1 Samuel 18: 1 - 30
Steps to Self Destruction
1 Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. 6 Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. 7 So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” 8 Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 So Saul eyed David from that day forward.10 And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. 11 And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice. 12 Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. 15 Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. 17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older 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, “Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 So David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19 But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife. 20 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 So Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.” 22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Communicate with David secretly, and say, ‘Look, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23 So Saul’s servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?” 24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, “In this manner David spoke.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any dowry but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 So when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to become the king’s son-in-law. Now the days had not expired; 27 therefore David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full count to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife. 28 Thus Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him; 29 and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy continually. 30 Then the princes of the Philistines went out to war. And so it was, whenever they went out, that David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.
Have you ever noticed that some people seem to get blessed no matter how many times they mess up while others [possibly yourselves] seem to do a few things wrong and it seems that your never get blessed. Your prayers go unanswered. You do not sense God’s Presence in your lives. You do not have His favor. Almost everything you do turns out wrong. You feel cursed. I believe that we can learn a lot from the life of Saul. If you fall into the category that I just mentioned then this message is for you. What I enjoy about studying our Precious Lord’s Word is that I can continue to learn.
I know that I can easily be offended. How about you? Some people seem to wait to pounce on you when you stumble the slightest. You try to brush off their ignorant comments and treatments yet in reality you have stuffed their insults down deep in you heart and mind. If you are human you will respond with anger. This anger will develop into resentment toward the person who caused the hurt. If you do not deal with these feelings properly as our Holy Father has instructed us, then they will develop into a cancer of bitterness that will ultimately destroy you.
I have a formula which is this – thoughts = emotions = actions. Our brains are organs. Our thoughts are a different thing. Through the Power of our Holy Sprit that lives within us we are to take control of our thoughts, not let our thoughts control us. If we allow the thoughts of being hurt or offended by someone settle into our minds then we are off and running on a downward slippery slope to a bad end. As we go through Saul’s life meditate on how each incorrect ungodly attitude leads to further trouble and bondage. Look at our Holy Lord’s view of bitterness as described in His Word,
Hebrews 12, “15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”
Ephesians 4, “31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Saul had nothing to complain about. He was born tall and handsome. We find this out in 1 Samuel chapter 10, “23 So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”
Since I am just the opposite of his statue, this is now getting me angry. I better learn from this teaching myself. Notice the love directed toward him by the people. If this happened to you how would you feel?
Now it was time for Saul to receive an assignment from our Commander In Chief – The Lord of Hosts. We read about this in chapter 15, 1 Samuel also said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD. 2 Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”4 So Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and lay in wait in the valley. 6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. 10 Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, 11 “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. 12 So when Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul went to Carmel, and indeed, he set up a monument for himself; and he has gone on around, passed by, and gone down to Gilgal.” 13 Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD.” 14 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” 15 And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak on.” 17 So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel? 18 Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.” 22 So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.” 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD.” 26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
What were the directions that he received? He was to go and destroy utterly all the Amalekites. So how did he handle his assignment? He failed. Did he come humbly back to the Lord and admit his failure? No he didn’t. In fact he altered our Holy Father’s instruction. Look at what he did, 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.
Pride leads to disobedience and rebellion and it makes you stupid. Look at how happy he was as what he did when Samuel came to see him, “Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD.” What? Are you kidding me? Look at Samuel’s response, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”
Look at the verses again. How did Saul respond now when confronted with the truth? He passed the blame. He failed to take ownership of his wrong. It is easier to point the finger at others. He forgot that three fingers were pointing back at him. What do you think would have happened if Saul just admitted that he messed up, sought forgiveness, and asked for another chance to do it right? We do not know the answer because he didn’t repent. And his failure to humbly admit he blew it cost him the kingship, “Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”
Look at how quick his down fall had developed. If lying doesn’t work, then it is time to put your own plans into action. If the people saw Samuel with him worshiping the Lord together then they might still believe that every thing is okay. “Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD. 26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
Too little too late – do you think that he actually believed that he had sinned? What is most revealing to me is his statement, ‘that I may worship the LORD your God.’ This may sound dumb but I would like to think that if I was picked out to be a king and they told me that God was the one who selected me, I would think that I would want to get to know this God. Saul tells Samuel ‘the LORD your God’ The way he was so worried about his appearance in front of the people greatly displays his heart. You know what I think, ‘keep the king position’, let me know Who God Is and more importantly please let God know me as His own. So now let us get back to the downfall that bitterness causes.
1 Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. 6 Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. 7 So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” 8 Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”
Well, isn’t this the truth. You think that you can bury your improper thoughts. You believe that you can move on in your daily activities. Trouble is, that our Wonderful Master loves us too much to let us soak in resentments. And don’t you know it that our Lord allows us to experience something that will trigger a reaction to the covered up feelings. What happens is that he hears the beautiful young ladies showing affection in words but somehow the young hero gets more attention.’ Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. 7 So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” What emotions has he developed? - how about jealousy, insecurity, anger, hatred, and self pity.
Remember, this started out with Saul’s failure to obey God. Instead of seeking forgiveness, he copped an attitude and tried to place the blame on the faithful servants that he was in charge of. When that didn’t work, he schemed a plan to look religious in front of the very people he dimed out. Now we see even worse emotional problems developing in this man who refuses to bend to the Holy Sovereignty of Adoni Yahweh. Do we not see the same kind of positions being taken by men who have forfeited their position due to sin? They cry and weep which all nice and such, but the word of the Lord Is final. They are out of their position. They should just try to live the rest of their lives serving the Lord in any other capacity and not in the one that they lost. If I was Saul I would have said, ‘Dear Lord, I am sorry for failing you. Please forgive me. You are the Holy Majestic Creator King and Your Will will be done. I am ready to hand over the crown to whomever you designate. I will be just happy to sweep floors for you, if it would please You in any way.’
Look what happens next in Saul’s life, ‘9 So Saul eyed David from that day forward.’ He now is suspicious of everyone. He has no peace. He can’t even watch a football game with peace because every time the teams huddle up, he thinks they are talking about him.
Now this is weird, 10 And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. Here are two things that grab my attention. For one thing we see that our Holy Maker allowed an evil spirit to harass him. Notice that this evil spirit did not possess Saul but was allowed to harass him. I do believe that this was a special fallen angel assigned principally to get to bother Saul. Would you agree with me that we all have evil spirits trying to hassle us. They are always firing their fiery darts of garbage our way constantly. If we cease to be close to our Lord through prayer, worship, bible study, and fellowship, I believe we crowd out the voice of our Precious Holy Spirit and what we seem to hear more clearly are the doubts, fears, guilt, and other lies the enemy of our soul throws our way. Yet with even this pressure Saul would not cry uncle. He would not cry out, ‘Dear Lord, help me, forgive me!’
Now a good question that kind of slips by us is that Saul ‘prophesied’. That is a big deal. It doesn’t say what he prophesied. Nor does it say that the prophecy came from this evil spirit or was Saul moved to speak as The Holy Ghost moved him. I guess these are some questions we might ask when we are in heaven.
So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. 11 And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.
If you ever counsel people try this procedure for their homework. It works. If they are depressed or have any other emotional problem, tell your counselees to purchase a few good worship CDs and when overcome with dread, pop on the disk and listen until they feel better. I know the enemy will not stick around when your singing worship songs to our Holy God.
Most domestic violence cases are usually arguments gone out of control. A person reaches their limit of abuse and they lash out not knowing the outcome. I did a funeral last summer for a thirteen year old boy. At the Jersey Shore he was flirting with a young lady and not knowing that another boy had claims on her came up and sucker punched him. He went down and struck his head on the curb, which killed him. Do you think that the boy who punched him wanted to kill him? I don’t. I was a sad, sad day for the whole island especially for the boy who is a murderer.
12 Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
Look at what happens next – fear and separation. You fear everything and you separate yourself from everyone.
14 And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. 15 Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.”
If you want to do a positive study, take this chapter from David’s perspective instead of Saul’s. David did everything and every response properly. What was the result of his correct ways, ‘and the LORD was with him.’ My friends, it does not get better than that.’ You know what I think is said about this is, Saul was the King. To a large degree he had no one who would speak the truth to him in love. They were all afraid to correct the king. We see this today in all levels and types of establishments. Are you brave enough to go and tell your boss that he or she is wrong and need to repent? Do you see the problem here? Sadly, one tried but was too late. The one who tried was Jonathan, Saul’s son. However, Saul was so deep in his sinful position that he tried to kill Jonathan for trying to get his father to see the truth.
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older 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, “Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
Do you still remember how all this mess started? - Failure to be obedient to the Lord’s commands and failure to confess your sins. Now look what has happened. Now Saul wants vengeance and he is willing to bring other people in to do his dirty work. Saul has come to believe that if he destroys this problem that he has made up in his mind [David] then he will be all right.
18 So David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19 But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife. 20 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 So Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.” 22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Communicate with David secretly, and say, ‘Look, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23 So Saul’s servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?” 24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, “In this manner David spoke.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any dowry but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 So when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to become the king’s son-in-law. Now the days had not expired; 27 therefore David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full count to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife. 28 Thus Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him; 29 and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy continually. 30 Then the princes of the Philistines went out to war. And so it was, whenever they went out, that David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.
Here Saul enlists his own daughter and all his servants to set up David. When you allow bitterness to infect your life you cannot think straight. Did Saul not see that for one thing his daughter fell in love with David, Saul’s servant’s recognized what a great guy David was, and even one hundred Philistines could not give Saul his full cup of satisfaction. Saul could not realize that the Holy Righteous One, not only protected innocent David, but kept Saul from spilling innocent blood. What a Great God we have!
I want to share just a couple more verses with you that shows the end of what happens when you do not allow God to admonish you. We read this sad result in chapter 28, “5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.”
When you get to this spot you no longer sense the presence of the Lord. He does not speak to you or answer your prayers. Heaven is silent. So, what do you do now? You seek out ungodly counsel, “7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”
My friends it is almost over but the shouting. Look at this end of a man who had it all but all was not enough as chapter 31 instructs us, “1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. 3 The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.” But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. 5 And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him. 6 So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day.”
You not only are destroyed but you take everyone else who is close to you down with you. Dear Lord, please forgive us our sins and help us Lord. Please remember that we are but sinful dust. We need Your Mercy oh Lord. Thank you Lord Jesus for substituting Yourself in our place. You gave Your life for us. We thank you and love You.
