Read 1 Samuel 18:1-16

Wisdom or Fear?

God had already told Saul through the prophet Samuel that the kingdom would be taken away from him. After God indicated to Samuel that the next king would be David, “a distressing spirit” came upon Saul. Could it be that Saul became paranoid, always looking over his shoulder, always wondering when he would lose the throne?

The inspired record states, “So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely” (1 Samuel 18:5). Upon one occasion, the women danced and sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). Saul’s reaction was one of anger, and he asked, “Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” (1 Samuel 18:8). He was jealous of David’s popularity and he realized that losing favor in the sight of the people would lead to his downfall more quickly. He kept an eye on David from that time forward, and even threw his spear at him.

1 Samuel 18:12 is very telling: “Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul.” God had given up on Saul as the king had disobeyed Him time after time, and Saul knew that God was no longer with him. He could clearly see that the Lord was with David, though, which caused terror in the king’s heart and mind.

David’s behavior was always one of wisdom before the king. David’s behavior troubled Saul because he knew that the Lord would bless David as long as he was faithful and wise. Not only that, but David’s behavior fostered love in the hearts of “all Israel and Judah” (1 Samuel 18:16). There was little Saul could do right in the sight of the people; there was little David could do wrong.

Our reputation is important, as long as it is based on our character and integrity. We should desire people to speak well of us and be honest with their reports. One of the qualifications for the eldership in the church today is that a man “must have a good testimony among those who are outside” (1 Timothy 3:7). And when someone does speak poorly of us, we should let our character speak for itself so that “those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed” (1 Peter 3:16). Let us labor to be wise and faithful, and put away thoughts of paranoia and fear when others do well!

Read 1 Samuel 17

God or Goliath?

The Philistines were one of the great enemies of Israel. Israel had won at Michmash and it took many years for the Philistines to recover from that defeat. Their most fearsome champion at this time was Goliath, a giant from Gath. The armor this giant was wearing was very heavy as described by the inspired writer.

Goliath taunted the Israelites. He was confident that no one could defeat him. He was big and strong and well-protected. He was so confident that he issued such a challenge that the loser’s side would be servants of the winner’s. “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together” (1 Samuel 17:10).

The response of Saul and the Israelite army, while not surprising, is disappointing. “When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid” (1 Samuel 17:11). Never mind what God had done in delivering the people out of Egypt; forget all the times he had raised up judges to deliver them from their oppressors. Even in the days of Saul himself, had God not shown Himself to be stronger than Israel’s foes? Yet, time and time again, the people show dismay and fear.

There was one young man, however, that was not afraid. He was not even a part of the army, but when he heard the jeers of Goliath, David wondered at the Israelites’ reaction. “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26). David knew the power of God, even if everyone else had forgotten.

We are going to face Goliaths in our lives. The challenges hurled at the people of God today come in many forms: physical persecution, societal discrimination, and sadly, sometimes, trouble from within the church itself. We serve the same God that David served, and He is still bigger than any problem we may face.

Let us have the same attitude as David, who said to the king, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:32). Face the problem head-on, knowing that God will be victorious when all is said and done!

Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

It was time to prepare for a new king. Much like the anointing of Saul earlier in the book, the anointing of David was done secretly. While God would identify David as the next king, it was not time yet to place him upon the throne.

Samuel came to Jesse’s house and, one by one, examined his sons. He thought the oldest, Eliab, would be the next king of Israel. God, however, explained to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

You may recall what was said of Saul, “There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people” (1 Samuel 9:2). He looked like a king, and to Samuel, Eliab did as well.

The process is repeated with each of Jesse’s eldest sons, including Abinadab and Shammah. None of them were chosen as Saul’s successor. Finally, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, described as “ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking” (1 Samuel 16:12), was called to Samuel. It was upon the appearance of David that God said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” (1 Samuel 16:12).

We must be careful that we do not overlook someone in need of the gospel simply because they don’t fit our preconceived ideas of what a Christian looks like. In fact, those are often the very people who may be more receptive to the gospel message!

There are multiple warnings in the Scriptures against judging someone based upon appearances. In the first century, anyone who was not a Jew was prevented from hearing the gospel until Peter preached to Cornelius, and even Peter needed to be convinced that God approved of such!

Everyone is a candidate for God’s grace! The apostle Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Don’t judge a book by its cover; take the gospel to everyone!

Read 1 Samuel 14:1-23

Nothing Restrains the Lord

In sharp contrast to the foolish self-exaltation of his father Saul, Jonathan shines as an example of trust in God’s faithfulness and power. Notice what he says to his armorbearer in 1 Samuel 14:6: “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.”

Many examples of this very truth are found within the Scriptures. One may consider the conquest of Canaan accomplished by the Lord through the leadership of Joshua, or God’s subduing of the Midianites through Gideon’s judgeship. Here Jonathan and the young man who bore his armor went up against the Philistines, a foolish adventure in the mind of man, but “nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.” Jonathan put his full trust in the true God of heaven.

There is a stark contrast between Jonathan’s faith in this instance and his father Saul’s rash behavior. While the king began to inquire of the Lord by calling for the ark of God, he was too impatient to wait for God’s answer. Impatience often leads one to make mistakes. Saul’s decision to enter the battle without God’s instruction led to “very great confusion” (1 Samuel 14:20). Still, Jonathan’s faith was proven in the end as “the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven” (1 Samuel 14:23).

We must have faith in what God has revealed to us today. He will not give us any revelation other than what has been preserved in our Bible (Galatians 1:6-9). Do not fall for the shysters and the conmen who proclaim to be prophets in this 21st century; they are not speaking “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Many modern-day “pastors” (which are not pastors in the Biblical sense) will tell half-truths but stop short of God’s truth.

Let us have the wisdom of Jonathan, who trusted in God despite the odds against him. Let us shun the foolishness of Saul, who simply could not stand to wait for God’s instructions and had to do things his own way. Friends, our way will not save anyone. Only God’s way—that which was revealed through the inspired penmen of the Bible—will lead to eternal life. Whose way are you following?

Read 1 Samuel 13:1-15

Good Intentions Do Not Excuse Sin

The battle with the Philistines apparently was not going according to plan. Saul’s army was three thousand strong, divided between himself and his son Jonathan. The Philistines responded to Saul’s attack with thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and with so many soldiers “as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude” (1 Samuel 13:5). Israel’s response was understandably one of fear and distress; the text says that “the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits” (1 Samuel 13:6).

Saul remained in Gilgal with some “trembling” followers. He waited for Samuel to arrive. He waited seven days. I imagine he was anxiously looking for the prophet, perhaps setting a man on some high ground to see as far as he could see and know as soon as Samuel was approaching. Had Samuel not set the time of his arrival? Saul waited, but his patience wore thin. The people that had stayed with him finally scattered. They, like the rest of Israel, were scared. Saul could wait no longer.

“Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me,” he demanded (1 Samuel 13:9). He waited, but not long enough. “Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came” (1 Samuel 13:10).

Samuel knew what had happened. He confronted the king about his sin. What was Saul’s response? “I felt compelled” (1 Samuel 13:12). Scared by the Philistine army, facing danger all alone, Saul “felt compelled” to do something. But it was not the something that God had commanded.

Samuel tells Saul that he had acted “foolishly” (1 Samuel 13:13). Is that not always the case when we disobey the Lord? It is right to do what is right; it is foolish to sin. Always! “You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you” (1 Samuel 13:13).

When God says to do something, we should do that thing. We must not look for loopholes or offer excuses for disobedience. If He says sing, we should sing. It does not matter if we “felt compelled” to do more. God said to do a specific thing; we should honor His command, whether it relates to worship or salvation or the way we live our everyday lives in this world. Good intentions do not excuse sin!

Read 1 Samuel 12

The Good and the Right Way

The people refused to heed the warnings. Frightened by the Ammonites and despite all the Lord had done for them through Moses and Aaron, despite God’s deliverance of the people through the judgeships of Jerubbaal (Gideon), Bedan (possibly a reference to Barak), Jephthah, and Samuel, despite the peace they enjoyed during times of faithfulness, Israel demanded a king. In so doing, they had rejected God.

Samuel said that the people’s “wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves” (1 Samuel 12:17). After the sign of the thunder and rain, the people finally realized that they had indeed “added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves” (1 Samuel 12:20).

Yet, God would not give up on them. Israel still had a choice to make, even after this rejection. “If you will fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers” (1 Samuel 12:14-15). God was giving them a chance to remain faithful even in less-than-ideal circumstances.

Do we not have the same opportunity today? When we sin and find ourselves facing consequences, do we bemoan our situation and wonder why God has allowed such awful things to happen? Or do we take responsibility for our mistakes and accept the outcome of our sin, and seek forgiveness and repentance and faithfulness moving forward?

What about when others sin against us? Let us not forget the example of Samuel. Even though he was demoted in the eyes of the people, he remained loyal to God and to God’s will for the nation. “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way” (1 Samuel 12:23).

Yes, even when people sin against us, we should pray for them and point them toward the truth of God’s Word, which is “the good and the right way.”