David ascended in fame with more victories. Sha’ul (Saul) descended with jealousy of those victories, pushed by an “evil spirit” the LORD sent. David escaped Sha’ul’s trap with a ploy used in the 20th century by an escapee at Alcatraz. Sha’ul pursued David to the headquarters of the prophet Sh’muel (Samuel), and God’s Spirit led Sha’ul to prophesy.
Tag: 1st Samuel
David and Yonatan/Yahonatan cemented a strong friendship. Meanwhile, David wins the hand of Saul’s daughter Michal by returning from battle with 100 foreskins in hand.
The account of David vs. Goliath is so well-known that many who haven’t read the Bible know it is about a seemingly overpowered force overpowering a seemingly greater foe. Yet what faith in the LORD drove David to take on such a foe and stop when the task was complete?
We start to see how closely connected the lives of Samuel, Saul, Jonathan and David truly are. All these men’s lives were shaped and irrevocably changed by the events surrounding the High Priest Eli and the confiscation of the Ark of the Covenant. We also see the beginnings of David’s quick rise in stature from a modest shepherd boy to a royal court entertainer and finally a leading warrior in Saul’s army.
Saul is given another test by the LORD but Saul doesn’t know it was his final test. Saul’s acquiescence to peer pressure became his downfall and Samuel tells Saul that the kingdom will be given to another.
The decline of Saul’s rule over Israel is again evident in 1st Samuel 14. His son Jonathan shows himself to be a great warrior against the Philistines with some characteristics of David.
Saul, the ruler of Israel, can’t wait seven days for Samuel to arrive to perform a sacrifice, and Saul’s family loses rulership. Meanwhile, God had started establishing Judah in rulership in Troy then Athens, Rome and London.