This lesson looks at the time in which David, not yet king, grows in power and popularity among the people. The people have a song they sing,
" Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his tens of thousands"
King Saul is envious and furious, and he sets out to kill David. However, Saul’s son Jonathan loves David very deeply and he helps David avoid Saul’s plots and traps. David has opportunities to kill Saul, but he spares his life and tries to be reconciled to him. They make peace occasionally, but it is never long before Saul’s heart turns against David again.
So there is a long saga of Saul’s pursuit of David, and David’s escapes from Saul. Through it all, David manages to keep together a personal army and wins several victories for Israel, while Saul loses the plot completely and is unpopular, unsucessful, and eventually commits suicide.
The Main Point
Behind this story is contrast between the heart of Saul, filled with envy and self-pity, and the heart of David, full of love and forgiveness and a spirit of reconciliation. Saul is destroyed by his own evil heart whilst David must endure the long tribulation that Saul’s jealousy causes him. Evil hearts not only destroy themselves, but also hurt badly those who should be among their loved ones.
Bible Summary (1 Samuel 17-31)
David and Goliath (17)
Saul’s son Jonathan loves David and covenants with him (18)
Saul angry and jealous of David’s success and popularity (18)
David kills 200 Philistines, becomes the king’s son-in-law (18)
Jonathan warns David of Saul’s plotting (19)
Jonathan pleads for David, Saul makes a pact with David, yet attempts to kill David (19)
David’s wife Michal uses an idol to help David escape and flee to Samuel for refuge (19)
Saul tries to persue, but the Spirit of God comes upon him (19)
David flees to Jonathan, and they plan and vow to test Saul (20)
Saul fails the test and shows his will to kill David (20)
Jonathan warns David to flee, and the two say goodbye (20)
David gets bread and Goliath’s sword from Abimelech (21)
David pretends insanity to escape Achish king of Gath (21)
David rejoins his family, goes to Moab, then Judah (22)
Doeg the Edomite betrays David and kills Abimelech (22)
David continues to evade Saul, defeat the Philistines, and reaffirm his covenant with Jonathan (23)
David spares Saul’s life and makes a pact with Saul (24)
Samuel’s death (25)
Nabal scorns David, Nabal’s wife Abigail pleads with David, God kills Nabal, David marries Abigail (25)
Saul again pursues David, again David spares his life (26)
David flees to Gath, goes on secret raids (27)
Saul consults the witch of Endor and speaks to Samuel (28)
The Philistines won't let David’s army join them (29)
Amalekites destroy David’s town, he destroys them (30)
The death of Saul (31) [1CHR 10]
A few facts about David
The second king of Israel (2Sm 5)
Ancestor of Christ "The son of David"(Mtt 1:1)
Father of Solomon
An accomplished musician
Wrote many of the songs in the Book of Psalms
Anointed by Samuel (1Sm 16)
Married Abigail (1Sm 25)
Committed sin with Bathsheba (2Sm 11)
God made an oath to David (see below)
God’s oath to David
God swore to David that one of David’s descendants would sit on David’s throne and reign for ever (2Sm 7, Psa 89:3-4, Psa 132:11).
This promise was a continuation of the SEED PROMISE made to Abraham.
It was fulfilled in the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ (Act 2:22-36)
[Our next lesson will tell more about the Throne of David]