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18. Saul's Jealousy of David

Jonathan’s Covenant with David

18

When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.²Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.³Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.⁴Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.⁵David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved.

⁶ As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.⁷And the women sang to one another as they made merry,

“Saul has killed his thousands,

and David his ten thousands.”

⁸ Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom?”⁹So Saul eyed David from that day on.

Saul Tries to Kill David

¹⁰ The next day an evil 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;¹¹and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

¹² Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.¹³So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army.¹⁴David had success in all his undertakings; for the Lord was with him.¹⁵When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him.¹⁶But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.

David Marries Michal

¹⁷ Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife; only be valiant for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “I will not raise a hand against him; let the Philistines deal with him.”¹⁸David said to Saul, “Who am I and who are my kinsfolk, my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”¹⁹But at the time when Saul’s daughter Merab should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.

²⁰ Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. Saul was told, and the thing pleased him.²¹Saul 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.”²²Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘See, the king is delighted with you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.’ ”²³So Saul’s servants reported these words to David in private. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of no repute?”²⁴The servants of Saul told him, “This is what David said.”²⁵Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no marriage present except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged on the king’s enemies.’ ” Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.²⁶When his servants told David these words, David was well pleased to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired,²⁷David rose and went, along with his men, and killed one 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. Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife.²⁸But when Saul realized that the Lord was with David, and that Saul’s daughter Michal loved him,²⁹Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy from that time forward.

³⁰ Then the commanders 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 fame became very great.

12. Living Sacrifices

Marks of the True Christian

⁹ Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;¹⁰love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.¹¹Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.¹²Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.¹³Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Related Hymns

• I Offer My Life
• For the Beauty of the Earth
• Have Thine Own Way, Lord

144. Psalm 144

Psalm 144

Prayer for National Deliverance and Security

Of David.

1

Blessed be the Lord, my rock,

who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;

2

my rock and my fortress,

my stronghold and my deliverer,

my shield, in whom I take refuge,

who subdues the peoples under me.

3

O Lord, what are human beings that you regard them,

or mortals that you think of them?

4

They are like a breath;

their days are like a passing shadow.

5

Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down;

touch the mountains so that they smoke.

6

Make the lightning flash and scatter them;

send out your arrows and rout them.

7

Stretch out your hand from on high;

set me free and rescue me from the mighty waters,

from the hand of aliens,

8

whose mouths speak lies,

and whose right hands are false.

9

I will sing a new song to you, O God;

upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,

10

the one who gives victory to kings,

who rescues his servant David.

11

Rescue me from the cruel sword,

and deliver me from the hand of aliens,

whose mouths speak lies,

and whose right hands are false.

12

May our sons in their youth

be like plants full grown,

our daughters like corner pillars,

cut for the building of a palace.

13

May our barns be filled,

with produce of every kind;

may our sheep increase by thousands,

by tens of thousands in our fields,

14

and may our cattle be heavy with young.

May there be no breach in the walls, no exile,

and no cry of distress in our streets.

15

Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall;

happy are the people whose God is the Lord.

Related Hymns

• A Mighty Fortress
• For all the Saints, who from their labor rest