When Backbiting Backfires
Notes
Transcript
The fall of Goliath sends earthquake aftershocks throughout the Promised Land, and the place that the tremors are felt most is the castle of the king.
Chapter 18 lays out a contrast in responses to David. On one hand, Jonathan, son of Saul and heir to the throne. The other is Saul himself, current king who, though he’s been rejected by God, has not yet been removed by God from his throne.
As we study their responses, I believe we will not only glimpse a bit of our own sinful heart, but it will also instruct us in our response to Christ Himself.
Join me as we read from 1 Sam.18 before we pray.
Jonathan’s Generosity To David.
Jonathan’s Generosity To David.
Jonathan’s deep love for David comes to the forefront. I don’t think this should really surprise us. Think about what we know so far…David has been a help to Jon’s father Saul, often comforting him because he is such a skilled musician. So, points right off the bat.
Second, Jonathan and David appear to be cut from the same cloth. Remember just a few chapters back…it’s been a minute since we studied it, but Jonathan was a rather accomplished warrior. David? Just the same. As a matter of fact, the song that is sung in this very chapter, the one that truly ignites the flame of Saul’s hatred of David, celebrates his accomplishments as a man of war.
Finally, the strongest thread that knits their hearts together is the Lord our God. Both men have displayed tremendous faith in YHWH God, and I believe this is the bond that truly melds them together. There is a fellowship of worship that binds people together, a chord of three strands, if you will…you, me, and the Spirit makes three…and this is something that speaks volumes to the nature of the work of the God.
Out of this genuine love for David, we see a remarkable move by Jonathan — 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.” This is no small thing that Jonathan does. You see, the clothes say a lot about a man. His robe would have been something that signified his place in the family. Jesus uses this truth when he talks about the good father placing his robe on the prodigal son when he returns. And Jonathan? He gives David everything — robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt. He’s renouncing his claim to the throne!
I mean, if you’re the prince, you don’t surrender your crown to another — you eliminate them!
I think we get another glimpse into Jonathan’s faith. Truly, he may be one of the best guys in the entire OT, and it’s fascinating that he’s still only a supporting character. How much more does this underscore the fact that the story isn’t about us. I mean, what is Jonathan’s fault? That he’s too loyal to his father and dies by his side on Mt. Gilboa (1 Sam.31)? Here, he surrenders what many would’ve considered naturally his right and gives it to David instead. The story isn’t about us! And, what enables us to be the lesser…to fade into the background…to humbly surrender what we consider our own personal rights? Is it not the recognition that there is One greater than us? Is it not the confession that there is One whose sandals we are not worthy to even untie? Is it not the confession that the true King must increase while we all decrease?
Jonathan’s generosity spawns from a deep faith that is willing to embrace this truth: it’s not about me.
Saul’s Spite Toward David.
Saul’s Spite Toward David.
David serves Saul faithfully, and wherever David is sent, he’s successful (vs.5). Returning from a particularly successful battle, “the women came out of all the cities of Israel…to meet King Saul…with songs of joy” (v.6). They’ve apparently written a new song to sing:
“Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
Now, we read this, and we can kinda see why Saul was offended, but the it wasn’t meant to be offensive. It’s not uncommon for the Scripture and Hebrew poetry to use “thousands” and “ten thousands” as parallels. The song truly is meant to be a celebration of victory. But, Saul takes offense when there should be none.
You know, how often do we do that? We take offense either because of a word that’s taken in a wrong way (such as Saul here) or because other people get in our earholes about can you believe so-and-so said this? It’s dangerous. It’s one of the pitfalls of communicating only through text, not through speaking face to face. You can’t read body language and inflection over a text message. But, let me not stray too far off track.
Saul takes offense. And here, we see David himself, much like his great Descendant, becomes a line in the sand. For Jonathan, David was a comrade, a brother, a friend through thick and thin. For Saul, David drew murderous envy. Could there be more drastic reactions?!
Jonathan responded to David in humble respect and love. Saul couldn’t see beyond his own pride.
Ahh…there it is, the downfall of many — pride. Present in the garden when Adam and Eve saw that the fruit was a delight to the eyes and profitable to make them wise, they took and ate. And it’s present in us as well. Pride — the self-boasting arrogance that puffs out it’s chest and parades around for all to see. And here’s the thing: how can we who have been humbled by the greatest gift of grace ever operate in some manner that over-inflates our own worth? John Chrysostom, the Golden Tongued church father, said:
“Nothing is so foreign to a Christian as arrogance.”
What shines the spotlight on Saul’s pride ever further is the fact that David had only ever been a faithful servant to Saul. Notice what it says in 1 Samuel 18:10 “The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day.”
So his pride ultimately voices itself in a violent attempt on David’s life, hurling his spear at David, leading to David having to evade Saul twice. Finally, notice what the text says in 1 Samuel 18:12 “Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.”
Instead of rejoicing because the Lord had provided someone like David, Saul fears him. Honestly, is it completely unlike the pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus day? They felt threatened by this new rabbi, couldn’t accept His teaching, and ultimately led the charge in seeing Him put to death.
Let us be fully aware of the dangers of pride. It is no trivial thing. Augustine said, “Pride made angels into devils.” Chrysostom said, “Pride is the mother of hell.” Gregory said, “Pride, when it has filled a man’s heart, becomes a mother that gives birth to all sins.” And finally, Basil the Great instructs the early church, “Pride is the beginning of all sin, but the beginning of pride is to forsake the Lord.”
What is the answer to pride? It’s not humility. It’s the cross. Consider the words of Paul when writing to the Philippian church concerning this very thing — when encouraging the church toward humility, calling them to set aside selfish ambition and conceit, paying attention to the needs of others over and above their own, he pointed them to the mind of Christ. Jesus had every right and privilege, being God, but didn’t cling tightly to it. Instead, in a beautiful act of others-focus, he humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death on the cross. Out of His humility, the Father has exalted Him.
Further, when we look to the cross, we see grace in all of its beauty. The sinner, lost in sin and separated from God, owes an insurmountable debt to the Creator of the universe. Completely unable to pay this debt, which requires our very lives…death as punishment…Jesus does the unimaginable. He dies in our place. Every lash laid on His back was actually ours to bear. Every insult hurled His way was an insult due to us. The crown of thorns beat down on His head was ours to bear, each of us the chief…kings and queens of sinners. The bruises on His face, the spitting curses, the cross He carried up Calvary’s hill…it was all ours.
We couldn’t bear it.
But He did.
And now He calls, “Will you receive this gift of salvation, freely purchased by my blood, secured by my resurrection?” That’s the cure to pride, to look upon Him who is God, who became like us, who died in our place, and offers us His free grace.
Have you looked upon the Savior? Will you continue to daily run to the cross and remind yourself in humbleness that you’ve been given a gift you could never earn?
Saul’s Scheming Against David.
Saul’s Scheming Against David.
One thing we’re not sure of is how much David was privy to Saul’s intentions. Did David know Saul was a madman? Dangerous? Without a doubt. Remember, that’s why he was there, to sooth the suffering king. But, David didn’t leave Saul. Saul sent him away. Saul was dangerous, but David, at least at this point, may be unaware that Saul is malicious. So, when it comes to the matter of Merab and Michal, we see God’s providence despite Saul’s intent.
What does Saul want? Well, his scheme is to give his oldest daughter to David in marriage, and his requirement in return is there in verse 17:
“…Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord’s battles.”
Of course, we know the rest of the story. This offer isn’t because Saul wants to welcome David into the royal family. Instead, the price of Merab’s hand will be David’s service against the Philistines. And, his plan is clear: I might not be able to take him out, but I bet the Philistines can. Notice what verse 17 goes on to say:
…Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
But, David responds in humility. Who am I to marry into the king’s family? David’s “thanks, but no thanks,” I’ll admit, it’s a little strange. On face value, given what happens next, makes you say, “Why one but not the other?” You see, Merab was a no-go, but when Michal is brought up, she “loved David” (v.20). Saul’s plan is still the same (v.21), but this time, David is like…okay, but I’m poor and can’t pay the bride price (v.23). The negotiation gets settled, 100 foreskins from the Philistines, and now:
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law.
We could say, “Well, the heart wants what the heart wants!” Or, we could say that God’s providence was at work despite Saul’s sadistic and slaughterous schemes. I lean to the latter, even if Michal is who David desired, and especially in light of what we know about David’s story. And, the rest of the narrative seems to bear this out. First, remember why David was successful in the first place.
Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.
Because of this, David was successful (v.14), and that success was rather evident when he takes Saul’s bride price — 100 Philistine foreskins — and doubles it, bringing 200 instead.
The effort it takes to not only kill 200 men, but then also…you know…secure all 200…foreskins, I don’t think that’s accomplished by skill alone. It’s proof of what the passage has already told us — YHWH was with David.
I have two thoughts on this. The first is this — YHWH’s protection of David despite Saul’s schemes is quite clear. I don’t think it is illogical to make the slight jump from
“God protected David even when he was unaware of all the danger he was facing” to
“God protects his servants even when we are unaware.”
I don’t think that’s illogical at all. And, I think it’s profitable for us to give pause and think how often the Lord might be protecting us even when we are completely oblivious to the matter.
That’s my first thought, but my second is that David doesn’t stay unaware forever. Saul’s schemes eventually surface, but what the enemy intends for evil, God intends for good. It’s interesting that David is anointed king, and then he gets sent on a 15 year mission of suffering in preparation for receiving the crown. It’s not unlike Jesus being baptized by JTB, hearing the words of the Father, “Well done,” and then promptly being sent into the wilderness to fast and suffer temptation from the enemy’s hand. It’s not unlike the fact that Jesus encourages His followers in His farewell address:
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
In many regards:
We’re saved to suffer in order to be sanctified.
But know this — there is not a moment of our suffering that is unnoticed, there’s not an ounce of our pain that is wasted. God gloriously uses every…single…bit…for His glory and our good, even if…
no…
because…
it takes a journey of faith to get to that point. For David, 15 years. For us? Who knows but God, but again I remind you, what the enemy intends for evil, the Lord will use it for our good, so that with conviction we declare, “‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus” and “It is well with my soul.”
When we stand at the end of 1 Samuel 18, we’re forced to choose whose response we will imitate. Jonathan shows us the way of faith — surrendering what could have been his, laying down his rights, and embracing God’s plan even when it meant stepping aside. Saul shows us the way of pride — clinging tightly to control, feeding fear, and fighting God’s purposes to the bitter end. And here’s the truth: every one of us is standing in the same place. Christ, the greater David, stands before us, and our hearts either bow in surrender like Jonathan or rage in resistance like Saul. The call is clear — run to the cross, surrender your crown, lay down your pride, and trust that what God is doing in you — even through suffering — is for your eternal good and His eternal glory.
