Read 1 Samuel 18:17–30
Questions from the Scripture text: What did Saul offer to David in 1 Samuel 18:17a? What does verse 17b tell us was the reason? How does David respond (1 Samuel 18:18)? What does Saul end up doing instead (1 Samuel 18:19)? What new information does 1 Samuel 18:20a give us? How does Saul feel about this (verse 20b)? Why does Saul think this is good (1 Samuel 18:21)? Whom does Saul get to help him in his plan, unbeknownst to them (1 Samuel 18:22)? But how does David respond to them (1 Samuel 18:23)? To whom do they report this (1 Samuel 18:24)? What way does Saul suggest for David to “earn” being the king’s son-in-law (1 Samuel 18:25a)? What is Saul trying to do (verse 25b)? How does David feel about this (1 Samuel 18:26)? How much of the dowry does he fulfill (1 Samuel 18:27)? What does Saul do? What does Saul now know (1 Samuel 18:28a)? What does his daughter do (verse 28b)? What two things result from this (1 Samuel 18:29)? What situations proceed to happen (1 Samuel 18:30a)? How does David do in these situations (verse 30b)? With what result (verse 30c)?
The main theme of this passage is Saul’s plans to use the Philistines to get rid of his David problem (1 Samuel 18:17, 1 Samuel 18:21, 1 Samuel 18:25). He thinks that if he trades David a bride for infantry service, he can shed a few crocodile tears at David’s military funeral.
Apparently, daughter Merab is not among those women of Israel who find the young Bethlehemite irresistible (1 Samuel 18:19, cf. 1 Samuel 18:7), but Saul finds a willing taker in his other daughter, Michal (1 Samuel 18:20).
Still, there is the problem of David’s humility (1 Samuel 18:23); he’s apparently the only one in Israel who doesn’t buy into that hit song from 1 Samuel 18:7 that’s been topping the charts. (How often a believer may be preserved by not buying into his own popularity or praise!). So, Saul comes up with the solution of demanding the infantry service up front (1 Samuel 18:25)—perhaps he can have the funeral without ever having to go through the wedding!
But David easily comes up with double the number of Philistine skins (1 Samuel 18:27), because Saul’s biggest problem isn’t man. It’s that Yahweh was with David (1 Samuel 18:28), something that he should have known all along (cf. 1 Samuel 16:18; 1 Samuel 17:37; 1 Samuel 17:45–47; 1 Samuel 18:14). First the lion and the bear, then Goliath, now two hundred more Philistines… one gets the idea that it isn’t Saul’s smartest move to become “David’s enemy all his days” (1 Samuel 18:29).
So also now with those who make enemies of Christ and His church. That church, on the other hand, can rejoice that the Lord Jesus Himself is “Yahweh with us.” Resting upon Him, we can face any enmity with humility, peace, and courage.
How do you know if God is with you? Who is an enemy to you? What does humility call for in that situation? What does courage call for? How, ultimately, will it end up?
Suggested songs: ARP46 “God Is Our Refuge” or TPH515 “More Than Conquerors”
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