Havasu Christian Church
Series in I Samuel
September 1, 2024
I Samuel 18:1-30
“The most familiar battle in the Bible! Part 3”
“The Aftermath!”
(The good, the bad, and the ugly!)
INTRO: In 1966, a new western movie came to theatres across the country. It starred a young actor who had begun to make a name for himself on television. Although it was about the American west, the movie was shot in Italy. Even if you’ve never seen the movie, as unlikely as that may be, you certainly will recognize this bit from the movie’s theme music. (Play clip)
That’s right, it’s The good, the bad and the ugly.
Today, as we look at the follow up to the fight that David had with Goliath, we’ll use that movie title as our outline.
- The Good!
1 Samuel 18: 1-7 Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
2 Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house.
3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.
5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6 It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments.
7 The women sang as they played, and said,
“Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.”
- David has become a hero.
- Jonathan takes him as a dear friend.
- Jonathan gives David his royal robe, his armor, his sword, his bow and his belt.
- Jonathan at the very least, is showing his respect for David.
- He may also already realize that God has chosen David to be the next king, not him.
- Saul brings David into his household.
- This, I believe, is the culmination of becoming Saul’s armor bearer.
- Again, I think we have gone from the broad picture to the smaller details.
- David is following all of Saul’s orders.
- He is doing his very best to serve Saul.
- David is “set over the men of war.”
- I think this is telling us that he is the one who shares Saul’s orders with Abner, the General.
- Why does Saul give him this job?
- David was willing to fight when no one else was willing.
- David has gained Saul’s trust!
- David is applying himself to be the best servant of Saul that he can be!
- David is loved by the people.
- “Saul has killed his thousands, David his 10 thousands.”
- Apparently, the women sang this song when the army came back from the battle with Goliath and the Philistines.
- When you hear something that bothers you and you dwell on it, eventually it festers and bothers you more and more.
- The bad
I Samuel 18:8-16 Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”
9 Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
10 Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand.
11 Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from his presence twice.
12 Now Saul was afraid of David, for the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.
13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14 David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him.
15 When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.
- Saul get’s angry.
- He’s angry at these women.
- “How dare they?”
- “Why are they are praising someone above me?”
- But he’s also angry with David.
- Why is Saul so angry at David?
- It would seem he is jealous, but it’s more than that.
- Saul could see “the Lord was with David” as the Lord had once been with him.
- Saul becomes suspicious of David.
“Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”
- If Saul had been in David’s place, perhaps he would have been plotting how to take over?
- So he expects the same of David.
- Saul tries to kill David.
- He tries to kill him twice!
- At least once with the spear.
- He’s having a “visit” from the evil spirit.
- His mood isn’t being helped by David playing his harp.
- He throws a spear with the intent to “pin David to the wall.”
- Saul sends David away.
- He makes him the commander of 1000 men.
- No longer is he the Armor bearer, now he’s in charge of part of the army.
- Saul probably hopes David will die in battle… problem solved!
- Saul can “keep his hands clean” but still be rid of David.
- David has the audacity to do well instead of dying! “David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him.”
- Saul comes to be in dread of David.
- The word translated “dread” has the idea of being afraid.
- Most of the translations I looked at used the word feared.
- Saul is afraid of David!
- The Ugly
I Samuel 18:17-30 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD’S battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
18 But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?”
19 So it came about at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.
20 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him.
21 Saul thought, “I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “For a second time you may be my son-in-law today.”
22 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’ ”
23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?”
24 The servants of Saul reported to him according to these words which David spoke.
25 Saul then said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’ ” Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the days had expired
27 David rose up and went, he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife.
28 When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him,
29 then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually.
30 Then the commanders of the Philistines went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.
- Saul decides that maybe a bribe will help!
- Why don’t you marry my daughter?
- If David is “part of the family” I can more easily control him.
- David declines.
- “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?”
- Since this doesn’t appear as if it will work, Saul gives his oldest daughter to another man to marry.
- Saul is not above using his daughters as political pawns to stay in power.
- Saul tries bribery again, but with a twist.
- Marry my daughter. (who loves you btw)
- Saul is hoping she will “be a snare to him.”
- How did he think she would “be a snare?”
- Perhaps Saul thought she would side with him and help control David?
- Maybe she was bad tempered?
- It could be she was just really demanding?
- Maybe she pouted until she got her way?
- Whatever the reason, Saul is operating in bad faith!
- Saul has people whispering in David’s ear.
- Behold, the king delights in you!
- All his servants love you!
- Become the king’s son-in-law!
- David again refuses.
- I’m poor!
- I’m a nobody!
- Saul hatches a plan!
- He gives David a way to earn being the son in law of the king.
- Give me a dowery of 100 Philistine foreskins!
- I can just hear Michal at the engagement party, talking about her “dowery.”
- This will have the added bonus of making David “Enemy #1” to the Philistines.
- David accepts Saul’s proposal.
- He brings back double the dowery!
- Saul has no choice but to honor his word.
- Saul becomes even more afraid of David!
- He becomes an enemy to David.
- I think Saul is just now finally admitting to himself what was already the truth.
- In spite of Saul choosing to be his enemy, David prospers.
- He is the wisest of Saul’s battle commanders.
- Why? Because the Lord is with him!
- This makes his troops love him.
- This makes the troops he doesn’t command wish that he did.
- This makes the Nation love him!
Conclusion: So now we are done looking at David’s battle with Goliath.
We’ve looked at the lead up to the battle.
We looked at the battle itself.
Now, we’ve looked at the aftermath of the battle.
What can I use from what we’ve learned today?
- Do your best to do what’s right.
- David did what was right before the battle.
- He faithfully did his job as a Shepherd.
- He risked his life to protect his sheep.
- He followed his father’s directions and brought food to his brothers.
- He was ready and willing to fight Goliath!
- David did what was right IN the battle!
- First and foremost, he relied on God.
- He also did his part!
- David was not afraid to say “I am capable!”
- God gave him the victory!
- David did what was right in the aftermath of the battle with Goliath.
- He soothed Saul with music when the evil spirit troubled him.
- He served as Saul’s armor bearer, and was a messenger for Saul to the army.
- Even when Saul began to mistreat him, he was faithful in doing what was right.
- David fought Saul’s battles.
- David didn’t let pride get a foothold, even when the ladies were singing his praises!
- He turned down Saul’s offer of his eldest daughter in marriage.
- He didn’t think he was important enough to be the son in law of the king.
- David stayed humble even knowing he was destined to be king.
- He had been anointed.
- God was with him.
So, don’t be “too good” or “too important” to serve!
- Rely on God, but be ready to do your part.
Whatever God calls us to do, we should do with our whole heart!
David did twice what was expected!
- Jesus is God in a human body! But He was a servant, first and foremost!
Matthew 20:25–28 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- Realize that when life is going exactly how you want it to, that this can change in a heartbeat!
David went from “golden boy” to persona non grata in the blink of an eye.
Do what’s right anyway!
- Don’t be surprised when people question your motives.
Projection: It’s when you expect others to be like you know you would be in the same circumstance.
God knows your motives and your heart!
- Wait for God’s timing!
When given the opportunity to speed things along by killing Saul, he did not!
