mfairlady
mfairlady

1 Samuel 17-20: David and Jonathan

By Mary Fairchild

Clovermap

1581 Bunting Clover Leaf Map; Israel in the center.

WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE: ROMANS 4:4-6
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”

1 SAMUEL 17—THE PHILISTINES ARE BRACED AGAINST ISRAEL ONCE AGAIN AND GOD GIVES AMAZING VICTORY IN A SUPERNATURAL WAY WITH DAVID. The Philistines represent the world, the flesh, and the devil—they only “look impressive” (17:4-10). God uses our weakness and weak things to accomplish His will so that He will receive the glory. We cannot use “mans’ methods “ to fight the Lord’s battles (17:39, 40). We are to always focus on the Lord—not on circumstances.  Goliath was no match for God. IT IS NOT HOW MUCH FAITH WE HAVE BUT IN WHOM OUR FAITH IS THAT DETERMINES OUR VICTORY. The battles in our life are the Lord’s we are used as vessels.

1 SAMUEL 18—GOD-GIVEN FRIENDSHIPS BRING OUT GODLY QUALITIES IN OUR LIVES. A true friend will expose the errors of his friend (Prov. 27:6). If you cannot defend the action of your friend you should talk to them and if that has no effect you should tell someone in authority who can correct your friend and save him from further involvement in wrong. The most valuable friendships grow out of sacrifice—David was taking Jonathan’s place as the next king.

When David began to receive praise from the women for his courage Saul became insanely jealous. When Saul compared himself to David his jealousy began. 2 Cor. 10:12 reminds us that HUMAN COMPARISON IS UNWISE. Saul allowed suspicion and malicious thoughts to bombard his mind (18:9). HIS REBELLION HAD LEFT HIM UNPROTECTED AGAINST SATANIC INFLUENCE. Eventually his suspicion was intensified by Satan into a full vengeance of murder (18:10, 11).  Saul was extremely fearful of David because he had the Spirit of God. His fear was due to sinful thinking and acting (18:12, 15).

DAVID DID NOT REACT TO SAUL’S HATRED. HE REMAINED IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF RESPONDING CORRECTLY (18:16).

1 SAMUEL 19-20—Jonathan warns David to hide and persuades Saul to spare David’s life. DAVID TRIED NO MORE TO RECONCILE WITH SAUL AS HE ATTEMPTED TO MURDER HIM and he was now out of Saul’s royal company. When Saul attempted to have David killed in his home David wrote Psalm 59. Three times Saul sent messengers to kill David and three times the Spirit of God overcame them and they became preachers instead of killers. When Saul went himself he was also overcome by the Spirit of God and rendered helpless before David (19:20-22).

THERE IS ALWAYS SAFTETY IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. David lost his position as military commander (19:8-10), his home and companionship with his wife 919:10-17), the protection of Samuel (20:1), and Jonathan’s presence (20:1-42). GOD MAY REMOVE ALL OF OUR PROPS TO TEACH US TO TRUST IN HIM WHOLLY AT TIMES.

WE NEED TO LEARN TO LEAN ON THE LORD WITH OR WITHOUT HUMAN ENCOURAGEMENT (Heb. 13:5,6).

A KING FOR ISRAEL; 1 SAMUEL 8-14

WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE: ROMANS 1:16-17
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” (Romans 1:16-17).

1 SAMUEL 8-10: A KING FOR ISRAEL. Saul was obeying his father when God called him to be the king of Israel. God’s will is often shown to us in ordinary ways when we are willing to obey Him in ordinary ways. We are called to be “diligent” in the small things that often appear unimportant if we wish to do bigger things for God (Prov. 22:29, Luke
16:10). Like Saul, we must have a “new heart,” one that is cleansed by the blood of Christ, if would have fellowship with God. When we receive Christ as Savior, God sends His Spirit to live in us. We must yield to the Holy Spirit of God who
lives in us because it is He that will give us the power to do God’s work (2 Cor. 4:7, Eph. 3:20).

IT IS SINFUL TO BE NEGETIVE ABOUT THE WILL OF GOD (1 Samuel 10:27). Do you respond negatively to what God brings into your life? If so, ask God for forgiveness for your negative spirit and replace it with a thankful, positive spirit (1 Thes. 5:18). Moses had indicated in Deuteronomy 17:14-20 that one day Israel would demand a king—that day has come.

ISRAEL YEILDED TO THE TEMPTATION TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. To be like everyone else is one of the strongest influences in the society of mankind.  Usually the crowd is going the wrong way. The right way is often the lonely way,
but it is the way of blessing. On occasion God will give us our request—to our own grief and sorrow later. The transition is made from rule by God with judges as administrators, to rule by and earthly king. Samuel’s sons did not follow his
example of faithfulness to God and they took bribes, were dishonest in their judgment, and became money hungry. With Samuel too old and his sons unreliable, the elders asked Samuel for a king. Although he was displeased, God reminded him that the people were rejecting Him as God and it was not Samuel himself. God told him to protest the request and try to reason with them (8:9-18).

THE ONLY REASON FOR DESIRING A KING WAS TO BE LIKE OTHER NATIONS. But God had planned for Israel to be distinctive and to exhibit His power and glory to other nations (8:20). Saul was chosen as king. He was from the smallest tribe of Israel and from the least important family. He responded in humility and he received the Spirit of God and became another man—this assured Saul that he was God’s choice. Not everyone gave Saul honor.

In the simple every day routines of life is where our great blessings come. As we are faithful in our duty, God will be working in our every day routines. Learn to be content by seeing God in the little things. Saul merely went to search for his father’s asses and found that God was going to make him a king. In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God came upon men who were appointed by God for special service like the judges Gideon and Samson, and those who did the skilled work in the tabernacle. Not only was Saul anointed with the Spirit of God, but God gave him a group of companions and counselors who also were touched by the Spirit of God.  Saul exercised self-control toward his enemies—this is a mark of godliness.

WORKS CITED

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