of Eli’s house would not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering – forever.
God began to raise Samuel up as a prophet with prominence from one end of Israel to the other.
1 Samuel 3:19 (NLT) “As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.”
God spoke through Samuel, so much so, that the Bible says, “…the word of Samuel came to all Israel.” (1 Samuel 4:1)
And then the day came…Israel is engaged in a fierce war with the Philistines. They’ve been defeated so they call for the Ark of the Covenant to accompany them. If it was genuine faith in God it may have been the key to victory. But for Israel it was more of a superstitious religion, and to make matters worse, Hophni and Phinehas accompanied the Ark (these guys were in sin). Israel got loud and emotional, as a matter of fact they made so much noise that the earth shook (1 Samuel 4:5), but emotion is not the same as conviction, holiness, and faith – and Israel was soundly defeated. It’s heartbreaking to read that thirty thousand foot soldiers fell in the ensuing battle. Eli’s two sons died, Eli died, and Eli’s daughter-in-law…died but not before she named her son with the tragic news of the day, “The glory has departed.” (Ichabod) As a visual to what God was doing behind the scenes, the Ark of God was captured.
If the Spiritual leaders are not right with God, what will happen to the people?
1 Samuel 5:1-7:17
The Ark of the Covenant was symbolic of the presence of God.
The Ark was set in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle behind the veil. Only the High Priest was allowed into this room and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). The Ark was made of acacia wood, and overlaid with pure gold. The two cherubim were facing the lid of the Ark called the Mercy Seat, and there the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled each year by the High Priest. Ironically, that was also the place referred to as the throne of God. Within the Ark of the Covenant were the two tablets (upon which were written the ten commandments), the jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded.
The Ark should have never been on the battlefield in the hands of Hophni and Phinehas, but it was, and it was captured by the Philistines. The Philistines initially thought that their god, Dagon, was greater than the God of the Israelites because they won the battle and captured the Ark, but they would soon find out that they were dead wrong.
The Philistines placed the Ark in the temple of Dagon in Ashdod, but the next day they found Dagon prostrate before the Ark. They propped Dagon back up, only to find him prostrate once again before the LORD, this time with his head and hands broken off.
Got Questions said this about Dagon, “Dagon was the chief deity of the Philistines, and the worship of this pagan god dates back to the third millennium BC. According to ancient mythology, Dagon was the father of Baal. He was the fish god (dag in Hebrew means “fish”), and he was represented as a half-man, half-fish creature. This image furthered an evolutionary belief that both men and fish had evolved together from the primal waters. Dagon may also have been the provider of grain. So Dagon was similar to many other idols in that he personified natural forces that had supposedly produced all things.” ( see full article)
God allowed the Ark to be captured, in part, because of the sins of Israel, but also to prove Himself to the Philistines. Dagon lost his head and hands – for the LORD is the only head, and was about to move His hands against Israel’s enemies (the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines – 1 Samuel 5:9).
God struck the men of Ashdod with tumors; He also struck the men of Gath, both small and great – (1 Samuel 5:6, 9), there was heavy judgment in Ekron as well. The Philistines were afraid, they knew they had to send the Ark back to Israel and did the best they could to do it right, with trespass offerings to give glory to the God of Israel. That was right on their part, but what if…? Wouldn’t it have been better to have turned from their fish god, from their false god, to the true God? It’s sad to see so many people hold on to the things that are dead, lifeless, powerless and not turn to the true and living God!
When the Ark was returned to Israel, the men of Beth Shemesh rejoiced, but they were then struck for looking into the Ark of the Covenant. As Jews they should have known better (some manuscripts say seventy men and fifty ox died, not fifty thousand seventy men).
Eventually the Ark settled down in Kirjath Jearim, where it remained for twenty years.
The people of Israel also settled down, and under the leadership of Samuel, God began to give them victory over the Philistines. Samuel called the people back to God.
1 Samuel 7:3-4 (NKJV) “Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.”
As we look back on our lives, although it hasn’t been easy, all the redeemed can say the same thing Samuel said, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” (Ebenezer – 1 Samuel 7:12)
Under the leadership of Samuel who pointed the people to the LORD, their enemies were subdued.
1 Samuel 7:13 (NKJV) “So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.”
Samuel judged Israel and taught Israel God’s Word. He didn’t just stay in Ramah and make the people come to him, he did what we call circuit teaching and traveled throughout the country to spread the Word (1 Samuel 7:16). Jesus did the same thing.
1 Samuel 8:1-9:27
Samuel was definitely a man of God, he was called so personally, he served so faithfully, but Samuel’s sons did not walk in his ways. We naturally wonder why, and we’re not sure, the Bible doesn’t reveal that information. We DO know that the man who raised Samuel (Eli) was not a good disciplinarian, and we can be sure that Samuel was busy in the ministry, he WAS gone a lot (items for speculation). But ultimately, each child is personally responsible to make that choice. Tragically Samuel’s sons were dishonest, took bribes, and perverted justice. Samuel made a huge mistake in making his sons judges over Israel. This was part of what led to the people’s demand for a king.
It displeased Samuel, and it displeased the LORD – after all, they were essentially rejecting the LORD as King, but God allowed it, and consequentially Israel transitions from the perfect, to the permissive will of God in government.
God commanded Samuel to clearly warn the people:
Six times in his warning, we read those words regarding the king, “…he will take…” He would take and take and tax, their sons and daughters, the finest of their folks, the best of their fields, and so much more. The day would come when they would cry out to God, but He warned them in advance, He would not hear (1 Samuel 8:18). It didn’t matter to that generation, the people insisted, they wanted to be like all the other nations (1 Samuel 8:5, 20). It’s always a sad state when we make our decisions on that base basis – “…everyone else is doing it.”
God gave them their request, and gave Saul a chance. Saul had the “look” they were looking for, he was the most handsome man in all of Israel; he was also the tallest in the land. We will later learn that these factors are actually insignificant – what matters most is the heart (1 Samuel 16:1-7). Tragically some people have to learn the hard way.
Clearly it was the LORD bringing Saul and Samuel together. Saul was humble in the beginning, acknowledging the fact that his tribe was the smallest, and that his family was the weakest. We read back in Judges 20-21 how the tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out!
He started well, if only Saul had stayed small in his own eyes. He was about to be anointed the King of Israel by God and His prophet, but it wouldn’t take long before his prideful insecurities would make him a madman, tormented by demons.
1 Samuel 10:1-11:15
Samuel anointed Saul as king, pouring oil upon his head (symbolic of the Holy Spirit). Samuel also kissed Saul as an expression of love and favor. There’s no doubt that Saul had an opportunity to become a great king.
Samuel told Saul in advance what would happen in his future journey in order to prove to Saul that God was with him.
Warren Wiersbe comments, “Saul could not understand how a man like him could lead the nation of Israel, so God gave him a series of “signs” to assure him for his new responsibilities.”
In the process Saul was anointed by the Holy Spirit, he was turned into another man, and even given another heart (1 Samuel 10:6, 9).
At Mizpah Samuel makes it official. Israel had rejected their theocracy and was transitioning into a monarchy; Saul was selected from the twelve tribes of Israel. It’s interesting that Saul was hiding from his call. It was a red-flag, for deep down inside, it was fear that would eventually get the best of him.
But Saul started well. So did his soldiers. I always get blessed when I read of the valiant men who went with him, “…whose hearts God had touched.” (1 Samuel 10:26)
Then the day arrived, the Ammonites came against the people of Jabesh-Gilead with a proposition of peace between them at the expense of one of their eyes. The enemies’ mission statement was clear, he wanted to “bring reproach upon Israel” (1 Samuel 11:2).
When Saul heard of the matter, his angry was aroused, and rightly so! He rallied the soldiers of Israel in dramatic fashion. God gave them a great victory over the Ammonites and Saul gave the glory to God. When the men wanted to put to death those who had not initially yielded to King Saul notice his response:
1 Samuel 11:13 (NKJV) “But Saul said, ‘Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has accomplished salvation in Israel.’”
It was a good start. So they headed to Gilgal. This is the city where it all began in the Promised Land – back in the days of Joshua. They named the city Gilgal because it means, “wheel,” or “roll,” for it was then that they rolled away the reproach from Israel (1 Samuel 11:2; Joshua 5:9). It’s time to do it again…to renew the kingdom there at Gilgal (1 Samuel 11:15).
1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
Samuel makes it clear to Israel (and to us), that the transfer of power from the LORD as king, to Saul as king was not His perfect will. God allowed it, and would use it, but if only the people had simply yielded to the LORD as King, with His Word, His judges, and His priesthood, what a blessing it would have been.
Samuel has been a solid prophet, never in it for the profit, he even challenges the people to witness against him if he’d ever cheated or oppressed them (he never had) (1 Samuel 12:3-4).
Samuel points out the fact that God had been faithful to them, throughout their history – in His redemption from Egypt, during their wandering in the wilderness, and all throughout the time of the Judges – but they were worn down, and caved in to the ways of the world. We read in:
1 Samuel 12:12 (NKJV) ”And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the LORD your God was your king.”
So God gave them the human king they desired, as a matter of fact, that’s the meaning of Saul’s name “desired,” but God clearly warned them through Samuel.
C. S. Lewis said, “There are two types of people in this world, those who say to God, ‘Your will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘Ok, have it your way if you insists.’” Israel was now the latter.
We usually think of Elijah when it comes to changing the weather, but Samuel was able to do so as well. When he prayed there was thunder and rain. So the people feared the LORD who sent the storm as a sign. Samuel’s heart was that the people would trust the LORD. The storm sign worked a little bit, the people fearfully asked Samuel to pray for them, something he was more than willing to do.
1 Samuel 12:23 (NKJV) “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.
Did you catch that? Samuel saw it as sin if he didn’t pray for the people and teach them God’s Word. What a heavy responsibility God’s servant leaders have!
Samuel’s warning is clear and concise – if the people did not serve the LORD, God would sweep them away…including their king (1 Samuel 12:24-25). Most of us know what it means for a sports team to be swept. Here we see it also happens to nations and their leaders.
It didn’t take long for things to begin to stir in the land, just a few years and the Philistines were in Israelite territory (see map below; notice the location of Geba). Jonathan was the brave one, he attacked the Philistines, who mustered up a huge army in retaliation. Saul is sweating bullets because he’s completely lost sight of the fact that when God is on our side, the enemy is always outnumbered. He was getting nervous, anxious, and impatient; he even broke God’s law by offering a sacrifice (something only the priests were allowed to do).
The LORD then showed Samuel the future. One day the kingdom would be stripped from Saul and given to a man whose heart was right. Samuel the prophet spoke:
1 Samuel 13:14 (NKJV) “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
If only Saul would have obeyed God’s Word – it’s as simple as that. He had an amazing son waiting in the wings, and it didn’t matter that the soldiers of Israel didn’t have the best weapons man could make, they had the maker of man as their weapon. God help us, help me to simply obey God and His Word.
1 Samuel 14:1-52
The more we read about Jonathan, the more we fall in love with this young man. He wasn’t one of those guys who sat around and played it safe, he had a heart to take steps of faith, he was confident in God’s victory over Israel’s enemies.
We’re blessed and impressed by his armor bearer as well.
1 Samuel 14:7 (NKJV) “So his armorbearer said to him, ‘Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.’”
One day they mosey on out, Jonathan doesn’t tell dad, the king, because there’s too much red tape involved. They just go out to see what the Lord will do, I love Jonathan’s reasoning:
1 Samuel 14:6 (NKJV) “Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, ‘Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.’”
He wasn’t sure, but he knew it was possible. Jonathan knew that the God of the universe didn’t need the help of man, he knew that it wasn’t a matter of numbers, God could win with many or with few. So Jonathan sets a “fleece.” Everyone knows that the one on higher ground has an advantage. Jonathan said, if they call us up (from man’s perspective a disadvantage on our part), it’s the Lord and He will give us the victory. Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened…and things began to stir, even the earth began to shake (1 Samuel 14:15). God honors obedient steps of faith.
Saul finally begins to move; the Philistines were fighting among themselves, and the Israelites who had previously defected, returned.
1 Samuel 14:23 (NKJV) “So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven.”
Earlier in the day King Saul had forbidden the soldiers to eat anything, placing a curse on any of them who did. Jonathan was unaware of that and helped himself to honey. Afterwards one of the guys informed him of the king’s orders, and Jonathan thought the king’s command was foolish (he was right). Later when the Lord wasn’t speaking to Saul, the lot selected Jonathan as the reason for God’s silence. I have a hunch either (A) God wasn’t in the lot selection, or (B) God chose Jonathan only to have the men protect him from his foolish father. Maybe then Saul would learn from his son.
Can you believe Saul was willing to kill his son Jonathan for eating honey…after all he’d done? Something was seriously wrong with this man!
1 Samuel 14:45 (NKJV) “But the people said to Saul, ‘Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.’ So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.”
God gave Israel the victory, and he used Jonathan in a great and mighty way.
I agree wholeheartedly with the words of Warren Wiersbe, “Jonathan was the true leader in Israel, not Saul. The contrast between the two is striking. Saul was sitting while Jonathan was attacking the enemy. Saul trusted his growing army, but Jonathan trusted God and did not depend on numbers (1 Samuel 14:6). Saul watched things happen, but Jonathan made things happen. Saul tried to impress people with an oath, but Jonathan did what was necessary to fight the battle. Saul weakened the army; Jonathan strengthened the army and challenged it to new victories.”
1 Samuel 15:1-16:23
Tons to talk about in these two chapters. Any hope of Saul’s dynasty is dealt a death blow by his defiant spirit, so God chooses his replacement as king in a young lad, not even noticeable to his own father.
Samuel’s command from God is clear; utterly wipe out the Amalekites.
1 Samuel 15:3 (NKJV) “Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.”
The reason for their annihilation was due to the pure evil of this nation. King Amalek did this to others and now there’s a clarion call and command for justice to be served.
Saul wisely spares the Kenites, but very unwisely spares portions of Amalek, including the king, plunder, and the best of their livestock, the Bible even says, that Saul and the people spared, “all that was good,” (1 Samuel 15:9), King Saul did not obey God’s command.
So the LORD spoke to Samuel, saying, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king…”
This hit Samuel hard, he cried out to the LORD all night long (1 Samuel 15:11).
The next morning Samuel sets out to meet Saul, and on the way is informed that Saul had set up a monument for himself. This is important because it reveals the fact that Saul was exalting himself, taking the glory that belonged only to God (1 Samuel 15:12).
Expositor’s Commentary explains, “Samuel was told that Saul had gone to Carmel and set up a monument (probably an inscribed victory stele) “in his own honor” (apparently not giving credit to the Lord).”
When we begin to exalt ourselves, we may even think we’re above the law. Saul did not obey his King, his Lord, his God. Saul was good at making excuses, putting a little “spin” on things to justify his behavior. Benjamin Franklin rightly said, “He that is good at making excuses, is seldom good for anything else.”
Saul tried to say he had done God’s will, but his sin had found him out, Samuel could hear it in the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen. Saul blamed everything on the people, but even if it was their idea, Saul was the leader, and leaders lead, by following the Lord. It’s sad to see that Saul admittedly feared the people (1 Samuel 15:24; Proverbs 19:25)
To make matters worse, Saul tried to spiritualize it by saying they wanted to sacrifice it to God – but keep in mind a portion of those sacrifices were to be eaten by the people.
Samuel then gives us those classic words we need to keep so close to our heart:
1 Samuel 15:22–23 (NKJV) “So Samuel said: ‘Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”
God is more interested in obedience, than any religious ritual or sacrifice we may have to offer. We may think little of disobedience but it’s as the sin of witchcraft (that’s dark and demonic). We may think little of stubbornness, but it’s as the sin of idolatry (that’s big-time). Billy Sunday said, “One reason sin flourishes is that it is treated like a cream puff instead of a rattlesnake.” Oswald Chambers called disobedience, “Die-cast rebellion.”
Because Saul did not do what God commanded him to do, revealing a deep darkness within his heart, God would one day tear the kingdom away and give it to a neighbor better than him.
Over the years I’ve heard Bible teachers teach that Amalek is a typology of the flesh. We need to deny the flesh, crucify the ungodly desires, or, as the Whosoever’s put it, “Murder the flesh.” We have a visual in seeing Samuel hack King Agag to pieces “before the LORD” (1 Samuel 15:33).
Intense! May I have no sympathy for anything within me, that is contrary to God!
In 1 Samuel 16 David is anointed to be king. Samuel almost makes the same mistake in anointing the guy who “looked” like a king, but this time God corrects him:
1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV) “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’”
It would take many years, much suffering, and prolonged periods of preparation for David to be king; that may be part of the reason Saul failed as he did, he wasn’t ready, and in the final analysis his heart was not right.
May we not despise God’s delays and the hard times He allows in lives, it’s all part of Him molding us, and making us to be vessels, instruments, tools, and weapons for whatever He has next in our service to Him.
In the Old Testament the Spirit came upon individuals, but the Spirit didn’t live within a person under the Old Covenant. It’s interesting that once the Spirit came upon David, the Spirit departed from Saul (1 Samuel 16:13-14). God even allowed a distressing spirit to torment him, something only soothing music could subside.
Somehow David was known as a skillful musician, a man of courage, wise in speech, and even good-looking; all the qualities lined up for David to be selected and through music, maybe even worship-music, soothe King Saul. Worship music is a powerful weapon in our war against evil and the demonic realm!
1 Samuel 17:1-18:4
Most of us are familiar with the story of David and Goliath, but I hope we remember it’s not just a “tall tale” to tell, it truly happened and is filled with lessons for us all, as we face our own “giants” in life.
Goliath was indeed a giant. A cubit is approximately 18 inches, and a span is 9 inches, so altogether Goliath was close to 10 feet tall! He was massive AND mighty. His armor alone weighed-in at 125 pounds and the end of his spear weighed the same as a sledge-hammer. Imagine the strength required to swing a sledge hammer like a sword! Most men need two hands just to pick one up!
This explains why none of the soldiers of Israel were willing to take him up on his offer – to represent their nation and fight, one on one. It doesn’t really surprise us regarding Saul, but even Jonathan didn’t rise to the occasion!
Enter the young David who happened to be there delivering some food for his brothers. He assesses the situation and has no hesitation. To David the deduction is simple. This ungodly Philistine was defying the armies of the living God and needed to die. David knew the LORD would give him the victory, for God had shown his faithfulness in the past (helping David kill a lion and a bear).
And isn’t that the way it works? We can have faith for the future because of God’s faithfulness in the past.
David convinced King Saul to let him into the ring, but he had to do it in his own skin, not the king’s armor. David ran to the battle with 100% confidence – he was in it for the glory of God. The Philistine laughed, he saw David as a dog. David was probably small and skinny (Goliath called him a stick), but David knew exactly what was about to happen:
1 Samuel 17:45–47 (NKJV) “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.’”
David then slung his stone, which struck Goliath in the forehead, bam, as simple as that! What a thud it must have made when Goliath hit the ground face first! David then takes his sword and chops off his head. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
This kind of faith is contagious and David lights a fire in the hearts of all the soldiers, who chased the Philistines as far as Gath and Ekron (10 miles away – see map below).
This puts David on the radar screen, he’s not just a musician behind the scenes, he’s now identified as a warrior drafted into Saul’s army.
1 Samuel 18:1-19:24
I’ve always loved the way Jonathan’s soul is knit to David’s, there’s an instant love, and covenant; Jonathan even gives David his armor, sword, bow, and belt. What does this mean?
There’s the practical and then there’s the spiritual. From a practical standpoint, David the soldier deserved to be equipped as a soldier – Jonathan recognized that easily, immediately.
From a spiritual standpoint, David is a picture of Jesus, and Jonathan is a picture of us (at least he should be). Have we come to Jesus as Jonathan did? Have we surrendered everything to the One who has slain the giant! Big words here, like love, knit hearts, and covenant. Jonathan was wise and humble enough to know that David would be the coming king…may we be wise and humble enough to know that Jesus is King…and He’s on His way!
Four times in this chapter we read of David behaving wisely (1 Samuel 18:5, 14, 15, 30). May God give us that grace, to do the same, to be wise guys and gals in this “war” we’re in. Like David we really are God’s soldiers (2 Timothy 2:3-4).
Saul saw the wisdom and anointing upon David and set him over the men of war. This anointing was obvious to everyone – so much so that the ladies sang that song, and danced that dance:
1 Samuel 18:7 (NKJV) “So the women sang as they danced, and said: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.’”
Now, I’m not saying that that was the best song to sing (I don’t like it when people do comparisons), but Saul should have rejoiced in David’s success. He was winning battles for the Lord, and for Israel, what a blessing to have him on his team! But Saul just couldn’t get to that place he needed to be, a place of true and total repentance, a place of right relationship with God. I believe if Saul got his heart right, God would have shown him mercy. Imagine the dream-team they could have had with Saul, Jonathan, and David, all led by the Lord!
But Saul let the jealousy and envy, the fear and insecurities, completely consume him. Saul hated David, and had it in his heart to kill David. He came up with numerous plans, he even tried to spear him while David was playing music to soothe Saul. Jonathan tried to convince his father of David’s loyalty and it worked for a moment, but Saul had opened doors to demons, and there is no way we can defeat demons without the Spirit of God. Again, Saul tried to kill David, he sent troops to arrest him, even after he had married his daughter, it made no difference…we read those tragic words in:
1 Samuel 18:29 (NKJV) “…and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy continually.”
David fled to Samuel and they both fled to Naioth. It’s definitely a different type of defense when we read how every team that went after them, prophesied every time. These were “bad guys” out to get David, how could they possibly prophesy? But it’s just the mercy and grace of God, trying to “arrest” them on the road to “Damascus.” If only they had listened to God’s love and the way He overpowered them even when they were setting out to do evil.
1 Samuel 20:1-21:15
I’m not 100% sure on the timeframe, but most Bible teachers tell us that David is now on the verge of ten solid years of trials, troubles, turmoil, testing, and temptation. Why?
Had he done something wrong? No! As a matter of fact, it was because he behaved wisely, it was because he was doing things right that all would go “wrong.” King Saul was therefore fearful of David and allowed himself to fall under the influence of an evil spirit, who wanted to kill David.
In one sense we live in a world where Satan rules (hence, tons of evil), but – God overrules and God would be preparing David and others, for the time he would be crowned king of all Israel (Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28 never get old). I’m reminded of those famous words:
A.W. Tozer, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply.”
Saul wanted to kill David. David knew it, but Jonathan was in denial. David shares some heavy words with Jonathan:
1 Samuel 20:3b (NKJV) “…but truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”
Do you ever think about that? Not that we’re fearful of death, but the Bible says it can happen at any time, none of us have tomorrow guaranteed (James 4:14). With David it was doubly true for the king of the country wanted him dead; he was just a “step” away.
It wasn’t until his dad tried to spear him that Jonathan realized the deadly danger David was in – so in dramatic fashion David was sent away to flee for his life, both swearing not to harm each other’s descendants, no matter what happened.
It’s understandable that David is in panic mode, but he makes some huge mistakes in the get-go. He flees to the city of Nob, where the High Priest and Tabernacle are – and David lies to Ahimelech saying he was on a secret mission for Saul, asking the High Priest for food and any weapons that might be available. It’s too bad that he lied, for Doeg the Edomite was there that day.
After lying to the High Priest, David’s downward spiral continued. Can you believe David fled to the Philistines? The Philistines knew all too well who David was and they’d even heard about the song and dance of the ladies, attributing 10,000 soldiers slain under David’s leadership. David caught himself in the nick of time, and sunk to insanity; by the grace of God he was protected and kicked out of their presence.
It would be a tough ten years or so for David, he didn’t deserve it, but apparently he needed it. I remember a book I read in my early days as a Christian, by Alan Redpath on the life of David, “The Making of Man of God.” That’s what God was doing, and that’s what God does, as He allows the tears over the years, Psalms will be written, character will grow, this type of purity and power is only formed in fire.
1 Samuel 22:1-23:29
David’s on the run from King Saul, but thank God he’s not alone. His circle of friends and ragtag soldiers begin to grow. Their characteristics as listed in the Scriptures are interesting – men who were distressed, in debt, and discontented. One day they would form “David’s Mighty Men.” (there’s hope for me)
Meanwhile, “Back at the Ranch,” King Saul is sitting around, sulking, and feeling sorry for himself. His style of leadership has degenerated as he hones in on taking David down, he tries to motivate his men through bribery and sympathy. Doeg was probably trying to score some points, so he informs the king of the day he saw David at Nob, but adds some tragic and evil embellishment.
1 Samuel 22:9–10 (NKJV) “Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, ‘I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10 And he inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.’”
The High Priest Ahimilech DID give bread and a sword to David, but he did not inquire of the LORD for him. Doeg lied, big time, but all Saul needed was one pathetic witness. Saul called the High Priest to give an account, believed only what he wanted to believe, and proceeded to order the slaughter of almost the entire family (Abiather escaped). Eighty-five men who wore a linen cloth died that day, but not just the men:
1 Samuel 22:19 (NKJV) “Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep—with the edge of the sword.”
It’s heartbreaking. One of the sons of Ahimelech named Abiathar escaped and informed David of what happened, who acknowledges the fact that he was partially to blame. O, the damage of lies – both Doeg’s and David’s. And what about those who believe the lies?
Warren Wiersbe noted, “Saul was unwilling to kill the wicked Amalekites, but he murdered God’s priests. Saul was fighting a losing battle, and he was desperate.”
When the city of Keilah was attacked by the Philistines, it’s refreshing to see David inquiring of the LORD. I’m thoroughly convinced that part of being a good leader of the people of God, is simply being a good follower of the LORD our God. The LORD told David to defend Keilah. David’s men initially disagreed with the decision. So David double checks with the LORD. Which brings up another good quality of a Godly leader – he’s open to counsel and he’s willing to take it to prayer, again, if his decision is questioned. But again, God makes it clear to defend Keilah, which they did, successfully.
Somehow Saul finds out that David is in Keilah. Saul is deceived into thinking that God has delivered him into his hands:
1 Samuel 23:7–8 (NKJV) “And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
Did Saul really think that God was on his side? The Spirit had departed from him. A tormenting spirit had come upon him. He was obsessed with murdering David who had done no wrong and he killed the priests of the LORD. But still, Saul thinks that God is with him. It brings to mind the people out there who claim to be Christians, and yet do horrible things.
As Saul heads towards Keilah, David finds out and asks the LORD if the people of Keilah would give him into the king’s hands. God affirms that they would, so David leaves the city. In one sense we wonder why they wouldn’t protect the one who defended them, but at the end of the day, their city instincts are all about survival. You may have noticed by now in life, that many times people don’t appreciate what we do for them. It’s for that reason we need to do everything unto the Lord, as Paul the Apostle would later write:
Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV) “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
Saul pursued. David ran, and God protected him over the years, in many ways.
1 Samuel 23:14 (NKJV) “And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.”
That last line caught me, and reminded me, how the enemy comes after us, “every day.” We may take a day off, but the enemy doesn’t. We need to take this into consideration and therefore always have our armor on, resist the devil, flee temptation, and fight when necessary. It’s a blessing to know that if we belong to God and rest in Him, God will protect us and direct us every time. I couldn’t help but think of Jesus when I read where David stayed in 1 Samuel 23:18, the “Rock of Escape.”
We are safe in God’s hands. It doesn’t mean we don’t run or use common sense (as He leads), but we can trust, and we can rest in the truth that God is our shield.
1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
There’s an interesting contrast in these two chapters between David’s response to two men who did him wrong. The first – Saul, had 3,000 soldiers. The second – Nabal, had 3,000 sheep.
Imagine the situation, the temptation, as David is hiding in the cave and in comes King Saul to “attend to his needs,” (we would probably say, “use the bathroom”), in this case a cave. David’s men, David’s flesh, and David’s demons all tell him to kill King Saul – doesn’t this look like a gift from God? But David spared the King, only cutting off a corner of his robe to prove the fact that he had spared him. I don’t think that David saw Saul as an honorable man, but he did honor the position. David knew God has placed Saul where He was, and it needed to be God’s hand to take him down. Until then, he saw Saul as God’s anointed.
We all have a tendency to see things differently, based on what’s in our hearts. David’s men saw this as an opportunity for murder, for mutiny, David, however, had a different heart, he saw it as an opportunity for mercy.
1 Samuel 24:6–7 (NKJV) “And he said to his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.’ 7 So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.”
Afterwards David cried out and shared his heart with Saul. “Why do you listen to liars who say I seek your harm? I wouldn’t dare to stretch out my hand against you.” David even refers to him as “Father,” (1 Samuel 24:11). David is sincere in what he says, there is no sin in his heart against Saul, not a sliver of rebellion; David sees himself as a dead dog, worse, a flea on that dead dog. David ultimately gives the entire situation into the vindication of the LORD.
Saul responds with one of those “moments,” of reason. He lifts up his voice, he weeps, he refers to David as his son.
1 Samuel 24:17 (NKJV) “Then he said to David: ‘You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.’”
Saul had a moment of sanity. He knew David was destined to be king and only asked that he would spare his descendants. I wonder if that severed piece of robe reminded of him of the incident years earlier with the Prophet Samuel?
1 Samuel 15:27-28 (NKJV) “And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. So Samuel said to him, ‘The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.’”
Confirmation of David’s coronation.
If only this was beyond an emotional moment for Saul, it could have been epic. But it was superficial; it wouldn’t be long, before he was hunting David like a dog once again.
In between these stories the Prophet Samuel died (1 Samuel 25:1). He finished his race and went home to heaven. Not much is said on his passing, but apparently David was there at his burial, to offer his respects and say goodbye for now. The older I get the more funerals I attend – we grieve, we miss, we mourn, and then we’re off…to fight and finish our own race of faith (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
David and his men were like a wall of protection to Nabal’s flock, so when it was time to shear it made sense to receive compensation. David sent a couple of men with the request, but Nabal (the fool), sent them away shamefully. David straps on his sword, gathers 400 soldiers and makes his way toward Nabal; David has it in his heart to wipe out the ALL the men.
Earlier we read good things, on how David was willing to do good to the one who did him bad (Saul), but not this time (notice the contrast between 1 Samuel 24:27 and 1 Samuel 25:21). David would have had regret if he followed through with his intentions – so God intervened. God sent David a wise woman named Abigail, who interceded for her household. She was sensitive to God’s plan, that David would be anointed king one day – that David fought the battles of the Lord…and in her relationship with God, she saved her family. She gave a peace offering to David.
Three times in the Bible God says, “Vengeance is mine…” (Deuteronomy 32:25; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30), and it certainly is. He does a much better job than we could ever do, and takes only Nabal down. Not only that, but because David relented, David is blessed with a wise woman, Abigail as wife. If only she were his only one.
1 Samuel 26:1-28:25
Again the Ziphites report to Saul that David is in their vicinity.
Again Saul gathers his 3,000 soldiers to hunt David down.
And again, David spares Saul’s life.
This time the situation is that Saul is sleeping (maybe even snoring), in the camp at night and so are the guards, including Saul’s general, Abner. As a matter of fact, the Bible says that a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them (1 Samuel 26:12). Why did God do this? To prove to Saul, once again, that David did not intend to kill him or take away his kingdom. Can you believe that David and Abishai were able to enter their camp, and take Saul’s spear and jug, which were next to his head, without waking them up?
David valued the life of Saul, acknowledging him as God’s anointed. Abishai tries hard, he tells David, I can do this fast and easy, I’ll only have to strike him once.
1 Samuel 26:9 (NKJV) “But David said to Abishai, ‘Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?’”
David called to Saul with spear and jug in hand – why are you wasting your time with me? Why are you opposing me? What evil have I done? David shares reasonably, and faithfully (he trusted God). Saul again responds appropriately, but also superficially.
If only. If only…if only he assessed the situation without that fear of David, without that pride inside, without that fight against God to insist on having his own way, I wonder what would have happened. Genuine repentance is powerful and God is always ready to forgive. God help us to truly, totally turn from our sin and surrender to Him…every area of our lives.
In 1 Samuel 27 it’s David’s turn to turn (yes, the best of men are men at best). David has a serious lapse of faith and backslides for 16 months! After God faithfully has protected him all these years, David starts talking to himself and convinces himself he’s going to die; this leads him to defect to the Philistines, Israel’s archenemy. During that time, David convinces Achish, the king of the Philistines that he’s anti-Israel, even invading them, and their allies, when in all reality David raided the people of other nations. David was living a lie. It was definitely a low point in his life, that almost cost him everything.
It’s all about to come to a head, as the Philistines and Israelites prepare to fight in battle. Was David really going to fight FOR the Philistines AGAINST Israel? Jesus did say, you’re either for me or against Me, there is no neutral ground (Matthew 12:30).
Saul – again – inquires of the LORD but hears nothing (that seemed to be a pattern in his life, a stark contrast with David). Saul is so dark and desperate that he seeks out a medium to conjure up the dead. God makes an exception and allows it (usually these types of things are purely demonic), but God had a judgment to declare, again, through the lips of Samuel. Nothing new for Saul, he was about to be judged because he simply refused to repent.
1 Samuel 29:1-31:13
It’s hard to imagine that David would have actually fought against Israel, but maybe he had put himself in that position – of course this would have ruined the call upon his future as king, so the King of kings, graciously intervened.
It wasn’t the lords of the Philistines, it was the Lord of lords who closed this door for David. He was sent home the next day.
When he arrived “home” in Ziklag, he discovered that the Amalekites had raided their home, set fire to the city and taken their families captive. This brought David to a crossroads. As his men are considering stoning him, David could have run, given up, and lost heart, but by the grace of God he sought God (maybe the LORD’s intervention on the battlefield spoke to him). David strengthened himself in the LORD (that’s big – 1 Samuel 30:6), and inquired of the LORD (it’s been a while since we read that.
By the grace of God, David and his men were able to rescue and return all of their family and gain a prosperous victory over the Amalekites, apparently 40 years earlier Saul did not do his job (see 1 Samuel 15:1-3). Considering the fact that 200 out of the 600 soldiers couldn’t make the trip, this was clearly miraculous, imagine the natural fatigue that would have set in. God gave David the victory who wisely shared the spoils with the elders of Judah. He was probably sensing that God was about to restore him to his nation. Can you see the way David responded to God’s grace? He went forward – stepped toward the place he belonged. He didn’t abuse God’s grace in Philistia to stay in his sin, He allowed God’s grace to reach him and bring him back to Israel where he belonged.
It’s heartbreaking to read of the defeat of Israel and the death of Saul, and his sons, especially Jonathan. So much potential – dead – due to so much sin.
It’s interesting that the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead traveled all night, with that urgency to take the bodies of Saul and his sons down and bring them home, bodies that had been beheaded and publicly displayed on the city wall as a mockery. I’ve been to that spot in Israel, Beth Shan was a huge city with many inhabitants (picture Vegas, or New York). The men of Jabesh Gilead remembered how in the beginning of his reign, King Saul rescued them from the hand of the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11). He had such a great beginning…and yet such a horrible end.