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The Lord Promotes David And Saul Becomes David’s Enemy

August 05, 2007

1 Samuel 18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.

13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?

19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.

20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.

23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.

25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.

27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.

29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.

30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.

Jonathan had the same spirit of faith

1 Samuel 14:6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few."

David humbled himself and the Lord was exalting him

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

David allowed the Lord to direct his paths

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Jonathan knew David’s destiny

1 Samuel 23:17 And he (Jonathan) said unto him (David), Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

Jonathan’s character of humility

Philippians 2:3-5 Let nothing be done through strife [selfish ambition] or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things [his own interests], but every man also on the things of others [the interest of others]. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Obedience requires submission

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves

How to behave wisely

Joshua 1:7-8 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper [mayest behave wisely] whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success [ or behave wisely].

The righteous behave wisely

Proverbs 21:12 “The Righteous One is acting wisely Towards the house of the wicked,…”(YLT)

Those that behave wisely will be highly exalted

Isaiah 52:13 See, my servant (the Messiah) will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

Those that behave wisely shall be glorified

Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Promotion is from the Lord in heaven

Psalm 75:6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

The way to humble yourself

Romans 12:3 “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,”

Romans 12:16 “…Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive?

The wickedness of jealousy

Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy?

Envy leads to greater sins

Mark 15:10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him (Jesus) for envy.

Acts 7:9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work

David’s defense was the Lord

Psalm 59:16-17 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. 17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

David lived in the eyes of the Lord

Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

David never forgot is humble beginnings

2 Samuel 7:16-18"And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." 17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David. 18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: "Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

Psalm 18:35 “…your gentleness made me great!”