King Saul had been a great king until his pride got in
the way. He wanted to do things his own way instead of the way of the Lord. He
knew better but chose not to obey. Kings went to battle in those days and Saul was
a good warrior.
David as a young man, killed Goliath, a giant of a man
feared by all, even King Saul. At first, Saul liked David and made him one of
his armor bearers. Sometimes Saul got in a bad mood and David played a soothing
harp. David lived in the palace and worked hard.
It became apparent that David was a strong and a
capable soldier, so Saul promoted David into the regular army. David’s strength
in a fight and his leadership made him stand out. Soon, he had men under his
command and was getting a reputation as a mighty warrior.
One day as they came back from a battle, people
shouted, “Saul has killed his thousands and David his ten thousands.”
This made King Saul angry and the seed of jealousy was
planted in his heart. Remember in the last lesson, Saul threw his spear at his
son, Jonathan? If you missed that story, click here.
At a time when Saul needed David, he tried to kill
him. Let me explain. Saul's terrible mood came on him again and David was called in
to play his harp. The harp music normally calmed Saul but this time it didn’t
work. He took his spear and threw it at David!
Then, Saul felt sorry for his actions and remembered he
should have rewarded David for killing Goliath. The reward was his daughter’s hand in
marriage. Saul’s oldest daughter should be the one to marry David. Saul told
David about it but David declined.
“Why should I be the son-in-law of the king?” 1 Samuel 18:18
His daughter didn’t want to marry David either because
she loved another man. Saul gave her to the other man in marriage.
Some time went by and Michal, Saul’s other daughter
wanted to marry David because she loved him. Saul told David he should marry
his daughter, Michal.
David replied the same. “Why should I be the
son-in-law of the king?”
Saul thought his daughter Michal would become a snare
to David and wanted them to get married. Maybe he thought he could keep an eye
one him if he were near. Perhaps he felt Michal would tell him David’s secrets.
Saul sent messengers to David and talked him into
marrying Michal. Saul required a dowry or a gift in order to marry his
daughter. He should have given Michal to David for killing Goliath. Instead ,he asked him to kill 200 Philistines, their enemies, and
bring back proof that they were dead. Saul hoped David would be killed at the
hand of the Philistines, but that didn't happen. Before the day was over,
David took his men and they killed 200 Philistines. Saul promised his daughter
to David and couldn't back out now.
David and Michal were married. They probably had a big fancy wedding.
After they married, Saul’s jealousy reared its
ugly head. He tried to kill David with his spear and again David escaped. Saul would not stop thinking of his jealousy and plotted with spies to ambush David and kill him. David didn’t do
anything wrong but Saul wanted him dead.
Michal heard of the plan. In the night, she told David
what her father wanted to do.
“If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you
will be killed.” 1Samuel 19:11
Michal helped David escape through a window.
Michal
took a statue and laid it in the bed, pulled the covers up, and placed goat’s hair
where David’s head would be—as if he were sleeping.
When the spies got to David's house, Michal said David was sick.
They tip-toed in and saw what appeared to be David in the bed.
The spies returned to Saul and he sent them back.
“Bring him up to me in the bed that I may kill him.” 1 Samuel 19:15 He probably
thought with David sick, it would be easy to kill him.
The spies went back to David’s house and this time
they were going to take David bed and all to Saul. But to their surprise, there
was only a statue in his place. David was long gone.
Saul asked his daughter why she tricked him. She lied.
“He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’” 1Samuel 19:17
David escaped and lived far away on the run from Saul
for many years.
■■■
David wrote many songs and we have some of them in our
Bibles, called
Psalms. The one he wrote during this time is Psalm 59.
Psalms. The one he wrote during this time is Psalm 59.
Did Michal need to lie? Don’t you think God would have
protected David without her lie? Yes He would have. We don’t need to do
anything wrong to help God out. Saul’s jealousy caused him to have hatred in
his heart enough to kill David. David was a man after God’s own heart and Saul
had given up following God. Jealousy is a dangerous thing. It starts small but
can build into a terrible monster.
Saul’s jealously cost him greatly. He lost closeness
with David whom he had loved. It cost him his relationship with his son,
Johnathan. It cost him his relationship with his daughter. He lost respect from
many people who loved David. We will learn more about David in the weeks to
come. Stay tuned.
Memorize: Psalm
59: 17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing
praises; for God is my defense, my God of mercy.
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