(1) Repeated theme:
Something happened that showed that God was with David; Saul was afraid of David; Saul wanted to kill David.The first time was the attempted murdered by Saul, but unsuccessful. Saul removed David from his presence and made him the commanding officer v.11-13. However, this brought more success for Daivd and it was more evident that the LORD was with him v.14.
The second round was the trap set by Saul to kill David by the hand of the Philistines v.24-25. That brought the same result: David brought the foreskins to Saul as the price for the bride of his daughter. 18:28 When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,18:29 Saul became even more afraid of him.
Reflections: From the perspective of a reader of 1 Samuel, we all knew that David was going to replace Saul. These incidents only confirmed that David was the one that God had appointed. He went through 2 rounds of attempted murder or set up but he was not harm. God was with him.
(2) The problem of Saul
a. First, he was angry and displeased when he heard the women singing, "Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!” v.7. In Saul's mind, the primary function of the king was to win the battles for his country. In fact, he did not do as well as David. He had his chance to kill Goliath before David came, but he did not. Instead of admitting the fact, Saul chose to be angry at David.
b. The fact that the women singing the difference between him and David was done before the whole country. Saul was angry because he lost faces.
v.6 When the men arrived after David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women from all the cities of Israel came out singing and dancing to meet King Saul.
Saul loved faces and it was shown the second time after the incident in Gilgal. He disobeyed God and followed the wishes of the army.
Saul loved faces and it was shown the second time after the incident in Gilgal. He disobeyed God and followed the wishes of the army.
15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have disobeyed what the LORD commanded and what you said as well. For I was afraid of the army, and I followed their wishes.
Reflections: Do we love faces like Saul? Is popularity before others so important to us that when we lose faces we become angry? If other people got recognition before others but you dont can you accept that?
Have we ever evaluated ourselves to see if we have done anything wrong when people point it out to us? Or do we just become offended and have never admitted that we are wrong?
Are we so proud and cannot accept that we fall short of other people's success? Can we praise other sisters if we see that they have done a better job in teaching the children Sunday school? Or if they train their children better than we do?
Audrey
2024
18:1-16
Bright spots
1. The word, love, was in v.1, 16, 20, 22, 28 to describe the relationship between Jonathan and David, the servants of Saul and David, the people and D, and Mical and D. What is the use of love in the relationship between David and Jonathan.
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The Significance of the Verb Love in the David-Jonathan Narratives in 1 Samuel
contexts have drawn attention to the political overtones that sometimes attach to this word or to its semantic equivalent in a wide range of ancient Near Eastern texts 1). Thus in 1 Kings v 15 2) Hiram King of Tyre is described as having always loved David, kz 'oheb haydh hzirdm leddwid kol hayydmim. It is clear from the total context in verses 15 to 26 that Hiram and David were involved in some kind of diplomatic and commercial arrangement as rulers of two neighbouring independent states. Further evidence of such a treaty comes from 2 Samuel v 11 which refers to the dispatch of messengers, cedar trees, carpenters and masons by Hiram to David for the building of a houzse. That Hiram should greet Solomon, David's son, after the death of David was entirely in keeping with current political practice according to which, on the death of one treaty partner and on the enthronement of his successor, the other party to the treaty would send an embassy 3). The root '-h-b occurs a number of times in the David-Jonathan narratives. It is not difficult to discern in the whole movement of the drama as it has been recorded by the narrator, a series of steps on David's way to the throne of Israel. The whole story is a complex texture of agreements between various parties as David made his progress towards the throne. The covenant or agreement (berit) between David and Jonathan was only one of many covenants of one kind and another which were made over the years till David was finally securely established on the throne
Thompson, J. A.. “The Significance of the Verb Love in the David-Jonathan Narratives in 1 Samuel.” Vetus Testamentum 24 (1974): 334-338.
2. The relationship between J and D was a covenant relationship.
v.1 When David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship
It was first an extension of the relationship btw Saul and D in 17:55-58. See the mentioning of Saul in between the relationship btw J and D in v.1-5.
2 Saul retained David
v.5b So Saul appointed him over the men of war. This pleased not only all the army, but also Saul’s servants.
3. Why Saul changed? Previously, he appointed David and was pleased at him in v.1-5. He could not take comparison.
8 This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him...
v.9 So Saul was keeping an eye [enviously and with suspicion-BDAG) on David from that day onward.
God had already anointed David to be the king ch 16, but God did not immediately let the P killed Saul until ch 31.Now, he was jealous and insecure. Therefore, God taught him a lesson.
"The next day an evil spirit from God...." v.10.
Again, when Saul saw the presence of God with David or his success, he felt threatened. But, what he did did not help the fact that D was successful. God was with him. Saul's fear only went higher and higher.
12 So Saul feared David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul. 13 Saul removed David...
14 Now David achieved success in all he did, for the LORD was with him. 15 When Saul saw how very successful he was, he was afraid of him.
Reflection
From ch 13 God had already told Saul that he would find another person to be king. On one hand, Saul could not face that reality. He did not obey God back then and he continued to disobey. What was going on in ch 18 was how he could not handle the comparison with David or the cold truth that David would be the one God had chosen. Saul tried to manipulate the will of God regarding his losing of kingdom and that only created more fear inside of him.
v.17-30
bright spots
1. Saul used God's name and the love his daughter to deceive David so that he could kill him through the hands of P. v.17, 20-21. At the end, God's presence with David was clear and he was more afraid of him v.28. David's name was held in high esteem v.30. In other words, Saul was a total loss.
2. Saul's scheme was based on the fact that David came from a lowly family and he was not able to pay a big bridal price to become the king's son-in-law v.18, 23, 25. That made Saul's scheme more evil.
3. David at 2 Sam 11 used a similar scheme to kill the husband of his adulterer.
reflection
Was there anything that I want so much that I tried to deceive other people to get it? Or do I ever manipulate the weakness of a person to achieve my evil goal?
Do I just used God to achieve my goal?
Questions
1. God is the One who knit and He bounded their 2 lives together.
(NET) v.1 Heb “the soul of Jonathan was bound with the soul of David.”
I need to pray for my friendship more.
2. v.9 So Saul was keeping an eye on David from that day onward. v.8 8 This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him and he thought, “They have attributed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have attributed only thousands. What does he lack, except the kingdom?”
3. 12 So Saul feared David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.
v.13b David led the army out to battle and back. 14 Now David achieved success in all he did, for the LORD was with him.
That's why Israel loved him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he was the one leading them out to battle and back.
4. Yes, I promised to take JC to shop for furniture, but I did not forsee that I will need to prepare the Fall festival and could not make it. Then I broke my promise.
Audrey
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