1 Samuel 18:10-16

1 Samuel 18:10–16 NKJV

10 And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. 11 And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice. 12 Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. 15 Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

God has put relief right in front of us if we will just submit to the rightful king (10-11a).

1 Samuel 18:10–11 NKJV

10 And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. 11 And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.

The “distressing spirit” isn’t necessarily evil

It’s the same spirit that’s been coming upon Saul since chapter 16

Compare to David; the Spirit of the Lord remains with him

Saul wasn’t prophesying…he was “raving.” Though “prophesied” is a potential translation of the word used, the action doesn’t fit the context. He was screaming in an unhinged rage.

The motivation behind his rage was David’s growth in renown.

The author draws a clear comparison between the actions of David and Saul; David played music with his hand, but Saul had a spear in his hand.

David stayed long enough to have Saul attack him twice! Why didn’t he leave the first time?

Rejecting that relief only leads to increased distress; Jesus won’t relent (11b-16).

1 Samuel 18:12–16 NKJV

12 Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. 15 Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

Saul knows the Lord is with David and that scares him. How did Saul know this?

David killed Goliath

He waged a successful campaign against the Philistines post-Goliath

He did these things with no military training

He escaped Saul, an impressive warrior in his own right, at point-blank range.

Saul’s attempt to kill David via military maneuvering is eerily similar to what David did to Uriah as part of the Bathsheba incident.

The people loved David because he did what they originally wanted Saul to do.

1 Samuel 8:19–20 NKJV

19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”