Love & Jealousy

In our family, I am the oldest child. Being 5 years older than my baby sister, when I was in college she was still in High School. Since we had an above ground swimming pool, our house seemed to be the one where our friends wanted to hang out. I remember vividly that my baby sister had some friends that my dad did not care for. Carlen saw something in them that Dad could not see, and Dad saw something in a few of these boys that Carlen could not see. Two people in the family had very different opinions regarding the same person.

There were also a couple of girls that I dated that mom didn’t care for. Again, mom saw something that I missed (btw, mom was right) but I was blinded to the flaws she noticed.

Today’s text shows one young man who is perceived very differently by various people within the same family. One becomes best friend, One becomes wife, but Dad despises this man. Because young David is everything that Saul is not.

Transition: Let’s start by looking at Saul’s son Jonathan and...

David’s Covenant Friendship (18:1-4)

Jonathan admired David’s character & skill

As soon as (v.1) connects this story with the previous chapter.

Jonathan had seen Saul try to turn David into “mini-saul” and David had the integrity to tell the king, “Just let me be me and let us both trust God to bring about what is right.” David prevailed over Goliath, the Israelites prevailed over the Philistines and Jonathan saw something in David that compelled a trusting partnership.

I will never cease to be amazed at how people can twist Scripture to make it say something absolutely opposite in order to promote their ungodly agenda. This week I saw an online clip of man pretending to be a woman who claimed that the Bible supports the idea that Eve was the first trans woman. His whole argument was that since Eve was taken from Adam’s rib then she would have had his male DNA. Ignoring all the times that the Bible explicitly says God made male and female and that Eve conceived and bore Cain. These same type of Scripture Twisters are the ones who try to make these verses imply a same sex romantic attraction between David and Jonathan.

3. I do not see ANYTHING morally questionable in these verses! The removal of princely outer clothes was a sign that Jonathan believed David had earned the right to be the next king and he would submit his own right to the throne to David’s superior qualifications.

Jonathan was so attuned to David that he was willing to surrender his own ambitions and dreams for God’s purpose. (v.4)

As the story unfolds in chapters ahead we will find repeated evidence of Jonathan’s consistent friendship with David, even in ways that most consider to be a betrayal of his own father.

Application

1. Do NOT allow the world’s twisted view of sexuality keep you from having close, same-gender friends.

2. Women need girlfriends for support, Men benefit from having close male friends who are given permission to ask about more than sports and weather.

Jesus did not have the same relationship with all 12 of his disciples. There were times (the mount of Transfiguration) when Peter, James and John were allowed into Jesus’s innermost thoughts. I can’t be best friends with all of you (But if any of you get season tickets to Arrowhead you may move toward the top of the list) Just as Jesus told the disciples it was to their advantage for Him to go away, any distance between you and me is because I wish that EVERY person hearing this sermon would pursue 3 relationship. You need a mentor: 1 Cor 11:1 Paul says “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” We need godly examples. You need an encourager: Paul would never had the opportunity to become who he became without Barnabas who came alongside as his encourager and advocate. You need an apprentice. 3 John 4 speaks of my children are walking in the truth. I told our membership class yesterday that I have 2 kinds of children; biological children and spiritual children. All that you have come to believe needs to be passed on!

Transition: If Jonathan built a relationship based upon David’s character, the next verses describe the impact of David’s accomplishments.

David’s Community Fame (18:5-7, 16, 30)

David’s public reputation was based upon his success (v.5, 14, & 15)

1. No matter how many times Saul tried to send David on suicide missions or set him up for failure, the community saw his success.

We are in political campaigns in which candidates at all levels are trying to convince us of what they will do. They are trying to earn votes based upon promises. David earned fame by performance!

2. Both Saul’s people and David’s people saw in David the results that they could support.

3. If the song of the women only has 1 verse, Saul may have used it as a campaign slogan, “Saul has struck down his thousands”. But the 2nd line irritated Saul like a stone in your loafer.

Saul’s view of David was altered by what other people thought. (v.8)

Saul’s jealousy leads to a form of derangement.

Saul seems to realize he can’t beat David (even at close range when David is not watching, Saul can’t hurt him), so he tries to marginalize him. David was promoted into what would have been a comfortable retirement for most. But David isn’t like most. Remember, he charged the bear and the lion even after they had left with a sheep from his flock.

V.14 says that David is still looking to take on injustice and fix things that are wrong.

Transition: Jonathan loves David, all Israel (North) and Judah (south) loved David, but Saul just can’t leave it alone.

Saul’s Corrupting Fright (18:8-30)

Military (v.13)

Saul isolates David with one unit of soldiers. These 1,000 men would have been outnumbered severely by any of Israel’s enemies whom David would encounter.

Saul tries to use danger to rid himself of David.

When danger backfires, Saul tries to use a daughter.

Merah (v.17)

Marriages in ancient times were interesting arrangements when clan loyalty was more important than personal desires Some marriages were arranged for utility – the marriage would serve a purpose. We see this in Ruth 4:12 where Ruth is widowed and she appeals to Boaz to marry her so that her first husband’s property would stay in the family. Boaz desires the relationship but knows he is second in line to preserve Ruth’s inheritance. Gen 38 also hints toward this where a brother of a deceased man had obligation to promote his dead brother’s heritage through the widow. It was also common practice for one king to give his daughter in marriage to another king which formed a type of implied peace treaty Judges 14:3 suggests that Samson wanted his father to arrange a wedding with a Philistine based upon his lust or passion, even though she was not of God’s people. The end of today’s chapter will tell of a marriage rooted in love that was favorable to both partners, not their parents’ schemes..

Before David can marry the daughter who loves him, Saul tries to arrange one of these “utility” marriages to his older daughter. This has shades of the Laban story when Jacob wants Rachel but is tricked into marrying Leah first. Gen 29:17 says “Leah was week-eyed, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.” Weak-eyed was a euphemism for heavy in the eyes. It can mean either that Leah didn’t see so good, or that she didn’t look so good. With the contrast in the 2nd half of the verse, I believe it was Leah’s appearance that posed a problem. Laban knew his only chance to marry off the heavy-eyed daughter, was if he reserved the best for later.

Saul clearly sees his oldest daughter as a bargaining tool to be used rather than a treasure to be protected. We don’t absolutely know why the Philistines would kill David over being married to Merah, but in Saul’s Corrupt mind he though it just might work for him.

David humbly says he is not worthy to be a King’s son (although he has already been anointed to one day be king himself).

Saul finds another “use” for his daughter in relation to the people of Meholah. Which leaves Saul still trying to handle David in another way.

5. A side note to David, but another lesson from Saul’s priorities: weak people value things and use others, strong people value others and use things. If you’ve ever had a boss who was one of these, you know what I’m talking about.

Michal (מִיכַ֥ל mee-khal) (v.27b-28)

In v.21 Saul again tries to leverage the Philistine military strength against David. I don’t know why Saul keeps looking to the Philistines when David already proved God working through him could defeat the most elite Philistine.

Saul tries to leverage David’s humility against him. Saul reasons, “When I offered you Merah, you said you don’t deserve a King’s daughter, BUT if you bring me an elaborate gift you can buy your way into the royal family.

Saul sets the price at 100 body parts that will be unable to harvest apart from death. Wounding these soldiers would not be enough. Most (all?) Philistines would defend that body part to the death.

3. David hears the price, succeeds at twice the rate Saul set and Saul does the only honorable thing he can and keeps the contract.

Conclusion:

Not only does Saul lose his dynasty, His own son is choosing friendship with David over his own right to the throne. Not only does Saul lose his Daughter to David, v.28 reveals that Saul has to admit both 1) God is with him, and 2) my daughter loves him.

My siblings and I occasionally had different opinions than my parents about our friends, but my parents never became violent like Saul did toward David.

No matter what Saul tried to throw against David, God’s protection proved to be enough. No matter what challenges or evil you face, God’s protection can prove to be enough!

Evil schemes are no match for God’s shelter!

When you feel threatened by those who wish to harm you, when you feel threatened by the temptations of the Evil one, remember to run to and hide in the Rock of God’s shelter.