In this chapter Saul faced his first test, and he came through with honour and dignity. Nahash the Ammonite had besieged the walled city of Jabesh in Gilead. It seemed that hose people were greatly in his power, and that he could almost do as he wished to them. His name is interesting, Nahash meaning SERPENT, and what he wished to do to the men of Jabesh-Gilead, that is to thrust out their right eyes, This would render them unable to fight, or to resist his domination over them, and ever afterwards they would not only be slaves the Serpent, but they would be a lasting shame on their nation also.

I think that we can see a parallel to this today: The old Serpent has put out the right eyes of many believers. By this I mean that they have lost their power to discern. They can not aim straight, but they accept things that are quite contrary to the scriptures. Many are slaves to sinful habits over which they have no control. Whereas once they gave grudgingly to the Lord’s work, now they have swallowed the false teaching of the so-called ‘Prosperity Doctrine’, and now they contribute large amounts to false teachers, thereby making them rich, and they hope that by doing this they will become rich themselves. This was in the type, what Nahash the Ammonite was proposing to do to the men of Jabesh-Gilead. Such was their state that they were powerless to challenge the demands made by this man. They asked for seven days during which time they would see if there was any amongst their brethren in the other tribes that would come to their aid. The Ammonite king was prepared to accept this proposal, as he doubtless thought that seven day would never be long enough for any one to assemble an army to come against him, so he was lulled into a false security.

The elders of the city then sent messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and when the people of that city heard the sad news, they lifted up their voice and wept. Perhaps they thought that this disgrace would not end at Jabesh-Gilead, but once the tyrant had tasted success, he would come against other cities in Israel, perhaps against their own city also. But though they wept, and probably feared what the result might be for them, yet they did nothing about it. These people were intermarried with the people of Jabesh-Gilead, because it was from there they were able to get 400 wives for the remnant of their tribe that had escaped the terrible massacre of Judges Chapter 20.

Saul though now anointed king, continued with his normal work as a farmer, and we may comment on his humility, because he came after the herd, not what one would normally expect of a king! This humility was a blessing to him, because God gives grace to the humble, James 4:6. When he heard the wailing of the people he enquired, "What aileth the people that they weep", and then he was told the sad story. The Spirit of God came upon him after hearing of that story, and caused him to become very angry. Under Divine influence he manifested super-human strength, and single handed he slew a yoke of oxen, (two oxen), then cut them in pieces and sent the pieces to all of the other tribes. With those pieces he sent a warning, or shall we say, a threat, that if any one refused to come forth after Saul and after Samuel, they would suffer great financial loss because the same would be done to their oxen.

It was obviously the leading of the Holy Spirit that had come upon him, that he associated the name of Samuel with his name, as the name of Samuel was revered by all that knew him, and it added weight to his warning. It is also clear that he would not have had time to consult with Samuel as to what to do, so this again adds weight to our assumption, that it was the leading of the Holy Spirit. The result was that the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and their response was both immediate and complete, because they ‘came out with one consent’. When Saul numbered the people in Bezek there were no less than 330,000 of them, so on the basis of this response, and the assurance that he was acting according to the will of God, he was able to send a message of hope to his besieged brethren, telling them that deliverance was on the way, and would reach them the day after the messengers returned.

The men of Jabesh-Gilead were glad when the messengers returned with tidings of deliverance. Such a thing had never happened before, that so many had rallied to the aid of their brethren: This was the work of Jehovah, not just the courage of Saul! They then sent a message to the Ammonites and their Serpent king, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and ye shall do to us all that seemeth good to you". This further put the tyrants at ease, it was to be a walk-over, and they would now easily be able to humble these men: little did they know the disaster that awaited them!

Saul, who had no military experience, now manifested the wisdom of a clever military general. Where did this ignorant farmer get this wisdom? It was given to him by God, especially for this occasion. God was so kind as to show him in his very first battle, the way to victory and success. If only he was willing to depend wholly upon God, then God would give him wisdom far beyond his own. This is a valuable lesson for us also. Though we are weak and foolish, yet Christ is made unto us wisdom etc. 1 Corinthians 1:27-31. If only we can surrender ourselves wholly to Him, and trust wholly in Him, then victory is assured, and He will have the glory.

The army must have marched through most of the night because they came into the midst of the Ammonite host, in the darkness of the morning watch. Though such a great number of them, and now divided into three companies, yet they must have marched in silence, otherwise they would have alerted the enemy to their presence. They used the principle of surprise and they were amongst the enemy almost before they knew it. There was no pride or presumption with them, and though their numbers were so large, yet they did not rely on numbers; they relied upon Jehovah, He was in charge of the whole operation!

The victory was complete, they slew these people that intended to bring them into disgrace and slavery; the serpent’s (Nahash’s), plan was foiled. It is probable that they went on slaying for about 9 hours, until the enemy was completely scattered. They completely destroyed all possibility of the enemy getting together again in fellowship, or to plot a revolt, because two of them were not left together. I do not know that this is said of any other battle in the history of Israel.

The people were still inclined to give the glory of that wonderful victory to their new king. At the same time they wanted to destroy those men that had despised the Lord’s anointed. Even though those men had hazarded their lives, responded to the call to arms by Saul, and had been engaged in the battle that ended in such victory; yet there were those that would have killed them and thus marred the victory.

However Saul maintained his humility, and he took no credit to himself. He gave the glory to Israel’s God, and attributed the victory to Him. It was Jehovah that had wrought salvation in Israel, and Saul would not allow the spirit of revenge to spoil the occasion. He would not allow any of those men to be killed.

Samuel now appears after the victory had been won. He was by this time a very old man, and it is unlikely that he led, or even marched with the army. But he was there to celebrate the victory! His mind went back to the time when Israel first began the conquest of the Promised Land. Gilgal was the place of their first encampment. It was the place of circumcision; it was there that the filth of human pride (the reproach of Egypt), was cut off and rolled away from the new generation. It was from that place that they marched out to victory, and it was to that place they returned after the victory.

Circumcision deals with the filth of the flesh, and there is nothing so filthy in the sight of God, as pride. It is filthy pride that will take the credit and glory of God’s victory to itself. There is a lesson for us to learn here, we too need to return to Gilgal, we need to use a sharp knife on ourselves, lest we allow the flesh in us, lest we allow pride to govern us, lest we take to ourselves the glory that belongs to God! But though God has decreed that He must have the glory, though He will not allow any flesh to glory in His presence, yet he does not deny us the joy that accompanies His victory.

On the previous occasion at Mizpeh, it was all Jehovah’s doing. His sovereign choice was revealed, but at Gilgal it was the people that now accepted the sovereign choice of God. It was there that they fulfilled their part before the Lord. God was glorified as the people offered sacrifices of peace offerings to Him. This was the only offering that was eaten by the offerer, and shared in fellowship with their friends and brethren. The result was great joy for both king and people, because it is said that "Saul and the men of Israel rejoiced greatly". If only Saul had continued in this attitude, what a wonderful reign his would have been! But it was not so, as the following chapters reveal.

Let us heed the warning! Let us continue in the path of humility, dependence and obedience until the end!

While Israel was rejoicing in the victory that God had given them, and also in the king that God had given them, and as Samuel was about to hand over the great responsibility that he had carried for so many years, he first sought to establish his own blameless character, and he challenged the people. The whole nation was represented there, and he called on any that had a complaint against him, because of any dishonest, or unlawful act of his that had caused them loss or injury, to register that complaint. He had been transparently honest all his many years. He had never been a shady man, but had walked before the people, (and before God), since his childhood. So he called upon all or any of them to testify of any perversion of justice, any corruption, any favours that he had accepted from any person or group. He asked them to tell if he had used his position for his own gain, whether he had defrauded any one, or if he had accepted a bribe from any one to blind his eyes. They all readily agreed that during the many years that he was their judge, he had never defrauded or oppressed any of them. His had been a blameless rule, both in his judgments, and in his personal example. What a wonderful testimony this was to his honesty and integrity! I wonder how many of those that read these words can say the same. If we cannot, then we should confess our failures to the Lord, and we should also do what we can to put right any wrongs that we have done.

After he had publicly established his own blameless character, Samuel from that standpoint; drew the attention of the people to the faithfulness and patient goodness of God, and the unfaithfulness, and in-gratitude of the people. If he had been guilty of personal failure or public dishonesty in his administration of justice; then he could not have spoken with the same power. It is often very different today! I have been in several parts of India, and speakers have chosen to speak in English, and to use a translator, (though they were fluent in the local language). I have heard them strongly condemn certain practices very loudly, when I knew for a fact that they were guilty of the same practices themselves. May God save us from such hypocrisy! If we are guilty of any wrong doing, we have neither the right nor the authority to condemn that thing in others.

As Samuel traced the ways of God, God’s faithfulness, His goodness and His patience, he could not but expose the rebellion, the ingratitude, and the unfaithfulness of the people. His words were with power, and came with conviction to the people, it brought them to repentance. He faithfully showed them what had happened to their fore-fathers, and warned them about what would happen to them, if they followed the same way. They had witnessed the hand of the Lord in what had happened to Nahash the Ammonite king and his people. But he warned them that the Lord’s hand would be against them, with ruinous consequences if they rebelled against Him.

He showed them once again the nature of their rebellion, in wanting a king to be set over them like the nations when, (he said), "The Lord your God was your king." But now the thing was done, God had granted their request, they had their king, but the awful cost of their wish, would only unfold over the coming years. He plainly showed them that in spite of this great failure, the path of blessing for them was surely the path of obedience, and of dependence upon God. He exhorted them not to be afraid, though they had failed, yet they should not turn aside from following the Lord, but to serve Him with all their heart. This is good advice for us all, even though we are not under Law, but under grace. There is so much half-heartedness in these days, so much lukewarmness, so much apathy. Let us learn from the experience of the Children of Israel. Let each of us confess our failures to the Lord. Let us put right any wrongs that we have done to others. Let us each one re-dedicate our whole lives to the Lord Jesus. Let us follow Him wholly, and only!

If we are unfaithful, He abides faithful: He cannot deny Himself, 2`Tim. 2: 13. He has promised, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee", Hebrews 13:5. Each one of us have cost Him so much; He will never give us up, He will never let us go. It has pleased Him to make us His own people. Blessed be His holy name! He had taken the Children of Israel to be His own people, what wondrous grace this was! As for us, He saw the whole of our lives before we were born; He knew every sin we would commit, He knew every failure that we have or will make; yet He loved us still, and chose us as His own. Well might we sing, "O Love that will not let me go!" Our Heavenly Father not only gave His only begotten Son for us, but now with Him, He freely gives us all things. Romans 8:32. It is so sad that we should ever doubt His goodness, that we should ever seek to compel Him through prayer to do what we want Him to do, and when we want Him to do it also.

Let us instead rest in His faithfulness and in the realisation that He knows best. This will save us from much anxiety and frustration. Though in some matters we are encouraged to pray without ceasing, and we are commanded to pray believing, yet we are told that the way to have our prayers answered is to pray according to the will of God. 1 John 5:14-15.

In verse 23 we have Samuel’s refusal; that is he refused to sin against God by ceasing to pray for the people, even though they had rejected God from ruling over them, and also had rejected Samuel, in spite of his godly life of self-denial, and service to the people that he loved. This makes us aware that if we also cease to pray for others, then we too are guilty of sinning against God.

.First Samuel Chapter Thirteen

This chapter reveals the petulance and impatience of Israel’s chosen King. Two years had passed since all Israel had proclaimed him to be their King, and he begins now to show his true character. He was set on achieving a position of greatness and of power, and was determined that his kingdom was passed to his son Jonathan thereby he would establish a dynasty for himself. However God had other plans. God knew the kind of person that Saul was, in His Divine attribute of foreknowledge He had seen the whole of Saul’s life from beginning to end, and He had given him to Israel as a punishment for their lusting to be like the nations.

Though humanity has spread across the globe, yet God is finally still in control of the political affairs of the nations. Though He does not actively interfere in the affairs of the nations, yet He is still in control, and all will work out according to His divine plan. Sometimes the present problems such as exist in Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, Palestine and the African nations etc may cause us deep concern. Yet we cannot stop the clock, God will surely have His way.

Saul maintained a personal army of three thousand men, and he committed one thousand into the hands of Jonathan at Gibeah. It seems that Jonathan could discern his father’s vain ambitions, and his desire for outward show, but he was a man of action himself. In the end of this chapter we are told that Israel had no weapons for close, hand-to-hand warfare. They probably had bows and arrows, and it was probably these that they used against the Ammonites in their earlier victory. Saul and Jonathan were the only ones that possessed swords and spears, and Jonathan was not afraid to make use of his weapons.

So it was that he attacked and smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba. However even if Jonathan sought any fame for this action, he did not receive any, because Saul blew the trumpet throughout the entire land saying that he had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, when he had done nothing of the kind.

Though Jonathan received no praise for his courage and bravery, yet it did make great problems for Saul and for Israel. The time had come of which Samuel had told Saul two years before, when all Israel were gathered in Gilgal, and Samuel had given strict instructions to Saul to wait for him seven days. However Saul panicked when he received tidings of the huge army that the Philistines had assembled at Michmash. He was a man that was full of fear, but had no faith. He waited (full of fear), for those seven days, and as the seventh day drew towards a close, and he could see that they were in a strait, he decided that he could wait no longer.

The men of Israel also were also afraid and most deserted the army and their King, hiding themselves in many doubtful places, and some even crossed the Jordan River, and went into the land of Gad and Gilead. Those that remained were a fearful bunch, and they followed Saul trembling. So he commanded the people to bring the burnt offering, and the peace offerings to him, and though he had no such authority to do so, he offered the burnt offering. This was the sole right of the priests to do but such was Saul’s rash impatience that he did not hesitate to intrude into the priest’s office, in spite of him being an irreligious man. But no sooner had he finished offering the burnt offering, when Samuel came.

When Samuel came the first question that he asked was, "What hast thou done?" In answering Saul made himself out to be very much concerned about honouring God, and obeying His word. Samuel was not deceived by this, and he quickly he told him that he had acted foolishly. He told him that this foolish action had sealed his doom. Because of his disobedience to the commandment of God, his Kingdom would not continue. God had sought, (and found) a man after His own heart, and had commanded him to be captain over His people. This shows how important obedience to God’s word is in the sight of God.

This statement brings out again the wonder of God’s foreknowledge. This statement was made thirty years before Samuel anointed David and it would seem seven years before his birth. From this it would appear the David was marked out beforehand for the position of King. God is always justified in the choices that He makes because He knows beforehand what each individual will do. This does not minimise the responsibility of man, but it does magnify the Glory of God.

This chapter reveals the utter powerless state of the people of Israel, When the Philistines destroyed, or removed the Black Smiths from amongst the people, they performed a Master Stroke. Such humble people were probably not considered necessary, but they discovered to their sorrow that they were vital to the nations survival and liberty. This is a lesson that we should learn today, and it is largely because of the lack of such men amongst God’s people, (those that are able to use the hammer and the fire of God’s word, and the anvil of truth), (Jeremiah 23:29), that the saints have fallen prey to the wicked doctrines, and the unscriptural practices that are prevalent almost everywhere. As we have pointed out in the previous chapter, the removal of such men rendered the children of Israel defenceless, because they were no longer able to make weapons with which to challenge the enemy’s domination.

Saul and Jonathan had weapons, but with Saul they were only of ceremonial value, because he lacked faith, obedience, and dependence. But for all that he was not slow to play at soldiers. We find that he hid himself away as far as he could get locally from the enemy, verse 2. He pitched his commander’s tent under the pomegranate tree, which was in Migron. The few soldiers that had remained faithful to him were unable to do anything, yet probably they were drilling, marching up and down, while Saul shouted the orders. But what were six hundred un-armed soldiers against the very great army of the Philistines? Of what use were they when they had no weapons? Yet he was content to play at being soldiers, so long as the Philistines did not see.

I remember in the early days of the Second World War, that my uncle enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. He went into a military camp at Ingleburn, south of Sydney. While they had uniforms etc, yet they had no weapons. He told how that they were made to practice anti-aircraft gun practice, using a broom handle on a tar barrel. If the enemy had arrived on our shores at that time, or if they had appeared in our skies then, we would surely have been defeated.

I sometimes think that when I am called to preach the Gospel to a few believers (with no unsaved present), here in Australia, that we are just playing at soldiers, or playing at ‘Church’. But it is of great importance that we are solidly grounded in the word of God. It is important that we know the scriptures, and how to apply them. They are indeed the ‘sword of the Spirit’, and we desperately need to arm ourselves with them.

Jonathan must have tired of seeing his father playing soldiers. The weapons that he possessed were not just ceremonial, or for show. He realised that the mere possession of those weapons made him more responsible. But he had more than weapons; he had courage, faith, and he was willing to lay his life on the line. The thousand men that Saul had allotted to him had evidently deserted him, for fear of the foe. All he had was his armour bearer, but those two, with a faith and trust in God, were sufficient to secure a great victory. He was not just willing to play at being a soldier he wanted to use the weapons that he had against God’s enemies.

Saul also had a religious support, as he had with him the nephew of Ichabod, and the great grandson of Eli with him. This man was dressed up in the garments of the High Priest, and as if to cling to every religious thing that he could, for support, he had the Ark of the Covenant brought from the house of Abinadab. History should have taught him, that to cling to such things, while refusing to obey God’s written word, only increased his responsibility, and exposed him to the judgement of the Holy God of Israel.

Jonathan had no such support, (neither did he want it). But he had something of much greater value he had a simple faith in God’s omnipotence. He discussed the situation with his armour bearer, and though the situation looked hopeless, and the power of the Philistines beyond challenge, yet he found (to his comfort), that his armour bearer shared his courage and together they agreed to trust God, and to challenge the enemy. There was no pride, presumption or self-confidence with Jonathan, he realised that he did not have the wisdom to know how to approach this great matter. However he did have the knowledge that the Lord was Almighty, and that He was not on the side of the big armies, but was with those of a humble and a contrite spirit. He was able to save whether by many, or by few. The Lord Jesus said that "If two of you agree on the earth touching anything……. it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven" Matthew 18:19.

Jonathan did not have the advantage that Samuel had, that is he did not have a praying mother who had taught him to pray. But he used what little knowledge he had, and was prepared to trust God to do through him what he knew that he could not do alone. So together with his armour bearer, he discussed their plan of action. He would not boldly rely on the past experience that he had in smiting the garrison of the Philistines, all that they would do was to show themselves to the Philistines. They would let these filthy uncircumcised men make the mistakes. Surely the filthy practices of these ungodly, idolatrous men would be their undoing, and would move the hand of the Almighty Jehovah against them.

Added to the fact that he alone had weapons, and that there was just the two of them, and the fact that the Philistines were so numerous, and heavily armed, was the difficult place in which the Philistines were camped. Between Jonathan and the Philistines was a deep valley, and for them to even approach the Philistines to attack them, they would surely be slain, as they had to climb what seemed to be an unclimbable precipice. It seemed that they would be killed before ever they could get to their feet. But they left all such details in the hands of the Almighty, the All-wise Jehovah.

I don’t think that they would have slept much the night before the battle. It has been suggested by others that they showed themselves to the Philistines in the early morning, soon after daybreak. These (their enemies) felt that they were unassailable and thus they were full of self-confidence. When they saw Jonathan and his armour-bearer, they despised and ridiculed them. They said to each other, "Behold the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves". Perhaps they thought that these two men were driven by hunger? Proudly they said to Jonathan, "Come up and we will show you a thing". Little did they know that is was they that were to see the mighty hand of God at work. They thought that there was no way that these two men could reach them in their secure position, but God showed them a way whereby they could ascend the precipice, and surprise the enemy.

At this stage Jonathan was a true leader, and in true faith he said to his armour bearer, "Come up after me, for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel". So Jonathan then went up on his hands and knees, and his armour bearer, nerved by Jonathan’s faith, courage, and example followed on his hands and knees also. This did not seem to be a very dignified way to approach a crucial battle, but it was God’s way, and it was the only way. Ever since that time, God’s people in every age have won many a battle on their knees. The great battle of Ephesians 6:11-18, is fought and won on our knees. (verse 18).

When Jonathan rose from his knees, and began to use his sword, men fell everywhere, and in a short time there were twenty bodies lying on about a half acre of ground. Jonathan wounded them, knocked them down, and his armour bearer killed them completely after him. You will ask but how could he do this, because he had no sword? It is obvious that he took up the swords of the fallen men, and he slew them with their own swords.

Now God stepped in, and honoured the faith and courage of these two men, he did what they could not do. A terrible fear came into the hearts of the Philistine soldiers, ‘there was trembling in the host’ they saw the display of courage and faith that they had never witnessed in their lives before. The day of reckoning had come, and now they must answer to the God of Israel for their wickedness. Then we read that the trembling came also amongst ‘all the people’, ‘the garrison ‘, and the ‘spoilers’, those that had used their position of power, to ravage the countryside, to rob and to spoil the people. Let us look at each of these separately.

1) The host. These were the soldiers of the huge army that the Philistines had assembled. To terrorise the people into a feeble submission. Perhaps they were not regular soldiers, but what would be called ‘reservists’ today. They had thousands of chariots, and horsemen, but these would be of no use when the earthquake struck. As the earth began to shudder and huge crevasses began to open up, the horses would, be filled with terror, and probably contributed to the huge death toll. There are many such even today who will swell the chorus of complaint and vilification against the people of God.

All the people. Here it is revealed that many had left the ranks of the faithful, to swell the ranks of the enemy. It is a sad characteristic in Western countries even today. How many there are that have left the Assemblies of God’s people, and have joined with all kinds of Churches to swell the ranks of those that are the real enemies of God and His people. They unite with those that will pour scorn and criticism on the poor ‘brethren’. There are so many today that will trumpet the successes of the large groups, and accept teachings that they know are contrary to the word of God. They will even give freely of their money to support the ‘showmen’ that lead and deceive such large congregations, with their trickery and false miracles. (Lying wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2: 9 & 11-12).

However these people were to add to the defeat of the Philistines, because when they witnessed the display of the mighty power of God, they realised the mistake that they had made in joining the enemy, and they then used the weapons of the Philistines against them. The fearful that had hidden themselves in the places mentioned before, came out of hiding and joined in the battle against the enemy. Here we see what would today be regarded as a revival, and the fulfilment that David wrote later in Psalm 110:3. It all came about because of the courage of two men.

Next we see that the Spoilers also trembled, (as well they might). These were the men that ravaged the homes and villages of the Children of Israel. They exploited the powerless state of the people for their own gain. May I say there are many such today! Men and women that have used the present weakness of Western Assemblies, to ridicule those principles of the Word of God, for which our godly fathers stood. They have used the ignorance of the word of God that is true of the majority, to push their ideas of ‘Paid Pastors’, and women publicly participating in prayer and also in preaching. Also the removal of the Lord’s Supper from the central place it had occupied for a century and a half. The acceptance of divorce and re-marriage, and even the calling of divorced and re-married men to be paid Pastors. Such have truly spoiled the Assembly testimony! Oh that we might see such a revival today!

Next we see that not only the different parts of the army shook, but that the earth itself quaked. Shaking seems to be God’s way of dealing with what is false. It reveals the true character of what men have built up. (Isaiah 2:19-21). In the Western world much harm has been done to the Assembly testimony by the increase of materialism. It may yet please the Lord to shake people out of their apathetic complacency. We are confronted wit a situation similar to that that prevailed in the Assembly at Laodicea, where they were materially prosperous, but spiritually poor. Those groups that have emphasised the ‘Prosperity Gospel, and doctrine’, and thus minister to the covetous nature of the flesh, are able to gather huge congregations. It makes one wonder what will happen if there is another great depression if it pleases God to shake the whole financial system? Because when He does so many will have huge mortgages that they will not be able to meet. The prices of property will suddenly decrease, and those things in which people have placed their trust will fall.

Thank God that he has provided for us a ‘Kingdom that cannot be shaken’. It is the eternal things that are of real value Hebrews 12:27. It is the things that remain that are truly valuable. The earthquake must have been a frightening experience for the enemies of Israel, and as we have suggested would have brought terror to the horses and those that rode or drove them. It would have made their escape nigh to impossible.

The noise of battle only increased, and God turned every man’s sword against his fellow. This is a common thing when God intervenes; because there are many that are united only in one thing, and that is in their opposition to God, to truth and to righteousness. A similar thing will take place in the great battle that is prophesied in Ezekiel 38:18-21, where an earthquake is also prophesied.

Jonathan had not consulted Saul on this occasion. This was for obvious reasons, as he knew very well what kind of a man his father was. Saul was a man that wanted all glory for himself, and he doubtless would have forbade Jonathan from entering on this venture of faith and courage. He was so busy with his war games that he had not even noticed that Jonathan had gone. It was only after a muster, and a call of the roll that it was discovered that Jonathan was missing. Saul then suddenly became religious he called for his high priest to bring the Ark of God, so that he might go through the formality of enquiring of God what to do. But as this religious exercise was being prepared, the noise and confusion of the battle only increased. He considered that there was no time now for ‘formalities’, so he marshalled his forces and came to the battle. He must have been amazed at what he saw. People who were weak, and had no courage previously, were transformed. They had gained a courage that was not their own. They had forsaken those to whom they had previously capitulated, and now had turned against the Philistines. This was nothing less than restoration, and here the power of God was being displayed.

Then those that had no love for each other, but were united only in their common hatred of Israel, and of Israel’s God, took the opportunity to settle old scores. They turned on their fellow soldiers, and turned their swords against each other. This was all done so quickly, it was the work of God, and when He begins to work, none can stay His hand. For we are told that "the Lord saved Israel that day", yet those who set this great victory in motion, were just two humble men, who were willing to hazard their lives in what must have seemed to them to be a hopeless endeavour. Let us never lose hope, for "if God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Saul had to find some way to regain his lost glory. So he uttered a curse, which was to fall on any one amongst the victorious that ate any food that day until evening. He wanted to be avenged, (as he said), on my enemies. Thus he returned to centre stage as it were, whereas he had nothing to do with the splendid victory that God had given to the people of Israel.

His rash curse only had the effect of limiting the scope of the victory, and of driving the people who were ravenously hungry, to do things that were wrong, and contrary to the Law of God. Jonathan did not hear his father’s curse, and ate some honey that was dropping down from the honeycomb. Western people may find this hard to understand, because in Australia wild bees usually select a hidden and secure place to locate their hives. That is they will find a hollow tree, and build their hive there, or sometimes in the cavity in the walls of a building. But in the northern hemisphere they usually build their hives on the outside of a tree or structure. Visitors to the Taj Mahal in Agra (India) can see black lines under the great domes over the entrance to that wonderful building. These black lines are beehives.

When the people told Jonathan of his father’s rash curse, he had the courage to show the wrong and rash character of his father’s attitude. He was the people’s hero, and they took more notice of his words and example, than they did of King Saul. However they threw caution to the winds, and slew cattle, sheep and calves on the ground, and ate the meat ‘with the blood’, which thing was forbidden in the Law. Saul then seemed shocked at what the people were doing, even though he was disobedient in other ways himself. He even built an altar unto the Lord, which we are told was his first. It was almost as if he had suddenly become religious. However it was all an outward show, and very soon he showed his ignorance in matters spiritual. He made up his mind as to what he would do, but the High Priest advised him to seek the will of God. However the priest was of the family of Eli, and God had rejected that family from serving Him as priests. Though they went through the formality of enquiring of God what to do, He did not answer. Even though Saul had never been in the habit of seeking God’s will in any matter, yet he construed this silence to mean that there was sin in the company.

Of course there was sin in the camp, in both the king and the people, but Saul endeavoured to use this as an opportunity of getting rid of Jonathan who had shown the courage and faith that caused God to intervene and to save Israel. Verse 40 shows this quite clearly. Saul was a coward, but he could not bear to be seen as such. He presented himself to the people as a champion of holiness, one that would stand for truth and righteousness. He was even prepared to sacrifice the life of his son Jonathan, however as it turned out, though he too was guilty of breaking God’s Law, yet he did not entertain the thought of laying down his own life. So the lot was cast and Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped. However as we have seen earlier the people were guilty of breaking God’s law, yet if we are to think that the answer was from God, what they did was overlooked, and what Jonathan did was more dreadful than what they had done. He did not break the Law of God, but he had not heard what his father had said when he pronounced the curse, and he ignorantly had broken the curse and commandment of man.

This shows that the system of gambling that Saul resorted to be quite wrong. There are some believers that use the Bible in a similar way that Saul used the lot. They make up their mind as to what they are going to do in some situation, and then they search the scriptures for some verse that will confirm to them that what they are doing is right. However God is able to use even gambling to cause His will to be made known. The verse in Proverbs 16:33, shows us this. This verse does not suggest that we are to resort to such a method to discern the will of God. but it does teach us that God is even able to overrule the decision that is made in this way.

Once Jonathan was taken, Saul then called on him to confess what he had done. Jonathan then told that he had only tasted a little honey, and yet he said, "lo, I must die". Jonathan’s honesty is to be commended. Truth was a rare commodity at that time. Many of those gathered had been living a lie, for the sake of choosing the easy path they had forsaken their own people, & had joined with the Philistines in their invasion of the territory of Israel. Yet Jonathan’s honesty stands out here, and the true nobility of his character shines

Saul then uttered a curse, at the same time seeking to justify his wounded pride, and his readiness to remove the one that was the hero of the day. "God do so and more also; for thou shalt surely die Jonathan". This sounds like the proclamation of a righteous man, but those words were the words of a hypocrite. In a previous chapter we have seen how that Saul broke the Law of God in his rash impatience. He intruded into the priest’s office by offering the burnt offering (chapter 13:10-13). Yet he was so ready to sacrifice the life of his son, just to gratify his own injured pride. In his hypocrisy he would slay Israel’s hero for such a paltry offence, yet cover his own great disobedience and failure. He tried to cover his jealousy and malice with a cloak of religiosity, and by using great spiritual words.

However the people showed that their sense of justice was much greater than that of their king. They stood behind him to the last man. "Shall Jonathan die?" they asked, "he has wrought with God this day". Thus not a hair of Jonathan’s head was allowed to perish, and Saul’s wicked designs were spoiled.

The remainder of the chapter is a story of success after success, until the miserable failure that is recorded in the next chapter. The victory over the Philistines was great, but the rashness of Saul rendered it incomplete. However their slaughter now put arms and weapons into the hands of the people of Israel and the experience of the victory that the Lord had given them, gave them courage to rise up and to subdue and to overthrow those enemies that has dominated and spoiled and enslaved them.

We are also told in verse 47 that "Saul took the kingdom over Israel" which seems to indicate once again his self assertiveness, his grasping for power, we shall see more of this later. In these verses we appear to have a concise history of the remainder of Saul’s reign. The details of this reign, and the events as they unfolded, are given to us in the remaining chapters of this book.

This chapter has some very important lessons to teach us. Samuel reveals his secret intercourse with God, and the things that God had revealed to him. Saul was given a task to fulfil, and the completeness of his obedience was to determine the durability 9or otherwise), of his kingdom. God had shown great favours towards Saul, so He justly required that Saul should obey His word absolutely

The test that Saul faced is a test that we all must face. That is the typical meaning of this test is something that we must all endure. Our obedience to the word of God, will also determine whether we are a blessing to the people of God, or a curse.

We might have thought that God would have overlooked what Amalek did to Israel four hundred years before. But right back in Exodus chapter seventeen God had made this vow, "I will have war with Amalek from generation to generation", Exodus 17:14-16. There He stated that He would utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. These things indicate that Amalek represents a principle that will exist in all the children of Adam, until only the children of the "Last Adam" remain on the new earth. God’s anger against Amalek was because of the fact that "his hand was on the throne of God". Soon after his creation Satan became lifted up because of his personal beauty, (he was the most beautiful of all God’s angels). He lusted after the throne of the Most High, but was cast down from that position of exaltation. And then set about to use his mighty power to spoil what was for the pleasure of God in His creation. When God created man, he gave to them the place of supremacy on the earth, and said, "Let them have dominion". Satan then, having been denied the throne of heaven, set about to spoil what was for the pleasure of God in man. He knew that if he could get man to sin then man would forfeit his right to the throne of the universe, and it would then become Satan’s. Men would then become his slaves or vassals, and God would be able to find His great pleasure in men again. God wished to be supreme in man’s affections and the heart of man would thus become the throne of God upon the earth.

However Satan put his evil hand on that throne, and through the fallen nature that Adam had received because of his fall, (the principle of indwelling sin, of sin in the flesh), Satan would then rule over men. This is what Satan uses today to control men wherever they are, or to whatever race they belong. This is the principle that Amalek represents, the principle of sin in the flesh. God hates this principle and He will never forgive it, but has declared that He will have war with it in every succeeding generation. The Spirit carries on that war within the Christian Believer now. Galatians 5:17. God has declared that it can never be sanctified or improved, and in the cross of Christ He has "condemned sin in the flesh". Romans 8:3.

God now requires each of His children to take sides with Him against what we are (as in Adam), against the flesh in us. If we fail to do this, then we will never share the victory of Christ, and we will never be maintained in the gain of that victory. We will not rule over the flesh, but it will rule over us, and our personal life and testimony will be a curse to others, and not a blessing.

We have noticed that at the end of chapter fourteen, we have a record of the many successes that were enjoyed by Saul and the people of Israel. It is often after meeting with success that we too face our greatest tests, it is then that Amalek attacks. We learn this from Exodus chapter seventeen, because it was immediately after the people of Israel had begun to enjoy the streams of refreshment that flowed from the ‘Smitten Rock’, (Christ), that Amalek came. My brothers and sisters in Christ will have noticed this. It is so often that Satan will attack after a time of special meetings, when we have drunk of the river of God’s pleasure, that when we go back into the ordinary circumstances of our daily life, and we feel that we are on a higher plane spiritually. He will present us with some temptation that is attractive to the flesh, and we will sin, and lose the enjoyment of the blessing of God.

This was so with King Saul. Samuel clearly conveyed the word and command of God to Saul, and sent him off to obey what was commanded. God commanded the total destruction of Amalek, and of all those things that Amalek possessed. Nothing was to be spared from the sword of destruction, but this is exactly where Saul and the people with him failed.

God prospered Saul right from the beginning of this campaign. He had no trouble in assembling a huge army of two hundred and ten thousand men. They were quite willing to join in this war, and victory seemed to be assured. The Kenites, the descendants of Moses’ father in law, were warned to separate themselves from amongst the Amalekites, which they quite willingly did. When the battle was joined, Israel’s victory was complete. They routed the Amalekites, and conquered their land from one end to the other. But after this obvious success then came a severe test, which they all failed. We have already discussed the meaning of Amalek, and they were commanded to utterly destroy the Amalekites and all that they possessed, they were not to spare anything. But this command seemed to be rather a waste. What could possibly be wrong with the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings and the lambs. So they thought that they knew better than God, and they ‘spared the best’, later Saul said that they did this so that they might offer them to God as burnt offerings, but this is doubtful. They also spared Agag, the king of the Amalekites, perhaps they wished to use him as a showpiece, to demonstrate their supremacy.

The flesh can be very deceiving, and there are some things about it that are very attractive, and like the children of Israel, we also may tend to spare the ‘good’ aspects of the flesh. We may even try to bring them in and to use them in the service of God. However we need to face the fact that the flesh is all bad. Paul had to come to this, and he did so when he exclaimed, "in me, that is to say in my flesh, dwells no good thing", Romans 7:18. Satan loves to delude us into thinking that the flesh is not all bad, that there is a refined side of the flesh, and that this can be sanctified and brought into the service of God. Please do not allow him to deceive you, because there is ‘no good thing’ in the flesh. Nothing can be salvaged from it, all is incorrigibly bad, and the only thing that God could do with it was to "Condemn Sin In the Flesh", Romans 8:3.

How much damage has been done in Western Assemblies by trying to introduce the things of the "World, The Flesh and The Devil" into the worship of God? Many Assemblies have turned what used to be the meeting for remembrance and for worship into a kind of concert. In some Assemblies it is the practice to have dance band instruments, and girls with mikes up on the stage singing, and jigging about with sensual fleshly movements, imitating Pop stars. The list of departures from the word of God is too long to define here, but God hates it all. He requires simple obedience to His word by us all.

Saul thought that he had done well, he was proud of his achievement, and when he came to Carmel he set himself up a monument to that achievement. But it turned out to be a monument to his disobedience, or shall I say his partial obedience. He had obeyed some of the commands of God, but he stopped short of obeying all that God had told him to do. When God had told Samuel that it made Him sad to think that He had anointed Saul to be king, and that it grieved God’s heart that Saul had so quickly turned back from following Him, that he had not kept all of His commandments. It grieved the heart of Samuel also, and he cried to the Lord all night, hoping that He might change His mind. But God never changes His mind. The false prophet was compelled to say of Him that He was not a man that He should lie or the son of man that He should repent. God knew what Saul would do before ever He chose him to be Israel’s king. But the suddenness of Saul’s decline brought grief to the heart of God.

It grieved the heart of Samuel that God had rejected Saul from being king, and he cried to God all night. His example would put most of us to shame. How many of us who read this article would think of denying ourselves a good night’s sleep, to give ourselves to the ministry of interceding for another that has failed? How different things might have been for that brother or sister if only we had prayed for them more?

However though his heart was broken, Samuel rose early in the morning, to meet his disobedient brother. This was to be a meeting that brought him no pleasure, but faithful man that he was, he went down to Gilgal to meet Saul, and to deliver God’s message of anger and rejection. Samuel obviously had great hopes of Saul, and though he spoke very sternly to him, yet he constantly grieved over him and his rejection, (see chapter 16:1). It is an unchanging principle with God, that He takes away the first, that he may establish the second, (Hebrews 10:9). Abraham pleaded that God would accept Ishmael. (Genesis 17:18), this seems to be the natural desire even of the godly person. However we are told in 1 Corinthians that what is natural is first, and then what is spiritual, 1 Corinthians 15:46. The flesh finds it hard to part with that which is natural. Samuel had heard, (we are not told from whom), that Saul had come to Carmel and had set himself up a monument there, and had gone down to Gilgal. Thus with a heavy heart he came to Saul at Gilgal, and he found him to be in a very genial, boastful mood.

Saul greeted Samuel with a great welcome. "Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord." A man of lesser discernment might have been carried away by this greeting, but not Samuel. His reply was "What meaneth this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of oxen that I hear?" Samuel knew what the command of God was, and that it called for the destruction of everything that belonged to Amalek. But his question drew forth an excuse from Saul, and also revealed his cowardly character, because he blamed the people, telling that they had "spared the best….to sacrifice unto the Lord". As if the apparently noble motive, would serve to turn aside the anger of the Lord. He told that all that was of lesser value, and all that was evil, they had utterly destroyed. This is a very great warning to us. There is with us all a tendency to ‘spare the best’. Not all that is connected with the flesh is apparently sordid and bad. There are some aspects of it that are very pleasing to us, these are the things that we tend to spare that which pleases us, and even to bring it in to the service of the Lord. To offer to God that which is hateful to Him, yet pleasing to us. May the Lord give us grace to judge everything by His word, and to reject all that His word condemns.

It seems that at this point Saul must have begun to move away, perhaps fearing what Samuel might say next, but Samuel commanded him to stay, so that he might tell him what the Lord had said to him during the night. It is a characteristic of our day that people do not like to hear the Lord’s word; they do not want to listen to anything that will touch their consciences. Paul told Timothy that such a time would come, 2 Timothy 4:3. It is a common thing today for the leaders in some Assemblies to ask the question, "Do you feel comfortable with this or that?" We are told that the word of God is as a sword that pierces the belly, and divides. If we have a sword in our belly, will we feel ‘comfortable’?

However Saul was made to hear the word of the Lord. This word reminded him of the great favour that God had shown to Him when he was "little in his own eyes". It seems to be very obvious that that was long ago, and that now Saul was big and important in "his own eyes". But now God had given him an explicit command, which Saul had only partly obeyed. He was told to "utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites" until he had consumed them. But he had "spared the best’, and brought their King, (Agag), alive as a prisoner. Now Saul is asked, why he did not obey the voice of the Lord. To this searching question Saul replied that he had done so. But he had only partly obeyed the commandment of the Lord. He and the people who followed his lead, "flew upon the spoil", like greedy vultures. In doing so they had done evil in the sight of the Lord, and brought down His displeasure upon them.

Saul and the people sought to lessen the displeasure of God, claiming that they had done this so that they might offer them as a sacrifice to the Lord in Gilgal. This should be a warning to us. It should clearly tell us that the end does not justify the means. But God cannot take pleasure in that which He has condemned to judgment.

Samuel was quick to point out that God could find no pleasure in such sacrifices. What He requires of us is implicit obedience. He finds His pleasure in our listening to His voice, and obeying His word. To listen to His voice, and to obey what He says, brings delight to His heart. Disobedience, or partial obedience, is as the sin of witchcraft. That is when we only partly obey we play into the hands of the Devil himself. Stubbornness is just as bad as the iniquity of idolatry. That is we put ourselves in the place that only God should have. We make ourselves to be wiser than Him, we become master of our lives, rather than giving the place of supremacy and control to God.

Saul then tried to avert the displeasure of God by feigning repentance. "I have sinned", were his shallow words. He then went on to blame the people further, claiming that he feared them, when he was responsible to set the right example to others. However Samuel saw through this shallow pretence and refused to justify Saul in the eyes of the people. His response was "I will not return with thee, for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected thee from being king".

True repentance is always accompanied with godly sorrow, but this was totally lacking with Saul. In fact we are told in 2 Corinthians that godly sorrow leads to repentance, chapter 7:10. Saul was concerned only about his place of prominence and leadership. When he turned to go away, Saul tried to restrain him by holding on to his clothes, with the result that they were torn. Samuel then used this to speak prophetically. He said that the "Lord has rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, who is better than thou". He then used a title of the Lord’s that is not repeated any where in the Bible, to my knowledge. "The Strength of Israel will not lie, nor repent". This is such a comforting title, "The Strength of Israel". He and His word are completely reliable and we may safely rely of Him at all times, and in all circumstances.

Samuel then turned back with Saul, but he took no part in the sacrifice that Saul and the people offered. He would have no part in empty religion, simply to endorse the disobedience of Saul. But he, (though an old man), did what Saul had failed to do. He called for the king of the Amalekites to be brought to him. Agag came gaily and with great presumption, being assured that the bitterness of death was past. Saul had spared his life, why should he fear the old man Samuel? But Samuel did what Saul had failed to do. With a sword he hewed Agag in pieces, ‘Before the Lord". But not before he had uttered those words that are still true today. "As thy sword has made many women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women". It is the activities of the flesh that results in such spiritual death and barrenness among the people of God in every age and even today.

The partial obedience of Saul meant that some of the Amalekites had escaped, and as they recovered they continued to be a thorn in the sides of God’s people. It was Haman the Agagite, (the royal title of the kings of Amalek), that almost succeeded in annihilating the people of Israel in the book of Esther. Finally it was the sword of the Amalekite that put an end to Saul’s own life. 2 Samuel 1:10. Saul had tried to commit suicide, but failed in his attempt, and so it was an Amalekite that put an end to his life. Saul spared the Amalekites, but the Amalekite did not spare him. Let us be warned, if we fail to use the sword of God’s word against the flesh, it will make or lives unfruitful in the service of God.

God knew before hand what Saul would do. He knew that Amalek, and what Amalek represents would continue to be a trouble to all that would please Him. It was because of this that He said, ‘The Lord hat sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek, from generation to generation." Exodus 17:16.

When all was settled, Samuel went to his house in Ramah, and Saul to Gibeah, and Samuel never came to see Saul again, until the day of his death. They did meet again, doubtless, but Samuel never arranged the meeting. Saul spent most of the rest of his days hunting the one that God had anointed to be king in his place. This trial was the turning point in the life and reign of Saul.

Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul for the rest of his life. But the die was cast, for the Lord repented, (was sorry), that He had made Saul king over Israel.

Let us heed the warnings of this chapter, if we spare the flesh, the flesh will not spare us, (our spiritual lives). God will not accept partial obedience. He has condemned sin in the flesh, and we must do so also. We must take sides with God against our old selves, our old nature there is no other way. Never let us "spare the best", and think to use it in the service and worship of God. Absolute obedience and nothing less will suit His holy desires for us. May you and I have the grace to obey Him completely!

This chapter is significant because it introduces us to the ‘Man after God’s own heart’, but it also reveals to us the weakness of the flesh in Samuel who continued to mourn over Saul, his failure, and the fact that God had rejected him from being king over Israel. Verse one comes as a warning to us when we realize that such a man as Samuel was had to be rebuked by God, for holding on to the wrong man. There may be many of us still, that mourn over Saul, that are loath to give up our support and admiration of the man that God has judged and set aside. Saul was outwardly a handsome character, but he was the choice of the people, not the choice of God. The flesh can assume an outward character that is appealing to the flesh in us, and we are prone to hold on to it, and are often unwilling to let it go, to give it up.

The verse quoted in an earlier chapter comes to mind, "I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath", Hoseah 13:11. God has tried men out in all circumstances, before introducing His ‘man’, His King, Psalm 2:6. David was the man of God’s choice, the man of God’s provision, and a beautiful type of his own greater son, our Lord Jesus Christ; "the King", and the King of Kings. He is the one that God desires should rule in our hearts, for His glory, and for our blessing.

We have commented before that the ‘horn’ when filled with oil, and used in anointing, is related to God’s pleasure, whereas the ‘vial’ is related to God’s displeasure, and His judgment. Samuel is commanded by God to fill his horn with oil and to go to Bethlehem. There he would meet the one that God had chosen, but Samuel revealed his human weakness, his fear of man, and the fact that just at this moment he did not fully trust in the power of the Almighty to protect him from the wrath of Saul. However God kindly accepted and provided for that human weakness, and instructed the fearful Samuel what to do.

The occasion of the anointing of God’s King was to give Him pleasure, and also to bring blessing to those that submitted to the rule of that King. He was to take a heifer and to offer a sacrifice of peace offering, so that God would be glorified and men would be blessed. It brings to mind the proclamation of the Angel of the Lord, accompanied by the heavenly host in Luke 2:14, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good pleasure toward men". Thus reassured Samuel did as God told him, and went with the added warning that he was only to anoint the one that God would clearly name to him.

Let us see to it that we too only anoint Great David’s Greater Son, as the absolute Lord and King of our lives. This warning and the details that follow, clearly show the human tendency to anoint the wrong one as Lord and King. Christ alone is the One to whom we must give absolute loyalty, allegiance, and obedience. He must reign supreme on the throne of our hearts, He will never share that throne with another, and he will never tolerate a rival to that place of absolute supremacy in our hearts.

Samuel readily obeyed what God had told him to do. And though he no longer had any part in rule or administration, yet the Elders of Bethlehem, trembled when they saw him, fearing that he had come to bring judgment, they revered him. But Samuel had not come to bring judgment, rather he had come to bring blessing. Blessing always follows when we anoint God’s King as our absolute Lord and Master. This was done at the clear commandment of God otherwise it would have been treason. Samuel then told them to sanctify themselves, and to come to the feast, the sacrifice of peace offering.

It seemed quite lawful for Samuel to do this, though normally such a sacrifice should have only been offered at the brazen altar, at the Tabernacle. But these were abnormal days. The Ark was no longer in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. If the tabernacle had been re-erected then, it was not at the place chosen by God, but at Nob, (1 Samuel 21:1). The sacrifice of peace offering was the only offering eaten by the offerer and his friends it was an occasion of feasting.

Once the fears of the Elders were allayed, and all those invited had cleansed them selves, the sacrifice was offered and the feast was prepared. It was then that Samuel took Jesse aside into another room, (as this was a secret matter and was not to be made known to Saul). Then each of Jesse’s sons was made to pass before Samuel. When Eliab the eldest of Jesse’s eight sons stood before Samuel, he said surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him. This shows that Samuel was conscious of another presence, the very presence of Jehovah, the Lord of heaven and earth. But Samuel was only looking on the outward appearance of Eliab. This is all that any man is able to do, but God had to rebuke Samuel, telling him that he was only seeing from man’s viewpoint, whereas God looks deep within, He looks on the heart. God had refused the one that Samuel would have anointed. Samuel was suitably rebuked, and one by one seven of Jesse’s sons passed before him. Samuel was perplexed, had he made a mistake? He then asked Jesse, "Are all thy children here", only to be told that the youngest, the last, the one that they considered was least important, was not there. "Send and fetch him" Samuel commanded "for we will not sit down till he come hither".

David shines here, he was ‘keeping the sheep,’ so different to Saul who was looking for lost Asses when he was anointed king. David was not considered to be important, the whole show could have gone on without him, such is the way with men However he was very important to God, and Samuel was now in tune with the heart of God, the feast could not go on without the presence of God’s King. David now shines as a beautiful type of Christ. He could say "I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep", John 10:11, & 14. Thus Jesse sent and brought him in, and when he came his cheeks were ruddy, from the fresh outside air, and he was of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. As Samuel gazed upon such beauty the word of God came to him, "Arise, anoint him: for this is he." Samuel then took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren:

So let us each anoint the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, as our Lord and King! Let us pour out upon Him the oil of our adoration and worship! David was faithful in that which was regarded as least, thus God could now entrust him with greater responsibility. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him from that day forward. God’s Holy Spirit was to be the power of every right deed and action that he took from then on. David did not need the Holy Spirit’s power to fulfil his earthly calling as a shepherd, but now he was soon to be a shepherd of men, and at last the shepherd of the nation of Israel, (under God). To fulfil this function adequately and well, he needed a power and wisdom beyond his own.

Perhaps we should point out here the difference between such as David, and other Old Testament believers. It is plain from many passages that the Holy Spirit came upon people, and sometimes enabled them to do supernatural things. He even came upon the Apostles, and the seventy that the Lord sent out, and enabled them to do wonders. But after Pentecost the Holy Spirit would not merely be upon them, but would dwell in them. John 14:17. He would be with them forever, verse 16. He would never leave them, until His work was completed in their souls, and they were taken to be with Christ, (which is far better).

Not only this, but once they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ who was with them, would thereafter be in them. Also they would be in Him. This is true for us also, how wonderful it all is. The Holy Spirit indwells every true believer and will never leave him or her. The Lord Jesus also dwells in us, and we are in Christ, and thus there is within us a new creation.

These days of David’s youth were probably his brightest spiritually. The work of a shepherd was a relaxing work. While out in the countryside David was away from the problems associated with family life etc. and he was nearer to God, and beheld the beauty of the scene that surrounded him. Though there were times of danger that called for courage, yet these very things enabled David to develop a simple faith in God, and to prove God’s ability to save, which stood him in good stead later in life. It also became the subject of many of the songs or Psalms that he composed. As he carried out his work, he grew closer to God, and became like Him, "A man after God’s own heart". All was a preparation for the heavy responsibility that was to be thrust upon him in God’s time.

It seems that when he led out the sheep to graze, he also carried his harp with him. When all was peaceful and quiet, he would play that harp while the sheep grazed quietly. The haunting, soothing strains of the melodies that he played on that harp, must have drifted around the hills and the valleys. He was playing to God and to himself but perhaps unknown to him, others were listening, and they found comfort and healing for their troubled spirits as they listened to his music. Little did he know that his playing and singing to God, was to have an important part in shaping his future.

This is a picture of what pure true worship is meant to do, both to us and to others. Worship is to, (and for), God alone. But as we worship God in "Spirit and in truth", though we do not seek it, yet we are blessed. Where this worship is audible, such as when the Christian believers are gathered together to remember the Lord Jesus by partaking of His Supper, then those that hear what we offer to God will also be blessed. This may then prompt them to respond in worship to God, in singing or in praise and worship

What was the beginning of great blessing for David was the beginning of years of curse and trouble for Saul. The same Spirit that so blessed the life and reign of David had been available to Saul during the years of his reign up until this time. But Saul had rejected the sweet influence of that Holy Spirit, and preferred to follow his own selfish aspirations, and his own rash ways. How different things could have been for him, but the patience of God that had borne so long with him, was now extended to his neighbour, who was better than him. To make matters worse, another spirit came to him, an evil spirit from Jehovah. He had chosen to go his own way. Had chosen to serve the Devil, and now he was to be tormented by the very one that he had chosen to be his master.

Hereafter Saul struggled against God, and struggled to keep his hold on power. He lost any joy that he had, and became a sullen and irritable man, who was suspicious of everyone. His servants suffered also, because in his fits of sullenness and despondency he ill-treated them also. However there was one amongst those that waited on him who could understand that what was troubling his master was an evil spirit from God. This shows that God may use Satan or his servants to punish those that reject him. This is meant to be a warning to us. When we resist the Holy Spirit, and grieve Him constantly. When we are determined to do our own will and to go our own way. God may have to allow us to reap the harvest that we have sown. If we sow to the flesh, then surely we will reap corruption from the flesh. Galatians 6:7 & 8. If we try to save and to foster the old self-life, then we will surely lose it. Matthew 16:25.

This servant, (along with his fellow servants), suggested to Saul that he needed something to soothe his spirit when he was troubled. They urged him to seek out a man that was a cunning, or skilful player on the harp. So that when he fell into his fits the musician could play soothing music and he would become well again. Saul agreed, and David was suggested for this purpose. Everything about God’s chosen was attractive, so he shines here as a type of Christ, who is altogether lovely. David was skilful at playing the harp. Perhaps this servant of Saul’s had heard him playing while he watched the sheep.

This brings to mind an experience that I had in (Phanapur), Punjab, India. I had gone there to have meetings with the people of this ‘Christian’ village. Often in the early evening when walking to the meeting, I would hear the sweet haunting sounds of the flute being played by an old man who sat in the doorway of his humble home. I was told that the old man was a shepherd. The beautiful but doleful sounds of his music filled the whole valley as we walked by. This servant of Saul probably had a similar experience

However added to his musical ability was the fact that he was a man of courage, one that was not afraid to face the foe, whatever that foe might be. The Lord Jesus is often portrayed as a soft effeminate character that only manifested kindness during His holy life of humility here. But though his kindness was such as charmed the hearts of all that love Him, yet it was blended with courage also. This courage made Him to face the ‘Mighty Charmer of our unhappy Race’, alone. He fought the fight alone, and destroyed him that has the power of death, and set us free. Blessed be His holy name! David was also prudent in matters. How like our blessed Lord Jesus he was. What prudence and wisdom the Lord Jesus displayed in all His words and ways! Finally David was the most attractive, comely person, and the Lord was with him. As quoted earlier David was a type of Him who is "altogether lovely", and is the "Chiefest amongst ten thousand". Saul heeded the advice given and sent for David.

Jesse was probably afraid when Saul’s request came. Had he heard of what Samuel had done at God’s command? Was he about to take revenge and to murder the one that God had anointed to replace him? So when sending David, he sent with him a sizeable gift. Perhaps this was to remove any doubt that Saul may have had, as to his loyalty. (God knows). When David came and stood before Saul the king loved him, and made him his personal servant. (Though the A.V states that he made him his armour bearer, the word for armour has many meanings. This was not a time of war, and the next chapter tells us that David was not accustomed to handling or bearing Saul’s armour). Saul sought permission fro Jesse to keep David with him permanently, but though permission was granted, yet later David returned to the care of those sheep that he loved. Thus David was able to show to the rejected monarch that there was greater power in grace, in seeking to soothe the sorrows of others, than in an arbitrary demanding attitude of self-importance. So it was that God used David to show Saul what he loved and looked for in a king.

This chapter is full of beautiful pictures, and full of beautiful teachings and glimpses of the glory of Christ. Any child that has attended Sunday school will have heard the story that is recounted in this chapter. There are countless souls that have come to know the Lord Jesus, Great David’s greater Son through this chapter. May our meditation result in our hearts growing to love Him more!

It seems that David’s ministry with music to Saul was effective, because he was able to return home, and to take up his work as a shepherd again after a time. This would seem to indicate that Saul had been delivered temporarily of the demon induced malady that had troubled him previously. Perhaps David’s example would be a challenge to us. Who of us would be willing to minister to the one that God had rejected, and whose place he was to take? It seemed that David left the timing of his ascending the throne in the hands of the Lord who had sent Samuel to anoint him. He certainly had no lust for power or prominence but was prepared to do the humble work of a shepherd until God’s time was come.

This points up a real problem in the lives of many. Though it seems that the Lord has shown us what he wants us to do, yet He chooses to make it impossible for us to fulfil the calling that it seems He has given to us. Too often those that are called want to be occupied in that calling at once, and we get irritated when God makes it impossible for us to answer that call at once. We tend to be over-occupied with the urgent need that may exist, and we wonder why God apparently wastes years of our lives before enabling us to fulfil the purpose for which He has called us. Let us bear in bind that God is never in a hurry, (but He is never too late). He waited for so long to fulfil the promise that He made to Eve, in Genesis 3:15. It was no less than 4,000 years before He sent forth His Son. "In the fullness of time", (or at exactly the right time). Not a moment too soon, yet not a moment too late. He was 80 years preparing Moses for the greatest work of his life, even though it would seem that He had shown him very early in life just what He was going to use Moses to do.

Do not chafe or fret my troubled brother or sister, God knows what He is doing, and His timing is perfect! Sometimes we feel guilty, thinking that we are wasting time while precious souls are perishing, but we need to remember that God loves lost sinners far more than we ever could. Neither is He restricted to what He may accomplish through such as we. When He works, none can stay His hand. His holy will, shall be done in every matter. "Though the vision tarry….wait for it" .Habakkuk 2:3.

Much had happened since Saul’s last encounter with the Philistines. At that encounter God had honoured the simple faith and trust, as well as the courage of Jonathan. The guidance and power of Jehovah’s Spirit was available to Saul, but now that Spirit had been taken away from him, and the Lord had rejected him from being king over Israel. The Philistines had regrouped, and had undergone a kind of revival. They were ready once again to challenge the supremacy of Israel, and they wished to bring them again under their rule and bondage.

Perhaps the Philistines attributed their last defeat by the Israelis to a champion, to Jonathan, so now they bring forward a champion of their own. However their champion was completely different to Jonathan, because though Jonathan was just an ordinary man, their champion, Goliath, was a giant of a man, and had probably descended from the Anakim. Some of these were destroyed by Caleb, but those that remained of that race, were now located in three of the cities of the Philistines. See Joshua 11:22. This world has a champion also, and he is none other than Satan, who is both the ruler and god of this world. Satan loves to get all men under his slavery, and he uses the presence and power of sin in man to affect this. John, 8: 34, (where the word servant is really ‘slave’).

Saul was head and shoulders above all the people, but this giant was at least 9’6", (depending on which cubit one uses). Some commentators give his height as 10’6", and others up to 11’4", but he was no small man. Goliath was both boastful and arrogant. He boldly stood forth and bellowed his challenge to the fearful people of Israel. Saul was the best-equipped man in stature as well as in weapons, to face this giant, but he sat shivering with fear in his tent. He was fearful in the extreme, as the Spirit of the Lord had been removed from him; his only resources were simply human so his fears were well founded. His fears were shared by the soldiers of the army, and all were both ‘dismayed and greatly afraid", verse 11.

It is at this crisis point that God’s Man is introduced. His father, called David from his position as shepherd, loads him with provisions and sends him to those fearful soldiers and their captain. David now stands out as a beautiful type of Christ, in contrast to all those fearful soldiers.

Though loaded with the tokens of his father’s goodness, yet his elder brother reproaches David, with mere vanity pride, naughtiness of heart, and idle curiosity. Eliab reproaches David, even with his occupation, asking "With whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness?" However David had arrived just at the right time, to hear the filthy Philistine bellow his boastful challenge. David was disgusted at the cowardice and fearfulness of the Israeli soldiers. So he began to ask what reward would be given to the man that slew the giant, and thus took away the reproach from Israel. He turned away from his older brother’s criticism and began to ask his questions of others. He was angered that this uncircumcised Philistine should "defy the armies of the Living God". He was also disgusted that there was not a single man who had the courage to face the giant.

David’s words were reported to Saul who sat trembling in his tent, and he was summoned into the royal presence. There King Saul was confronted with the beautiful young man that had played his sweet and comforting music before him at home. David then sought to comfort Saul with is words and his courage at this crisis time. Saul though rebuked by the courage of this young man, tried to point out to him the apparently unequal contest that he was suggesting.

But David had something that Saul did not have, and that was experience with God. He relates the experiences that he had when unarmed he cared for his father’s sheep. He had more than courage; he had faith in an Almighty God. He firmly stated that the God that delivered him out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, would deliver him out of the hand of the hand of the Philistine also. Saul could not argue against such faith, so he bade David go, and wished the blessing of God upon him.

Saul then clothed David in his own armour, armour that he was not brave enough to wear himself. But David was not willing to put his trust in what he had not proved. He had proved the power and the help and the protection of the Living God, he was prepared to trust God but not Saul’s armour. So with nothing more than his shepherd’s bag, and the sling that he had used so often, he went down into the valley of Elah. There he chose five smooth stones out of the brook that flowed through the valley. And with a firm confidence in God, ran on to meet the Philistine. This scene reminds me of a verse of J.N.Darby’s lovely poem.

The strong man in his armour,

Thou mettest in Thy grace.

Didst spoil the mighty charmer,

Of our unhappy race.

In this story we have a beautiful picture of what took place at that place called Golgotha. The word Elah means Oak, and it reminds us of what Peter tells in his first Epistle, chapter 2:24 where he says that Christ, "Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree". There the blessed Son of God, as a lowly humble man, faced the mighty charmer, of our unhappy race.

Some have questioned why David chose five smooth stones out of the brook? Did he think that he might miss with one or more shots? Some have even suggested that as Goliath had four brothers, that he was intending to slay them also. However I do not think that this is supported by the context. I would suggest that the number five in scripture represents human weakness. We have five fingers on each hand, (our feeble service), and five toes on each foot, (our feeble walk). It is said that the Lord Jesus was "crucified in weakness", 2 Corinthians 13:4.

David was not the least bit afraid, but ran on to meet the giant. The sight of this unarmed young man caused the self-confident Philistine who when he saw this beautiful young man, first disdained him, then cursed him in the name of his gods. David was not terrified either by the sight of this huge man, nor was he deterred by his curses. He simply referred to the things in which the Philistine had put his trust, and warned him of the terrible nature of what he was doing, in defying the armies of the Living God, & that his confidence was in that God alone. He humbly told the giant how that God would give him into his hands, and that he would take off his head, and give the carcases of the army of the Philistines to the "fowls of the air, and the wild beasts of the earth". The result of that battle that day would have universal results. "All the earth would know that there is a God in Israel" The result of the battle that was fought at the place of the skull, even eternity will not fully reveal. Truly "All the earth" will know in a day soon to come, the reality of the existence of God. The reality of sin, the reality of God’s righteousness, and His holiness. The wonder of His love, all were fully revealed there.

On that cross, after the three hours of darkness had passed, and the judgment of God had been exhausted, the Lord Jesus cried, "It is finished". There the work was done, and all was completed. Blessed be His Holy Name! Just as David came up out of the valley with the head of the giant in his hand; so the Lord Jesus arose from the dead on the third day. The conquest of the enemy was then complete. Sin, Satan, Death and the grave had all been conquered. The words of the angel are so beautiful, "He is not here, but is risen". The victory was then complete! The poet could write-

With spirits hushed,

We gaze upon Thee dead.

God’s love revealed,

And crushed the Serpent’s head.

This story has never failed to capture the admiration of men and of children in every age, especially those that have attended Sunday school. It even inspired an Israeli soldier youth, during the 1967 war, when single-handed he destroyed an enemy tank and its crew. David’s courage and his faith that enabled him to conquer in these seemingly impossible circumstances, has been an inspiration also to Christian believers down through the ages. It brings to mind the verse in 1 John 5:4, which tells us that it is the believer’s faith, that gets the victory over the world. It is not faith alone, but the object of that faith that is important. David’s faith was not in himself, nor in his strength or ability, but in the Mighty God of Israel. If our faith rests in the God of the Bible, (our Heavenly Father), then He will always honour that faith. "If God be for us, then who can be against us", (Romans 8:31.)

Once the verbal exchange had ended, David ran, (unafraid), to meet the Philistine. He put his hand into the shepherd’s bag and selected one stone and put it into his sling, then slung it with all his might at the giant. All the armour that the Philistine was wearing was of no use to him, because his forehead was exposed. The stone found its mark, and sank into the giant’s forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. David then stood on his huge form, and cut off his head with the giant’s own sword. What an example of courage and simple faith this is to us all!

When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead they fled. This shows how the enemy’s word cannot be trusted. What Goliath proposed was that if he was slain then the Philistines would be the slaves of the Israelis. But they were not willing to abide by this promise. This should be a warning to us, that we should never trust the enemy’s word in any matter. Satan will promise much, but all that he gives is a moment’s fleeting pleasure, which is followed by a lasting sense of guilt and shame

But the victory inspired the soldiers of the armies of Israel. They became ashamed of their fear and their cowardice. They had run away at the very threats of the giant, but they were made to feel ashamed when this unarmed youth so readily faced the giant, was unafraid of his boastful curses, and overcame him with a sling and a stone. But when they saw the tyrant dead on the ground, their courage returned. They arose, they shouted, and pursued the Philistines to the very gates of their capital cities. Many of the enemy soldiers were slain, others fell down wounded, and the Israeli soldiers plundered the goods and tents that they left behind, Thus all over whom David was to reign in God’s time, profited from David’s victory. In a similar way when we identify ourselves with Christ in His death it is then that we share His victory over the power of indwelling sin. Thus His victory becomes ours, as told in the hymn "His conquest was their own". However Christ won the victory by dying, as the same hymn says-

His be the Victors name,

Who fought the fight alone;

Triumphant saints no honour claim,

His conquest was their own.

Through weakness and defeat

He won the mead and crown.

Trod all our foes beneath His feet,

In being trodden down.

He Satan’s power laid low,

Made sin, sin’s reign o’erthrew;

Bowed to the grave destroyed it so,

And death by dying slew.

Bless, bless the Conqueror slain,

Slain in His victory;

Who lived, who died, now lives again

In heavenly Majesty.

It would have been normal for the King to lead this triumphant army in pursuit of their enemy, but it seems that Saul still afraid remained in his tent. When he saw David go forth against the Philistine, he realised that he had come from worthy stock, so he asked his uncle, who was the General of his army, "Whose son is this youth?" We are not to think that he did not know who David was, because he already knew him, and had been healed by his soothing music. But he was not aware of who David’s father was. It is to be noted that the qualities of Jesse are given to us early in the chapter. It brings to mind the question that the Lord Jesus asked the religious leaders of His day; "What think ye of Christ, who’s Son is He?" Matthew 22:42.

When David came up out of the valley with the head of the giant in his hand, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. As he stood there with that gruesome trophy, Saul could not help but admire him. He repeated the question that we have referred to earlier, and David was glad to confess his father’s name. It is interesting to note that David took the head of the Philistine to Jerusalem. Because it was there in the centuries later that Great David’s Greater Son, met and conquered the mighty charmer of our unhappy race. It was there on a hill outside that city that He crushed the head of the serpent.

However he put the armour of Goliath in his tent. This was his personal trophy, and was a constant reminder to him of the wonderful enabling of God who honoured his faith and courage. The Lord Jesus said that if one was to overcome the strong man that is armed, he must first bind the strong man. He then takes away the armour in which he trusted. This is exactly what David did, and he put the giant’s armour in his tent. It has been said by others, that when the Lord Jesus met Satan in the temptations, He bound the strong man, and then set about to plunder his goods. I would suggest that at the cross the Lord Jesus also "took away his armour in which he trusted".

What a wonderful Saviour we have! All glory be to His great and holy name!

.FIRST SAMUEL CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

In this chapter we have a mixture of love and hate, Jonathan’s love for David, and Saul’s hatred towards him. Let us first examine Jonathan’s love for David. It would seem that David and Jonathan were of a similar size and build also. We deduce this because it seems that David was able to wear Jonathan’s clothes. Jonathan must have seen David before this time, because he had stayed in the Royal home, when ministering to his father when sick in his mind. The sight of David’s courageous answering of the giant’s challenge, as he ran unarmed to meet him in the valley. The realization of his simple faith in God, appealed very much to Jonathan, and must have reminded him of his own exploits four years earlier. Perhaps it was a rebuke also to himself for his own lack of courage. It would seem that he was wearing the expensive garb of a prince when he was present and had listened to the conversation between David and his own father. David on the other hand was wearing the simple and humble clothing of a shepherd.

It would also seem that he had a shrewd assessment of Saul, his selfishness, his jealousy and his love of show, and the first place. Jonathan had almost forfeited his own life because of his father’s jealousy on a previous occasion. He also had some prophetic insight into David’s future, and as he revealed to him later, he knew that one day David would be king, (and he wanted to be next).

JONATHAN’S LOVE FOR DAVID

However when he looked at David, his soul was knit to David’s soul, and he loved him, "As his own soul" This statement is quite interesting and is I believe unique in scripture. I would suggest that this statement, ‘As his own soul’, indicates that his love for David, (though highly prized by him), was a selfish kind of love. This suggestion seems to be borne out in the later developments. I know that many of my brethren regard this statement as being a very intimate expression, of a deep love that Jonathan had for David. His love for David was not of the ‘Agape" variety, as described for us in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, where we are told that true love only ever seeks the good of it’s object, and is totally unselfish.

Perhaps Jonathan did not wish to see David clothed in the humble attire of a shepherd, and because of this he divested himself of his prince’s regalia, and clothed David in the same. This would be more in keeping with his position if he was to remain in the palace.

Perhaps it was an outward expression of his love for, and his commitment to David. If this was so, then there was one article that he did not surrender, and that was his footwear. This would mean that he reserved to himself the right to go his own way. It is exactly at this point that he failed. Though he loved David, and defended him verbally in a heated exchange with his father (Saul), yet he was not prepared to share his rejection. There is a sad comment in the last verse of chapter 20, where it is said that David arose and departed, (into rejection, in the wilderness), but Jonathan went into the city. There Jonathan chose to go along the path of supporting his father, (he had not given up this right).

Let us heed the warning; our committal to Christ must be total. It is possible for us to give up much, yet to reserve to ourselves certain rights to go our own way, or to do our own thing. It has been said by another, that ‘If Christ is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all’. If we hold back in any area of our surrender, then it will be to our undoing, just as it was with Jonathan.

SAUL’S JEALOUSY

Saul took David and would not let him return home any more. Though he feared him, and hated him, yet he was quite willing to make use of him. I fear that there are many today that would do the same to great David’s Greater Son. That is they will profess love to Christ, then use Him and His power to heal, and they will use His lovely name, for their own commercial gain. How sad! Saul used David’s military courage and skill to defeat and to punish his enemies. But he could not bear that David should receive the credit which was due to him. However David did not let that deter him from doing his best in every situation. He behaved himself wisely and commendably before all the servants of Saul and before the common people as well. Such was his behaviour that all of the servants of Saul, and most of the people loved him. It brings to mind what was said of the Lord Jesus in His childhood days, Luke 2:40 & 52. So that even in this matter David rises to be a type of Christ.

When the women in their songs, (in all innocence), ascribed thousands slain to Saul, but ten thousands, to David, it hurt Saul’s pride very deeply, and he turned against his most loyal servant, and the one to whom Saul owed so much. Where would he and the people over whom he ruled have been but for the courage and victory of David? But hearing the women’s song angered Saul deeply, and he eyed David from that day forward, looking for the opportunity to kill him.

NEITHER GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL

Saul by his jealousy-inspired anger gave place to the devil, and the demon that had troubled him previously returned to trouble his mind again. We are warned in Ephesians chapter 4 not to carry our anger from one day to another, but to put things right with God, and with the person (or people), we are angry with, before we go to sleep. Many of my brother’s and sisters find this very hard to do. Sometimes carrying their anger throughout their life time, and even carry it to the grave. This is very hard to understand because we have been forgiven so much. The Lord Jesus tells the story of the man who was forgiven so much, yet refused to forgive his brother for some trivial thing. This man ended up in prison, and is a warning to us. Once we are forgiven by our Heavenly Father for anything, He never goes back on that. However when we refuse to forgive others we lose our liberty, and get ourselves into bondage; we may lose our sense of having been forgiven. We also give place to the devil, (Ephesians 4:27). The devil is always very active in any case, and we do not need to give him any extra place.

Satan had a vested interest in getting rid of David. Perhaps he had a suspicion that he was the beginning of the line from which the Messiah and Saviour of men was eventually to come, and thus determined to get rid of him.

SOLDIER BECOMES MUSICIAN

Saul by his anger and jealousy played right into the hands of the devil. David put his sword aside, and changed his role from soldier to musician once again. It must have grieved David’s heart to see the misery of his master, and he tried again to restore him to his former contented frame of mind. However Saul had murder in his heart, and even when David tried to minister to him. Saul cast a javelin, (short spear) at David, thinking to pin him to the wall, David turned away out of his presence twice. Perhaps he made allowance for the first occasion, because Saul did not seem to be in his right mind. (He was mentally ill). But the second occasion must have satisfied him about Saul’s murderous intentions.

When Saul’s clumsy attempts to end David’s life did not succeed, he then removed him from his presence, perhaps he was hoping that the enemy would kill David, but he was to be disappointed in this stratagem also. David’s going out and coming in before the people, only endeared him even more to them. In whatever position he was, he behaved himself wisely, and the secret of his success is revealed in the following statement, "and the Lord was with him". This increased Saul’s fear of him, because the Lord had departed from Saul.

THE SNARE OF MARRIAGE

Saul next thought that he would trap David, by arranging his marriage to his daughter. Merab was part of the reward offered to the one that slew Goliath. Saul’s evil mind thought that the Philistines would kill him, but when it came to the fulfilment of his word, he gave Merab to another man. However God stepped into this matter, and caused affection for David to grow in the heart of Michal, Saul’s younger daughter. When told of this it suited Saul’s evil purpose, as he anticipated that she would be a snare to him. Often a wife can be a snare to her husband, but it was not to be in this case. Because it would seem that Michal really loved David, and on a future occasion arranged for him to escape the murderous hands of Saul.

This matter raises the question of marriage, and I realise that this article will be read by people of different cultures. In India it is the custom for marriages to be arranged by the parents, and often the Elders of the local Assembly have a part in those arrangements also. It is my own humble opinion that the principle of arranged marriages is the best, if carried out prayerfully, and with the glory of God, and the happiness of the couple their only consideration. However this is sometimes not so, because there is a dowry system that operates, and money comes into the consideration. This is sad in the extreme, and is illegal according to the law of the land.

In the West young people approach this very solemn matter very casually. Flirting is indulged in, and physical attraction seems to be the primary consideration. The result is often tragic, and the institution of marriage, which God intends to be a life-long contract, is being regarded with increasing lightness. As a result divorce, (which God hates), has become acceptable, and re-marriage is tolerated.

Whatever the views of my readers may be on this matter, I think that all godly folks will agree that the selection of a life-partner is a very serious matter. The life partner can be a great help, or a great hindrance to the other person, (spiritually). This relationship should always be approached very humbly and prayerfully, with a very real dependence on God. Next to the decision to accept Christ and to be baptised, this is the most important decision in the life of any individual.

However in this case God intervened, and what Saul intended to be David’s destruction turned out instead to be the destruction of the Philistines, because two hundred of them lost their lives as a result. Saul’s strategy was thus defeated, but the Princes of the Philistines were much disturbed by David’s bravery, and they marshalled their remaining forces, and went out to battle with the Israelis. It is interesting that we are not told what the result of that battle was. However we are told that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. Thus the Spirit of God focuses our attention on the ‘man after God’s heart’. His name was much set by. The chapter closes with the exaltation of the one who was a beautiful type of Christ.

In this chapter Saul’s hostility towards David only increased, and there were those of his servants that were willing to do what Saul wished, even to murder him. In John 15:25 the Lord Jesus said "They hated me without a cause". In Psalm 69:4 David tells us that those that hated him without a cause were more than the hairs of his head. Thus he manifests the grace and character of Christ, that patient holy Sufferer. The injustice of all that wicked men hurled against Him, or did to Him, only brought out the beauty and loveliness of His character. We shall see this repeatedly through the chapter.

The shameful injustice of Saul’s wicked intention was offensive to Jonathan, and he determined to discuss the matter with the King, and to try to turn him away from such wickedness, so it was that he made intercession for David. He advised David to hide himself that night, and to hide himself in a field the following morning when Jonathan went for a walk with his father, so that he could hear the conversation that passed between them.

As they stood in the field the next morning, Jonathan drew Saul’s attention to the great debt that he owed to David. He reminded Saul of the plight that he and all Israel were in when confronted by the Philistine giant. How that David put his life on the line, and slew the Philistine, and thus enabled the Lord’s victory to be experienced by all Israel. He recalled how that Saul rejoiced greatly at that time, and that before and since that time, David’s service to Saul had been very good and faultless. When Saul was thus confronted with the facts, he could see the injustice of his attitude, and he swore by Jehovah that David would not be slain. But the change of attitude was only temporary, and though David was brought again into Saul’s presence as in the times past, yet soon the evil spirit from the Lord returned, and Saul went back on his oath.

This was after David had gained a very decisive victory over a Philistine garrison. But David was willing to lay aside his weapons of war, and to take up his harp once again, in order that Saul’s mind may be restored to peace. But the spirit of jealousy burned in the heart of Saul, and once again he hurled a javelin at him, and tried to pin him to the wall. Perhaps he thought that David’s eyes would be on the instrument and that David would not notice Saul’s action in preparing to cast the javelin at him. But David was an expert musician, and he did not have to look at the strings, it just flowed out of his fingers. Thus he was able to keep his eye on Saul and when he was about to throw the javelin, he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and escaped.

Likewise the Lord Jesus several times evaded what seemed to be certain death. On one occasion the crowd took up stones to cast them at Him, but He just walked out of their midst. John 8:59. After preaching His first sermon at Nazareth, those in the synagogue seized Him, thrust Him out of the city, then led Him to the precipice of the hill on which their city was built, so as to cast Him down headlong, but He passed through their midst and went His way. Luke 4:28-30. When Herod, who had already beheaded John the Baptist, tried to kill Him, Jesus despised such a threat and called Herod a fox. He was not the least bit afraid of him. Luke 13:32.

David escaped to the apparent security of his own house, but Saul would stop at nothing. The Law of God forbade the actions of the king, but Saul had no respect for laws, he could not bear to be replaced and was determined to get rid of David. Satan also was determined to get rid of the first of the royal line from which the Messiah would eventually come. He wanted to make it impossible for our salvation to be accomplished. He wanted to plunge the whole race into Hell with himself. But God was not to be thwarted in His desire to have us with Christ, to be for His pleasure and delight eternally. Job could say, "I know that Thou canst do everything, and Thou canst be hindered in no thought of Thine", Job 42:2, (Darby trans).

At David’s house Michal, who Saul thought would be a snare to him, was the means of saving his life. She knew that her father was not to be trusted, and let David down through a window, to enable him to escape from the men that Saul had sent to bring him to his execution. She lied about this later, so as to deceive her father and perhaps to save her life. David then ran away to one that he knew he could trust, to Samuel. It was Samuel who at the command of God had anointed David king of Israel, and he had doubtless followed his case with great interest. It seemed to Samuel that it was not safe for them to remain at his house, so they went to Naioth. It seems that there was a place there where Samuel assembled young men to teach them the word of God, and to encourage them in spiritual matters. Perhaps he thought that Saul would not dare to come to that sacred place, but he was mistaken. David must have enjoyed the company of the old prophet, and Samuel probably taught him the value and power of prayer, as well as encouraging him to live for God’s glory.

It would seem that David had exhausted every human avenue to preserve his own life. But Saul was bent on having him murdered, so it was then that God stepped in. Saul had those who sought his favour, and sought to please him, though his actions were evil. So they informed Saul as to the whereabouts of David and Samuel. Saul then sent his servants to Naioth to arrest David and to bring him to Gibeah for execution. But when his servants came to Naioth they saw a company of these spiritual people, and heard them singing praise to the Lord, and Samuel standing and conducting them, the Spirit of God came upon them, (though they were on an errand to deliver a guiltless man up to be murdered), and they; though it was quite uncharacteristic of them, joined with the others in singing the praises of God. Thus God sovereignly intervened to rescue David from death, and he did it by making these men to join in the chorus of praise that was ascending to Him. So it was that when one party of soldiers were morally and spiritually disarmed, Saul sent two other parties of soldiers, with the same result. Finally he went himself but he too though a murderer at heart was overcome by the same Spirit, and stripped off his clothes, and laid down all night in that manner, which was quite unseemly for a king to do.

Here we see the display of God’s sovereignty. We are not to think that these men were suddenly changed, (as` was Saul of Tarsus), but they were defeated in their purpose. A similar case was that of Balaam the false prophet, when the Spirit of God came upon him, and made him to say things that he did not wish to say. (Numbers chapters 22-24). Though the Holy Spirit may if He chooses come upon even wicked people, yet He will never indwell any children of men, except those that are born again by His power and grace. The surprise of people that such a one as Saul should outwardly behave in such a manner is revealed in the twice repeated statement, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

It is so sad to realise that the very same power that was available to him at the beginning of his reign, (chapter 10:10 & 11), was now active in opposing him in his murderous intent. May the Lord give us grace that we may not grieve the Holy Spirit! That we may experience His Divine power and leadership, as we seek to glorify our great God, and Lord Jesus Christ! May we never be deceived into going against the will of God, and thus be in league with Satan, that the same Holy Spirit may not have to oppose us!

This is a tragic chapter, because it reveals the deep seated hatred that festered in the heart of Saul, and it also revealed the shallow and selfish nature of the love that Jonathan had for David. The last statement of the chapter is sad in the extreme, that David "arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city". Though (as the chapter reveals), Jonathan loved David, yet he was not prepared to share his rejection, and because of this, he never shared the blessings of his kingdom either. Let us be warned, it is only "If we suffer with Him, (Christ), we shall also reign with Him. 2Timothy 2:12, (J.N.D. trans.)

David used the opportunity while Saul was detained under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit to return to Gibeah and to meet with Jonathan. He could not understand, (because he was only human), the jealousy and hatred that Saul had in his heart towards him. He had never had any intention of usurping Saul’s place, or of rebelling against him, and of driving him from the throne. This was so even though Jehovah had sent Samuel to anoint him King over Israel. He was content to leave all that in the hands of God, and somehow he realised that this was for a future day. Meanwhile he honestly sought to serve Saul faithfully and well.

When they met he asked Jonathan "What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? In trying to answer these questions Jonathan revealed two things. He revealed that he believed that David would not die, but he also revealed his simplistic trust of his father, a trust that was soon to be betrayed. It is hard to understand why Jonathan trusted his father so. Saul had gone back on his word several times, but perhaps Jonathan attributed that to the sickness of his father’s mind. He had been his father’s confidante, and still he was sure that Saul would not do anything without first telling him. This was in spite of the several definite attempts that Saul had made to murder David.

But David knew better. He knew that Saul knew of the bond of affection that there was between Jonathan and David, and that because of this he would not divulge his intentions to his son. So they arranged one final test of Saul’s intentions. It was New Year, when it was the custom for families to gather, and to give thanks to God for all His goodness over the year just ended, and to seek His blessing on their lives in the year just begun.

It was the custom at this time to offer the sacrifice of peace offerings, where God received His portion, the priest received his portion, and the offerer used the rest of the animal sacrificed to feast with his family and friends. At such a time it was essential to observe the strict instructions of the Law regarding ceremonial cleansing.

Jonathan then took the opportunity to confirm his covenant with David. He knew that the day would come when Jehovah would cut off all the enemies of David, and would set him on Israel’s throne. Jonathan wanted to assure himself of a place then, and a place of prominence for his family also. So he made David to swear that not only during his own lifetime would he show them kindness, but even after his own death, that David would not remove his kindness from his house ‘forever’. They had agreed on the procedure to be followed during the following days, and having confirmed their covenant of friendship David returned to Bethlehem

It had been the custom over the years for David’s family to gather for this celebration, and it would seem that Jesse was now old and feeble, and the arrangements were in the hands of his eldest son Eliab. David now had two families, as he was married to the daughter of the King. So he asked permission from Jonathan to attend his own family festival, and Jonathan gave that permission.

However on the first night Saul noticed that David was not there. But he knew David’s desire to be obedient to the law of God, and he presumed that David was ceremoniously unclean. The festival however went on with out him. So different to what we read in chapter sixteen, where Samuel asserted, "We will not sit down until he comes hither". However human greatness and selfishness can get along OK without the One that David typified.

But when David was absent on the second night, Saul then asked Jonathan why David was not there. Jonathan then told of David’s request, and thus gave legitimacy to his absence. But Saul sensed that there was some arrangement between them, and he first rebuked and abused Jonathan in the presence of all the great personages that were present at the King’s table. However God gave Jonathan the courage to speak out, and to question the justice of what Saul was trying to do. He questioned Saul as to why he was intent on David’s murder, and asked what evil he had done. But Saul was furious, he was in no mood for arguing, and in the heat of the moment he cast the javelin at Jonathan to kill him also. He must have been a poor shot, as though they were so close, yet the javelin did not find its intended mark. However Jonathan’s love for David could not be hidden. He had sought to defend his friend against the jealousy and injustice of his father in the presence of the nobles, so he rose from the table in a fierce anger, and refused to take part in the festivities.

The following morning Jonathan took his weapons and a small boy to assist him and went out into the field as he had arranged with David. The lad was not privy to the previous arrangements, and in innocence performed his duty. Once the arrows were shot, then David knew what Saul’s attitude towards him was. So once Jonathan had given his weapons to the boy and had sent him away with them into the city, then David arose from his place. What followed was a very touching scene of respect and affection. David bowed three times, and then fell on his face at the feet of Jonathan. If there was any question about the love of Jonathan, there certainly was none about the love of David for his friend. In spite of the fact that David was married to Jonathan’s sister, yet he did not treat that person as a brother in law, but as a prince. David then rose to his feet, and they kissed one another and the tears flowed. But David exceeded in this display of affection. The love of Christ for us His friends must ever be supreme. None of us can boast of our love for Him, but we can boast of His love for us. Jonathan then gave his parting speech, asking that he ‘Go in peace’. How could he go in peace? He was being thrust out of God’s inheritance. He was no longer able to even visit his father’s house he was going out into bitter rejection, to be hunted like a partridge on the mountains, yet Jonathan bids him ‘Go in peace’.

Jonathan’s love was truly a selfish love, proud of his vaunted affection for the one that was going out into rejection. Whatever was to happen, there was that oath between them, taken in Jehovah’s name and Jonathan thought that his future was secure.

Let us ask ourselves what is the true character of our love for Christ? Do we really love Him for what He is? Or do we just love Him for what we can get from Him? Are we just attracted by the beauty of His character? Do we love Him enough to be willing to share His rejection? Or do we want to have His salvation and the blessing of ‘eternal life’, and at the same time wish to be friends with the world that crucified Him?

The chapter ends so sadly, when David arose and departed. He was going into rejection, and into years of suffering and sorrow. To be hunted like a Partridge on the mountains, by the one to whom Jonathan gave his loyalty. The one against whom he had done no evil. The one whom he loved and had served so faithfully, and for whom he had risked his life.

On the other hand Jonathan went back into the city, thereafter to have to suffer from a guilty conscience. To yield his loyalty to the one that hated his friend without a cause. Little did Jonathan realise what this was going to cost him in a few short years. Because he was not willing to share David’s rejection, he never shared his kingdom either. But he fell down slain with his father on Mount Gilboa.

Let us all heed the warning of Jonathan’s failure, and let us be willing to share the rejection of our blessed Master. Let us refuse the world and all that it has to offer, because whoever will be friend of the world, is the enemy of God. James 4:4.