1 Samuel 18
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Samuel 18
Wiersbe adds "To make anything more out of their friendship than the mature affection of two manly believers is to twist the Scriptures. Had there been anything unlawful in their relationship, the Lord certainly would never have blessed David and protected him, and David could never have written Psalm 18:19–27 ten years later." (Borrow Be successful) Even the secular source Wikipedia gets it correct (mostly correct - they make one off handed allusion to homosexuality but without any support whatsoever - the tenor of their explanation is platonic) - A platonic interpretation for the relationship between David and Jonathan has been the mainstream view found in biblical exegesis, as led by Christian writers. This argues that the relationship between the two, although strong and close, is ultimately a platonic friendship. David and Jonathan's love is understood as the intimate camaraderie between two young soldiers with no sexual involvement.[10] The euphemisms the Bible uses for sexual relations are not present, and nothing indicates that David and Jonathan had a sexual relationship.[citation needed] Neither of the men is described as having problems in their heterosexual married life. David had an abundance of wives and concubines as well as an adulterous affair with Bathsheba, and apparently suffered impotence only as an old man, while Jonathan had a five-year-old son at his death.[11] Bob Deffinbaugh's outline: David is on his way up, and Saul is on his way down. 1Sa 18:1-5 David has a “nice day” 1Sa 18:6-9)The Musicians Produce a Sour Note, and the Dancers Step on Saul’s Toes 1Sa 18:10-12 Murder by a Maniac … Or … Why can’t David get the Point 1Sa 18:13-30 Kill ‘Em With Kindness or Murder in the Military Knit (07194)(qashar) essentially means binding or tying something to something else and could be used of binding men. Literally = binding or tying something up (Ge 38:28; Josh. 2:18, 21; Jer.51:63). Figuratively attacking or fastening something on (Isa. 49:18); "bind the chains of the Pleiades" constellation (Job 38:31). Connect a wall (Neh. 4:6, 8). Figuratively of Jacob's soul bound with Benjamin (Ge. 44:30); of Jonathan's soul bound to David's (1Sa 18:1); of forming a conspiracy (translated conspired 19x, conspirators 2x) or an alliance against someone (1Ki. 15:27; 1Ki 16:20; 2Ki. 9:14). Binding of moral or spiritual teachings to oneself (Dt. 6:8; 11:18; Pr. 3:3; 6:21; 7:3). (The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament) Leonard Coppes - The basic meaning of this root "to bind" emerges clearly in Genesis 38:28 where Zerah's hand was marked by tying with a scarlet thread. Rahab was instructed to tie a scarlet thread to her window to mark it (Joshua 2:18). God instructed Israel to bind his laws (words) to their foreheads and hands (Deut. 6:8). Thus, their thoughts and actions were to be governed by his word. The commandments of godly fathers and mothers (Proverbs 6:21) as well as truth and kindness are to be bound to one's fingers (or neck, Proverbs 3:3), and written on one's heart (cf. Jeremiah 31:31ff.). In the eschaton Zion is to display her restored children as a bride displays jewelry (Isaiah 49:18). Perhaps we might add that thus the pious are to display God's word (H. Leuring, "Finger," in ISBE, II, p. 1111). The Judaism of Jesus' day had certainly fulfilled the commandment to literally bind God's word to themselves, but by adding thereto had changed it from an ornament to a heavy weight (Matthew 23:4). God reminds Job that only he binds the stars in place (Job 38:31) and controls wild (Job 39:10) and possibly mythological beasts (but cf. Job 40:19) (Job 41:5 [H 40:29]). Our word can apply to human relationships. Men can be bound together (inseparably) in love (Genesis 44:30; 1 Samuel 18:1) or conspiracy (1 Kings 16:9). Treasonous pacts if exposed were met with denunciation (2 Chron. 23:13), and even death (2 Samuel 15:12; 2 Kings 17:4). It is noteworthy that in evil days prophets who declared God's counsel were accused of treason (Amos 7:10; Isaiah 8:12) by the real enemies of the theocracy (Young, E. J., Isaiah, Eerdmans, 1967, I, p. 311)—the leaders of Israel (Isaiah 8:13f.; Jeremiah 11:9). (Here is a link to the TWOT) Qashar - 44x/44v - bind(9), bound(2), carried(1), conspirators(2), conspired(19), joined together(1), knit(1), made(3), stronger(2), tie(2), tied(2). Gen. 30:41; Gen. 30:42; Gen. 38:28; Gen. 44:30; Deut. 6:8; Deut. 11:18; Jos. 2:18; Jos. 2:21; 1 Sam. 18:1; 1 Sam. 22:8; 1 Sam. 22:13; 2 Sam. 15:31; 1 Ki. 15:27; 1 Ki. 16:9; 1 Ki. 16:16; 1 Ki. 16:20; 2 Ki. 9:14; 2 Ki. 10:9; 2 Ki. 12:20; 2 Ki. 14:19; 2 Ki. 15:10; 2 Ki. 15:15; 2 Ki. 15:25; 2 Ki. 15:30; 2 Ki. 21:23; 2 Ki. 21:24; 2 Chr. 24:21; 2 Chr. 24:25; 2 Chr. 24:26; 2 Chr. 25:27; 2 Chr. 33:24; 2 Chr. 33:25; Neh. 4:6; Neh. 4:8; Job 38:31; Job 39:10; Job 41:5; Prov. 3:3; Prov. 6:21; Prov. 7:3; Prov. 22:15; Isa. 49:18; Jer. 51:63; Amos 7:10 Loved (friend) (0157)(aheb/ahab) means to love and can convey the idea of liking things (like bribes - Isa 1:23, wisdom - Pr 4:6, wine - Pr 21:17, peace and truth - Zech 8:19, food - Ge 27:4, 9, 14). The most important uses in the OT are as an expression of God's love of people (Dt 4:37, Hosea 3:1, Hos 11:1 = God's love for His children), man's love for God (Ex 20:6, Ps 116:1) and man's love for his fellow man (Dt 6:5; Ge 29:32, Ru 4:15, 1 Kings 11:1 = a forbidden love by backslidden King Solomon!!!) The first use of aheb in the OT is instructive as it is found in Ge 22:2 where Yahweh instructed his servant Abraham to "“Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” Notice that at the outset, we see that an inherent quality of this love (in many contexts) is that it is costly. God wants us to love Him above EVERYTHING, even our own flesh and blood. Matthews writes that Ge 22:2 "is the final test of the man’s faith, the closing bookend to his discovery of God’s sufficiency to achieve the promises made at Haran." (New American Commentary) As an aside God frequently "tests" His people to reveal their trust and obedience (cp Ex 15:25, 16:4, Judges 2:22 - in this last one they failed repeatedly). In Ge 25:28 there is a hint that Isaac's love was at least somewhat conditioned on the fact that Esau provided game for him to eat (cp Ge 27:4, 9, 14 of Isaac's love for the savory dish). In addition, Isaac's love for Esau is contrasted with Rebekah's love for Jacob (not to say of course that Isaac did not love Jacob but that he seemed to have a greater degree for Esau because he was as they say "a man's man!" Compare Jacob's greater love for Rachel than Leah - Ge 29:30, Jacob's greater love for Joseph - Ge 37:3,4) In Ex 21:5 we see one of the great examples of man to man love where a slave willingly stays with his master because he loves him -- now that is surely sacrificial love! In Dt 4:37 we see the first use of aheb to describe God's unconditional love for His chosen people Israel -- He loved them then, He continued to love them in their unfaithfulness (because that is the nature of true love) and He will bring them "from Egypt" (so to speak) at the end of this age when Messiah returns and all the believing remnant are saved (Ro 11:25-27-note)! In short, God's love transcends time and endures throughout eternity for His chosen people and for every Gentile that has been grafted into "the rich root of the olive tree," (Ro 11:17-note). In the Shema Israel is instructed ""You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." (Dt 6:5) Gene Getz applies the truths in Jonathan and David's friendship to believers today - Borrow Becoming God's Man Today - Principles to Live By: The relationship between David and Jonathan constitutes an Old Testament picture of a New Testament reality—the relationships God intended to exist in the Body of Jesus Christ. What characterized this unique friendship in Israel was to be a norm in the church. THOUGHT - As you read through these principle's play Michael W. Smith's song in the background "Friends are Friends Forever." remembering that Jesus has "called you friends." (Jn 15:15, cf Jn 15:14). Principle 1. We are to be one in heart and soul. The Scriptures clearly teach that David and Jonathan were of “one soul.” Compare this experience with the following New Testament references to relationships that should exist in the Body of Christ: “All the believers were one in heart and mind” (Acts 4:32NIV). “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:5NIV). “Be of one mind” (2 Cor. 13:11NIV). “Stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man” (Phil. 1:27NIV). “Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose” (Phil. 2:2NIV). Principle 2. We are to love others as we love ourselves. David and Jonathan loved each other as they loved themselves. Again, compare this Old Testament relationship with New Testament injunctions: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Ro 12:10). “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Ro 13:9; Gal. 5:14). “Follow the way of love” (1Co 14:1NIV). “Keep on loving each other as brothers” (Heb. 13:1NIV). “Love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22NIV). The relationship between David and Jonathan was clearly prophetic. In Jesus Christ, Christian brothers (and sisters) have the potential for true and enduring friendships that can never be equaled on this earth. True, all human beings can experience “friendships” because we are made in God's image. But only Christians have the potential for the quality of relationship that existed between David and Jonathan. The reason is that this relationship was focused both in God and man. In Christ, it's possible to experience a deep commitment to each other. (ED: AND ONE OTHER REASON IS THAT OUR FRIENDSHIPS WILL LAST THROUGHOUT ETERNITY!) Principle 3. We are to honor one another, be devoted to one another and even be willing to lay down our lives for one another. David and Jonathan's friendship parallels New Testament injunctions to members of Christ's Body: DAVID AND JONATHAN'S RELATIONSHIP: 1. Jonathan honored David above himself. 2. Jonathan served as a faithful intercessor. He was devoted to David. He served him and did everything he could to help David build a relationship with his father. 3. Jonathan continued to be faithful to David no matter what the cost to him personally. His life was in jeopardy when he tried to defend David's absence. RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN CHRIST'S BODY: 1. Paul wrote to the Romans: “Honor One another above yourselves” (Rom.12:10NIV). 2. Paul wrote: “Be devoted to one another” (Ro 12:10). “Serve one another in love” (Gal. 5:13NIV). “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it” (1Co 12:26). 3. John wrote in his First Epistle, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16NIV). Accountability Partners All of us in the Body of Christ are to develop friendships with each other, but it's also important to have one or two people in our lives who are even closer friends. Among men, this can take the form of an accountability partner. I recently returned from a men's retreat sponsored by my own church—Fellowship Bible Church North in Plano, Texas. Two men shared publicly that they had been accountability partners for a long time. However, one of them was moving from Dallas to Houston. With tears, they told what the separation would mean—sadness. However, they both knew the move was best for this man's family. That day we all saw a demonstration of true friendship between two brothers in Christ. They had shared their deepest joys and most difficult struggles. Consequently both men were better husbands, better fathers and better churchmen because of this friendship. THOUGHT - Getz's principles beg the question - Do you have a "Jonathan" or "David" in your life? If not, why not? And if not, then pray for God to send you a man after his own heart! We see years later that David did not have a Jonathan beside him (as Jonathan had hoped would happen) in 2Sa 11:1-2 and as they say "the rest is history," a tragic history in the family of David! Brothers, we ALL need a "Jonathan" if the man after God's own heart needed a Jonathan! Norman Geisler - go to page 149 in When Critics Ask for discussion of 1 SAMUEL 18:1–4—Were David and Jonathan homosexuals? PROBLEM: This Scripture records the intense love David and Jonathan had for each other. Some see this as an indication that they were homosexual. They infer this from the fact that Jonathan “loved” David (18:3); that Jonathan stripped in David’s presence (18:4); that they “kissed” each other with great emotion (1 Sam. 20:41). They point also to David’s lack of successful relations with women as an indication of his homosexual tendencies. Is this a valid conclusion to draw from these texts? SOLUTION: There is no indication in Scripture that David and Jonathan were homosexual. On the contrary, there is strong evidence that they were not. First of all, David’s attraction to Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11) reveals that his sexual orientation was heterosexual, not homosexual. In fact, judging by the number of wives he had, David seemed to have too much heterosexuality. Second, David’s “love” for Jonathan was not sexual (erotic) but a friendship (philic) love. It is common in eastern cultures for heterosexual men to express love and affection toward one another. (ED: RECALL KING SAUL ACTUALLY "LOVED HIM GREATLY" - 1Sa 16:21+). Third, Jonathan did not strip himself of all his clothes in David’s presence. He only stripped himself of his armor and royal robe (1 Sam. 18:4) as a symbol of his deep respect for David and commitment to him. Fourth, the “kiss” was a common cultural greeting for men in that day. Furthermore, it did not occur until two and a half chapters after Jonathan gave David his clothes (1Sa 20:41). (ED: RECALL SAMUEL "KISSED" SAUL WHEN HE ANOINTED HIM - 1Sa 10:1+). Finally, the emotion they expressed was weeping, not orgasm. The text says, “they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most” (1 Sam. 20:41NIV). John Butler - A. THE PASSION FOR DAVID 1 Samuel 18:1, 3, 4 - from Analytical Bible Expositor - 26 volumes The first reaction of David’s victory over Goliath was the affection exhibited by Jonathan for David. 1. The Compatibility for the Passion (1 Samuel 18:1) “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David” (1 Samuel 18:1). In our day of perverted passion, it may be difficult for some to understand this noble affection of two like souls. We note several significant reasons for this affection. • The gallantry of the two. David showed his gallant spirit with his courageous assault of Goliath. Jonathan had demonstrated the same gallant spirit earlier when he went against the Philistines and won a great victory at Michmash (1 Samuel 14). Noble spirits find good friendship with each other. • The godliness of the two. Both men were God-conscious. They both looked to God for help and victory in battle. David told Goliath that he was come “in the name of the LORD of hosts” (1 Samuel 17:45) and Jonathan told his armorbearer, “There is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6). David and Jonathan had God much in their thoughts unlike most soldiers. This made for good friendship. 2. The Character of the Passion (1 Samuel 18:1, 3, 4) This passion was noble. It was not some unholy, immoral attraction to each other. • It was strong in character. “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David” (1 Samuel 18:1). The word translated “knit” means to be “knotted, tied together firmly by indissoluble bonds” (R. Payne Smith). Would that husbands and wives were that way. It would put divorce courts out of business. • It was selfless in character. “Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1, 3). Twice we are told of Jonathan’s unselfish affection for David. True affection must be unselfish. Marriages break up because of selfishness. • It was sacrificial in character. “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 [belt]” (1 Samuel 18:4). Love gives and Jonathan gave David his robe and military equipment. This greatly honored David. “To receive any part of the dress … worn by a sovereign, or his eldest son and heir, is deemed in the East the highest honor which can be conferred on a subject” [cp. Esther 6:8] (Jamieson). • It was steadfast in character. “Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:3). A covenant is a commitment. This covenant was not empty words. Jonathan was faithful to David even when Jonathan’s father wanted to kill David, and David was faithful to Jonathan even after Jonathan had died. Friendship With God I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. —John 15:15 Today's Scripture: John 15:13-15 Page through an old-time hymnal and notice how often the songwriters referred to the blessing of God’s friendship. Stop and think about what that really means. Yes, it’s a blessing to have human friends who enrich our lives. A devoted friend, as Proverbs 17:17 tells us, “loves at all times,” standing with us steadfastly through life’s sunshine and storm. Indeed, some of us know gratefully by our own experience that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). We identify with David and Jonathan when we read about the bond between them (1 Samuel 18:1). Friendship on a human level is wonderful, but what about friendship with God? It’s an incredible blessing to have the Creator and Sustainer of our universe as a friend. Although worshiped by countless heavenly hosts, He takes great joy in His relationship with us. Are we neglecting the privilege of walking with God, the greatest of all friends? Today, with gratitude and awe, let’s spend time with Him in prayer and in reading His Word. I've found a Friend, oh, such a Friend! He loved me ere I knew Him; He drew me with the cords of love, And thus He bound me to Him. —Small When you spend time with God, you invest in a forever friendship. Friends In The Night The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. — 1 Samuel 18:1 Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 20:30-42 Do you have someone you could call in the middle of the night if you needed help? Bible teacher Ray Pritchard calls these people “2 a.m. friends.” If you have an emergency, this kind of friend would ask you two questions: “Where are you?” and “What do you need?” Friends like that are crucial during difficult times. Jonathan was that type of friend for David. Jonathan’s father, King Saul—who was filled with envy at David’s popularity and God’s blessing on him—tried to kill him (1 Sam. 19:9-10). David escaped and asked his friend for help (ch. 20). While David hid in the field, Jonathan sat at dinner with his father and quickly realized that Saul did indeed intend to kill David (vv.24-34). Because of their deep friendship, Jonathan “was grieved for David” (v.34). He warned him of his father’s plan and told him he should leave (vv.41-42). David recognized what a good friend he had in Jonathan. The Bible says they wept together, “but David more so” (v.41). Their souls were “knit” together. Thank God for you, good friend of mine, Seldom is friendship such as thine; How very much I wish to be As helpful as you’ve been to me. —Clark A true friend stands with us in times of trial. True Friends A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Samuel 18:1–4; 19:1–6 In high school, I had a “sometimes friend.” We were “buddies” at our church, and we occasionally hung out together outside of school. But at school, it was a different story. If she met me by herself, she might say hello; but only if no one else was around. Realizing this, I rarely tried to gain her attention within school walls. I knew the limits of our friendship. We’ve probably all experienced the pain of disappointingly one-sided or narrow friendships. But there’s another kind of friendship—one that extends beyond all boundaries. It’s the kind of friendship we have with kindred spirits who are committed to sharing life’s journey with us. David and Jonathan were such friends. Jonathan was “one in spirit” with David and loved him “as himself” (1 Samuel 18:1–3). Although Jonathan would have been next in line to rule after his father Saul’s death, he was loyal to David, God’s chosen replacement. Jonathan even helped David to evade two of Saul’s plots to kill him (1Sa 19:1–6; 20:1–42). Who do you consider a true friend? Why? How is it comforting to know that God is our truest friend? Heavenly Father, we long for friends. Please open up doors to true, lasting, and God-centered friendships. Moody's Today in the Word - THE PRICE OF POPULARITY 1 Samuel 18:1-16 Popularity has its attractive side, but it carries with it spiritual dangers. There is always a price to pay for it, and sometimes it is too high. Some can handle popularity and not be hurt by it; others cannot. Pride arising in the human heart for any reason is not good. Then there are always those who become jealous of anyone who seems to be well liked by others. Perhaps these dangers, internal and external, help keep a person on the alert. The Lord knows how much any of us can take of these things and always provides a way of escape (see 1 Cor. 10:13). David knew the source of his strength so that praise only caused him to give God the glory. It did not change his humble attitude toward life. On the other hand, Saul's reaction to the praise given David changed Saul for the worse. Let us not become discouraged if, after we surrender our lives to God, He permits testings and trials to come. They will always come. Young people write to me or speak to me in services about this. One of their most common questions is why things are so adverse after they have given themselves completely to the Lord. We know first from the Scriptures and then from experience that testings are essential for our spiritual training. They are needed before God can trust us with the responsibilities of spiritual leadership. "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:2). 1 Samuel 18:1-16 Beware Of Envy! Envy may be defined as "resentment at the success or happiness of others." Many cultures regard envy lightly. A home remodeling company in Washington, DC, ran an ad that actually appealed to this vice. It used such phrases as "living room lust" and "kitchen envy." It went on to state that you could become the envy of your neighborhood while enhancing the value of your home. The Bible views envy quite differently, calling it "rottenness to the bones" (Proverbs 14:30). It was out of envy that the religious leaders sought to kill Jesus (Matthew 27:20). And in Galatians 5:19-26, envy is listed among the life-destroying "works of the flesh." In 1 Samuel 18, we read that envy contributed to the downfall of King Saul. He had begun his rule well, but because he disobeyed God's command he was rejected as king (15:23). Instead of humbly accepting God's decision, he became consumed with envy and hatred toward David (18:8-9). From then on, Saul distanced himself from God and even sought counsel from a medium (28:7). In the end, he took his own life after a shameful defeat by the Philistines (31:4-5). Envy had destroyed him. When other people find success But you do not advance, Do you congratulate their gain Or wish you had their chance? —Sper When you turn green with envy you are ripe for trouble. 1 Samuel 18:2 Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house. KJV 1 Samuel 18:2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. NET 1 Samuel 18:2 Saul retained David on that day and did not allow him to return to his father's house. CSB 1 Samuel 18:2 Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father's house. ESV 1 Samuel 18:2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. NIV 1 Samuel 18:2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. NLT 1 Samuel 18:2 From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn't let him return home. NRS 1 Samuel 18:2 Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. NJB 1 Samuel 18:2 Saul engaged him that very day and would not let him go home to his father. NAB 1 Samuel 18:2 Saul laid claim to David that day and did not allow him to return to his father's house. YLT 1 Samuel 18:2 And Saul taketh him on that day, and hath not permitted him to turn back to the house of his father. took him: 1Sa 16:21-23 17:15 1 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries WHAT SAUL WANTS SAUL TAKES Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house - Samuel had warned the Hebrews that what the kings desired, they would take, including their sons and daughters! (1Sa 8:11-17). Of course, in the sovereignty of God, this would fit into God's plan for David to succeed King Saul. John Butler - THE PROMOTION OF DAVID 1 Samuel 18:2, 5 - from Analytical Bible Expositor - 26 volumes After killing Goliath, David was promoted into Saul’s service. 1. It was a Meritorious Promotion (1 Samuel 18:2) “Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house” (1 Samuel 18:2). Unlike many promotions in society, David deserved his promotion. He had earned the attention of Saul who, after David killed Goliath, took David immediately into his service. 2. It was a Major Promotion (1 Samuel 18:5) “Saul set him over the men of war” (1 Samuel 18:5). This was a major promotion. David was not over Abner who was the chief military officer, but he was nearly as high as Abner. David would now be over Eliab, his jealous brother. 3. It was a Manifested Promotion (1 Samuel 18:5) David’s promotion was manifested by his performance and by the acceptance of others. • He was attentive to his duty. “David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely” (1 Samuel 18:5). Four times in this chapter (1 Samuel 18:5, 14, 15, 30) it is said David behaved himself wisely. David paid more attention to the responsibilities of his position than to the honors of it. • He was accepted by the people. “He was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants” (1 Samuel 18:5). Seldom does one have this acceptance when he does well. We should do our duty well whether people applaud or criticize. David was approved by the Israelites and by Saul’s servants which would upset Saul, for he wanted the praise. James Smith - DAVID AND JONATHAN 1 Samuel 18:1–4; 2 Samuel 1:26 “All through life there are wayside inns, Where man may refresh his soul with love; Even the lowest may quench his thirst At rivulets fed by springs from above.” —LONGFELLOW. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God” (1 John 4:7). In this little portion of Scripture we have “apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Prov. 25:11). The love of Jonathan for David seems a pure unclouded reflection of that love of God which is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost. It was wonderful. I. His Love was Real. “He loved him as his own soul” (v. 1). It was no mere formal business connection. Jonathan had taken David and all his interests home to the secrets and carefulness of his own soul. The love that fails to do this is shallow and selfish. How can we say that we love Christ if His interests do not appeal as powerfully to us as our own. Paul had done this when he said, “To me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). II. His Love was Surpassing. It passed the love of women (2 Sam. 1:26). To say this suggests that it was supernatural. The highest form of human love is found in the true motherly heart. The love that excels this is that “greater love” manifested in the only begotten Son of God (1 John 4:9), and begotten in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:19). The believer’s love to Christ is more than mere natural love, for the carnal mind is enmity against God. The natural heart is an alien to the Holy One. III. His Love was Inseparable. “Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him” (v. 3) True love will always constrain to a closer bond of union; mutual affection culminates in the marriage tie. The love of Christ constrains us. What to do? Why, like Jonathan, to yield our life’s concerns into the hands of Him whom God hath exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour (Chap. 20:14–16). Hear the whisperings of Christ’s dying love in those never-to-be-forgotten words, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:24). IV. His Love was Self-Sacrificing. “Jonathan stripped himself … and gave to David” (v. 4). Love will not hide; “It doth not behave itself unseemly: it seeketh not her own” (1 Cor. 13:5). Love gives till the giving is felt as a sacrifice. It was so with the love of Christ, who for our sakes stripped Himself and became of no reputation, that we through His poverty might be made rich (2 Cor. 8:9). The love of Christ was manifested in that poor woman who, when overtaken by a snowstorm, stripped herself to save her child. In stripping ourselves for the honour and glory of the Christ of God we are proving the reality of our confidence in Him. If He is to triumph for us, let us give Him “even to our sword and our bow.” Self-aggrandisement is always inconsistent with the glory of God. V. His Love was Well Deserved. No doubt there were many personal attractions about David to draw out the full flow of Jonathan’s affections, for David “behaved himself wisely” (v. 5), and was to Jonathan the fairest and chiefest among ten thousand. But the secret of the strength of his love lay in the fact that he knew David as the Lord’s anointed and the coming king of Israel (chap. 20:15). Surely the tenderest affections of his pure soul were well spent when lavished unreservedly on the beloved of God. A greater than David is here! One who spake as never man spake, and whose behaviour has been such that neither God, man, nor devil could find fault in Him. And He says, “Lovest thou Me?” VI. His Love was Reciprocated. “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David” (v. 1). These two souls were knit together in their desires and motives, as the warp and woof of a web. The knijting together shows that the affections of David responded in full measure to the love of Jonathan, so that the vital interests of the one were intertwined with the vital interests of the other. This is something deeper than mere belief in outward conformity; it is the very essence of “the unity of the Spirit.” Jesus Christ was moved by that yearning fathomless LOVE when he prayed that “they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in them.” This deep spiritual union can only be brought about where there is the entire surrender of all on both sides for mutual advantage through the constraining power of love. This is what Christ has done for us. What response are we making to Him? “He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love” (1 John 4:8). Our Lord is abundantly willing that His life should be knit with our life. Are we equally willing that our life should be knit together with His life, and so become one in heart and purpose for the glory of God? 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. KJV 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. NET 1 Samuel 18:3 Jonathan made a covenant with David, for he loved him as much as he did his own life. CSB 1 Samuel 18:3 Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself. ESV 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. NIV 1 Samuel 18:3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. NLT 1 Samuel 18:3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. NRS 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. NJB 1 Samuel 18:3 Jonathan made a pact with David, since he loved him like his very self; NAB 1 Samuel 18:3 And Jonathan entered into a bond with David, because he loved him as himself. YLT 1 Samuel 18:3 And Jonathan maketh -- also David -- a covenant, because he loveth him as his own soul, RSV 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. NKJ 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. ASV 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. DBY 1 Samuel 18:3 And Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. GWN 1 Samuel 18:3 So Jonathan made a pledge of mutual loyalty with David because he loved him as much as he loved himself. BBE 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made an agreement together, because of Jonathan's love for David. BHT 1 Samuel 18:3 wayyikröt yühônätän wüdäwìd Bürît Bü´ahábätô ´ötô Künapšô NIRV 1 Samuel 18:3 Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him just as he loved himself. RWB 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. WEB 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. made a covenant: 1Sa 20:8-17,42 23:18 2Sa 9:1-3 21:7 1 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Genesis 15:18+ On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: JONATHAN CUTS COVENANT WITH DAVID MOTIVATED BY LOVE For full grasp of this passage, one must understand that in the ancient world, the cutting of covenant was the most solemn, binding and intimate way by which two parties could come to an agreement. Such agreements were considered to be breakable only by death. See short excursus below. Then Jonathan made (Karath = cut) a covenant (beriyth) with David because he loved him as himself (nephesh = soul) - Young's = "he loveth him as his own soul," TLB = "Jonathan swore to be his blood brother" Jonathan initiated the cutting of a Covenant with David because he loved him as himself. He loved David as his soul or as his own life. Now, thinking back on other covenants between men (Ge 21:22-34, Ge 26:26-31, Ge 31:43-55 - see Summary), it is notable that this covenant differs from most of the other covenants between men. The latter were motivated primarily by fear, but this covenant between Jonathan and David in not based on fear as but on friendship. Strong's Concordance defines Karath as 'to covenant i.e. make an alliance or bargain, orig. by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces." While this latter ritual is not specifically described, it is still possible they carried it out. We see the prototype for this pattern in Genesis 15:8-18, 17+ when Yahweh Himself passed between the cut flesh of the animals signifying that He initiated this unconditional, solemn, unbreakable covenant with Abram. See this ritual again described in Jer 34:18, 19, 20 where the men of Judah broke the covenant. The Hebrew word for himself or soul (nephesh) can have several nuances in the OT including life in general, a person, or a person's whole being. In the present verse, it would seem to signify Jonathan's person's entire being. For example when David prays "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me" (Ps 103:1+) he is blessing the LORD with his entire being. The point is that this friendship between Jonathan and David was not just a passing acquaintance (like we use "friendship" in modern culture), but one which reflected the fact that they cared for each other from the depths of their innermost beings (their very souls). Cutting covenant produced a binding relationship that took precedence over one's own blood relatives! Dale Ralph Davis comments that. "Jonathan was apparently taken with David immediately. “Jonathan loved him like his very self” (NJB). Because of this they made a covenant. Jonathan, so verse 3 indicates, took the initiative: “So Jonathan — along with David — cut a covenant because he loved him as himself.” If we press the verb (CUT COVENANT), the bond was inaugurated by severing an animal and by both parties passing between the pieces as if to say, “If I am unfaithful to my word in this covenant, may I end up in pieces as this animal.” (Borrow Looking on the heart Volume 2 - 1 Samuel 15-31)
1 Samuel 18
Wiersbe - The Hebrew word translated “covenant” has several meanings: (1) to eat with, which suggests fellowship and agreement; (2) to bind or fetter, which means commitment; and (3) to allot, which suggests sharing. When God makes a covenant, He enters into an agreement to commit Himself to give what He promises. It is purely an act of grace. (Be Obedient) ISBE says that "In essence a covenant is an agreement, but an agreement of a solemn and binding force. The early Semitic idea of a covenant was doubtless that which prevailed among the Arabs. This was primarily blood-brotherhood, in which two men became brothers by drinking each other’s blood. (Ed: Now that sounds serious to me!) (Ed: See illustration in pagan culture) A Covenant Friendship 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines a covenant as a "formal, solemn, and binding agreement" and an "agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action." A covenant turns something ordinary into something very special. It is not an act that should be taken lightly. A covenant relationship existed between Jonathan and David because Jonathan "loved him as his own soul." The word translated "loved" in the original language means "to have an affection for." This was not a sexual relationship, as some misguided people erroneously claim. Instead, it was a friendship rooted in a deep admiration for each other and sealed with a solemn agreement. According to this covenant, no matter what happened David and Jonathan would remain friends. Their relationship was a loyal commitment to look out for each other's welfare. Today, friendship is approached with a very casual attitude. Friendships are made and broken as the need arises. They are no more substantial than the fizz from a can of pop. It's no wonder that leading psychologists and therapists estimate that only 10 percent of men in the United States have any real friends. It's a shame that we struggle with issues of loneliness while all along God's Word sets forth examples of committed friends like David and Jonathan. While it's not possible to have a covenant relationship with every friend, ask God to show you a friend who could be more than a casual acquaintance. And remember, if you want to have a friend, you need to be a friend (Prov. 18:24). Establish a covenant friendship in which you commit to look out for each other's welfare. (Courtesy Back to the Bible) No person is more alone than he who is without a friend. QUESTION - What is a covenant? ANSWER - Generally speaking, a covenant is a promise between two or more parties to perform certain actions. The word can also be used as a verb as in “We covenant to work together on this project until it is finished.” A covenant is very similar to a promise. The concept of covenant is significant in the Scriptures. In fact, the word testament is really another word for covenant. The Bible is comprised of two parts, the Old Covenant and the New Covenant (Old Testament and New Testament). Covenant was a well-known concept in ancient times, and covenants could be made between two equal parties or between a king and a subject. The king would promise certain protections, and the subject would promise loyalty to the king. A covenant might be conditional or unconditional. The Old Testament is more than a history of Israel. It is really a history of the covenant in which God revealed, little by little, His character and His plans and purposes for mankind. Most Bible scholars recognize several major covenants in the Old Testament in which God promises to do something. After the flood, God made a covenant with Noah that He would never again destroy the world by a flood, and He also gave some basic principles for humanity to live by (Genesis 8:20—9:17). Although humanity soon descended into rampant disobedience once again, the promise not to destroy the earth by another flood was unconditional. God made a covenant with Abraham in which He promised, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1–3). This covenant was reiterated in Genesis 15 and Genesis 17. This was also an unconditional covenant. God made a covenant with Israel regarding their use of the Promised Land (Exodus 19—24). The land had been given to Abraham’s descendants unconditionally; however, the use of the land by any specific generation of Israelites was conditional upon their obedience. As a result, at times they lived in the land but were oppressed and not able to enjoy the full benefits of it, as seen in the book of Judges. Later, the Israelites were exiled from the land due to their disobedience and idolatry. However, even though one generation was disobedient, God promised to bring a later generation back to the land (Isaiah 11:11–12). He kept His word, as recorded in Ezra and Nehemiah. God made a covenant with David that he would have a descendant who would sit on his throne forever (2 Samuel 7). This was an unconditional covenant, although the length of reign for any specific Davidic ruler could be limited by his disobedience. Solomon’s son Rehoboam lost a large part of the kingdom due to his foolish choices. This covenant is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of David. In Jeremiah 31, God promised a New Covenant with Israel. Israel repeatedly violated the terms of all the previous covenants, but God promised this would be different because the hearts of the people would be changed so they would want to be faithful. This is fulfilled in the New Testament with the coming of Christ and the indwelling and empowering of the Holy Spirit, who gives the people of God the desire to obey Him. What was a surprise to some is that Gentiles were also included in this covenant. The concept of covenant has been lost in modern society. Promises are broken when new circumstances arise. Contracts are broken, and one party simply says, “Sue me.” Marriage is supposed to be a covenant between a man and a woman for life, but divorce is commonplace today. Regardless of how unfaithful people may be, God will never be unfaithful to His covenant promises. GotQuestions.org BRIEF EXCURSUS ON COVENANT Andrew Murray, the gifted nineteen century writer in Two Covenants speaks to the importance of covenant (speaking of God's covenant with man) writing "Blessed is the man who truly knows God as his God; who knows what the Covenant promises him; what unwavering confidence of expectation it secures, that all its [covenant's] terms will be fulfilled to him; what a claim and hold it gives him on the Covenant-keeping God Himself. To many a man, who has never thought much of the Covenant, a true and living faith in it would mean the transformation of his whole life. The full knowledge of what God wants to do for him; the assurance that it will be done by an Almighty Power; the being drawn to God Himself in personal surrender, and dependence, and waiting to have it done; all this would make the Covenant the very gate of heaven. May the Holy Spirit give us some vision of its glory. (Murray, Andrew: Two Covenants) Covenant was the most solemn, binding, intimate contract known in the Bible. The Hebrew phrase for "make a covenant" is the idiom "Karath beriyth" which more literally is translated "cut a covenant". The noun Berit/berith/beriyth (word study) is a contract or agreement, one made by passing between pieces of cut flesh. The verb Karath means to divide or cut in two or to make a covenant. Covenant was considered a binding agreement among the ancients, and so was not entered into lightly. After pieces of the sacrificial animal were laid opposite one another, the individuals who were cutting covenant would walk between the flesh. This walk represented the so-called "walk into death" indicating their commitment to die to independent living and to ever after live for their covenant partner and to fulfill the stipulations of their covenant. Furthermore, this "walk into death" was a testimony by each covenant partner that if either broke the covenant God would take their life, even as had been done to the sacrificial animal. In short, we see the gravity of entering into and then breaking covenant. Covenant signified a pledge unto death. Covenant represented a pledge cut in blood. In covenant the shedding of blood demonstrates as nothing else could the intensity and solemn nature of the commitment (cf Lev 17:11). By cutting covenant the two parties were bound for life. Thus the shedding of blood in the cutting of covenant symbolized the solemn, binding nature of this transaction. Both the Old and the New Covenants were inaugurated with blood. As Trumbull notes, the practice of cutting covenant is found throughout history with traces or remnants of covenant truth in every quarter of the globe, and in those remnants we can see that even the pagan world understood the gravity and binding nature of entering into covenant with another party. Related Resources: Covenant: As It Relates to Marriage Covenant: Why Study It? Covenant: Introduction Lesson 1 Covenant: Summary Table Lesson 2 Covenant: The Exchange of Robes Lesson 3 Covenant: The Exchange of Armor and Belts Lesson 4 Covenant: Solemn and Binding Lesson 5 Covenant: A Walk Into Death Lesson 6 Covenant: The Oneness of Covenant Covenant: Oneness Notes Lesson 7 Covenant: Withholding Nothing from God Lesson 8 Covenant: Abrahamic versus Mosaic Lesson 9 Covenant: New Covenant in the Old Testament Lesson 10 Covenant: Why the New is Better Lesson 11 Covenant: Abrahamic vs Old vs New New Covenant in the Old Testament Name change Covenant Meal Friend a covenant word (notes) Covenant memorial Commingling of blood (notes) Common life of covenant Striking of hands Mephibosheth My Friends And I Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. — 1 Samuel 18:3 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 23:15-18 John Chrysostom (347–407), archbishop of Constantinople, said this about friendship: “Such is friendship, that through it we love places and seasons; for as . . . flowers drop their sweet leaves on the ground around them, so friends impart favor even to the places where they dwell.” Jonathan and David illustrate the sweetness of a true friendship. The Bible records an intimate and immediate bond between them (1 Sam. 18:1). They kept their friendship alive by demonstrating their loyalty to each other (18:3; 20:16, 42; 23:18), as well as nurturing it by expressions of concern. Jonathan gave gifts to David (18:4) and watched out for him through many difficulties (19:1-2; 20:12-13). In 1 Samuel 23:16, we see the highest moment of their friendship. When David was a fugitive on the run from Jonathan’s father, “Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.” Friends help you find strength in God during the low points of life. Thank You, Lord, for the friends You’ve given me to love me in spite of my failures and weaknesses. Let me treat them as You treated Your friends. Bind us together in You and enable us to help one another. The glory of life is to love, not to be loved; to give, not to get; to serve, not to be served. 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt. KJV 1 Samuel 18:4 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. NET 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with the rest of his gear, including his sword, his bow, and even his belt. CSB 1 Samuel 18:4 Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt. ESV 1 Samuel 18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. NIV 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. NLT 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt. NRS 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. NJB 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan took off the cloak which he was wearing and gave it to David, and his armour too, even including his sword, his bow and his belt. NAB 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan divested himself of the mantle he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military dress, and his sword, his bow and his belt. YLT 1 Samuel 18:4 and Jonathan strippeth himself of the upper robe which is upon him, and giveth it to David, and his long robe, even unto his sword, and unto his bow, and unto his girdle. RSV 1 Samuel 18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his girdle. NKJ 1 Samuel 18:4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt. ASV 1 Samuel 18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his apparel, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. DBY 1 Samuel 18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his dress, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. GWN 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan took off the coat he had on and gave it to David along with his battle tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt. BBE 1 Samuel 18:4 And Jonathan took off the robe he had on and gave it to David, with all his military dress, even to his sword and his bow and the band round his body. BHT 1 Samuel 18:4 wayyitPaššë† yühônätän ´e|t-hammü`îl ´ášer `äläyw wa|yyiTTünëºhû lüdäwìd ûmaDDäyw wü`ad-HarBô wü`ad-qašTô wü`ad-Hágörô NIRV 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David. He also gave him his military clothes. He even gave him his sword, his bow and his belt. RWB 1 Samuel 18:4 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 belt. WEB 1 Samuel 18:4 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. stripped : Ge 41:42 Es 6:8,9 Isa 61:10 Lu 15:22 2Co 5:21 Php 2:7,8 1 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries TOKENS OF THEIR FRIENDSHIP Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt. Note that the text does not say he stripped himself to the bare skin! The word robe denotes a type of "garment" which was worn by the priesthood and by the elite and was generally worn by those of royal descent. Symbolically, when Jonathan gave David his robe David was "putting on Jonathan". In other words, Jonathan was giving his identity to David in this covenant. Observe that several of the translations interpret this relationship as friendship, which in the ancient near east was a concept closely related to covenant and generally conveyed a much closer bond than the word "friend" in our modern culture. One ancient writer described friendship as "an entire sameness and one soul; a friend is another self.’’ In our modern vernacular we would call them "soul mates" and in light of cutting covenant we might even say they were "blood brothers". Putting on the covenant partner's robe symbolized putting on the partner's identity. In so doing the two parties became as one. When one is seen, then the other was in a sense seen, because the two had become intimately, integrally identified with each other in covenant. In addition, each partner was saying to the other in essence that "I am dying to independent living and to my rights". There was a yielding or surrendering of one's rights. Each partner would swear an oath saying in essence "God, do so to me as to the slain animal we have walked between if I break our covenant!" (see Jonathan's declaration 1Sa 20:13) THOUGHT- Can you see the profound, practical implications for a man and woman entering into the immutable covenant of marriage? That is a rhetorical question. (See Covenant As It Relates to Marriage) Matthew Henry offers the apt description that "David is seen in Jonathan’s clothes that all may take notice he is Jonathan’s second self. Our Lord Jesus has thus shown His love to us, that He stripped Himself to clothe us, emptied Himself to enrich us...He clothed Himself with our rags. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary adds that "Jonathan, the son of the king, gave all the material gifts. David, the poor man’s son, gave but love and respect. One is reminded of the gift of God’s Son to poverty-stricken humanity (Borrow Wycliffe Bible Commentary) Adam
1 Samuel 18
Wiersbe - “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise he receives” (Prov. 27:21, NIV). Just as the crucible and furnace test the metal and prepare it for use, so praise tests and prepares people for what God has planned for them. How we respond to praise reveals what we’re made of and whether or not we’re ready to take on new responsibilities. If praise humbles us, then God can use us, but if praise puffs us up, we’re not yet ready for a promotion. In his attitudes, conduct, and service, David was a complete success, and Saul’s servants and the Jewish people recognized this and praised him publicly (Borrow Be successful) 1 Samuel 18:5, 14–15, 30 David behaved himself wisely. There must be some strong reason for the fourfold repetition of this phrase in so short a space. It is as though the Holy Ghost would lay very distinct stress on the Divine prudence and circumspection, which must characterize the man whose life is hid in God. Let us walk with God, abiding in Him, subjecting our thoughts and plans to His communing about all things with Him, talking over our lives with Him, before we go out to live them in the presence of our fellows. Then we too shall have this gracious wisdom, which is more moral than intellectual—the product of the grace of God rather than of human culture. Our life shall commend itself to men (1 Samuel 18:5).— David’s was good in the sight of all the people, and more wonderful still, in the sight of Saul’s servants, who might have been jealous. A life lived in God disarms jealousy and envy. He who, as a boy, did His Father’s business increased in wisdom, and in favor with God and men. Our life shall rebuke and awe our foes (1 Samuel 18:15).— Saul stood in awe of him. When traps and snares are laid for us we shall be enabled to thread our way through them all, as Jesus did when they tried to entangle Him in His talk. We shall have a wisdom which all our foes together shall not be able to gainsay or resist. Our name will be precious (1 Samuel 18:30).— People loved to dwell on the name of David; it was much set by; they noticed and were impressed with the beauty and nobility of his character. We must always view our lives, amusements, and undertakings, in the light of the result which will accrue to Him whose name it is our privilege to bear. Wise Behavior Four times in 1 Samuel 18, the writer tells us that David "behaved wisely" (vv.5,14,15,30). In fact, he behaved "more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed" (v.30). The phrase "highly esteemed" suggests an unusual respect. David was honored by all the people, but more significantly he was highly respected by those in Saul's court who were impressed by his noble character. As Christians come to know Jesus through obedience to His Word, they will begin to display qualities of character that set them apart from others, for true wisdom is to live like Christ. It is more than common sense; it is uncommon behavior. James said, "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" (3:17). This gracious way of making our way through the world can come only "from above." David's experience can be our experience. God's promise to him is also true for believers today. He said, "I will instruct you [cause you to be wise] and teach you in the way you should go" (Psalm 32:8). Be like Jesus, this my song, In the home and in the throng; Be like Jesus, all day long! I would be like Jesus. —Rowe © 1912, 1940, The Rodeheaver Co. Our character is only as strong as our behavior. 1 Samuel 18:6 It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. BGT 1 Samuel 18:6 καὶ ἐξῆλθον αἱ χορεύουσαι εἰς συνάντησιν Δαυιδ ἐκ πασῶν πόλεων Ισραηλ ἐν τυμπάνοις καὶ ἐν χαρμοσύνῃ καὶ ἐν κυμβάλοις LXE 1 Samuel 18:6 And there came out women in dances to meet David out of all the cities of Israel, with timbrels, and with rejoicing, and with cymbals. KJV 1 Samuel 18:6 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. NET 1 Samuel 18:6 When the men arrived after David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women from all the cities of Israel came out singing and dancing to meet King Saul. They were happy as they played their tambourines and three-stringed instruments. CSB 1 Samuel 18:6 As the troops were coming back, when David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments. ESV 1 Samuel 18:6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. NIV 1 Samuel 18:6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. NLT 1 Samuel 18:6 When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. NRS 1 Samuel 18:6 As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. NJB 1 Samuel 18:6 On their return, when David was coming back from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul, with tambourines, sistrums and cries of joy; NAB 1 Samuel 18:6 At the approach of Saul and David (on David's return after slaying the Philistine), women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums. YLT 1 Samuel 18:6 And it cometh to pass, in their coming in, in David's returning from smiting the Philistine, that the women come out from all the cities of Israel to sing -- also the dancers -- to meet Saul the king, with tabrets, with joy, and with three-stringed instruments; the women: Ex 15:20 Jdg 11:34 Ps 68:25 Jer 31:11-13 1 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries COMING HOME FROM THE WARS It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments - Note David and Saul are both present in this passage. Presumably Saul also went out with the army. In this verse we would say "so far, so good." John Butler - THE PRAISE FOR DAVID 1 Samuel 18:6–9 - from Analytical Bible Expositor - 26 volumes David was praised much and justly for his victory over Goliath, but Saul did not like David getting so much praise. 1. The People Giving the Praise (1 Samuel 18:6) “When David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine … the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul” (1 Samuel 18:6). It was customary in that day that after a victorious battle, women and children would often come together and meet the victorious military in singing praises in celebrating the victory of the military. We do not do it this way in our day, but the end of a war causes great celebrations as people gather in cities and towns to celebrate. 2. The Partiality in the Praise (1 Samuel 18:7) “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). The praise was partial to David and honored him more than Saul, and rightly so, for David, not Saul, defeated Goliath. In fact Saul at first discouraged David from fighting Goliath (1 Samuel 17:33) then tried to hinder him with armour unfit for him (1 Samuel 17:38, 39). 3. The Perturbation from the Praise (1 Samuel 18:8, 9) “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? And Saul eyed David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 18:8, 9). Saul reacted adversely to the praise. • It was a pathetic reaction. “Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him.” This was a pathetic reaction. The song was true, but Saul wanted the praise. He was more interested in the praise than in doing the performance. • It was a prolonged reaction. “Saul eyed David from that day and forward” (1 Samuel 18:9). Jealous Saul eyed David to do him harm. And he tried to do evil to David till the day of his death. In fact much of the remainder of the book of 1 Samuel is about Saul’s efforts to kill David. 1 Samuel 18:7 The women sang as they played, and said, "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands." BGT 1 Samuel 18:7 καὶ ἐξῆρχον αἱ γυναῖκες καὶ ἔλεγον ἐπάταξεν Σαουλ ἐν χιλιάσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ Δαυιδ ἐν μυριάσιν αὐτοῦ LXE 1 Samuel 18:7 And the women began the strain, and said, Saul has smitten his thousands, and David his ten thousands. KJV 1 Samuel 18:7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. NET 1 Samuel 18:7 The women who were playing the music sang, "Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!" CSB 1 Samuel 18:7 As they celebrated, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands. ESV 1 Samuel 18:7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands." NIV 1 Samuel 18:7 As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." NLT 1 Samuel 18:7 This was their song: "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!" NRS 1 Samuel 18:7 And the women sang to one another as they made merry, "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands." NJB 1 Samuel 18:7 and as they danced the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands. NAB 1 Samuel 18:7 The women played and sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." YLT 1 Samuel 18:7 and the women answer -- those playing, and say, 'Saul hath smitten among his thousands, And David among his myriads.' women sang as they played: Ex 15:21 Ps 24:7,8 Saul: 1Sa 21:11 29:5 1 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1Sa 21:11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?” 1Sa 29:5 “Is this not David, of whom they sing in the dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?” SAUL'S SONG NO LONGER #1 ON ISRAELI HIT PARADE! The women sang as they played, and said, "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands - This verse could result in only one result in the heart of King Saul - envy, jealousy, anger. We see God's sovereignty places David in a position to be hated by Saul and then pursued with a desire to kill. David's fugitive days were the seedbed of the psalms and his wise, godly leadership of the nation of Israel. Reformation Study Bible has an interesting note - It is a common feature of Hebrew poetry for one or more terms in the first half of a verse to be increased or intensified in the second half. For the thousand—ten thousand parallelism, see Dt. 32:30; Ps. 91:7; Ps 144:13; Mic. 6:7. Whether the women’s song praises Saul and David as equals or implies that David is better than Saul, Saul certainly takes offense to it (v. 8). Ray Pritchard - There are two words you need to keep in mind as you read this sermon. They are almost-but-not-quite identical. One is the word jealousy, the other is the word envy. If you look up both words in the dictionary, you will find definitions that are similar but not identical. Jealousy is the fear that you will lose something valuable to you; envy is the anger you feel because someone else got what you wanted. Jealousy is fear, envy is anger. When you have one, you almost always have the other. Jealousy is usually first with envy trailing close behind. The story is told of two shopkeepers who were bitter rivals. Their stores were across the street from one another, and they spent their days sitting in the doorway keeping track of who had the most customers. If one got a customer, he would smile in triumph at the other. One night an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers and said, “God has sent me to teach you a lesson. He will give you anything you ask for, but I want you to know that whatever you get, your competitor across the street will get twice as much. Would you like wealth? Ask what you will, only he will get twice as much. Do you want a long and happy life? It is yours, but he will live twice as long. You can be famous, your children can be famous, whatever you desire. But whatever you get, he will get twice as much.” The man frowned, thought for a moment, and said, “All right. My request is this: Strike me blind in one eye.” That’s jealousy turned into envy. No wonder Shakespeare called jealousy “the green-eyed monster,” no wonder Dryden called envy “the jaundice of the soul.” Taken together, they are the most corroding of all the vices, coals that come hissing hot from hell.....“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). Hundreds of years ago envy was included in the famous list of vices known as the Seven Deadly Sins.... Here are four quick facts that help bring envy into focus: It is the sin no one will confess. In my 22 years as a pastor, I have listened as people have confessed almost every sin known to mankind, including murder, adultery, theft, abortion, and all sorts of sexual deviation. But no one has ever said, “Pastor, I want to confess the sin of envy.” It’s a sin we don’t like to talk about. It is a sin with no redeeming features. There is nothing good about envy, nothing to justify its existence. If you lust, you may find some momentary pleasure. If you are a glutton, you may eat a big meal. If you are guilty of sloth, you’ll get plenty of rest. And even if you are angry, you’ll get a few moments of psychological pleasure when you blow your top. But envy brings no rewards at all. It is a self-mutilating sin. It has all the beauty of a trapped rat gnawing its foot off in a desperate attempt to escape. It is the sin of moderately successful people. While it is true that anyone can envy, this sin especially strikes those who have made it part-way up the ladder of life. You’ve climbed a few rungs up but you still have a long way to go. Envy strikes us when we realize that we’re at least as good as the people ahead of us and many times we’re clearly better than they are, so why are they still ahead of us? It is a sin that makes us believe the worst about others. Envy causes us to doubt the motives of those who are kind to us and to attack those who succeed instead of us. It is a cancer of the soul that destroys our ability to see others objectively. Here’s a simple definition. Envy is unhappiness at the success of others and pleasure at the suffering of others. When we envy, we’re sad when others are glad and glad when they are sad. The values of life are turned upside down. We may be sure we are suffering from envy when … 1) We secretly regret that our friends have succeeded where we have not. 2) We believe we would have done better if we had gotten the right breaks. 3) We use excuses to explain why someone else did better than us. 4) We temper our compliments with the word “but.” 5) We complain that others do not appreciate us as they should. 6) We walk the other way rather than congratulate a friend on her good fortune. 7) We question the motives of those who show kindness to us. 8) We secretly gloat when someone else gets caught because “they had it coming to them.” 9) When we can’t sincerely rejoice with others on their personal successes. 10) We refuse to be friends with someone who excels in our field. 11) We can’t bear to hear our friends complimented in our presence. 12) We say “I really like so and so but I want to make sure you have all the facts.” 13) We are happy to hear that some public figure was caught in sin. 14) We keep our eyes on others to make sure no one gets ahead unfairly. 15) We’re better at criticism than we are at praise. 16) We cannot be around others without complaining how hard life is. 17) We have a hard time believing our friends have more talent than we do. (Read full sermon The Green-Eyed Monster) Overcoming Envy Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands. 1 Samuel 18:7 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Samuel 18:5–9 In the film Amadeus, aging composer Antonio Salieri plays some of his music on the piano for a visiting priest. The embarrassed priest confesses he doesn’t recognize the tunes. “What about this one?” Salieri says, playing an instantly familiar melody. “I didn’t know you wrote that,” the priest says. “I didn’t,” Salieri replies. “That was Mozart!” As viewers discover, Mozart’s success had caused deep envy in Salieri—even leading him to play a part in Mozart’s death. A song lies at the heart of another envy story. After David’s victory over Goliath, the Israelites heartily sing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). The comparison doesn’t sit well with King Saul. Envious of David’s success and afraid of losing his throne (vv. 8–9), Saul begins a prolonged pursuit of David, trying to take his life. Like Salieri with music or Saul with power, we’re usually tempted to envy those with similar but greater gifts than we possess. And whether it’s picking fault with their work or belittling their success, we too can seek to damage our “rivals.” Whom are you most tempted to envy? How can you celebrate their success? Loving God, I thank You for my friends’ and colleagues’ successes. 1 Samuel 18:8 Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?" BGT 1 Samuel 18:8 καὶ πονηρὸν ἐφάνη τὸ ῥῆμα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Σαουλ περὶ τοῦ λόγου τούτου καὶ εἶπεν τῷ Δαυιδ ἔδωκαν τὰς μυριάδας καὶ ἐμοὶ ἔδωκαν τὰς χιλιάδας LXE 1 Samuel 18:8 And it seemed evil in the eyes of Saul concerning this matter, and he said, To David they have given ten thousands, and to me they have given thousands. KJV 1 Samuel 18:8 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? NET 1 Samuel 18:8 This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him and he thought, "They have attributed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have attributed only thousands. What does he lack, except the kingdom?" CSB 1 Samuel 18:8 Saul was furious and resented this song. "They credited tens of thousands to David," he complained, "but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?" ESV 1 Samuel 18:8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?" NIV 1 Samuel 18:8 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" NLT 1 Samuel 18:8 This made Saul very angry. "What's this?" he said. "They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they'll be making him their king!" NRS 1 Samuel 18:8 Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom?" NJB 1 Samuel 18:8 Saul was very angry; the incident displeased him. 'They have given David the tens of thousands,' he said, 'but me only the thousands; what more can he have, except the throne?' NAB 1 Samuel 18:8 Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought: "They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me. All that remains for him is the kingship." YLT 1 Samuel 18:8 And it is displeasing to Saul exceedingly, and this thing is evil in his eyes, and he saith, 'They have given to David myriads, and to me they have given the thousands, and more to him is only the kingdom;' saying: Es 3:5 Pr 13:10 27:4 Ec 4:4 Jas 4:5 displeased him: Nu 11:1 22:34 and what: 1Sa 13:14 15:28 16:13 20:31 1Ki 2:22 1 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Samuel 15:28+ So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you." LIGHT BEGINS TO DAWN IN SAUL! One could subtitle this passage "Poison Envy" punning on the horrible plant "Poison Ivy!" If you have ever had a "good" case of poison ivy, you know how miserable it makes you feel as the pruritus causes you to scratch until you even bleed! As bad as poison ivy makes us feel, poison envy is far worse and as Saul proves can even lead to murderous feelings! Then - When? When he heard them playing "David's song" on the Hebrew stations (women singing)! Watch what Saul's jealousy does as we progress through vv8-29. He goes from jealousy to anger (v8) to suspicion to fear (v12), and finally more fear (v29). And where did this lead? To attempted murder! Five times he attempts to murder David - spear (twice) (1Sa 18:10-11), Philistine foreskin trap (1Sa 18:12-30), spear (1Sa 19:9-10), in bed (1Sa 19:11-17), at Ramah (1Sa 19:18-24). Saul was consumed with the evil desire to get rid of David once and for all! Saul was far from God at this time and did not understand that no weapon that formed against him would prosper! (Isa 54:17) What was root that led to Saul's progressive spiritual decline? Envy. THOUGHT- Pritchard writes "When we envy, our struggle is not with the person we envy. Our real struggle is with God. When we envy, we’re saying, “Lord, you made a mistake when you gave that person so many blessings. I deserve some of what you gave him.” More than that, we’re really accusing God of unfairness. The envious man believes that in the game of life, God has rigged the system so that he can never win. Until you come to grips with God, you can never be free of envy." (Read The Green-Eyed Monster for how to be set free.) Saul became very angry (CSB = "furious"; Heb = charah) - Here Saul goes past envy and jealousy to outright anger and a lot of it ("very")! Note this verb for anger (charad) emphasizes the kindling and burning aspects of anger. What a change from 1Sa 11:6 (which uses same word charah) - "Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became very angry (charah)." This latter was righteous anger enabled by the Spirit, but in this passage it was sinful anger. for this saying displeased him - For explains the root of Saul's anger. Literally the Hebrew says that the acclamation of David over himself "was evil in his eyes," Envy is the devil’s little hammer, bending our hearts until it turns us against anyone who possesses what we want. - Today in the Word and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom - The lights were beginning to going off in Saul's mind that David might just be the "neighbor" Samuel had predicted would replace him (1Sa 15:28+). Dale Ralph Davis - “There were, therefore, two fundamental reasons for Saul ’s deep jealousy regarding David ’s success. The first was the fact that David had captivated the imagination of the Israelites throughout the land, and had risen so rapidly in popularity. The folk song was quite clearly a thorn in Saul ’s side (v. 8). The other reason for Saul’s jealousy is detected in verse 12, and that was Saul’s great fear of David. It was quite evident to Saul that David was , indeed, especially blessed of God, and at the same time he was probably cognizant of the fact that the Spirit of God had departed from him, thus leaving him without the skills and abilities necessary for successful rulership." (Borrow Looking on the heart Volume 2 - 1 Samuel 15-31 Became angry (02734) charah means to burn or be kindled with anger, and in the Hithpael, charah is used 4x (Ps 37:1, 7,8, Pr 24:19) always meaning "to worry" and describing the agitation, irritation or vexation resulting from active worry. Charah is used in reference to the anger of both man and God. Charah in 1-2 Samuel - 1Sam. 11:6; 1Sam. 15:11; 1Sam. 17:28; 1Sam. 18:8; 1Sam. 20:7; 1 Sam. 20:30; 2 Sam. 3:8; 2 Sam. 6:7; 2 Sam. 6:8; 2 Sam. 12:5; 2 Sam. 13:21; 2 Sam. 19:42; 2 Sam. 22:8; 2 Sam. 24:1 The Poison of Envy Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.—1 Peter 2:1 Read 1 Samuel 18:1–30 When I was growing up, my parents used to buy my shoes at a little shop at the end of our block. Getting a new pair of shoes was always a big deal, an event that warranted a family expedition. Maybe that’s why I remember being very upset when the new shoes were intended for my brother or sister instead of me. Envy is the devil’s little hammer, bending our hearts until it turns us against anyone who possesses what we want. Envy poisons our desires and weaponizes them. Envy is the indignation we feel toward those who have what we think should have been ours. But ultimately, it is an outrage that is directed at God Himself. This sense of outrage is fueled by a conviction that the prosperity, opportunity, or blessing that we desire has gone to the wrong person. Satan used envy to turn Saul against David after he had won the hearts of Saul’s son and the people of Israel. When Saul heard the women singing of David’s victory over Goliath (v. 7), he became angry. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” (v. 8). At that point Saul began to distance himself both emotionally and physically from David. His actions turned against him, and he sent David out to fight in the hope that the Philistines would kill him (v. 25). David’s success was a reminder to Saul that the Lord’s favor was no longer on him. Envy gave way to fear. Saul “remained [David’s] enemy the rest of his days” (v. 29). Envy not only made Saul David’s enemy but God’s as well. Recovery from envy requires that we redirect our focus and re-prioritize our desires. We don’t need to stop desiring. Our desires need a conversion. Envy cannot be tamed (ED: IT'S LIKE OUR TONGUE - Jas 3:5-7,8+); it can only be put to death by the Cross. Today’s Scripture warns about the consequences of envy and reminds us to confess hidden sin. Praise God for our freedom and forgiveness of sin, given to us as a gift by Christ’s victory on the cross. (Courtesy of Today in the Word) 1 Samuel 18:9 Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on. BGT 1 Samuel 18:9 καὶ ἦν Σαουλ ὑποβλεπόμενος τὸν Δαυιδ ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης καὶ ἐπέκεινα KJV 1 Samuel 18:9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. NET 1 Samuel 18:9 So Saul was keeping an eye on David from that day onward. CSB 1 Samuel 18:9 So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward. ESV 1 Samuel 18:9 And Saul eyed David from that day on. NIV 1 Samuel 18:9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. NLT 1 Samuel 18:9 So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. NRS 1 Samuel 18:9 So Saul eyed David from that day on. NJB 1 Samuel 18:9 And Saul watched David jealously from that day onwards. NAB 1 Samuel 18:9 (And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David. YLT 1 Samuel 18:9 and Saul is eyeing David from that day and thenceforth. looked at David with suspicion David: Ge 4:5,6 31:2 Mt 20:15 Mk 7:22 Eph 4:27 Jas 5:9 1 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAUL'S SUSPICIONS START TO SIMMER! Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on - Literally = "Saul is eyeing David" The Septuagint uses a verb hupoblepo (present tense - continually) which means to look up from under the brows at, eye suspiciously or angrily, Lat. limis oculis suspicere. What a great word picture of Saul's face and eyes continually "eyeing" David! NET = "keeping an eye", NLT = " Saul kept a jealous eye on David." NJB and CSB = "watched David jealously" Saul's heart began to sprout the evil fruit of jealousy, the "green eyed monster". From what day? What was the catalyst for this evil fruit sprouting in Saul's heart? It was clearly when David received "top billing" from the people, the very ones who were supposed to be Saul's loyal subjects (not David's)! Pritchard - This is a crucial turning point not only for Saul but also for David. Never again would he know peace until Saul is dead. In the space of a few days he has gone from unknown shepherd to national hero to hated enemy. Soon he will be hunted like an animal, soon he will leave Saul’s court never to return. Soon he will make the hills his home and the caves his refuge. Soon he will become a fugitive. The fact that David is innocent of any wrongdoing doesn’t matter to Saul. Jealousy has consumed him. Soon envy will rot his bones. That’s what happens to all of us when we begin to envy. All perspective is gone. (The Green-Eyed Monster) Wiersbe - During the ten years or so that David was a fugitive, the Lord not only thwarted Saul’s plans repeatedly, but He even used the king’s hostility to mature David and make him into a man of courage and faith. While Saul was guarding his throne, David was being prepared for his throne....Envy is a dangerous and insidious enemy, a cancer that slowly eats out our inner life and leads us to say and do terrible things. Proverbs 14:30 rightly calls it “the rottenness of the bones.” Envy is the pain we feel within when somebody achieves or receives what we think belongs to us. Envy is the sin of successful people who can’t stand to see others reach the heights they have reached and eventually replace them. By nature, we are proud and want to be recognized and applauded; and from childhood we have been taught to compete with others. Dr. Bob Cook often reminded us that everybody wears a sign that reads, “Please make me feel important.” (Borrow Be successful) Suspicion is found only here the Bible and means "to eye someone enviously," "to watch someone suspiciously." The word is used to describe King Saul's reaction when he heard some women celebrating David's triumphs more than his own in their song. O beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” -- Shakespeare in Othello G Campbell
1 Samuel 18
Wiersbe - “Faith is living without scheming,” but Saul was better at scheming than at trusting God. If Saul disobeyed God, he always had a ready excuse to get himself out of trouble, and if people challenged his leadership, he could figure out ways to eliminate them. Possessed by anger and envy, and determined to hold on to his crown, Saul decided that young David had to be killed. (Borrow Be successful) John Kitto - Snares—I Samuel 18:13–30 Saul, under the first influence of good feeling towards David, had “set him over his men of war,” by which it is understood that he made him captain of his guard, and this post he appears to have occupied at the time the attempts were made upon his life. That this attempt should twice have failed when the object was so near, and when a hand so strong and skillful aimed the stroke, must have seemed to Saul a divine interposition in favor of Jesse’s son. Such an interposition it was natural to think had some extraordinary object; and what object so likely as his designation to the kingdom? When this impression arose, all the circumstances which Saul could recollect must have tended to confirm it; and it would be no satisfaction to him to find that the object of this preference over himself was in all respects worthy of it. By whatever means his elevation was to be brought about, it was clear that it would not be attempted through any such disloyal acts or low intrigues as might give the king an advantage over him, and enable him to effect his destruction with a show of public justice; and as yet Saul’s mind was not so steeled in wrong-doing, or so indifferent to public opinion, as openly to destroy without apparent cause, and by his mere arbitrary act, a man who was daily growing into higher favor with the nation, which owed to him such essential benefits. Alarmed to see the progress David was making in the affections of the notable persons at court, and that even his son Jonathan had become entirely subject to the fascination by which the son of Jesse gathered to him the hearts of men like summer fruits, he deemed it wise to remove him from this sphere of influence by sending him into a sort of honorable exile. He was entrusted with the command of a thousand men, and sent upon the dangerous service of guarding the frontier, in the hope that his daring spirit would lead him into such hazardous enterprises as would soon accomplish his destruction by the sword of the Philistines. But this only afforded David the better opportunities of showing that he possessed not only the qualities of a champion, but the talents, the sagacity, and prudence of a military leader, while he was thus also enabled to gather that experience in war which availed him much in later years. Still further dismayed at the rapid growth of David’s popularity with the people, Saul next thought of making him a prop to his family by uniting him to his eldest daughter Merab. The hand of the king’s daughter had been promised beforehand to the conqueror of Goliath, but Saul had conveniently forgotten this promises and David had been too discreet to press for its fulfillment. Now the king proposed it as a new matter, and caused it to be intimated to David that such an alliance was not beyond his hopes, in case he proved himself worthy by renewed exertions against the enemies of his country. The manner in which he received this intimation is well worthy of attention. He did not decline the honor proposed,—both prudence and respect forbade that; but he was careful to make it appear that not only did he not claim or accept it as a matter of right, but disavowed all pretences to it on the score of merit. Such greatness as David possessed is but little conscious of its own deservings; and we have reason to suppose that David spoke with no less sincerity than prudence when he said, “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?” By what increased exertions David showed his worthiness of this honor, and by what escapes from the perils into which his daring spirit threw him, he defeated the king’s secondary, no longer primary, object of effecting his destruction, we do not learn; but we know that when the time for the fulfillment of the promise arrived, Saul shamefully violated his word, and bestowed his daughter upon another man. This harsh indignity and disappointment must have been deeply felt by David. Many men would have been exasperated by it into some act of outrage or some indiscreet expressions. Perhaps the act was intended to produce this effect, that advantage might be taken of David’s indiscretion to effect his ruin. But from this snare he was delivered. It was well that it thus happened, and that his submission under injuries is so much more apparent than his resentments, as to have caused it to be questioned whether he might not well have manifested a little more of what is very improperly called “proper spirit.” But it has been acutely remarked by an old writer, that retired students are not always the best judges of what best becomes a truly heroic spirit. We are glad that David’s conduct took this direction, for had it been otherwise—had he, even under strong temptation, swerved from his loyalty to the right hand or to the left, much would have been made of it to the discredit of his rectitude in these latter days, when the whole of his conduct has been so searchingly and unsparingly investigated. Some time after this—and it is a loss to us that the intervals of time are not distinctly marked—it came to the knowledge of Saul that his daughter Michal cherished a tender regard for David. It might have displeased him to hear that the heart of another of his children had gone over to one whom he had by this time learned to hate and to dread. But it happened to please him; as he hoped to be able to use her as an instrument for his destruction. We all know that in the East, the husband is expected in some sort to purchase his bride, by a payment to her father. One who cannot pay this in money, may do it by his services, as Jacob did, or by some exploit fixed by the father, as was done by Othniel. David had a clear claim to one of Saul’s daughters; but this, as a matter of right, he did not urge, and his family was not in such circumstances as to afford such “gift and dowry,” as a king had a right to expect when he gave a daughter. To meet this difficulty, the king was graciously content to accept some great exploit against the public enemy, as a sufficient equivalent for his daughter’s hand. Thus understood, that which Saul required was not, as the difference of manners has led many to take it, a gratuitous task, the real object of which might have been even at the first view very obvious; but it was in appearance a generous and considerate mode of enabling the son of Jesse to contract this match on somewhat equal terms, by the acceptance of a service that he could render; in lieu of payments beyond his power. For Saul to give his daughter without any consideration, would have been a slur upon her; and to accept her on such terms would have been, according to eastern notions, dishonorable in David. It was, therefore, not without the appearance of generosity on the part of the king, that he offered to accept a public service in lieu of a private benefit; and it was right that he should make that service bear some proportion in hazard and difficulty to the value he act upon his daughter. This, as we take it, was the aspect in which Saul intended the transaction to appear, and in which it probably did appear in the eyes of all, but the few who were prepared to see through it the deeper design to compass the ruin of Jesse’s son. Whether David himself was of the number is not clear—probably not, if we may judge from the alacrity with which he undertook the proposed enterprise; and if we consider that, to his heroic spirit, there were few achievements which would seem difficult or dangerous. This enterprise was, that he should, probably within a given time, destroy with his own hand a hundred of the Philistines, and bring to the king such proofs of their deaths, as might assure him that they were Philistines and no others who had been slain. This demand, so much in unison with the spirit of the age, and of which we have a subsisting example in the scalps which the North American Indians take from their slaughtered enemies as trophies of their valor—was undertaken by David, and when the time expired, he appeared before the king with not only an hundred, but with two hundred, such proofs of his prowess as the king had required. This was another great exploit—far more arduous, although less renowned, than the overthrow of Goliath. It must, however, have attracted great attention at the time, and have conduced in no small degree to the public estimation in which David was held. Thus, whatever the as yet concealed aversion of Saul devised for his destruction, led only to his greater honor, and materially advanced the results which the king desired to avert. So shall it be with every one who blindly and foolishly endeavors to frustrate the counsels of God. 1 Samuel 18:14 David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him. BGT 1 Samuel 18:14 καὶ ἦν Δαυιδ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ συνίων καὶ κύριος μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ LXE 1 Samuel 18:14 And David was prudent in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. KJV 1 Samuel 18:14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. NET 1 Samuel 18:14 Now David achieved success in all he did, for the LORD was with him. CSB 1 Samuel 18:14 and continued to be successful in all his activities because the LORD was with him. ESV 1 Samuel 18:14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. NIV 1 Samuel 18:14 In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. NLT 1 Samuel 18:14 David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the LORD was with him. NRS 1 Samuel 18:14 David had success in all his undertakings; for the LORD was with him. NJB 1 Samuel 18:14 In all his expeditions, David was successful and Yahweh was with him. NAB 1 Samuel 18:14 and prospered in all his enterprises, for the LORD was with him. YLT 1 Samuel 18:14 And David is in all his ways acting wisely, and Jehovah is with him, prospering, 1Sa 18:5 the Lord: 1Sa 10:7 1Sa 16:18 Ge 39:2,3,23 Jos 6:27 Mt 1:23 28:20 Ac 18:10 1 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Related Passages: Following are passages where God is with someone Genesis 21:22 Now it came about at that time that Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do; Genesis 26:24 The LORD appeared to him (ISAAC) the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you, and multiply your descendants, For the sake of My servant Abraham.” Genesis 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Genesis 39:21-23 But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. 22 The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. 23 The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper. Genesis 48:21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers. Exodus 3:12 And He said, “Certainly I will be with you (MOSES), and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.” Deuteronomy 2:7 “For the LORD your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing.”’ Deuteronomy 20:4 for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’ Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” Joshua 1:5 “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Judges 2:18 When the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them. Judges 6:12 The Angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior.” 1 Samuel 3:19 Thus Samuel grew and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fail. 1 Samuel 10:7 “It shall be when these signs come to you, do for yourself what the occasion requires, for God is with you. 1 Samuel 16:18 Then one of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.” Isaiah 41:10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Amos 5:14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said! Zechariah 8:23 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’” YAHWEH WAS WITH DAVID AND PROSPERED HIM David was prospering (sakal; Lxx - suniemi) in all his ways for the LORD was with him - This verse is the secret for an abundant life in Christ, for such is only possible when the LORD is with us. THOUGHT - One might say "Well, sure God was with David, because he was destined to be king." There may be something to that, but the truth is clearly discerned by looking at several other uses of "prosper" (sakal) in the OT. You will see that what was true in David's life could also be a reality in your life! See note below.