Even in dangerous times, king David found ways to provide for, and to protect those who sought refuge in him. He went to extraordinary measures to do so. It was not safe to simply be for David, as the priests and city of Nob discovered. It was far better to be with David.
LORD, we seek refuge in king Jesus in dangerous times such as these. We seek your provision and protection.
Jonathan had not forgotten that his father wanted David killed, but he had persuaded him to take back his vow. But David knew that Saul’s anger was not going to go away. Jonathan needed a little more convincing. When he saw Saul’s fierce anger, venting not only at David, but at Jonathan himself (giving him the end of the spear) – he knew David had to run. It was terrible having to choose between having your friend and remaining loyal to your father. Anger does that to families. Even if no violence takes place, a person’s anger can separate friends, and harm relationships.
LORD, help us to control our feelings. Help us to realize the harm that they are doing.
The powerful Holy Spirit is at work behind the scenes of David’s life protecting him from harm, because God has a purpose for his life. This is seen in…
LORD, thank you for the protecting power of your Holy Spirit.
Things change in life, and often seem like they are spiraling out of control. Such was the case with David and his relationship with king Saul. David could do nothing right in Saul’s eyes. His friendship with Jonathan, his reputation as a warrior, his music, his marriage to Michal, his success against the Philistines – everything that David did just made Saul angrier. Tension was increasing, but things were not really out of control. God was in control.
LORD, you are LORD of our stressful lives. May we stay tuned to your presence, and trust your plan.
David refused to use Saul’s armor and weapon, not because they didn’t fit, but because he had not tested them in combat. He had already seen violent confrontation, and was described as a man of war in the previous chapter. But he had to use the tools he was familiar with. Often we think that if we could afford the latest technology that we could make a difference. The LORD is more interested in what we are doing with what he has already provided us. God used a rock at the hands of a skilled marksman with rocks. He can use us.
LORD, give us the courage to do what you call us to do, and the wisdom to use our tested tools to do it.
David was anointed – as it were – secretly, but already we see glimpses of the man of God that he is to become. His identity is not yet marked by his leadership skills, but by his talents as a musician, and the fact that he is .. “a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him” (1 Samuel 16:18 ESV). This is not the little kid we see in the cartoons who has nothing but courage. The elements that make him stand out are all there. Samuel’s choice was correct. As a servant (shepherd, musician, armor bearer) David is learning to be the leader he will become.
LORD, give us the wisdom to learn to lead by serving. May we be identified by the fact that you are with us, and may all our talents be put to your service.
If you can get past the graphic violence in this chapter, you will read a leader lesson that Saul learned. The people were under his charge. He had the responsibility under God to lead them on God’s mission. His fear of the people led him to compromise the mission. The LORD wanted to obliterate the Amalekites from the land. The people wanted to win the battle – and keep the best of the spoils. Saul knew that everything had to be devoted to destruction. He caved in under people pressure, and lost his right to rule.
LORD, make our Christian leaders strong enough not to give in to people pressure – even when those people are us.
This chapter highlights the loyalty of the people in the early Israelite monarchy.
LORD, make us people who are loyal to each other, and to you.
Saul’s mistake was in assuming that he had the authority to set aside God’s revealed will because time was of the essence. He was losing the confidence of the people because Samuel delayed. So, he decided to sidestep Samuel as anointed priest, and do the sacrifice himself.
Unbelievers are guilty of the same thing when they try to win God’s favor with their own good works, essentially side-stepping Jesus as God’s anointed Savior. Saul was rejected as king for that blunder.
LORD, we accept your solution to our sin problem – Jesus Christ. We will wait for him to deliver us.
Sometimes you can’t go back and start over. The Israelites understood that they had sinned in asking for a king. Saul was in place, so now they would have to live with it. God did not remove him from the throne the moment the people realized that his appointment had been a mistake. Instead, God used Saul’s administration to bring about his glory – as a contrast to David’s. Whenever we are at this point in our lives, we need to heed the word of the LORD now, not just lament our past decisions.
LORD, today we resolve to follow you. The past and the future we put in your hands.
1 Samuel 20
1 Samuel 19
1 Samuel 18
1 Samuel 17
1 Samuel 16
1 Samuel 15
1 Samuel 14
1 Samuel 13
1 Samuel 12
