Everyone Likes Him Better Than Me
1 Samuel: The Promise of the True King • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Before we get going with this weeks passage I am going to back up to the conclusion of last weeks.
55 When Saul had seen David going out to confront the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army, “Whose son is this youth, Abner?” “Your Majesty, as surely as you live, I don’t know,” Abner replied. 56 The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is!” 57 When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. 58 Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” “The son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David answered.
The question was asked, “Why did Saul seem like he didn’t know anything about David after David had been in his presence for a time and he had just dealt with him regarding Goliath. There are 2 potential reasons…
The first is what I mentioned last week - Saul was nuts. Actually, it has more to do with the loss of the Lord’s Spirit being with Saul leaving him intellectually incompetent. In 2 Samuel 14:20 David is said to have “wisdom like the angel of God, knowing everything on earth.” In other words the Holy Spirit gives the king wisdom…
20 Joab your servant has done this to address the issue indirectly, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, knowing everything on earth.”
The second reason is to verify the reports David heard about Saul’s offer to provide tax exemption for the family of the one who killed Goliath. Saul possibly asked for David’s father’s name so he could properly formulate an edict for Jesse’s family and to learn more about the family background of the one who had earned the right to become the king’s son-in-law.
1 When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship, and loved him as much as he loved himself. 2 Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself. 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. 5 David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the fighting men, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well.
At the close of chapter 16, David was brought in to sooth the king by playing music. As part of that task David was promoted to armor bearer which kept him in constant contact with the king.
In chapter 17, David was allowed to go back and forth from Saul to Bethlehem to help on the family farm.
At the end of chapter 17 David was summoned to come before Saul and David was still carrying the head of Goliath.
We pick up right at the point where chapter 17 ends…
Here we see Jonathan and David become very good friends - some have suggested that this relationship is more than friendly to try and lend validity to same-sex relationships - that would be wrong.
This thought comes from the KJV which says Jonathan’s soul was tied to David’s - some have latched onto the idea of them being soul-mates. The idea of soul-mates it not biblical but comes from mythology where it is believed that Zeus split humans in half out of fear and jealousy - thus when you find your soulmate you feel “complete” or that you have found the one perfectly suited to each other in temperament, completely understand and love each other unconditionally.
The best way to think about this is the relationship soldiers feel - there is something about the military mindset where you develop a strong bond of loyalty and deep friendship with those who have endured the same as you.
Here both Jonathan and David have initiated faith-motivated attacks against the militarily superior Philistines - both resulting in great victories for Israel.
I would also mention that David was full of the Holy Spirit and like many who God poured out His Spirit on, David found favor or as the author says it - he was loved by others.
Jonathan makes a covenant with David - at this point we are not clear on the terms but Jonathan seals the deal by giving David his robs, military tunic, sword, bow and belt. Each of these items would symbolize position and authority.
By giving them to David, Jonathan is declaring his loyalty to David and his yielding of authority to David - the symbolism is that these items were originally reserved for the heir to Saul’s throne… which is still true.
9 Therefore, observe the words of this covenant and follow them, so that you will succeed in everything you do.
David, as a man under the control and direction of the Lord’s Spirit was confirmed and rewarded by success in all he did. If you want to be successful the listen to God and follow what He tells you to do.
Much like Joseph who was rewarded for his faithfulness to the Lord, David was given position, authority and responsibility - not only did Saul see it but all the people approved.
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. 7 As they danced, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands. 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?” 9 So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward.
The battle was over and the Israelites were victorious. Remember, the soldier had been out for the battle at least 40 days and at a pivotal time of year for agriculture.
Grateful mothers, wives and daughters came out and met the army with expressions of appreciation.
10 The next day an evil spirit sent from God came powerfully on Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual, but Saul was holding a spear, 11 and he threw it, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David got away from him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.
13 Therefore, Saul sent David away from him and made him commander over a thousand men. David led the troops 14 and continued to be successful in all his activities because the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was leading their troops. 17 Saul told David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I’ll give her to you as a wife if you will be a warrior for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I don’t need to raise a hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 Then David responded, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” 19 When it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when it was reported to Saul, it pleased him. 21 “I’ll give her to him,” Saul thought. “She’ll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You can now be my son-in-law.” 22 Saul then ordered his servants, “Speak to David in private and tell him, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Therefore, you should become the king’s son-in-law.’ ” 23 Saul’s servants reported these words directly to David, but he replied, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor commoner.” 24 The servants reported back to Saul, “These are the words David spoke.” 25 Then Saul replied, “Say this to David: ‘The king desires no other bride-price except a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’ ” Actually, Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.
26 When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, 27 David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as full payment to the king to become his son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David as his wife. 28 Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, 29 and he became even more afraid of David. As a result, Saul was David’s enemy from then on. 30 Every time the Philistine commanders came out to fight, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers. So his name became well known.
