Bible Studies
David Increases and Saul Decreases (1 Sam. 17:55-18:5)
Series: Studies in First SamuelIntroduction:
1. By the power of God David has defeated Goliath. 2. It is king Saul’s intention to bring David into the palace. He inquires of Abner, his commander about David’s father, I suppose, so the transference can be made. 3. The text says, “the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself” and so Jonathan made a covenant with David. 4. This covenant was marked by Jonathan giving David his robe, his armor, his sword, his bow and his belt.a. The transfer of clothes in some instances in Scripture involved a transfer of authority (Num. 20:24-28; 1 Kings 19:19-21; Isa. 22:21).
b. While Jonathan is the king’s son and heir to the throne it is not clear that it is his intention to transfer his position to David, yet it is the greatest show of respect and honor that Jonathan could bestow.
5. In this study we are going to see how David continued to increase and how Saul continued to decrease. We will observe the reason for this in that an evil spirit came upon Saul, andthat the Spirit of the Lord was with David. We will see places of relevance and application in the struggle between David and Saul in our own lives.Discussion:
I. David increased in the eyes of all the people.A. Already we have seen how he was befriended by Saul’s son Jonathan (18:1-4).
1. Some have seen a homosexual relationship between Jonathan and David.
a. They observe that the text says, “Jonathan loved him as himself. He stripped himself and gave his robe to David.
b. 20:41 even says, “They kissed each other.”
2. Such interpretations completely misunderstand the text and the historical and cultural settings of these statements.
a. First, Scripture teaches that you are to love your neighbor as yourself (Lev.19:18, 34). Objection: “But this was more than the generally love demanded of a neighbor.”
b. Perhaps, but the text indicates that all Israel loved David in a special way (18:16). Are we to conclude that they all had a homosexual relationship with David?
c. It seems that everyone loved David.
1) Saul loved him (16:21).
2) Jonathan loved him (18:1, 3; 20:17).
3) Michal loved him (18:20, 28).
4) All Israel and Judah (18:16).
5) Saul’s servants (18:22).
d. David may have been homosexual, bisexual, and promiscuous but these passages do not establish that.
3. It is apparent that both Jonathan and David loved and trusted the Lord in a special way (14:6; 17:45-47). I would suggest that this is the foundation for the closeness of their relationship and the foundation upon which others loved David too.
4. The transfer of clothes was a symbolic gesture showing honor. Jonathan gave David not only his robe, but his armor, sword, bow and belt.
5. And do not make too much of the kiss either. In different cultures men kiss men with no homosexual overtones. And Jonathan and David’s kiss including bowing three times as they parted company in grief (20:41).
B. The women sang a song that exalted David more than Saul (18:7).
C. Saul was angry and suspicious of David and an evil spirit came upon him so that he sought to kill David (18:8-11).
1. In the previous lesson we interpreted this evil spirit to mean that Saul was stubborn and rebellious against the will of God and similar to Cain found himself in opposition to God. It was not that he was demon possessed. Here in this context this understanding is confirmed.
2. Saul was prompted by fear (8:12, 29).
3. “The Lord was with David, but had departed from Saul” (8:12).
4. Are you afraid, angry, and suspicious of those who give themselves to the Lord’s will? Have you taken an adversarial approach to those who are the friends of God? Do you make the friends of God into your enemies? In your marriage? In your family? In your relationships generally? Do not be like Saul and Cain!
D. David prospered because the Lord was with him (8:14).
E. He married Saul’s daughter Michal, but even here Saul sought to use Michal’s love for David and to use the Philistines to put David to death (18:20ff). Saul required a dowry of 100 foreskins of the Philistines. Saul used people and yet Jonathan describes David as “very beneficial to Saul” (19:4). Do you use people for your personal advantage or are you beneficial even to those who are your enemies?
F. David was even more highly esteemed. He acted more wisely than all the servants of Saul in opposition to the Philistines and Saul was even more afraid of David (18:28-30).
G. The Lord advances His purposes. We will prosper as we give ourselves to the accomplishment of His purposes and we will decrease when we do not.
II. That God was with David is evidenced by His providential care of David.A. Jonathan protected David’s life (19:1-7).
B. Michal protected David’s life (19:11-17).
C. The Spirit of God protected David from the messengers of Saul (19:20).
D. The Spirit of God protected David from Saul himself (19:23).
E. Do you act as an agent of God to protect those whom the Lord protects? Or do you act like the messengers of Saul to destroy those whom the Lord is with? There are only two sides. Either we are opting for the Lord or we are opposing Him.
Conclusion:
1. Is the Spirit of the Lord with you? Or is there an evil spirit from the Lord with you? 2. Are you afraid, angry and suspicious of those who have the Spirit of the Lord? 3. Are you increasing or decreasing when it comes to serving the purposes of God? 4. Are you beneficial to others, even those who are your enemies? Or are you seeking to do harm, to destroy even those who are serving the purposes of God?
