1 – Grumbling brings grief (Numbers 13 & Numbers 14:1-3)

• The nation of Israel was represented in the 12 spies sent out one leader from each of the twelve tribes.
• The report of faith Joshua and Caleb not only saw the fruitful land, but also the giants, the multitude of the other nations and great walled cities. Caleb says “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it”. He saw and spoke in FAITH.
• The report of fear. The other 10 spies saw exactly the same things but spoke in FEAR. Why? They said “we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight”. A giant vs. grasshoppers was no contest! However, it was God vs. Giants – no contest! The nation spent 40 years wandering in the wildness as a whole generation died out.

Watch out for the grumblers who’s God is too small.

2 – The friendship of Jonathan (vs. 1-4)

• The deepness of their friendship David and Jonathan were godly, likeable men who really liked each another. Each found in the other the affection that he did not find in his own family. Jonathan – “became one in spirit with David and he loved him as himself. David declared when Jonathan died: – I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were dearer to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women 2 Samuel 1:26. Surround yourself with people like Jonathan.
• Jonathan recognised David as the next king of Israel The gift of his robe, tunic, sword, bow and belt shows his submission to God’s choice of David to be the next king of Israel. Yet Jonathan was prince reagent – next in line to the throne! Jonathan, the son of the king, gave all the material gifts; David, the poor man’s son (Could not pay a dowry), gave but love and respect. This reminds us of the gift of God’s Son to poverty stricken humanity God the Son is the divine warrior who wears God’s armour. This same armour is worn by the Christian.
• Jonathan preserved David’s life against the murderous efforts of his father Jonathan was next in line to the throne when Saul died. Yet he knew that the Lord’s anointing was upon David.

3 – Public approval (vs. 5-7)

• Promotion – David was given a “high rank in the army”. David’s victory in single combat was not a flash in the pan. Saul put him to the test, and was so impressed with his ability that he gave him a high-ranking military position. David did all that was asked of him, going on from success to success. We must do the same in our public life.
• A city celebrates with songs and dance – Victorious in battle, David and Saul must have ridden back to the palace together. When entering a city on their homeward trip, throngs of happy people greeted them in the streets, shouting and dancing. Like Chelsea winning the FA Cup! Some women performed dances while others sang in alternate choruses. The women in the street made it clear who was the man of the moment: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands”. Comparisons are often odious, runs the saying – and Saul would have agreed.

4 – Jealousy (1 Samuel 17:9-30)

Saul suspicious of David (vs. 9) – It might have been more bearable to Saul if the younger man had had less charm of character. If David had been conceited Saul would have had less reason to fear him. But the fact that David had a usually winsome and attractive personality; all Israel loved him, including members of Saul’s own family! In his more rational moments even Saul was won over. Saul had begun to suspect, if indeed he was not already convinced, that David was one of his “neighbours” whom Samuel had prophesied would replace him. (See 1 Samuel 15:28. He was soon to act upon his fears. He tries to get rid of David. Sometimes carnal people become jealously guarded or suspicious of people. They look for faults and ways to pull others down.

1. Attempt 1 – The spear that missed its mark twice (vs. 11-12). Saul held the javelin in his hand as a sceptre, according to an ancient custom. He tried to use it to kill David. There was madness in his method. David did not retaliate. He was a fearless warrior and it would have only been human nature to have grabbed the javelin and thrown it back at Saul. David did not respond in hasty anger – he got out of the road! Saul seethed with resentment against David’s increasing popularity. It was another indication that The Spirit of God had departed from him. See 1 John 3:15 – “The man who hates his brother is a murderer”.
2. Attempt 2 – Demotion and sent away from public attention (vs. 13-16) David was removed from court and given a field command in the army. This reduced his public “visibility” and raised the possibility of death in battle. Unfortunately for Saul, David neither died nor disappeared. The Lord was with him and success followed his every effort. Saul’s scheme only made the people love David more than ever. We send our children away when they want to help us.
3. Attempt 3 – Merab is used to plot David’s death (vs. 17-19). David was to give himself more vigorously to “the battles of the Lord”. Saul had still not kept his promise to give his eldest daughter to the man who could defeat Goliath. Now it is cheapened to little more than a bribe. It was also vile hypocrisy for Saul to ask David to fight the Lord’s battles when he was really looking forward to attending his funeral! David responds with genuine humility. He still prospers by killing even more Philistines. Saul responds by giving Merab, his eldest daughter, to another man.
4. Attempt 4 – Michal is used to plot David’s death (vs. 20-30). Saul’s younger daughter was “in love with David”. Saul proposes her marriage to David. Saul’s real motive is to plot the death of David. Saul asks for a dowry of 100 foreskins, hoping that David would die in the process. David agreed to the bargain, killed twice the number of Philistines, married Michal and plunged Saul into greater misery than ever before! Saul’s schemes had turned to dust. David was alive and was now his son-in-law! Saul was to be David’s enemy for the rest of his reign. David acted more wisely than the rest of the officers and became even more popular. See PSALM 121 – THE LORD WATCHES OVER HIS PEOPLE.

Categories: 1 Samuel