I Samuel Chapter 18
Please read: I Samuel 18 –
David and Jonathan, the son of Saul the king, had something in common; they both had great faith in God. Jonathan’s faith had been expressed back in chapter 14 when he led an attack against the Philistines declaring that if it were God’s will, they would have victory. David’s faith had been spoken before Saul and possibly Jonathan, when he told of how God had helped him kill wild animals while protecting his father’s sheep. Jonathan quite possibly watched with the rest of the king’s men as David stepped out in faith to fight Goliath. And he most likely heard David give credit to God as he reported back to Saul with the head of the giant held in his hand. When people share like faith in God, is inevitable that they will care about each other. Their hearts were knit together; they became best of friends.
Saul honored David’s victory over Goliath by making him a permanent servant of the king and the head of his armies. This decision became a decision that Saul later regretted because David with all his victories were celebrated by the people when Saul wanted the people to praise his name. The king was not like his son Jonathan. Jonathan truly cared about David, but Saul wanted what was best for Saul.
Let's Reflect
1. Jonathan cared about David and his safety. What did he give to David?
2. What was it that set off a spirit of jealousy in Saul against David?
3. In Saul’s rage of jealousy, he shouted something out loud about David that as he thought about the words that had just come out of his mouth, it caused him to suspect something about David. What did Saul begin to suspect about David? See verse 8.
4. Verse 9 tells us that from that day forward Saul began to be suspicious of everything David did and spoke. He had been told by Samuel that the kingdom would be stripped away from him. What words in verse 9 tell us that Saul became suspicious of David?
5. Verse 10 tells us that a harmful spirit rushed upon Saul by God. God allowed an evil spirit to come upon Saul. This may have been demon oppression or possibly even possession. What we do know is that Saul was a different man now. He had turned his back on God and in doing so he was vulnerable to evilness. His whole demeanor changed. What did he attempt to do to David, that was proof of his madness?
6. Saul sent David off to war hoping he would die in battle, but what were the results of that decision?
7. Saul also did not keep his promise about awarding him his oldest daughter in marriage. And when he learned that his younger daughter was in love with David, he thought her love might be just the thing that would distract David and he might not be so successful. What did Saul have his servants tell David regarding his younger daughter?
8. David knew he could not pay any type of dowery to the king to have the hand of Michal, but Saul had another idea besides money. What did he require of David as a dowery payment for his daughter?
9. David was successful against the Philistines to the dismay of Saul and he became his son-in-law. According to verses 28 and 29 how did Saul feel about David?
10. Saul had put together a great army in the past few years, but it was David who would become known for what?
