(1) David was beneficial to Saul, but Saul wanted to kill him.
a. Jonathan did not agree with his father, Saul, who wanted to kill David v.1,2. His reasons for not killing David were listed in v.4-5.
19:4 So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalf to his father Saul. He said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial for you. 19:5 He risked his life when he struck down the Philistine and the LORD gave all Israel a great victory. When you saw it, you were happy. So why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?”
Note the last sentence, "When you saw it, you were happy. So why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?” As we discussed yesterday, jealousy was in the heart of Saul. David had done nothing wrong and Saul knew that. As a matter of fact, he did something beneficial to Saul as Jonathan pointed out. Jealousy made us unreasonable.
Note the last sentence, "When you saw it, you were happy. So why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?” As we discussed yesterday, jealousy was in the heart of Saul. David had done nothing wrong and Saul knew that. As a matter of fact, he did something beneficial to Saul as Jonathan pointed out. Jealousy made us unreasonable.
b. After David came back to serve Saul he defeated the Philistines thoroughly.
c. 19:9 Then an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul. He was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing the lyre.19:10 Saul tried to nail David to the wall with the spear.
(NET) [an evil spirit] Or “an injurious spirit”; cf. NLT “a tormenting spirit.” The phrase need not refer to an evil, demonic spirit. The Hebrew word translated “evil” may refer to the character of the spirit or to its effect upon Saul. If the latter, another translation option might be “a mischief-making spirit.”
(NAC) The “spear in his hand” served as a clear indication that Saul was having problems; only a deeply troubled individual would sit armed for war inside the safest house in Israel!
When the evil spirit came upon Saul, again David was trying to help him and played the lyre for him. David probably knew Saul was having problems since he sit armed for war inside the house. David for sure was beneficial to Saul when he was willing to play lyre to Saul in that situation. What was Saul's reaction to that? He tried to nail him to the wall with the spear.
Reflections: We have to watch out for jealousy in our heart because we will make the wrong judgment because of it.
On the other hand, we know that there are many sufferings that come to us without a good reason. It may be due to the jealousy of another person. It is not necessarily your fault. There is no need to think about those for too much.
(2) Both Saul's son and daughter helped David to escape from his hands.
v.1-7, v.11-18. Samuel and a group of prophets helped David, too v.18-24.
Samuel made Saul prophesied and he was not even allowed to talk to Samuel or David. God's protection to David was amazing.
Reflections: Yes, we may be hated for no good reason, but God is always with His people. He protected us in amazing ways. Our enemies may not even have the chance to talk to us! Saul ended up chasing David for years, but he was never able to catch David. Israel was a small piece of land, if you are a king over Israel and you have over 10 years you can probably catch the person you want, but not David. He was protected by God.
(3) Side Note, when the spirit of God came upon Saul and his messengers and they prophesied v.20-24 that had nothing to do with their spiritual life. In other words, being able to prophesied does not mean you are more spiritual. As a matter here, Saul was insulted by Samuel when he was prophesied naked all day and night v.24.
Audrey
2024
v.1-10
Bright spots
1. Jonathan helped David to escape from Saul's killing v.1 and he promised to find out the problem and let him know. v.3 But what he did was more than finding out. He spoke on David's behalf v.4 and he also reminded his father that killing innocent blood was a sin against God v.5.
Jonathan did more than just kept his words.
2. Saul on one hand swore in God's name that he wont kill David v.6, and on the other hand he could not fight his envy when David won another fight with the Philistines v.8-10.
Saul did not keep his words.
Reflection:
A jealous person was not a reasonable person. Saul probably agreed with J and therefore he promised not to kill David in the beginning. David was good for Saul. After David won another fight with P and showed that he was good for Saul, Saul was more jealous and wanted to kill him.
I pray that I will not fall in the trap of jealous. Have I ever done that?
v.11-24
1. Saul knew very well about the Spirt of God
It rushed upon him when he was anointed 1 Sam 10:1,10 and then in 11:6He also experienced how the Spirit of the Lord had turned away from him and the torment by the evil spirit 16:14-15, 23, 18:10, 19:9
He should have know clearly the presence of the spirit of God when he sent his messengers to catch David v.20, 21a, b.
2. He knew that that Samuel was with David when his messengers reported that to him v.20 and therefore when he went there he asked, "where are Samuel and David. v.22.
Saul ignored the presence of Samuel, the person who anointed him as king and still wanted to pursued David.
3. David was able to escape and run away v.12, 18 was because of the help from Saul's own children (Michal in ch 19b and Jonathan ch 19a)
Saul's desire to kill David was unreasonable even in the eyes of his own children. Or they did not support his decision to kill David.
When Saul ignored the warning signs (the presence of the Spirit of God and the presence of Samuel) and the opposition from his own children, he got the shamed that he deserved. "23 So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God came upon him as well, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 He even stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel. He lay there naked all that day and night..."
Reflection:
Have I ever got unreasonable and ignoring to God's warning like Saul?
Questions:
1. v.4 his actions have been very beneficial for you. v.5 why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason
2. 6 Saul accepted Jonathan’s advice and took an oath, “As surely as the LORD lives, he will not be put to death.” v.10 10 Saul tried to nail David to the wall with the spear
Do you live according to
principles you know are right or according to your mood of the moment? Yes, when I wanted to sin, and let it won over my want to obey God.
Pray
that your spiritual life will not be determined by your erratic and unstable
emotions
3. v.11a Then David’s wife Michal told him, “If you do not save yourself tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!”
Then she deceived the messenger sent by her father and lied that he was sick.
David in Ps 59 trusted God was able to save him.
10 The God who loves me will help me;
God will enable me to triumph over my enemies.
v. 13b Let them know that God rules
v.17b For God is my refuge, the God who loves me.
4. The Spirit of God came upon them and they prophesized v.20, 21a, b. The spirit of God also came to Saul and he prophesized and be ashamed.
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