OT: The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 24

1 Samuel 24:1-22

24:1 David's location compromised and Saul learns that he is in the wilderness of En Gedi. 

24:2 Saul takes three thousand chosen men to pursue David. Three thousand men to pursue one man. But as we have discussed in this book of 1 Samuel, the ultimate battle is not against flesh and blood. Saul's obsession with capturing David is actually an internal struggle: he has rejected the principalities of righteousness and it has caused the destruction of his life. The only reason David is poised to become the next king is because Saul refused the role. God set specific qualifications for the role and Saul rejected them, effectively giving his own resignation. 

Saul brings a disproportionate amount of men because his battle is not with David but God. Saul still believes that if he is quick enough, clever enough, or powerful enough, he might be able to change God's will; as long as David breathes and escapes him, Saul is reminded that he cannot.

We sometimes go to extremes to justify our actions. To build a platform for ourselves. But we need to understand that the only effort we need to make is an exertion on behalf of righteousness. Through humility alone are we given purpose and justification by God. 

24:3 Saul enters a seemingly arbitrary cave, a place to rest and recuperate during a long pursuit. But David and his men are in the depths of that very same cave. Separate from his three thousand men, Saul is unknowingly in a most vulnerable position. As it is, current position is more indicative of his true position, for when we separate ourselves from God we cloak ourselves in vulnerability. Separate from God, we are within range of our enemies and defenseless. 

24:4 David and his men realize that God has delivered Saul into David's hands. David now has the chance to kill Saul, who has torn his life apart unfairly and unnecessarily. Saul has already made multiple attempts to take David's life. David reaches out toward Saul. Instead of killing him, he rips off a piece of his rob. 

This is an echo of the moment Saul permanently separated himself from God: 

1 Samuel 15:27As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe,and it tore. Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you. He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”

24:5-7 David spares Saul's life but is still upset with himself for even reaching out. Remember that David never wanted to oust Saul. He cares about Saul and respects his position as king. Despite what Saul may have convinced himself and despite rumors around the region, David is not Saul's enemy. David does not allow any of his men to harm Saul and therefore he walks away without injury.

24:8-9 As soon as Saul is safely out of the cave, David walks out to meet him. David stoops in respect to his king. Both David's appearance and deference is evidence to Saul that he is loyal and innocent. 

24:10 David explains that now Saul knows for himself that David does not seek to betray or kill Saul. If he wanted to, he could have easily done so moments before.

24:11 He even provides evidence: David shows Saul the corner of his robe that he was able to cut off. 

24:12 Ultimately, David asks God to settle the matter between himself and Saul. 

24:13 David does not believe that any good can come from killing Saul, wickedness proceeds from the wicked. David does not wish to initiate an endless cycle of corruption. God began Saul's journey as well as David's and he trusts God to tie the knots as well. God is a weaver of perfection, when we place a circumstance or decision in His hands, we can be sure that justice prevails.

24:14 "After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?" David retains his humility, he is absolutely baffled by Saul's hate and pursuit of him. Simply an innocent an productive servant of Saul, David found himself a hotly pursued target. A near-war started over... nothing. David is not privy to Saul's private thoughts of personal history, to him, this chaos it out of nowhere.

And truly the actions of others rarely, if ever, have to do with us personally. Our internal struggles override our common sense and clarity of mind sometimes. Saul has made David an inadvertent symbol of his regrets and fears to the point where David's presence torments him. 

To find clarity, we must find God. Saul is a slave to his struggles and his character deteriorates because of it. Once we pursue God with all of our hearts, He promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, Matthew 11:30. He ensures that we never tow or carry anything that will depress or overwhelm us. 

24:15 David trusts that God's discernment will identify the guilty party from the innocent. We also can trust that God will be the leveler, the most able to restore balance and fairly. 

Many of us in David's position might have taken the opportunity to adopt our enemies tactics and do to them what they sought to do to us. When we have God's defense, we do not need to stoop. Instead, we can remain as David was: baffled by the use of evil, finding it unnecessary and unfair. Let God judge all matters...He will botch the job like we always seems to do. 

24:16 Saul is momentarily sobered by David's words. He is able to remember that David is not the villain his mind made him out to be. Saul weeps; his torment is consuming him. In this moment, he sees innocent David juxtaposed every cruel thing he has done to him.

24:17-19 Saul is indeed stunned by David's kindness and restraint. Is this not more rewarding that murder would have been for David? This entire pursuit has culminated in a stark lesson for Saul: he is able to see what pure righteousness looks like against the marred and ugly picture of corruption. Saul knows that David did not have to spare him... Saul also knows that he would not have done the same in David's position. And for the moment, he can see the ugliness in himself and it is not pleasing.

24:20-21 Still, Saul has caused a huge mess and this one moment is not enough to quell his mental battle. Saul admits that he can see that David is God's choice for king, and rightly so. But Saul is still not ready to relinquish the position; his desire for power can taken control of him. Beyond reason, beyond justice, Saul is a slave to his greed. He knows it and David knows it. David promises not to punish Saul's family for Saul's actions.

24:22 They part separately, knowing that their relationship is not restored. David cannot trust Saul. Saul at least has the grace not to pretend that David should.

OT: The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 23

1 Samuel 23:1-29

23:1 David is informed that the Philistines are attacking the people in Keilah. Typically, it would be David's duty in Saul's army to respond to the situation. Now that he's on the run, he has to decide whether he will rush into the city - placing himself in the open and therefore in danger - or continue to hide.

23:2 Unsure of what to do, David seeks God's counsel. Ultimately, David is willing to place himself in a perilous situation if it means saving the people of Keilah. If God gives the command, and He does, David will go despite the fact that Saul will be able to find him.

23:3-4 The men with David are not as willing to rush into Keilah against the Philistines. Acting as an individual, David readily trusts God's will and does not have trepidation in following it... the same cannot be said for the men with him. Before leading several hundred men into a battle they do not necessarily want to join, David again consults God. 

2:5 God understands us. He knows that we often need more encouragement than we should to follow Him, and He therefore provides it. God reaffirms that David should go and rescue Keilah. He also promises the victory to David. We do not have to wonder what our own lives would be like if we had the same assurances from God because we have them. Throughout the Bible, God promises to be our advocate. In Romans 8:31 specifically: If God is for us, who can be against us?

23:6 Abiathar joins David in Keilah to provide additional counsel to David. 

23:7-8 Saul discovers that David is in Keilah and is thrilled! Saul cannot believe his luck, he believes that he will finally be able to capture and kill David. David entered the city of Keilah, which is gated. David is essentially trapped - or would be, if he were not aligned with God.  

23:9-13 David finds out from God that the people of Keilah will hand him over to Saul.  This knowledge allows David to be a step ahead of the circumstances. He now knows that he cannot trust the people to keep his location secret. David and his six hundred men leave Keilah and force Saul to cancel his quest. 

23:14-15 Refuge for David becomes the wilderness, places outside of any cities. The wilderness - literal and figurative - has always provided children of God space to contemplate His word and will. Separate from the systems of the world, the haven of nature allows clarity and protection. 

23:16 Jonathan meets David in the woods. The fact that Jonathan is able to locate and meet with David evidences that God's protection is a selectively permeable barrier. Evil could not enter or even find David's hideout. But those good intentions and reinforcement could.

23:17-18 It has become apparent to Jonathan that David had been placed in line by God to be king. Even though this means that Jonathan's own father will be dethroned, he remains faithful to God's will. Jonathan ensures that he will remain loyal in his friendship with David, unhindered by his father's own disapproval. Jonathan and David renew their covenant of friendship before God; so much chaos has ensued but these two reaffirm their trust in God and support of each other. 

23:19-20 The people of Ziphite report to Saul that David is possibily in their midst. 

23:21-23 Notice that Saul uses the right language, "blessed are you of the Lord, for you have compassion on me", but his heart is not in it. It is not authentic. Saul has rejected God but uses sweet terms to ingratiate the people around him. In Matthew 4:1-11, Satan brings Jesus out and offers him the world. Satan uses scripture to do so; he knows it so well he can tweak it and make it inauthentic. Saul uses scripture to praise people to condemn an innocent man. 

As children of God, we must not allow evil to inveigle us into doing things against God's word. How do we do that? We ensure that we always do things with righteous intentions rather than selfish motivations. We do not need the praise and compliment of others, if we are humbly serving God, we will are exalted by Him: Matthew 6:3-5.

23:24-26 Saul's vigorous pursuit of David continues to fail by God's arrangement. God is a refuge; the enemy only comes close enough to look foolish. Saul comes physically near to David but because of God's protection, he might as well be in another universe. Saul cannot cross a boundary God has drawn... and neither can any of our enemies. 

23:27-29 When a messenger brings news that the Philistines have invaded, Saul is forced to put aside his own personal intentions to defend the kingdom he still commands. This provides David and opportunity to journey further out of Saul's grasp.

OT: The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 22

1 Samuel 22:1-23

22:1 David escapes to the cave of Adullam and his family joins him there. This time is, essentially, David's literal and figurative journey through the wilderness. David believed in God as a child and trusted God as a victorious soldier. Now is his time to believe in God and trust in God while he is pursued by his enemy. Either by temptation or through fear, oppression will try to ensnare. A righteous child of God refuses to be caught by trusting God to keep them free.

22:2 Along with his family, David is joined by others who are in desperate situations. People who were in debt (therefore dangerously close to enslavement) and people who were discontented for their own personal and various reasons. Together they made a group of four hundred.

22:3-4 David and his motley group go to Moab (David has ancestral connections with this land, Ruth). David requests shelter from the king of Moab until he knows what God will do for him. For David is certain that God will not abandon him in his distress. David will not move without God's direction; he understands his ineptitude in navigating wisely and will therefore humbly wait for God's plan and timing. 

22:5 Advised by the prophet Gad, David leaves Moab and travels to the land of Judah through the forest of Hereth. 

22:6-8 Meanwhile, Saul is actively focused on catching David. Saul learns of David's location and that he has many men with him. Saul is embarrassed and humiliated; his own son made a covenant with David and his entire army respects David. The crowds cheer David's name when Saul so desperately longs to hear his own. 

Saul sits, stagnant, with a spear in his hand. This mental image of Saul is revealing: he is not willing to put in the work of achievement and his right hand, his mind, is focused on elevating himself through violence. In contrast, David keeps moving and only according to God's instruction. 

Saul tries to retain power through fear. In order to keep his soldiers loyal, he tries to convince them that under David's prospective rule, they would not be taken care of. Saul is grasping at this point; there is no evidence suggesting that David is corrupt or bias. Moreover, David himself has no plans to take over Saul's position. God has it in mind, the people around the region might have it in mind, but David has no personal motivation or intention of becoming king. David was shocked at the idea of even being the kings son in law.

Saul continues to refer to David as the son of Jesse. The use of this phrase instead of David's name is indicative of a metaphor; Jesus himself is considered a Son of Jesse, having been born through that family many generations later. This is foreshadowing, speaking of the ultimate: the philosophy of God against the philosophy of Satan. Righteousness v. Unrighteousness. Unrighteousness will work selfishly, persistently to ensnare righteousness... but will never be able to do so.

22:9-10 Doeg (the same from the previous chapter who directed David to Goliath's sword) tells Saul that in Nob, Ahimelech hosted David. Here is an example of the type of person who will use anyone or any circumstance to elevate themselves. We learn from our wise creator that only the humble are truly brought high.

22:11-15 Saul orders Ahimelech to be brought to him; he accuses the priest of conspiring against him. David pretended to be on an errand for Saul and therefore Ahimelech is innocent. Ahimelech explains that he hosted Saul's honorable and faithful servant David because... well, why wouldn't he? This defense is interesting because it paints David in an innocent light but also reveals Ahimelech's own innocence. Indeed David is those things: honorable and faithful. 

22:16 Saul truly is deranged, he sentences Ahimelech and his family to death even though they have done nothing wrong. He was not aware of Saul's pursuit of David and therefore he could not have responded to David in any other way. Why would he refuse the commander of the king's army without reason? That would have been a crime.

22:17 Desperate, paranoid, evil... Saul's intention is to kill anyone who has loyalty to David. Saul still thinks he can change the course of God's will. He orders his guards to kill each of the priests. But the guards refuse to kill servants of God.

22:18-19 Instead of sobering, Saul then commands Doeg (who has proved to be ruthless) to kill the priests. And Doeg does kill them, eighty five men. Continuing through Nob, the city of priests, Doeg kills men, women, children, babies and livestock. All of this is evidence of Saul's destructive and self-motivated rule. 

When the children of Israel were led by God through His prophets, they never had to fear that their own king would turn on them. They took for granted the righteous character of God and it is our responsibility to never do the same.

22:20-21 One of the priests escapes: Abiathar flees to find David. Once arrived, he tells David of what Saul has just done. 

22:22 David is heartbroken by the news and feels personally responsible. In fact, the house of Eli was prophesied to be extinguished in this book, 2:27-36, because of their corruption. David's lie participated in the sequence of events which led to the slaughter of many men but the situation was bigger than just David himself.

22:23 David invites Abiathar to stay with him: "Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe." This sentiment will be emphatically echoed by Jesus who in John 15:18-20 said:

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

What we can take from this is that when we align ourselves with God, we place ourselves behind His shield of protection. Throughout scripture this is God's invitation to us, precisely: Stay with me. Do not fear. We are on the same side. I am the victor. You will be safe.

Remember that our battle is not against men but principalities, Ephesians 6:12. Whether it's Saul or Pharaoh, the Philistines or the Pharisees, the battle is against the principle and force of darkness. Evil humans are killed and pass away, are avoided and triumphed over by children of God. The principles they serve are defeated by God, Who has who has claimed that ultimate battle. 

Our battle is to not join that force, to live in opposition to that principle. So long as we do so, we have stayed with God. We have not succumbed to fear. Those who seek our lives seek God... and the limitations of their corruption can never find Him. We are safe.

OT: The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 21

1 Samuel 21:1-15

21:1 David travels to Nob, to a priest named Ahimelech. Ahimelech is worried at the prospect of David traveling alone. It was not usual for a commander of any army to travel in such a way. Ahimelech does not know that David has separated himself from Saul's house and is hiding from him.

21:2-3 David arrives under the pretense that he is on an a secret mission for Saul. This sets David up for two things: to keep his presence in Nob a secret and to acquire provisions for continued travel. He asks Ahimelech for bread.

21:4-6 The only bread Ahimelech has is bread which has been reserved for worship, bread symbolic of God's provision. But Ahimelech is willing to give David this bread if he has followed the custom leading up to the sacrifice. Indeed David has abstained because he has been rather busy fleeing for his life. 

It is fitting that David would consume this consecrated bread and that no other bread was available. David's faith has made him a person who only does consume what God provides. The bread is symbolic of David's faith remaining pure and wholly focused on God's will.

21:7-8 David asks a servant named Doeg for a spear or sword. David explains that he has no weapons because he left in a hurry (although he was not actually on the king's business).

21:9 Doeg tells David that he can take the sword of Goliath the Philistine. And God will always put the power of the enemy into His child's hand. No matter how fierce they are, God will debilitate them on behalf of a righteous child. He will transfer their power and influence to His child, that they may wield it for good.

21:10-11 David travels then to Gath but he is recognized by a servant. 

21:12-14 David therefore begins to disguise himself by acting like a madman. He is widely known as a brilliant and stable leader and the act of crazy reduces him to some random, raving lunatic.

David is in a desperate situation and likely does not see a way through. We read the account of his life from beginning to end but he was exactly as we are: he could not see a minute into the future. Life was happening to him but he could not yet see the orchestration of God over the events. In his moments of desperation, David turned to God. It made all the difference. The following Psalm was written by David to God:

Psalm 34 

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

OT: The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 20

1 Samuel 20:1-42

20:1-2 David quietly leaves Ramah to meet with Jonathan. At this point, David is reasonably convinced that Saul wants to kill him but he does not understand why. But when David asks Jonathan what the reason is, Jonathan does not know. Jonathan does not want to believe that his father is trying to kill David; he is baffled and terrified at the prospect. As his eldest son and leader in his army, Saul confides all intelligence and plans to Jonathan, or so Jonathan thinks. 

20:3  David explains that Saul has kept his attempts at David's life from Jonathan because of their friendship. Saul knows that Jonathan would never agree or allow David to be killed. The possibility that his own father would ever kill his best friend never crossed Jonathan's mind, but David, having survived attempted murder no longer has any doubts.

20:4 Jonathan remains loyal to David, he promises to help him in any way that he can.

20:5-7 David devises a plan: he will skip the feast he is supposed to attend with Saul. He tells Jonathan to explain to his father that David is absent because he wished to present the yearly sacrifice with his family. If Saul's reaction is peaceful acceptance, David's suspicions are wrong. But if Saul reacts with anger, it will reveal is malignant intentions - for is David is absent, Saul's plot to kill him will have been thwarted.

20:8 David tells Jonathan frankly: If I am guilty of anything, kill me yourself. David is willing to accept a fair accusation but he knows that he is innocent. He wants Jonathan to understand that he is not abusing the friendship by asking absolution from guilt. 

20:9 Jonathan is already confident that David is innocent. They have served and fought together. They have grown together. They know each other and each other's love for God. Jonathan does not doubt that David is innocent but he does doubt that his father is evil. This plan will reveal the truth of the latter. 

20:10-13 Jonathan promises to get the truth out of his father and report back to David. 

20:14-16 His wish though, is that should Saul truly hate David, there not be animosity between David's family and Jonathan. Jonathan knows that God is with David and therefore knows that God is against David's enemies. 

20:17 It is not out of self-preservation but true friendship that Jonathan wishes to remain in good graces with his David. Jonathan loves David as God wishes us all to love each other: selflessly, honorably, righteously. David is innocent and no flesh-alliances will deter him from preserving and protecting David's character and life.

20:18-22 Jonathan explains to David that he will send signal by arrows. If David finds three arrows in the target, it is true that Saul wishes to kill him and he should flee.

20:23 Before parting, Jonathan prays that God will remain between them forever. If Jonathan finds his father to be dastardly after all, Jonathan does not want to lose his friend because of it. Jonathan has always loved God and knows that if there is any hope for the preservation of their friendship, it will come from God. 

20:24-27 The first day of the feast, Saul notices David's absence but says nothing, assuming that David will come the next day. On the second day, David is still absent and Saul inquires after him.

20:28-29 Following the plan, Jonathan tells Saul that David wished to be with his family during the feast. 

20:30-31 Saul's anger explodes against Jonathan! He insults him, accuses him of betrayal and takes away his inheritance. Moreover, he declares his intention to kill David and commands that David be brought to him.

Saul's grip on power and honor is tenuous. He can see his influence and kingdom being taken away. Greed and paranoia consume Saul. He orders an innocent man to be killed... but more than that, a man who has done much for Saul and always honorably.

20:32-33 Jonathan asks his father why he wants to kill David, pointing out that David is innocent... even asking what David could have possibly done. In response, Saul attempts to kill Jonathan. Suddenly it becomes very clear to Jonathan that his father has become unhinged and David's life is indeed at risk.

Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:11 explains to us that these events were written for us to learn from. Saul abandoned his humility and righteousness. Saul decided that instead of serving God, he would rather serve his greed. Humans are vulnerable; our bodies, minds and spirits are vulnerable enslavement. God offers to take control, to protect us from the reign and thumb of violent men and corrupt ideologies. But if we will not submit to God, we become the victims of such noxious men and ideologies. Saul has chosen to be a slave to his desire. He's paranoid of losing it. He has no contentment because material wealth and control never bring it. 

So it's up to each of us to ask ourselves: who is the master of my life? Because if it's not God, it's something/someone who is harmful to you. What we serve reveals our heart, the condition of our path and the destination of our lives. We must never follow anything that disallows us to see natural and spiritual wonder, understand purpose or experience God's love. 

How do we uncover what it is that we serve? Well, we ask ourselves: What do I spent most of my time doing? What are my intentions? What do I pursue? Do my actions align with the advice written in these pages?

Moreover Saul evidences the truth of God's warnings - a man king would corrupt his subjects. Saul is ordering men to capture and kill an innocent man, a man they have served with and liked, and it is their duty to obey. God, as leader of the children of Israel, never commanded them to do any harm against innocents. 

The world knows nothing but kings and leaders and presidents and prime ministers and so forth now. But God was once our only king, has always been the True King and offers to rule again over each life. He inevitably will again rule over each life. Above all else, pursue Him. Serve Him. Let intentions and motivations be aligned with His purpose. And spend a lifetime learning from and listening to Him.

20:34 Jonathan loses his appetite and leaves in anger. He will not partake with his father, for his father does not offer anything nutritious. Symbolically, Jonathan will not dine with unrighteousness. If it is not righteous, he chooses to abstain. That is dedication and commitment to God. To David. To loyalty. 

20:35-40 Jonathan communicates to David that Saul indeed seeks to kill him.

20:-41-42 David and Jonathan weep at the circumstances. Evil has always caused so much unnecessary pain. Greed and vengeance, spawn of evil, create disasters. In the middle of one, Jonathan and David say goodbye to each other. David must flee. First though, the reiterate their trust in God. 

OT: The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 19

1 Samuel 19:1-24

In Romans 8:26 we learn that because of our limitations, the Spirit of God intercedes on our behalf. God generously defends us both from the angles we can see and the ones we cannot. In this chapter, we will see two people perform as purposeful instruments of God's will in a concentrated effort to preserve an innocent child of God. For sometimes we do not know that we need an escape... but God does, and He makes a way.

19:1 Saul confides to Jonathan is hate for David. Saul gathers all of his servants and commands them each to kill David. 

19:2-3 Alarmed but wise enough to take precautions, Jonathan informs David of Saul's wicked plot against his life. Jonathan tells David to be careful and to hide until he has a chance to speak with Saul, dismantle his anger and change his mind.

19:4-5 Jonathan speaks frankly, simply and boldly to his father. He explains that David does not deserve to be killed as he has been dutiful and and honest in every moment with Saul. He has won battle after battle for the kingdom. Moreover, David has been good to Saul, personally. David played the harp for Saul on many occasions, concerned about his distress and suffering.

19:6-8 Believing himself successful in defusing Saul's anger, Jonathan tells David is it safe for him again. David therefore returns to military service and does not hide from Saul.

19:9-10 But Saul lied to Jonathan; he never abandoned the desire or intention to kill David. Saul throws an arrow at David but misses, and David flees.

19:11 At home, Michal tells David that he must flee immediately because her father intends to kill him by the next day.

19:12-13 Michal helps David escape down through a window. While he escapes, Michal forms a person-like shape in the bed in order to trick David's pursuers. 

19:14 When they arrive, Michal pretends that David is sick. This earns David time to flee while they think he is stationary in bed.

19:15 Saul sends the men back to David and Michal's place to kill David. 

19:16-17 But the men find that the shape is not David. Saul is furious with Michal and counts her actions as a betrayal to him. God ensured that Michal helped David escape, but because she is not a fearless child of God, she loses her courage in the face of Saul's anger. She lies to Saul and tells him that David threatened her so she let him go. (This would be obvious as a lie to anyone who actually knew David. It was not even his idea to run away.)

19:18 David flees to Samuel in Ramah. Together they go to Naioth.

19:19 Saul finds out that David is in Naioth in Ramah.

19:20 Immediately Saul sends people after David to capture him. But when they arrive, they find David to be protected by prophets, prophesying his divine purpose given by God... and they join them. There are times in scripture when God's ability and sense of humor are mingled and such is the case here. God turns David's pursuers into his protectors.

19:21 Saul continues to send people after David but each time, the same thing happens. God's power is indefatigable. 

What is interesting is that Saul is jealous of David for having everything Saul once had. Saul could have everything David has but his arrogance disables him from having it. Saul rejected God but David loves God. Saul has chosen to be submissive to his arrogance and greed. David has chosen to submit to God. 

19:22 Saul goes to Ramah himself and inquires after Samuel and David's whereabouts. 

19:23-24 Saul thinks that he has the power to do what his messengers could not - Saul thinks he can defy God. But God can, and does, cause even Saul to submit to His will. We learn here, if we did not already realize, that God could force His authority over us. Instead He allows us to become who we want to be, to love what we want to love and to submit to who/what we wish to submit to. God's authority is able to cause Saul to do the complete opposite of what he wants. Because God's will will be done. 

God does not want our sacrifices, he does not want us to reassure His authority. God is not insecure. We are made in His image and therefore we can understand that He wants our authentic love. We are therefore given freedom. But evil has no freedom and no power cannot plot or succeed against God. God does not force us to submit to His will... but He can. Ultimately, whoever rejects Him is blotted out from existence. If a soul chooses to reject Him, He lets them go... into nothing, oblivion, just as they asked. Rather than robotic, inauthentic humility and obedience, God allows evil to go down its own path. The path of evil is distressing, paranoid, discontent, insecure (Saul's raving and suffering evidenced this) and ends in spiritual death. Poof, gone.

We have read of David's love and obedience toward God but have not yet heard from David himself. In the following Psalm, we hear David's voice in an expression of faith and trust:

Psalm 111 In the Lord I put my trust;
How can you say to my soul,
“Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

2 For look! The wicked bend their bow,
They make ready their arrow on the string,
That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?

4 The Lord is in His holy temple,
The Lord’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold,
His eyelids test the sons of men.

5 The Lord tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

6 Upon the wicked He will rain coals;
Fire and brimstone and a burning wind
Shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the Lord is righteous,
He loves righteousness;
His countenance beholds the upright.

David expresses trust in God's willingness and ability to protect the righteous against the malicious plots of their oppressors. From David we learn that we can speak openly with God, raw and passionately. David, as human as each of us, went through the same trials we all do. In his difficult moments, he turned to God. A man after God's own heart, he made God his Home Base. His Protector. His Leader. And he understood that the defense of the righteous is absolute.

OT: The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 18

1 Samuel 18:1-30

18:1 Jonathan and Saul are kindred spirits; their love for God unites them in a wholehearted friendship. In 1 Samuel 14, we became familiar with Jonathan and specifically, his dedication to, and trust in, God. Jonathan has discovered that same element of faith in David and it makes him loyal and supportive to David. Children of God recognize their work as the most important work to be done; it therefore makes them sympathetic and encouraging to each other's efforts.

18:2 Saul is impressed by David's win over Goliath and claims him. David is not allowed to visit his father and work as a shepherd anymore; Saul wants David for his army. 

18:3 Jonathan and David make a covenant, a binding promise to remain loyal to each other under God and to defend each other's lives. This is especially beneficial to David as he receives protection from Saul by Saul's own son.

18:4 Jonathan symbolically gives David his own armor. Jonathan offers David defense and friendship, even at the expense of himself. Remember that Jonathan is the natural heir of Saul; he is a prince. Jonathan is royal and David simply a farmer. But Jonathan is not arrogant or possessive, though many would be. Jonathan has seen David's heart and love for God. He has witnessed that even under pressure, David is brave, humble and productive to God's will. Jonathan graciously accepts that David has been chosen by God for a greater purpose and he is not made jealous by the realization.

18:5 Saul places David over his army. David's success on the battlefield is due to God's providence but Saul has not yet pieced that together. Saul greedily, but also wisely, uses David as a powerful instrument in his army. And David is well liked by his fellow-soldiers: A man after God's own heart, David is kind and wise, productive and successful.

18:6-8 Indeed David is well-liked... by everyone. Returning home from the battle against Goliath, David's name is cheered in the streets. He has become a celebrity. All around the cities of Israel people sing and dance "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." This immediately ignites Saul's anger. Saul is a prideful, insecure man and undoubtedly paranoid about losing his position as king (as God already promised it would happen, but did not specify when or to whom). 

Mark 8:26-37 

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Although Saul was not from birth a faithful man, he was an adequately humble one. Saul approached the throne with initial trepidation, not believing himself worthy or even capable. But power changed Saul. Humility abandoned entirely, the grip of wealth and power have caused Saul to be paranoid, selfish, resentful and vicious. When he hears that the people attribute more success to David than himself, he is outraged.

18:9 Even though David is unaffected by his growing celebrity, Saul begins to suspiciously watch David. Saul does not understand David's heart. David seeks only to be regarded by God. David attributes his past and future success to God; as far as he is concerned, the cheering on the streets is owed to God alone.

18:10 Saul's anxiety returns and he begins ranting (a more apt translation). Saul's greed for the throne causes him paranoia and despair; he cannot imagine a life without the kingdom and nor does he want to. He begins to plot against David's life.

We have to be careful not to count others' success as our own failure. Neither can be count our success as another's failure. If Saul had loved God and listened to God as intently as David, he would not be in the desperate position he is in. God as ample supply of blessings: each could simultaneously achieve success and retain their regarded positions.

David arrives to play the harp for Saul in effort to mollify Saul's distress. David is unknowingly in the presence of a man who wants him dead, that he is the reason for Saul's anger. But is does not matter that David does not realize; David's compassion for humanity and love for God provide him all the protection he will ever need. 

Meanwhile, Saul contemplates the spear in his hand. 

18:11 Saul launches his spear at David. Twice. But is made to miss by God. 

18:12 Even though David is the target of a violent man, Saul is the one who is afraid. And rightly so: Saul realizes that God is with David and has departed from him. 

18:13  Saul is so tormented by David's presence that he sends him out to war just to be away from him. David had unknowingly become a symbol to Saul of his own unfaithfulness. Saul watches David bit by bit inherit everything God once offered him. But Saul gave it all away for pride.

18:14-15 David remains a conscientious child of God, allowing the wisdom of God's will to propel and protect his life. This terrifies Saul. Saul comes to understand that an obedient child of God is the most fierce enemy anyone will ever face.

18:16 The rest of the children of Israel grow to love David; they become familiar and grateful with his success in battle (his protection over their lives is a comfort).

18:17 Realizing that he cannot likely personally defeat David, Saul sends David into war. Saul does not understand the scope of God's power and hopes that David will die by happenstance in battle. But David continues to go into battle and return, safe and victorious. Saul offers his daughter, Merab, in marriage to David if he will continue to win battles.

18:18-19 David humbly and graciously accepts the prospect of Merab's hand in marriage. David never envisioned that he, a poor farmer, would ever become a son-in-law to the king. But when he earns through his efforts in battle,the right to marry, Saul gives his daughter to another man. Saul hoped that the injustice would unhinge David... but it did not. 

David is not desperate for royal position or power. He never even thought himself worthy of marrying a princess. Therefore it is no great change or loss to him not to. But another man might have exploded with angry. A child of God, however, understands that God ensures they receive what is good for them and what belongs to them, despite the external manipulation or condition. If David does not have Merab, it must not be God's will and he accepts that.

18:20-21 Saul is told that his younger daughter loves David. Immediately he begins to plot. Saul knows something about his daughter that causes him to believe she will be a trap for David. Between the Philistine army and this daughter, Michal, Saul hopes that David will be killed or at least thwarted. 

18:22 Dealing the cards of the corrupt, secret and gossip, Saul communicates to David that he offers his younger daughter to him.

18:23-24 David's response is a humble one: he knows that he cannot afford the dowry of a king's daughter. In his time, men paid a dowry to the families they married into.

18:25 In a manipulative move to place David in a position of ensured defeat, Saul indeed offers his daughter in marriage to David. The condition is that David must kill 100 uncircumcised Philistines (circumcision at the time was a symbol for Christianity, though not yet called such at the time). Saul believes the task to be impossible.

18:26-27 David is pleased and humbled by Saul's offer. He brings back evidence of 200 defeated Philistines. God ensures that David doubles Saul's requirement. 

18:28-30 David thus marries Michal. He continues to be loved by the people and feared by Saul, who cannot seem to trap him. Saul cannot outsmart God, neither can anyone else. Saul played a game he could not win as God easily extinguished his every attempt to bring David down by jealous fire. The flames of evil cannot defeat the Living Water of God. No one can manipulate the One who orchestrates it all.

OT: The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 17

1 Samuel 17:1-58

17:1-3 Faith provides and protects the valley between us an enemy. Saul and the men of Israel find themselves gathered together against the Philistines. This chapter begins with Israel poised for battle, but this war against the Philistines is only symbolic. Ephesians 6:12 teaches: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The children of Israel charge into battle with the requested king. And their requested king is deconstructing, becoming living evidence of our true battle, the battle that is against unrighteous principalities, powers, rulers, and hosts. Saul rejected God; he presently rules the children of Israel with an unfaithful hand and selfishly corrupt motivations. If not for God's precision and foresight, they are about to follow their king directly out of their sphere of protection. For each time the children of Israel, or we, go wayward, we become fodder for our enemies.

From their respective mountains, the children and the Philistines each represent a principle. Righteousness and unrighteousness, the opposing forces. Compassion against cruelty. Patience against impatience. Forgiveness against vengeance. Humility against arrogance. God explained that a corrupt leader would descend the metaphorical mountain of righteousness and bring his subjects with him. But a righteous child of God can move mountains, Matthew 17:20, the mountain, the principle of righteousness against its opposition.

17:4-7 From their mountain, the Philistines present a near-giant as the representative of their army. And this supposed-champion of theirs is truly a representation of the temptation the other side can offer. There are near-giants in our own lives, people and circumstances which tempt us to fight for the wrong side or doubt the right(eous) side. These giants do not have the outward appearance of this Goliath, more often they are moments of anger and impatience. Selfish moments, arrogant moments. 

Our spiritual proximity to God provides us with more resilient, invulnerable armor: armor against our physical enemies as well as figurative Goliaths. It does not matter the height, weight or decoration of our opposition, with the armor of God strapped securely to our body, mind and heart, the victory is ours. Returning to Ephesians, 

Ephesians 6:14-18 

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Goliath's armor is not all that impressive after all.

17:8-10 Goliath mocks Saul's army; neither he, nor they, understand that they are not merely "servants of Saul." They are children of God. Goliath may not be intimidated by Saul, and he has no reason to be, but their True protector and defender can readily defeat any champion the Philistines present.

17:11 The children of Israel and Saul are dismayed and greatly afraid. And how many times have we been just the same when we could have chosen to be confident in God's ability to protect us? The only reason they should be scared is because they have allowed their faith to fall by the wayside. They divested themselves of their armor of God: righteousness, faith, peace, salvation, prayer and the word of God lay at their feet. If they would pick them up and put them on the mountain of opposition in front of them would crumble.

Instead, the children of Israel need to present a contender. Still, without God, they are hopeless. They desperately need God to have taken a compassionate interest in their predicament; that they know of, they do not have a suitable opponent to present.

17:12-15 God does take a compassionate interest in their predicament and readies the family of Jesse to take part. Jesse is now an older man but his three oldest sons are joined in battle with Saul - Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah. David, the youngest, journeyed back and forth between his father and Saul. David's brothers were soldiers, but David remained the care-taker of his father's sheep - only God understands how David is the most capable of his brothers for this battle which is, on the surface, far outside his sphere.

17:16 Goliath continues to taunt Saul's army forty days, the length of the flood of Noah. A period of rejuvenation as God built the foundation for a new king.  

17:17-19 Jesse sends David with provisions for his brothers engaged in battle. Jesse asks David to return with news of the well-being of his brothers. These circumstances are orchestrated by God. David, the unlikely key to this problem, is sent directly into battle when otherwise, he would not have been there. No one realizes the significance of this yet. 

17:20-23 Dutiful and brave, David accepts the command from his father and goes to the battle camp. David reaches the camp at a crucial point, the army's tensions are rising. He finds his brothers and as he speaks with them, Goliath arrives and speaks his same ultimatum. This time, David hears it. 

17:24-25 The Israelite army is terrified! Whoever volunteers as their champion and wins, will be rewarded by the king with riches, his daughter as a wife and exemption from paying taxes. The reward is high; Saul tries to convince people to fight with the only things he has to offer - things which would normally be enticing to soldiers.

17:26 But David scoffs at Goliath. David scoffs while a large, trained army around him cowers. David, rather than intimidated by Goliath, is amused by the idea that a mere man could challenge, never mind defeat an army of the living God. David is able to scoff because he knows and loves God. The army cowers because they do not.

And truly it is ironic that they should fear Goliath. Not only do children of God have God's protection, their enemies face double retribution for having made God indignant; it is unwise to challenge God's ability to protect His own.

While the army offers enticement and worries of defeat, David wonders who will defend Israel's honor. David sees the broader picture: the enemy is not Goliath, the enemy is wickedness. David wants to know who will defend Israel against wickedness and restore its honor as a chosen and righteous people.

17:27 The people reiterate the reward Saul offers. It calls us to each ask ourselves: what motivates my actions: courage born of faith or material wealth? The Israelite army at this time is stagnant, neither desire nor faith moves them - precisely the ideal situation for an enemy, to have their prey surrounded and afraid. 

17:28 David's oldest brother, Eliab, is angry with David for speaking. Eliab does not understand David's heart; he does not understand God either. Eliab tries to mock and scare David from the battle field.

17:29-30 But David is unapologetic. He tells his brother that he spoke only what was true and needed to be said. Israel indeed does need its reputation as a righteous body of God defended. He reemphasizes his point.

17:31-32 David is brought to Saul because he spoke out. While with Saul, David volunteers to fight Goliath. If no one else will trust in God, David chooses to.

17:33 Saul declines David's offer to stand in as Israel's champion on two point: he is young, he is untrained. The mindset of the world is that there are qualifications a person needs to have in order to be able and successful. The only qualification needed, however, to win any battle, is to have on the armor of God. And David does; David's trusts God and knows Him to be indefatigable on behalf of His children. 

17:34-35 David has been protected sheep all his life. The symbol in this is that David has been raised by God to protect that which needs defending. Whenever a lion or bear would attack one of his sheep, David would strike it and rescue the animal. This is precisely the skill we need to be agents of God's will! The courage and skill, given by God, to disable predators. 

17:36 To David, this near-giant Goliath presents no new challenge to him. After all, lions and bears are as fierce and large as the Philistine's "champion" is.

17:37 To solidify his point David explains that God delivered him out of harm from the lion and the bear. David trusts that God will deliver him from the harm of the Philistine. So, even if Saul did not trust in David's ability, based on his experience with large game, he should trust in God's. David basically tells Saul: even if I am unqualified, God is not.

Saul relents and gives David permission. God is behind it all.

17:38-39 David tries at first to follow custom. He puts on all of the armor of a soldier but finds that it is too cumbersome to benefit from. He takes all of it off. This is further evidence that armor is unnecessary when we have the protection of God. David will go into this battle as a child of God, armed only with his faith and the power of God.

17:40-44 David chooses to bring a sling and five stones. God-willing, his task will be quick and efficient. Arrogance and ignorance caused Goliath to mock David. The Philistine is ready and willing to tear this young man apart. 

17:45-47 David's divine purpose is revealed: David will teach the children of Israel, the Philistines and all people of nature of God. David exists and faithfully serves to profess God's omnipotent authority:

45 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 stands not for his own honor but for God's. David's intention is not to exalt himself but to exalt God. David, a man after God's own heart. David's declaration is that no matter how much humans try to manipulate the conditions of life, God reigns, and a child of His is not subject to their manipulation. David explains that we can plan, prep and plot but all of it is pointless and powerless when it is against God's will.

17:48 Goliath approaches David and David approaches Goliath, fearlessly. David walks directly, confidently, faithfully into his purpose, to confront evil and to profess God's authority. 

17:49-51 David slings a stone at Goliath, he falls and dies. He falls on his face like all of the false gods and wicked people of the world always do when confronted by God.

Per Goliath's conditions, the victor of this battle would claim the other's army as servants. By faith, David brings the Philistines to their knees. The Philistine army flees... an army runs away scared because a humble soul had the faith and courage to deliver a Godly message.

17:52-4 The Israelite army takes over and pursues the Philistines. David brings the head of Goliath to Jerusalem, a gruesome prophesy that Israel intends to take it from the Philistines, and sets Goliath's army in a tent.

17:53-58 It is revealed that the entire time, Saul did not recognize David. Saul asks the commander of his army who the "youth" is. Perhaps David's identity was protected by God - in the next chapter, we will see that Saul begins to resent David. Finally, however, Saul learns that it was David, son of Jesse, who killed Goliath.

OT: The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 16

1 Samuel 16:1-23

A few chapters previous, God spoke of a man we will meet in this chapter: David, the son of Jesse. David's description by God Himself is that he is a man after God's own heart. We can believe this description: David is the author of 73 emotional and spirited psalms. Imperfect as God promised all kings would be, David loves the Lord with all his heart. 

16:1 Saul is still the official king and his predecessor, selected by God, is still about to be anointed. God is arranging the particulars of the immediate future but Samuel still laments Saul's downfall. Samuel's emotions are so expressly human! God is moving forward, but Samuel still grapples with the events of the past. Samuel evidences that even a prophet of God needs encouragement from Him sometimes to accept that His will is often different from what we think we want or expect.  We do not have to wallow and lament because God has planned a future and a hope, Jeremiah 29:11.

God instructs Samuel travel to the place of a man named Jesse. God has chosen one of Jesse's sons who will serve as a king under God's authority.

16:2 The depth of Samuel's misery causes him to wonder how he will go to Jesse without enraging Saul. Samuel believes that Saul will kill him if he finds out; we see that Saul's pride has caused even further detriment to his mindset. Saul will not willingly relinquish his title as king, even if it means killing a prophet of God. We must be careful not to sacrifice our morals to serve our own greed.

God tells Samuel to travel as though he is going to make a sacrifice for the Lord. This action will not be suspicious or dishonest. Samuel is also told to fill his horn with oil; it will be poured over the new king, an anointing by God.

16:3 Samuel is told to invite Jesse to sacrifice to the Lord. From there, God will direct Samuel and will point out and anoint his new king. Jesse is the descendant of Ruth and Boaz, Ruth 4:13-22.

16:4-5 So Samuel travels to Bethlehem and declares his entry as peaceful. Samuel is a prophet, an agent of God's will, his appearance in a place signified to others that God had given a command. He announces that he has home to make a sacrifice to the Lord; Samuel was told by God to invite and consecrate Jesse and his sons, setting them aside for divine purpose.

16:6-7 Samuel spots one of the sons, Eliab, and hastily expects that he will be God's choice. But Samuel is halted by God: Eliab's impressive outward appearance does not qualify him as God's choice. Saul was physically impressive, 1 Samuel 9:2, but his heart did not beat for God. God explains: 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.

In Acts 1:24, the apostles through prayer ask God to be their decision-maker. Because God has exceeding and perfect wisdom and perception, it benefits us to ask Him to employ His will over the direction of our lives. The world has taught us to judge by appearance and ability but our Father teaches us to search the heart. Still, our inability perceive perfectly and without bias renders us dependent on Him to do it for us. Allow God to add and remove from your life as He sees fit; allow Him to choose and reject. 

16:8-10 Jesse sends another of his sons to stand before Samuel, but Abinadab is not chosen. Shammah is not chosen. Of the seven sons Jesse presents, none of them are chosen.

16:11 Samuel asks Jesse if he has brought all of his sons, and Jesse explains that his youngest son has not been presented. The youngest son is there keeping the sheep. It is symbolic for this youngest child to be tending the sheep: God raises His children to be figurative shepherds, gatherers, leaders and protectors of His children. God teaches His children to have the gentle heart of Shepherd and the compassion to care for those who so require a care-taker. 

16:12 The youngest son is described to be ruddy, with bright eyes and good. Matthew 6:22 The eyes are the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy your whole body will be filled with light. The eyes serve as a symbol of the soul. Eyes which see the same vision God sees: compassion when looking at His children, are bright and healthy eyes. The manner in which the eyes perceive professes the intentions and motivations of the soul. This young son's eyes profess a righteous heart. 

This child is chosen by God to be anointed, gathered to Him for a divine purpose.

16:13 Samuel anoints the youngest son with bright eyes, David, and the Spirit of the Lord comes into David and remains within him. 

Although we exist thousands of years after this takes place, God offers to dwell with us as well, 1 Corinthians 3:16. Each of God's willing children are offered a divine purpose. The righteousness within us is propelled by His strength and ability. God does not choose us by appearance or ability because a good heart makes a soul beautiful. God makes a good heart able.

16:14 Meanwhile, God has allowed Saul's conscious to weigh on him. Because Saul rejected God, he no longer possesses the comfort and delight of God's love. The stress, the anxiety, the fear, the desperation and desire to retain his power troubles Saul.

16:15 Saul's servants think that God is punishing him. But Saul's behavior has punished him. Perhaps we have experienced this: Saul's grief comes from his inability to content his soul. The constant threats to his position of power, the deep-rooted self doubt. The regret of discarding his values for his desires. Saul has become a slave to his greed for power but instead of confronting his own failures, he and his servants blame an ill-spirit. If there is an ill-spirit, it is Saul himself.

16:16-17 Saul's servants suggest that a musician, a skillful harp player, to might soothe him. Saul sends his servants out to find a skillful harp player, not yet knowing that God is present in this plan. The only way Saul will find relief is through God.

16:18 One of the servants knows of a skillful harp player, and honorable and intelligent man and soldier. In fact, this servant cannot speak more highly of... David, "a handsome person; and the Lord is with him."

16:19 Saul sends messengers to Jesse, telling him to send David to him. Very neatly, God has arranged the circumstances to bring David into the kingdom. David has been chosen and anointed by God for a divine purpose, every move of his journey is planned and protected by God.

16:20 Jesse loads a donkey with bread, wine and a young goat and sends David to Saul. The irony is that Saul requests for his replacement to be brought into the kingdom.

16:21-22 Saul and David meet and very easily become friends. David becomes Saul's armor-bearer (a position only a trusted person would ever receive) and Saul asks Jesse to let David remain with him.

16:23 When Saul's anxiety pained him, David would play his harp. The music brings Saul relief but not because David is skillful, though he is, but because David had been anointed by God. David's inspiration for playing is his love and devotion to God. David's faith supplies him with a spirit of rest, comfort and joy, and it is tangible to others.

OT: The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 15

1 Samuel 15:1-34

15:1 God sends Samuel to Saul. God charged Samuel to counsel Saul on His behalf because Saul is in desperate need of personal reflection. For though he began humbly, Saul's pride has begun to overshadow his faith, causing detriment to the children of Israel but also to his own soul. The worst thing we can ever do is reject and dismiss the command of God, Matthew 12:32 and Saul on the verge of doing so.

15:2-3 God is invested in our well-being. Though He could have swiped Saul off of the map, He instead provides Saul with a redemptive track. God entrusts the fulfillment of a long-held promise; In Exodus 17:14-16 God promised to thoroughly reduce Amalek because of its corruption. Saul is told to "attack and utterly destroy" and is expected to completely fulfill this command.

Saul is thus given an opportunity to finally exert Godly-obedience over personal pride. We are each unlikely contenders; God chooses us not because we are strong but because we are weak, Deuteronomy 7:7. He magnanimously continues to provide us with the opportunity and material to make the massive impacts on humanity we could never make without Him... even when we falter the first... or second or third or fourth time. God chooses what is meek and humble and downtrodden by the world because of it. Saul will need to humble himself in order to remain chosen.

It is beautiful that God entrusts us with so much. He does not say "I'm going to let you take out the garbage today." No, that task is too simple for a child of God. Every day we live obedient to Him, He calls us to utterly destroy and remove garbage from the earth as a life's mission. Our impact stretches beyond the curb. And this is especially important because we often do not give God reason to trust us with such important work. Saul has evidenced his pride and disobedience several times, still God elects him to deliver a promise made to Moses hundreds of years ago. 

As God requires us to be all in, He requires the same of Himself. He's all in. God asks us to be wholeheartedly invested because He is wholeheartedly invested. The ugliness of our fallibility does not steer Him away. God continues to work with Saul and He will continue to work with each of us. He's the iron-worker... but if we, the iron, will not bend to His hand and His flame, our obstinacy disallows His great work. 

15:4 Saul assembles the army of 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of the tribe of Judah.

15:5-6 He also gives the Kenites an opportunity to leave, as the children of Israel plan to defeat and destroy all the is in the land of Amalek, according to God's will. This caution and choice offered to the Kenites evidences, before the battle even begins, that God will not allow an innocent to be caught in the violence of taking down evil. (Humans, regrettably, do not always offer this same compassion when engaged in battle).

15:7-9 Saul and the army attack Amalek as commanded by God... but they neglect to obey Him fully. To the word, to the letter. Instead of destroying everything, Saul has King Agag taken captive. The soldiers decide to keep the "best" livestock. That which they determined "worthless" they destroyed. This is not merely about livestock: their actions professed unfaithfulness, for if God determines something unworthy, it is unworthy and not to be spared or kept.

15:10-11 If Saul will not follow God's direction, God will not allow Saul to lead. God communicates with Samuel His deep distress. God counseled the children of Israel on the dangers of having a king other than Himself. Everything He warned of has come true and it bothers Him that so many are suffering because of it.

Samuel is grieving, too. As the Lord's prophet, he is intricately attuned God's emotion. He is personally invested in the well-being of the tribes of Israel. It pains Samuel to contemplate the irony of it: God provided selfless prophets who led without these prideful mistakes but the children rejected them and begged for a desultory and selfish-by-nature king. 

15:12 Samuel is sent to Saul again. But this time, Saul is gone. Saul has gone to build a monument for himself in celebration of the victory! Saul's hubris has become plain; his regard for God is nonexistent.

15:13 Saul is still celebrating when Samuel reaches him. Arrogance has rendered him ignorant, as it always does. The reason it is important to God that we do not claim His victories as our own is because we begin to leave Him out. And when we enter battles without Him, we quickly find ourselves to be inept and sufficiently defeated. It is dangerous for us to live as Saul is living. We can only walk through seas God has parted.

15:14 Saul is cheering the victory but all Samuel can hear is the evidence that Saul has not obeyed God. The sounds of the livestock are proof that Amalek was not utterly destroyed.

15:15 Still not realizing the gravity of the situation, Saul tries to wave off the noises of the livestock. He basically says to Samuel: Oh calm down, we'll offer the loot as sacrifice to the Lord "your" God - certainly Saul has shown that he does not claim God as his.

15:16 Saul's flippant comment brings Samuel to the brink and he shouts: Be quiet! Samuel declares that he will no longer allow this disrespect for God fill the space. Samuel tells Saul that God gave him a dream the night before and Saul asks Samuel to speak it.

15:17 Samuel explains that when Saul was humble, God made him king.

15:18-19 As king, God instructive Saul to do specific things but he disobeyed. Why? Samuel asks rhetorically.

15:20-21 Saul explains that he did destroy Amalek - except for the king. And says that all of the livestock that were taken were offered as sacrifice. Saul and his soldiers served God evidence of their disobedience rather than reverence and gratitude.

15:22-23 Samuel begins to explains a crucial point:

“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. 

 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.”

We profess and display our faith not through sacrifice but through love and obedience (further corroborated in Isaiah 1:11 and Hosea 6:6). Saul thinks he can purchase God by throwing him a bone... unintentional sacrifice pun. If we do not align ourselves with God's authority, we openly defy Him. For His way is righteous and any other way is rebellion.

Saul has rejected God and therefore, God has rejected Saul from being king. 

15:24-26 The rejection of God is a basin too deep to climb out of. We know that Saul is not being genuine because God always answers a repentant heart. Being king bred too much pride in Saul; he has proven that he could never reign as king and simultaneously serve God. As a prophet of God, Samuel will not remain with a soul unwilling to follow the will of God. As genuine souls with righteous intention, we can never lose God's presence. But Saul is not genuine, he is simply desperate to retain his power.

15:27-29 So fierce is his desperation that Saul reaches and grab's Samuel's robe to pull him back. Instead of succeeding, he merely tears off a piece of it. Samuel tells Saul that the tear is symbolic of Saul's separation from the kingdom of Israel. God has already chosen a replacement and His decision is final.

15:30-31 The pain of separation from God is so strong that Saul sought His comfort. His prayers would not restore his position as king, but if they authentic, they might help to restore him as a man.

15:32-33 Samuel completes the mission that Saul was supposed to complete. Samuel has king Agag brought to him and explains to the king that his evil actions have resulted in his death. Samuel kills king Agag.

15:34-35 Samuel departs from Saul and Saul returns home. Although Samuel no longer counsels or even communicates with Saul, he continues to care about him and simultaneously regret the destruction his pride caused As a prophet and child of God, Samuel is compassionate. But Samuel also understands that that which is corrupt must be confronted and removed from positions of power.

OT: The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 14

1 Samuel 14:1-52

14:1-3 Saul becomes stationary; having separated himself from the Spirit of God, his future is uncertain and his plans are stagnant. Meanwhile, Jonathan, the son of Saul, makes the decision to remain active against the Philistines. Saul is paralyzed without his defense. His weapons are gone but more devastatingly, so is his weapon of faith. 

14:4-5 Jonathan discovers an opportune location from which to engage in battle against the Philistines: a narrow pass with sharp rocks on either side. The children of Israel require a strategic position as their weaponry is limited. As God always does for a child of faith, He enables a victory through creative means.

14:6 Jonathan reveals his trust in God: he refuses to believe that God is unwilling to win any battle, regardless the number of persons on the battlefield. Jonathan understands that God not only willing but also capable to win any battle, no matter how desperate the situation appears. Saul lacked this spiritual resolve and evidenced for us the limitations unfaithfulness places on our lives.

14:7 In ancient battles, soldiers and commanders had armor bearers: people who would carry their weapons and armor, trusting that their companion would protect them. An unfaithful armor bearer would have fled when hearing Jonathan's plans to enter into enemy territory without a specific and convincing plan. Jonathan's entire action-strategy relied on God.

14:8-9 Jonathan's plan is to walk his army into enemy territory without adequate physical weaponry and allow God to deliver the Philistines into their hand. This incredible trust is instructive for us to carry into our own lives. When we walk in righteousness, God ensures that our path is well-defended and charted. 

But how many of us are willing to walk without anxiety? How many of us trust that even when we walk into seeming immediate danger, God will provide the material and proficiency to conquer it? Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus explains that if God loves and cares for the little creatures of the earth, He surely cares for and provides for us. 

14:10 Jonathan prepares his army to accept God's will: no matter what happens, they will proceed trusting that the events have been predetermined and expertly planned by God. Even if the Philistines call them forth, they will go forth. The faith required for such acceptance, trust and submission to God's will is extraordinary, and will always protect and propel a child of God.

14:11-12 And it happens that the Philistines do indeed call forth Jonathan's Israelite army. The Philistines mistaken believe that their posts within the rocks were hiding places. Instead, the army is more than prepared to face their enemy head-on. Jonathan rises with courage and faith.

14:13 On his hands and knees, Jonathan begins his ascent to meet the Philistines. Interesting concept, and not to be missed: in order to ascent, the faithful descend to their hands and knees. Our submission to God's will makes us powerful, capable, purposeful, and impactful. Remember: the humble shall be exalted, Matthew 23:12.

Jonathan and the children of Israel appear to be desperate and unprepared. Children of God are often underestimated because their enemies cannot see the powerful force of God surrounding, protecting and propelling them. When we bow down before Him, we create the conditions for God to stand up for us. For we, our unfaithfulness, is the hindrance which disables God's will from acting on our behalf. Not our enemy, our unfaithfulness. Saul is currently of no use to this situation, he has placed his own pride in the way of God's will; he has blocked the tunnel of faith with his own plans. 

We should be careful not to do the same. Jonathan progresses free and clear into victory because he has removed unfaithfulness, unblocking God's will from transforming and delivering his life. When we allow our anger, impatience or greed into our intentions, we crowd the medium through which God's will could have shattered that which oppresses us. When we insist on our own way, we disallow God's way; and His way is always better than ours.

A Philistine moves against Jonathan but is taken down by his armor bearer.

14:14 Scripture has professed that we are fellow-workers with God, 1 Corinthians 3:9. God allows us to participate in the glory of His victory. Jonathan and his armor bearer battle against the Philistines, knowing that every stroke of their arm and step of their feet is guarded and influenced by God. God, ever our spiritual parent, holds our hand as we do difficult or dangerous things - and especially for the first time. Like a father teaching a child to fish or ride a bike or stand up to a bully, God guides us with skill, strength and affection. He is genuinely, emotionally invested in our lives and hearts and souls.

14:15-17 Saul becomes aware of the battle and immediately... requests to see who, precisely is engaged in battle. Does does not immediately realize that God is engaged in battle. Jonathan's trust and faith invited God to act on Israel's behalf but God is doing the heavy-lifting (though for Him, it's not so heavy).

14:18-19 Saul finally decides to join the battle, but for the wrong reasons. Saul can see an imminent victory. He commands that the ark of God be brought out, not because of faith but custom.

14:20-22 God quickly and efficiently disables the Philistine army. Nature itself convenes to confuse the Philistines and they begin to fight each other, helping Israel to defeat them. Scripture teaches us to evil corrodes itself; its actions over a lifetime cause its own instability and death. The Philistines physically represent this as they literally tear each other down.

14:23 So the Lord saved Israel that day... Saul certainly did not save Israel. Jonathan did not save Israel. God saved Israel. God's power only seeks an outlet, and a faithful child is one. God's ability does not make us great, on our very best day we are merely servants (though deeply loved) of His greatness. 

14:24 Saul is back in action as king, claiming proudly the victory as his own rather than God's. He commands his army not to eat until the he has taken vengeance on the Philistines.

14:25 The people come to a forest to find honey on the ground. They arrive in a densely fertile, verdant, thriving, protected place and find honey on the ground. God leads His children into such places and upon arrival, we found that His blessed provisions continue. God's word and will is consistently referred to as honey: sweet, substantial, natural and nutritious.

14:26 Yet none of the people eat any of the honey. The symbol here is that Saul's corrupted leadership is depriving his subjects from the provisions of God. Saul's pride is tainting the nation of the children of Israel. They are not partaking of God - benefiting from His ability - because of Saul's flawed commands.

14:27 But Saul's son Jonathan did not hear the command, likely a strategic move made by God. Jonathan dips his rod into the honey; he dips the symbol of his authority into the symbolic word of God. And he eats the honey. Jonathan hears God's will and listens to it with trust. For this, Jonathan is brightened. The Spirit of God illuminates His children, giving them energy, perspective and joy (our soul's crave the nutrient dense provisions of God).

14:28 We see the spiritual damage Saul's reign has inflicted the children of Israel with. Instead of celebrating this beautiful gift from God, both the victory and the offering of more sustenance, they fear the unjust and unnecessary commands of Saul. A corrupt leader disables the population under his rule.

14:29 Jonathan is unfazed by having broken his father's command. Jonathan is confident that having listened to and partaken in God's will was the right thing to do. Jonathan is also wise and perceptive; he can see that his father's rule is flawed and ruinous to the future of the children of Israel.

14:30 Jonathan points out that if the children of Israel had followed God instead of Saul, the victory would have been even greater. Jonathan does not fear death, nor does he fear stating the unpopular and dangerous truth. As children of God, we are called to be honest in the difficult moments especially, because those are the times when the truth is most needed. 

14:31-33 Because of Saul's ridiculous command that they people not eat the honey provided by God, the people begin to eat unclean food out of starvation. When a corrupt leader or person cuts off the source of God from a person, the person starves. The person is made vulnerable to the consumption of noxious things.

More than food, God provides the wisdom and opportunity people require to escape desperate circumstances. If the philosophy of God is not taught, exampled or allowed in their lives, people never learn of the productive way. People instead turn to actions and reactions of anger, impatience and greed (symbolized here by unclean meat).

14:34-35 Too little, too late: Saul follows the custom of sacrifice to God. But Saul does this because he is afraid to break a "rule"; the symbolic repercussions of his faithless rule are unnoticed by him. 

14:36-37 Saul attempts to communicate with God but his pride and in-genuine love for God disables the connection. Saul has proved that he will not listen and therefore God sees no reason to speak.

14:38-40 Saul proceeds to (unknowingly) condemn his son for tasting the honey. Saul's main objective is to defend and profess his authority (rather than God's). Jonathan submitted to God's authority over a man's. Saul tries to divide the crowd to identify the culprit.

14:41-44 Upon discovering that Jonathan is guilty of this supposed-crime, Saul remains intent on killing him. Jesus evidenced to us that to be a fellow-worker of God, we are called to confront our oppressors - and sometimes, the systems of the world. More often than not, we are misunderstood and condemned for "going against the grain." In John 15:18, Jesus acknowledges that those who are of Spirit rather than the world often face fierce opposition. Jesus continues in John 15:19 to explain that if we were like the world, it would love us... but we are not. We choose to be like our God; because death on earth is only our initiation into our eternal spirit. 

In real life, this looks like standing up against bullies, the ones on the bus seats and the ones on thrones. It looks like devaluing that which the world has placed value on - vanity and wealth - and choosing humility and charity instead. It means to proceed through the proverbial red light when God has declared it green.

14:45 God would not allowed Jonathan's enemies to defeat him on the battle field and he will now allow Jonathan's family to defeat him at home. Jonathan's faith in God rescues him again; the people refuse to put to death an agent of God.

14:46 Defeated by justice, Saul and the Philistines return each to their own place.

14:47-52 Saul continues to behave and build his kingdom as God promised the children of Israel a king would. He claims the best and brightest for himself. He grows his family and here his wife, sons and daughters are listen. The Philistines continue to meet defeat not because of Saul's reign but because of God's loyalty to the children of Israel, despite their fickle faith.