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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
1 Sam. 18
“Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.” (1 Sam. 18:12). This reminds me of a line from Josh Wilson’s song, “Things that I’m afraid of”. The last line of the chorus is, “The things that I’m afraid of are all afraid of You.” Saul was afraid because all evil fears the God of Righteousness. Evil knows that it doesn’t stand a chance before God. I see no indication anywhere in this story that Saul was aware that Samuel had anointed David as King. Nevertheless, something in him knew that he was doomed.
As for David, he did not let fear of the evil in Saul sway him. Though he had been anointed as king, he knew that God had not yet given him the authority of the position. So he continued to treat Saul with the honor and respect due to his true authority – God. And he continued to trust that God was the only one to fear.
1 Sam. 19-20
I wonder about David’s uniting himself with the house of Saul through marriage. Jonathon was certainly a man of God and Michal was obviously supportive of David at the beginning. Still, God had rejected Saul’s house. Furthermore, I wonder if God drove David away from Michal at this time for a reason. Michal had a household idol in their home, a seed of faithlessness that may well have influenced David’s heart with extended time in its presence. Perhaps is was better for David to spend his days fleeing from Saul, fully dependent on God rather than resting idly in the comfortable presence of evil.