David, the target
1 Sam 18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
After David was through speaking with King Saul, with Goliath's head in his hand, apparently Saul's son, was listening. The soul of Jonathon was as one with David, because both loved God, they were both men who trusted God and walked in faith. They were both men of God's spirit, putting the LORD above personal desires.
1 Sam 18:2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.
David was no longer shepherd to his father's sheep, Saul took him to stay in the royal dwelling.
1 Sam 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
1 Sam 18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
The two young men of one spirit made a covenant together. Usually something is given to signify the covenant. Water baptism is the sign of the New Covenant in Jesus' blood. Jonathon gave David his princely garments, his personal armor and weapons. Jonathon was the prince, next in line as King, yet he gave way to David, in obedience to the LORD. He loved David with God's love, as his own soul. This was a spiritual friendship between two young men. There was no breaking of God's law in this friendship, their love for God made them of one heart.
God's servants love one another.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
1 Sam 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
David was Saul's servant, but above all he served God. He became a commander of an army, everyone accepted David because of his good character, they saw an excellent spirit in David, even Saul's servants saw this.
1 Sam 18:6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.
The women of ALL the cities came out singing and dancing, to meet king Saul. Yes, this is what Saul lived for. When he lost the Lord's anointing, he still had the kingdom and the women danced before him, what pleasure this would bring to a worldly king. He had power, wealth and praise, these appealed to this fleshly king. But wait, what are they singing?
1 Sam 18:7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
1 Sam 18:8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
A tool of satan is to accuse another
Prov 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
The fleshly king was very angry and jealous with envy, because the women gave David ten thousand slain and Saul only one thousand. He was threatened, what will he take next, the kingdom? Was not Saul afraid of Goliath? Who slew Goliath? Saul had become as a politician, seeking an untrue public image, while having a darkened heart.
1 Sam 18:9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
A jealous Saul, had an evil eye on David from that day forward. We will see the tools that satan uses against God's servants by examining Saul's actions from here on.
Prov 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
1 Sam 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
God gave Saul more of what he had chosen. A spirit of anger and fear came upon Saul. He spoke the devils words in a frenzy as David played his harp. Our choices are for good or for evil, especially under the covenant of the law. The LORD disciplines the people's king, he could allow evil to come upon His disobedient people. If we choose anger, beware of the LORD's anger.
Judg 2:12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.
Judg 2:13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
Judg 2:14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
Judg 2:15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
1 Sam 18:11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
A tool of the devil is anger with malice
Twice David escaped Saul's javelin or spear. David was to bless Saul, but the envy in Saul's heart turned him against his own blessing. How often people turn on God, and blame him for the evil that has come to them. They refuse the source of blessings and help and are left with an evil lying spirit to further confuse them.
1 Sam 18:12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
Another tool of the devil is fear
Who would you think had fear? The one throwing a javelin, or the one who is the target? It was Saul, the aggressor, he feared. When you are a target. It is because someone fears you; satan fears you. Satan fears the presence of God's Spirit. He tries to cause it to go away. Do not let the enemies fearful attacks lodge in your heart. You belong to God. It is a bad spirit, do not receive it.
2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 Sam 18:13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
To remove David from his presence he made him an officer in command of a legion.
1 Sam 18:14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
1 Sam 18:15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
Another tool of satan is jealousy
Like the story of Joseph, David was favored by God and men. This made the bad spirit in Saul even more afraid.
1 Sam 18:16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
The people loved and honored David, yet he did not let it go to his head. He remained a humble servant. It is the devil who tempts us with the world's honor and praise. We are not to fall for it any more than we listen to accusations and fear his fiery darts or javelin. We are servants of God, blessed by him and we do everything to bring him honor. We live by faith in God and His promises, directed by His Spirit.
1 Sam 18:17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
1 Sam 18:18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
Saul promised his oldest daughter to David and set him out to battle, supposing he would be killed. David spoke humbly as not deserving to be a kings son-in-law. He and his family were unworthy.
1 Sam 18:19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
Another tool of the devil is to lie
Saul broke his promise and gave his daughter to another. We do not covenant with people of the world or another spirit. He promised, then withdrew the promise. This is as the devil, making promises but not delivering. Be careful not to marry someone who looks good, or is a favorite of the world; God wants to be first in your life, those not of God will not be faithful.
2 Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2 Cor 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
1 Sam 18:20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
1 Sam 18:21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
Another tool of the devil is to scheme and entrap
Even in this giving his daughter to David, he was seeking to destroy him. How could Michal be a snare to David? Perhaps by having a conflict of heart, wishing to be with his bride, he would be distracted from battle and loose his life?
Paul spoke of this:
2 Tim 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
First is the service to the Lord and King, all else would be duties and blessings.
Another snare the enemy would use, would to have a wife who did not share his love for the Lord and loved her own desires and the world more. Such a wife could draw him away from the LORD in an effort to please her; and there would be no pleasing her.
Another tool of the devil is to divide our hearts
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
1 Sam 18:22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.
Another weapon of the devil: flattery, avoid it for with it comes pride and a snare.
Psa 5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
Psa 5:9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
Dan 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Avoid the snare of flattery, by giving all glory to God.
1 Sam 18:23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
1 Sam 18:24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
David continues to show humility, for in truth he was not of a wealthy family.
1 Sam 18:25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
Another tool of the devil is to kill and destroy
The sign of the Covenant of the law was circumcision. It was a symbol of a clean heart. In order to marry Michal, the dowery was a carnal show. Another attempt to put David in harms way by the troubled King.
1 Sam 18:26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.
1 Sam 18:27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
David fulfills the covenant and receives a wife.
1 Sam 18:28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.
This would delight a man of God, to know that his daughter had married a good man of faith and that they were happy. The end to a love story made in heaven? Not quite, satan doesn't quit tormenting the children of disobedience. A tormented Saul would not give any grace to his new son-in-law.
1 Sam 18:29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.
1 Sam 18:30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
Saul continued to fear David and plot against him, as David continued to gain favor both with God and the people.
Prov 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Prov 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Prov 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Prov 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Prov 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Prov 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
God's people are loving and good friends. Satan enters the disobedient and uses his methods to destroy God's servants. Be aware of his devices:
envy, jealousy, false pride, accusations, an evil eye, fiery darts, anger, malice, fear, lies, breaking covenants, scheming and entrapment, dividing, flattery, to kill and destroy and no grace.
All these came against God's anointed servant, David. Perhaps you have experienced some of these attacks from others used by the darkness? Take heart, it is a sign of God's favor, it will build faith, trust and courage in you. Gods holy people are targets of the devil, so, above all wear the shield of faith.
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