Saul and David bible study

 

Here is a bible study that continues where the last one left off, with the adventures and then the failure of King Saul and the rise of David, who would be anointed as Saul’s successor to the throne. The study contains the story of David’s encounter with Goliath. Here is a link to the first twelve chapters of Samuel so you can know how these situations came about:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/jay-dougherty/samuel-bible-study/251113221698153

In chapter 13 of 1 Samuel Saul first shows his disobedience to God by seemingly presumptively offering an ox as a burnt offering because the Philistines were with him, and then Samuel starts to speak of another who the Lord will give the kingdom too

(1 Samuel 13:1)  Saul was … years old when he began to reign, and he reigned … and two years over Israel.

 

(1 Samuel 13:2)  Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent.

 

(1 Samuel 13:3)  Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear."

 

(1 Samuel 13:4)  And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.

 

(1 Samuel 13:5)  And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven.

 

(1 Samuel 13:6)  When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns,

 

(1 Samuel 13:7)  and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

 

(1 Samuel 13:8)  He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him.

 

(1 Samuel 13:9)  So Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering.

 

(1 Samuel 13:10)  As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him.

 

(1 Samuel 13:11)  Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash,

 

(1 Samuel 13:12)  I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.' So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering."

 

(1 Samuel 13:13)  And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

 

(1 Samuel 13:14)  But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."

 

(1 Samuel 13:15)  And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.

 

(1 Samuel 13:16)  And Saul and Jonathan his son and the people who were present with them stayed in Geba of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

 

(1 Samuel 13:17)  And raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual;

 

(1 Samuel 13:18)  another company turned toward Beth-horon; and another company turned toward the border that looks down on the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

 

(1 Samuel 13:19)  Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears."

 

(1 Samuel 13:20)  But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle,

 

(1 Samuel 13:21)  and the charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads.

 

(1 Samuel 13:22)  So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.

 

(1 Samuel 13:23)  And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

 

In 1 Samuel 14 is the account of the Lord delivering up the Philistines to Israel first with Jonathan and his armor bearer then the rest of them, then at the end it reminds us there would be war with the Philistines all of Saul’s reign

(1 Samuel 14:1)  One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side." But he did not tell his father.

 

(1 Samuel 14:2)  Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave at Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men,

 

(1 Samuel 14:3)  including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.

 

(1 Samuel 14:4)  Within the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

 

(1 Samuel 14:5)  The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

 

(1 Samuel 14:6)  Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few."

 

(1 Samuel 14:7)  And his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul."

 

(1 Samuel 14:8)  Then Jonathan said, "Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them.

 

(1 Samuel 14:9)  If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them.

 

(1 Samuel 14:10)  But if they say, 'Come up to us,' then we will go up, for the LORD has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us."

 

(1 Samuel 14:11)  So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, "Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves."

 

(1 Samuel 14:12)  And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing." And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Come up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel."

 

(1 Samuel 14:13)  Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him.

 

(1 Samuel 14:14)  And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land.

 

(1 Samuel 14:15)  And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.

 

(1 Samuel 14:16)  And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there.

 

(1 Samuel 14:17)  Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Count and see who has gone from us." And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.

 

(1 Samuel 14:18)  So Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here." For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel.

 

(1 Samuel 14:19)  Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

 

(1 Samuel 14:20)  Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion.

 

(1 Samuel 14:21)  Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

 

(1 Samuel 14:22)  Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle.

 

(1 Samuel 14:23)  So the LORD saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven.

 

(1 Samuel 14:24)  And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people had tasted food.

 

(1 Samuel 14:25)  Now when all the people came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground.

 

(1 Samuel 14:26)  And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.

 

(1 Samuel 14:27)  But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright.

 

(1 Samuel 14:28)  Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed be the man who eats food this day.'" And the people were faint.

 

(1 Samuel 14:29)  Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey.

 

(1 Samuel 14:30)  How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great."

 

(1 Samuel 14:31)  They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint.

 

(1 Samuel 14:32)  The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood.

 

(1 Samuel 14:33)  Then they told Saul, "Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood." And he said, "You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here."

 

(1 Samuel 14:34)  And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, 'Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.'" So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there.

 

(1 Samuel 14:35)  And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD.

 

(1 Samuel 14:36)  Then Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." But the priest said, "Let us draw near to God here."

 

(1 Samuel 14:37)  And Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day.

 

(1 Samuel 14:38)  And Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today.

 

(1 Samuel 14:39)  For as the LORD lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.

 

(1 Samuel 14:40)  Then he said to all Israel, "You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."

 

(1 Samuel 14:41)  Therefore Saul said, "O LORD God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.

 

(1 Samuel 14:42)  Then Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was taken.

 

(1 Samuel 14:43)  Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die."

 

(1 Samuel 14:44)  And Saul said, "God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan."

 

(1 Samuel 14:45)  Then the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die.

 

(1 Samuel 14:46)  Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

 

(1 Samuel 14:47)  When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them.

 

(1 Samuel 14:48)  And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

 

(1 Samuel 14:49)  Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.

 

(1 Samuel 14:50)  And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

 

(1 Samuel 14:51)  Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

 

(1 Samuel 14:52)  There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.

 

In 1 Samuel 15 is the real story of Saul’s disobedience when he fails to utterly destroy all of Amalek as commanded by God in judgment for what they did to Israel but spares the king alive and the people bring back much of the spoil even though it was all supposed to be destroyed. At this then Samuel then confronts Saul who basically gives excuses, and then Samuel tells Saul the kingdom is indeed departed from him

(1 Samuel 15:1)  And Samuel said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD.

 

(1 Samuel 15:2)  Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt.

 

(1 Samuel 15:3)  Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'"

 

(1 Samuel 15:4)  So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah.

 

(1 Samuel 15:5)  And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley.

 

(1 Samuel 15:6)  Then Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

 

(1 Samuel 15:7)  And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.

 

(1 Samuel 15:8)  And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword.

 

(1 Samuel 15:9)  But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

 

(1 Samuel 15:10)  The word of the LORD came to Samuel:

 

(1 Samuel 15:11)  "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments." And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night.

 

(1 Samuel 15:12)  And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, "Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal."

 

(1 Samuel 15:13)  And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed be you to the LORD. I have performed the commandment of the LORD."

 

(1 Samuel 15:14)  And Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?"

 

(1 Samuel 15:15)  Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the LORD your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction."

 

(1 Samuel 15:16)  Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! I will tell you what the LORD said to me this night." And he said to him, "Speak."

 

(1 Samuel 15:17)  And Samuel said, "Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel.

 

(1 Samuel 15:18)  And the LORD sent you on a mission and said, 'Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.'

 

(1 Samuel 15:19)  Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?"

 

(1 Samuel 15:20)  And Saul said to Samuel, "I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction.

 

(1 Samuel 15:21)  But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal."

 

(1 Samuel 15:22)  And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

 

(1 Samuel 15:23)  For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king."

 

(1 Samuel 15:24)  Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

 

(1 Samuel 15:25)  Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may worship the LORD."

 

(1 Samuel 15:26)  And Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel."

 

(1 Samuel 15:27)  As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore.

 

(1 Samuel 15:28)  And Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.

 

(1 Samuel 15:29)  And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret."

 

(1 Samuel 15:30)  Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the LORD your God."

 

(1 Samuel 15:31)  So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the LORD.

 

(1 Samuel 15:32)  Then Samuel said, "Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites." And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past."

 

(1 Samuel 15:33)  And Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

 

(1 Samuel 15:34)  Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul.

 

(1 Samuel 15:35)  And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

 

1 Samuel chapter 16 is where Samuel goes and anoints David, reminding all that the Lord looks on the heart, and then the Holy Spirit comes on David and an evil one on Saul, but David’s playing of the harp drives out the evil spirit

(1 Samuel 16:1)  The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons."

 

(1 Samuel 16:2)  And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'

 

(1 Samuel 16:3)  And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you."

 

(1 Samuel 16:4)  Samuel did what the LORD commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, "Do you come peaceably?"

 

(1 Samuel 16:5)  And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

 

(1 Samuel 16:6)  When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before him."

 

(1 Samuel 16:7)  But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

 

(1 Samuel 16:8)  Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."

 

(1 Samuel 16:9)  Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."

 

(1 Samuel 16:10)  And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."

 

(1 Samuel 16:11)  Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here."

 

(1 Samuel 16:12)  And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he."

 

(1 Samuel 16:13)  Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

 

(1 Samuel 16:14)  Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.

 

(1 Samuel 16:15)  And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.

 

(1 Samuel 16:16)  Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well."

 

(1 Samuel 16:17)  So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me."

 

(1 Samuel 16:18)  One of the young men answered, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him."

 

(1 Samuel 16:19)  Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep."

 

(1 Samuel 16:20)  And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul.

 

(1 Samuel 16:21)  And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer.

 

(1 Samuel 16:22)  And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight."

 

(1 Samuel 16:23)  And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.

 

1 Samuel chapter 17 is the account of the battle between David and Goliath from the beginning to the end showing how everyone gets to their places for it and more importantly how David kills Goliath and Israel wins the dayand how the Philistines rout when Goliath’s head is shown

(1 Samuel 17:1)  Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

 

(1 Samuel 17:2)  And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines.

 

(1 Samuel 17:3)  And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.

 

(1 Samuel 17:4)  And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

 

(1 Samuel 17:5)  He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.

 

(1 Samuel 17:6)  And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders.

 

(1 Samuel 17:7)  The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.

 

(1 Samuel 17:8)  He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.

 

(1 Samuel 17:9)  If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us."

 

(1 Samuel 17:10)  And the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together."

 

(1 Samuel 17:11)  When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

 

(1 Samuel 17:12)  Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years.

 

(1 Samuel 17:13)  The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

 

(1 Samuel 17:14)  David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul,

 

(1 Samuel 17:15)  but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

 

(1 Samuel 17:16)  For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.

 

(1 Samuel 17:17)  And Jesse said to David his son, "Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers.

 

(1 Samuel 17:18)  Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them."

 

(1 Samuel 17:19)  Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

 

(1 Samuel 17:20)  And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry.

 

(1 Samuel 17:21)  And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army.

 

(1 Samuel 17:22)  And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers.

 

(1 Samuel 17:23)  As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.

 

(1 Samuel 17:24)  All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid.

 

(1 Samuel 17:25)  And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel."

 

(1 Samuel 17:26)  And David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

 

(1 Samuel 17:27)  And the people answered him in the same way, "So shall it be done to the man who kills him."

 

(1 Samuel 17:28)  Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."

 

(1 Samuel 17:29)  And David said, "What have I done now? Was it not but a word?"

 

(1 Samuel 17:30)  And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.

 

(1 Samuel 17:31)  When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him.

 

(1 Samuel 17:32)  And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

 

(1 Samuel 17:33)  And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth."

 

(1 Samuel 17:34)  But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock,

 

(1 Samuel 17:35)  I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.

 

(1 Samuel 17:36)  Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God."

 

(1 Samuel 17:37)  And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"

 

(1 Samuel 17:38)  Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail,

 

(1 Samuel 17:39)  and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." So David put them off.

 

(1 Samuel 17:40)  Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.

 

(1 Samuel 17:41)  And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him.

 

(1 Samuel 17:42)  And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.

 

(1 Samuel 17:43)  And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

 

(1 Samuel 17:44)  The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field."

 

(1 Samuel 17:45)  Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

 

(1 Samuel 17:46)  This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

 

(1 Samuel 17:47)  and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand."

 

(1 Samuel 17:48)  When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

 

(1 Samuel 17:49)  And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

 

(1 Samuel 17:50)  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.

 

(1 Samuel 17:51)  Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

 

(1 Samuel 17:52)  And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron.

 

(1 Samuel 17:53)  And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.

 

(1 Samuel 17:54)  And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

 

(1 Samuel 17:55)  As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."

 

(1 Samuel 17:56)  And the king said, "Inquire whose son the boy is."

 

(1 Samuel 17:57)  And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

 

(1 Samuel 17:58)  And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."

 

In 1 Samuel 18 David makes a covenant with Jonathan, Saul’s son, then Saul become’s envious of David’s success and possessed with an evil spirit tries to kill David, but still David will marry one of Saul’s daughters and become his son in law

(1 Samuel 18:1)  As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

 

(1 Samuel 18:2)  And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house.

 

(1 Samuel 18:3)  Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

 

(1 Samuel 18:4)  And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

 

(1 Samuel 18:5)  And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

 

(1 Samuel 18:6)  As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.

 

(1 Samuel 18:7)  And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

 

(1 Samuel 18:8)  And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?"

 

(1 Samuel 18:9)  And Saul eyed David from that day on.

 

(1 Samuel 18:10)  The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand.

 

(1 Samuel 18:11)  And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David evaded him twice.

 

(1 Samuel 18:12)  Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.

 

(1 Samuel 18:13)  So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people.

 

(1 Samuel 18:14)  And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him.

 

(1 Samuel 18:15)  And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.

 

(1 Samuel 18:16)  But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

 

(1 Samuel 18:17)  Then Saul said to David, "Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD's battles." For Saul thought, "Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him."

 

(1 Samuel 18:18)  And David said to Saul, "Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?"

 

(1 Samuel 18:19)  But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

 

(1 Samuel 18:20)  Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

 

(1 Samuel 18:21)  Saul thought, "Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore Saul said to David a second time, "You shall now be my son-in-law."

 

(1 Samuel 18:22)  And Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David in private and say, 'Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king's son-in-law.'"

 

(1 Samuel 18:23)  And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?"

 

(1 Samuel 18:24)  And the servants of Saul told him, "Thus and so did David speak."

 

(1 Samuel 18:25)  Then Saul said, "Thus shall you say to David, 'The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.'" Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

 

(1 Samuel 18:26)  And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired,

 

(1 Samuel 18:27)  David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife.

 

(1 Samuel 18:28)  But when Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him,

 

(1Sa 18:29)  Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy continually.

 

(1 Samuel 18:30)  Then the princes of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

 

In 1 Samuel chapter 19, David has to continually evade Saul’s varied  attempts to kill David himself or have David killed by others and then many people prophesy at the end of the chapter on differing things

(1 Samuel 19:1)  And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.

 

(1 Samuel 19:2)  And Jonathan told David, "Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself.

 

(1 Samuel 19:3)  And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you."

 

(1 Samuel 19:4)  And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you.

 

(1 Samuel 19:5)  For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?"

 

(1 Samuel 19:6)  And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, "As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death."

 

(1 Samuel 19:7)  And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.

 

(1 Samuel 19:8)  And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow, so that they fled before him.

 

(1 Samuel 19:9)  Then a harmful spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre.

 

(1 Samuel 19:10)  And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

 

(1 Samuel 19:11)  Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, "If you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed."

 

(1 Samuel 19:12)  So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped.

 

(1 Samuel 19:13)  Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats' hair at its head and covered it with the clothes.

 

(1 Samuel 19:14)  And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick."

 

(1 Samuel 19:15)  Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him."

 

(1 Samuel 19:16)  And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with the pillow of goats' hair at its head.

 

(1 Samuel 19:17)  Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?" And Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, 'Let me go. Why should I kill you?'"

 

(1 Samuel 19:18)  Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and lived at Naioth.

 

(1 Samuel 19:19)  And it was told Saul, "Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah."

 

(1 Samuel 19:20)  Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

 

(1 Samuel 19:21)  When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.

 

(1 Samuel 19:22)  Then he himself went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Secu. And he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" And one said, "Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah."

 

(1 Samuel 19:23)  And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

 

(1 Samuel 19:24)  And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

 

In 1 Samuel chapter 20 there is more between David and Jonathan and also prophecies of their relationship

(1 Samuel 20:1)  Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?"

 

(1 Samuel 20:2)  And he said to him, "Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so."

 

(1 Samuel 20:3)  But David vowed again, saying, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death."

 

(1 Samuel 20:4)  Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you."

 

(1 Samuel 20:5)  David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening.

 

(1 Samuel 20:6)  If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.'

 

(1 Samuel 20:7)  If he says, 'Good!' it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him.

 

(1 Samuel 20:8)  Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?"

 

(1 Samuel 20:9)  And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! If I knew that it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, would I not tell you?"

 

(1 Samuel 20:10)  Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?"

 

(1 Samuel 20:11)  And Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So they both went out into the field.

 

(1 Samuel 20:12)  And Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?

 

(1 Samuel 20:13)  But should it please my father to do you harm, the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. May the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father.

 

(1 Samuel 20:14)  If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the LORD, that I may not die;

 

(1 Samuel 20:15)  and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth."

 

(1 Samuel 20:16)  And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD take vengeance on David's enemies."

 

(1 Samuel 20:17)  And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

 

(1 Samuel 20:18)  Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.

 

(1 Samuel 20:19)  On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap.

 

(1 Samuel 20:20)  And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.

 

(1 Samuel 20:21)  And behold, I will send the young man, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say to the young man, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,' then you are to come, for, as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.

 

(1 Samuel 20:22)  But if I say to the youth, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then go, for the LORD has sent you away.

 

(1 Samuel 20:23)  And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the LORD is between you and me forever."

 

(1 Samuel 20:24)  So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.

 

(1 Samuel 20:25)  The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.

 

(1 Samuel 20:26)  Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean."

 

(1 Samuel 20:27)  But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?"

 

(1 Samuel 20:28)  Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem.

 

(1 Samuel 20:29)  He said, 'Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table."

 

(1 Samuel 20:30)  Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?

 

(1 Samuel 20:31)  For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die."

 

(1 Samuel 20:32)  Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"

 

(1 Samuel 20:33)  But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.

 

(1 Samuel 20:34)  And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.

 

(1 Samuel 20:35)  In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little boy.

 

(1 Samuel 20:36)  And he said to his boy, "Run and find the arrows that I shoot." As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

 

(1 Samuel 20:37)  And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?"

 

(1 Samuel 20:38)  And Jonathan called after the boy, "Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!" So Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master.

 

(1 Samuel 20:39)  But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

 

(1 Samuel 20:40)  And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, "Go and carry them to the city."

 

(1 Samuel 20:41)  And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most.

 

(1 Samuel 20:42)  Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.'" And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

 

David has continual encounters in 1 Samuel chapter 21 but still needs to keep fleeing from Saul and Saul’s attempts to kill David

(1 Samuel 21:1)  Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no one with you?"

 

(1 Samuel 21:2)  And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, 'Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.' I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place.

 

(1 Samuel 21:3)  Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here."

 

(1 Samuel 21:4)  And the priest answered David, "I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread--if the young men have kept themselves from women."

 

(1 Samuel 21:5)  And David answered the priest, "Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?"

 

(1 Samuel 21:6)  So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the LORD, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.

 

(1 Samuel 21:7)  Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen.

 

(1 Samuel 21:8)  Then David said to Ahimelech, "Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste."

 

(1 Samuel 21:9)  And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here." And David said, "There is none like that; give it to me."

 

(1 Samuel 21:10)  And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath.

 

(1 Samuel 21:11)  And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"

 

(1 Samuel 21:12)  And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

 

(1 Samuel 21:13)  So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.

 

(1 Samuel 21:14)  Then Achish said to his servants, "Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me?

 

(1 Samuel 21:15)  Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?"

 

Saul would continually seek David’s life but would come to a bad end at the hand of the Philistines enabling David to rightly claim his throne though not without hardship and start to reign. David was a person with good intent but not without failures. At least after he failed, he would repent truly of his misdeed which is more than can be said for Saul

God loves the repentant and humble in heart, people like David. It is why God enabled Jesus to come through David’s line making many say Jesus is the son of David, even though David would call Jesus Lord by the Holy Spirit. God shows His mercy and protection for David, keeping him from both Saul and the Philistines and other enemy nations all of whom who wanted him dead. God is merciful to us in all ways too, sending Jesus to die for all of our sins so we can have be in right relationship with God, and there is nothing like that, having a love relationship with the Lord. I am now including a prayer which will enable you to have this love relationship with God, or to come back to it as God loves it when people come back and repent. Please pray this following prayer with me

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours