Hunting The Lion Series

January 31, 2026

After Goliath’s defeat, the relationship between Saul and David quickly deteriorated. Saul became jealous and fearful for his throne and his jealously quickly morphed into anger and hatred. David had to go:

Attempt 1 –

While David was playing his harp, Saul threw his spear hoping to pin David to the wall – David escaped.

Attempt 2 –

Hoping that David would be killed in battle, Saul made him a commander of 1000 men. However, Yahweh gave David success in everything he did – NOT the outcome Saul was hoping for.

Attempt 3 –

Saul offered David his eldest daughter, Merab, in marriage if he would fight valiantly against the Philistines. David humbly declined the honor and Merab was given to Adriel of Meholah instead.

Attempt 4 –

Saul’s youngest daughter, Michal, loved with David, so Saul suggested David marry her instead of Merab. Again David declined so Saul sweetened the deal, “I won’t ask for a dowry, only that you bring me 100 Philistine foreskins.” David thought this was a great idea, so he and his men brought back 200 Philistine foreskins!!!

After David won another victory over the Philistines, he became Saul’s enemy for life.

Attempt 5 –

Saul told Jonathan and all his attendants to kill David. Jonathan loved David and had sworn loyalty to him, so instead, he went to David and told him to go into hiding. He would speak to his father and report back.

After his conversation with Jonathan, Saul promised that he would not have David killed and David was restored to his position attending Saul.

Attempt 6 –

While playing his harp, David dodged the spear Saul threw at him and hurried home to share the situation with Michal. She helped David escape by lowering him out a window. He fled to Samuel in Ramah then they both went to Naioth.

Meanwhile, Michal placed an idol in the bed and covered it with a blanket. When Saul’s guards came to get David, Michal insisted that he was ill and in bed.

Psalm 59 is David’s response to these events.

Attempt 7 –

When Saul found out that David was with Samuel, he sent men on 2 separate occasions to capture him – without success.

Finally, Saul went himself – he was also unsuccessful.

David left Ramah to find Jonathan, "What have I done? What sin have I committed that your father is trying to kill me?"

Jonathan was not convinced of Saul’s intent, but David had no doubt, so he suggested a test, “A feast is coming up that I should attend. Instead, I will go into hiding. If Saul notices my absence and is not bothered, great! But if he gets angry, you will know I am telling the truth.”

Jonathan agreed to David’s plan and then they agreed to a signal - the day after the feast, Jonathan would do some target practice. If he shot to the side of David’s hiding place, all was well. If, however, he shot beyond David’s hiding place, it was time for David to flee.

At the feast, Saul noticed David’s absence and got so angry at Jonathan for allowing it that he tried to kill Jonathan by hurling a spear at him. Jonathan now understood his father’s real intent and his anger surpassed Saul’s. He got up from the table and left the feast.

Both Jonathan and David were devastated. They wept together and reaffirmed their covenant then David fled to Nob and Jonathan returned to town.

These events inspired Psalm 11.

The descendants of Eli lived at Nob. When David arrived there, Ahimelech, the high priest, greeted him with fear and asked David why no one was with him.

David claimed to be on a secret mission for the king and asked Ahimelech for some food.

Ahimelech’s responded that all he had on hand was the old Bread of the Presence (which only the priest’s were allowed to eat). But after confirming that David and his men had abstained from sexual relations, Ahimelech gave David the old Show Bread.

Doeg, the Edomite - one of Saul’s servants - overheard their conversation….

David also asked if Ahimelech had any weapons. He claimed that in his haste to go on Saul’s secret mission, he had failed to bring his weapons.

The Sword of Goliath was being stored behind the Ephod, so David took it and fled – he went to Achish, the Seranim “ruler” of Gath - one of the 5 Philistine cities.

The servants of Achish were suspicious of David, so he pretended to be insane, which enabled him to escape and run to the cave of Adullam.

The headings of Psalms 34, 56 and 142 connect them to this story.

• Men who were dissatisfied with Saul’s rule began to gather around David – 400 in total.