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 8:26-37For 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.
