Saul's plans have failed. Sending David into battle with a seemingly impossible challenge before him, he trusts that the Philistines would soon eliminate his personal enemy. His plan backfires and once again, David is a national hero. Saul pursues a more direct way to rid himself of David. God has anointed David to be king; Saul is fighting the will and plan of God. No amount of human planning and chicanery will alter the Sovereignty of God in His selection of David.

OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER:

I. JONATHAN CONFRONTS SAUL WITH HIS SIN - (1-7)

II. SAUL AGAIN SEEKS DAVID'S LIFE - (8-11)

III. MICHAL DECEIVES SAUL'S MESSENGERS - (12-17)

IV. SAUL AND HIS MESSENGERS PROPHESY - (18-24)

I. JONATHAN CONFRONTS SAUL WITH HIS SIN - (1-7)

Jonathan is found in a very precarious position. He has every desire and intention to be loyal to his friend David, yet, his friend is his father's enemy. Jonathan's wisdom is an example for us all. He handles both of these men, Saul and David, with dignity and respect. Jonathan realizes the difficulty of the situation and handles himself very discretely, betraying neither father nor friend.

Saul has made his intentions quite clear to all (1). Jonathan seizes the opportunity to represent his friend in a very blunt, but respectful manner. "Jonathan spake good of David ... let not the King sin...." Jonathan must have a good relationship with his father. It is not often that a father listens to or heeds the counsel of his son., "Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan..." (vs. 6).

Again we see that David is certainly a type of Christ. In referring to David, Jonathan uses the phrase "innocent blood" (Matt. 27:4), and "slay ... without a cause" (Jn. 15:25).

Saul swears, "As the Lord liveth" (and He does!), "he shall not be slain." (Ex. 20:7) says, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain ... the Lord will not hold him guiltless."

 

II. SAUL AGAIN SEEKS DAVID'S LIFE - (8-11)

The ink is not dry on the signature of Saul's vow and he has changed his mind. James (1:8) says, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." This describes Saul perfectly from this point on.

We have discussed briefly the "evil spirit" in (1 Sam. 16:14; 18:10). It is important to note that the Spirit of God comes and goes as does the evil spirit. Saul is not indwelt by either, he has no abiding Spirit like the New Testament Christian. God has dealt with men differently through human history, this is the basic foundation of dispensationalism.

It appears that David discerns the change in Saul's spirit. His comforting musical touch fails to bring relief. David anticipates the intentions of his master and accomplishes a narrow escape. It appears that as David makes his exit the javelin strikes the door behind him. David could have retaliated and taken this whole situation into his capable fighting hands. With Saul's javelin literally inches from him, he could have returned it to its owner with a little 'gusto'. Yet David gave God the privilege and responsibility of dealing with his self proclaimed adversary. See (1 Sam. 24:10).

Bad news travels fast, as David arrives home, Michal, his wife and Saul's daughter, has caught wind of her father's actions.

 

III. MICHAL DECEIVES SAUL'S MESSENGERS - (12-17)

A "bolster" is a long pillow placed under someone in bed used to prop or support them. In this case it serves as David's head.

Saul's messengers return with the news that David is too ill to be murdered. "We'll just have to wait till he's feeling a little better." Saul's sense of humor is a bit on the dull side. His instructions: deliver David, bed and all to my doorstep "that I may slay him" (15).

Michal's statement of (vs. 17) is not clear. Whether she's making an alibi for herself, or relating what David has said to her is not clear. Her excuse is either intended to have her father deal leniently with her, or David actually suspected that Michal may have been party to the conspiracy. The former seems to best fit the context.

 

IV. SAUL AND HIS MESSENGERS PROPHESY - (18-24)

What follows is a strange passage in the Word of God. Messengers are sent to Samuel and David at Naioth. As each arrives he is overwhelmed by the presence of the Spirit of God upon him, and he begin to preach. This happens three times before Saul decides that you cannot send a boy to do a man's job. What we see here is the closest thing in the scriptures that resembles that supposed spiritual phenomenon "being slain in the Spirit." There is no such case in the New Testament scriptures, yet it is very evident that these people (messengers and Saul), are not functioning under their own volition. The Lord confirms to all that He is in control. Saul is humiliated before these people as he, the king, strips himself and preaches the Word of God, definitely not his personal intentions. See (Isa. 20:8; Mic. 1:8). "Is Saul among the prophets?" (1 Sam. 10:10-12). The question was certainly legitimate. He was, but yet, he wasn't.