First Samuel 18:1-30

 

To follow God in our generation we will be able to recognize God and his plan by:

  • Knowing God’s character
  • Knowing God’s ways
  • Being righteous in our thinking and living

 

Jonathan was humble

  • Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
  • 1 Peter 5:5-6, “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.  All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
  • James 4:6, 10, “But he gives us more grace.  That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ . . . Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
  • Jonathan lives like he has nothing to lose and nothing to prove.
  • Luke 18:14, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

 

Saul was a man of Pride

  • God says, “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”  Proverbs 8:13
  • Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
  • Proverbs 13:10, “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
  • Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
  • Proverbs 29:23, “A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.”

 

Saul would set Five Traps for David in this chapter:

  1. The spear
  2. In front of the command of 1,000
  3. Saul’s daughter Merab
  4. Deception from some of Saul’s men
  5. Saul’s daughter Michal

 

David would overcome each of these traps of his enemy by continuing to be righteous in his attitude and his actions.

 

Traps, Nets, Pits and Snares

  • Psalms 57:6, “They spread a net for my feet – I was bowed down in distress.  They dug a pit in my path – but they have fallen into it themselves.”  This is from a Psalm David wrote a few months after the events of First Samuel 18 when he fled to the Cave of Adullam.
  • Psalms 34:17,  “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 
  • Psalms 34:19, “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delvers him from them all.”

 

Righteousness

There are two kinds of righteousness mentioned in the Bible:

1)      The positional righteousness that is given to a believer in Jesus Christ.  This person is a believer and is seated with Christ in heavenly places.  They are credited with the righteousness of God.  This is spoken of for example in Romans.

2)      There is also temporal righteousness that describes the actions and lifestyle of a believer.  This righteousness is the actual righteousness that an individual does or does not do in their life.  This is the righteousness spoken of in the book of Proverbs.

 

The Protection of the Righteous Man

·        Proverbs 10:2, “Ill gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death.”

·        Proverbs 11:4, “Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”

·        Proverbs 11:6, “The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.”

·        Psalms 85:13, This verse is speaking about God: “Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.”

·        Ephesians 6:11-14, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand. . .so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, an dafter you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breast plate of righteousness in place.”

                                                               i.      The armor of God is the character of God that you live out in your life.  This means living and thinking like God thinks.

                                                             ii.      The day of evil is when you meet the trap, snare, pit or whatever attack Satan (through men or circumstances has planned for you.  The day of evil is when you are in the cross hairs of Satan’s scope.

                                                            iii.      The belt of truth refers to you possessing an understanding of God’s written revelation of the Word of God.  God’s word is the true perspective and the true plan.

                                                           iv.      The breastplate of righteousness that protects all of your vital organs is your righteous actions that come from your possession of an understanding of the true ways of God.

                                                             v.      Your righteousness will protect you so you can stand at your post and defend the part of God’s kingdom that he assigned to you.

 

·        With this righteous life style you will have many troubles but the Lord will deliver you out of them all (Psalms 34: 19)

·        With this righteous life style the enemy will forge many weapons to attack you with but:       

“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.”  (Isaiah 54:17)

 

Saul’s Snare or Pit for David to Fall Into:

David’s Righteousness that Delivered Him:

1)  The Spear

1) David was a humble servant still serving Saul as a harpist even though he was a national hero and a great warrior.

2) Command 1,000 and Go in Front

2) David was obedient and went to battle for Saul.  It was David’s assignment from God, also.

3) Saul’s daughter Merab

3) David considered it an honor to great for himself.  David did not consider it an opportunity to get ahead or move up the ladder of success.  He was humble and did not use the situation for his advantageous.

4) Saul sends men to deceive David

4) David is focused on his assignment and his humility prevents him from being deceived.

5) Saul’s daughter Michal

5) David responds to the assignment given him.  His pure motives brings him success.

 

In the end David’s righteousness (humility) has caused him to advance.

In the end Saul’s pride has caused him to fall into his own pits, snares, traps and schemes.

 

David has Gained these things in chapters 17, 18 (and, the things Saul lost):

1)      Power over the evil spirit that torments Saul.

2)      Defeat of the giant and gained the glory that could have been Saul’s

3)      Brings military success.  Instead of meeting death, David met more success and the status as a “living legend”. 

4)      Gains Jonathan’s loyalty.  Though the King is jealous of David, the crown prince has sworn an oath of protection and friendship to David.

5)      The public and Saul’s staff are very pleased with David. Something Saul is losing

6)      Gains Michal’s love and faithfulness.  Something Saul is losing.

7)      David has become a member of the royal family.  In a scheme that was to kill David and remove him from Saul.  David has become Saul’s son-in-law.