Behaving Ourselves Wisely (1 Samuel 18: 5-30)
by Sis. Marlene Barcial
Ever had someone by accident bump into you, and not say excuse me? Or when you are driving someone suddenly, cut you off on the road? In most circumstances I am certain that it is easy to cope or overlook such mishaps since probably they were not intentionally. But how do you handle those who purposefully seek to harm you? For example: gossiping, backbiting, telling of lies about you? Or the worst scenario is someone to steal, kill and destroy you…maybe not physically but mentally and emotionally.
Today, we will discover our biblical character, David, how he conducts himself when he encountered someone who intends to harm him at a different level… especially physically! As a Christians, I hope and pray that we will inspired to follow David’s example, a man after God’s own heart, by learning how we should respond appropriately from the attacks of the enemy.
The story was started after David was secretly anointed by Prophet Samuel as the New King of Israel and after David killed Goliath in the challenged battlefield.
Previous Chapter reveals the unbecoming attitude of King Saul as a foolish leader. This is the result of King Saul’s deliberately disobedience from the command of the Lord.
· Saul’ Unlawful Sacrifice- 1 Samuel 13
· Saul’s Rash Oath-1 Samuel 14
· Saul’s compromised obedience that makes him as rejected King of Israel.-1 Samuel 15
Notice the gradual change transformation of Saul from good to worst. While David is gradually develop his character in preparing for his leadership.
1. David behaved wisely: 1 Samuel 18:5-4
2. Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with David: 1 Samuel 18:12
3. David behaved wisely in all his ways and the Lord was with him: 1 Samuel 18:14
4. Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him: 1 Samuel 18:15
6. Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David: 1 Samuel 18:28
7. Saul was still more afraid of David: 1 Samuel 18:29
8. David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul: 1 Samuel 18:30
1. Behaving wisely is to be humbly obedient to authority [v. 5-11]
1 Samuel 18: 5-11
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.
When you read the previous Chapter, you will learn and discover how David started out with humble beginnings, being a humble shepherd boy. His heart was never proud and we never saw him complain or reason out about anything that he was called to do. This humility of the heart is where we all need to start out first.
A proud heart is a foolish heart and can never be open to increasing wisdom from counsel and will never obey. We know a proud heart when we see one. This is the typical "Me-First-Coz-I-Know-It-All" personality. There's no sense in trying to talk to a proud person because they would tell you that they already know all and what you're talking about! When we decide to behave wisely, we ought to start with a humble heart. We must empty ourselves of the love and esteem of SELF and start opening up to the counsel of God's Word.
David was fully submitted to Saul, and sought to serve Saul wisely in every way. David knew the way to be blessed was to work hard and to be a blessing to his boss, King Saul. He would not challenge or undermined Saul’s position or authority in any way. And that is humility!
Remember when we behave wisely: There are 2 things we will encounter:
A. The positive effect when we behave ourselves wisely: Expect Promotion & Prominence-
1. In Verse 5: (Promotion)
5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, (NIV gave him a high rank in the army) and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
Take note that David did not replace Abner (General Army of Israel) but David was simply acknowledged as a national military hero.
2. Verses 6-7: (Prominence)
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.”
When David was returning, women came together from across the land to celebrate the national victory and their new national champion to meet King Saul. The popular song which celebrated David’s military achievements became widely known, even among the Philistines (21:11) “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” I do believe that the women at that time did not intend to offend the King, they were simply praising God for His ever-increasing benefits to the nation.
B. The undesirable effect when we behave ourselves wisely: Expect Aggravation & Abuse
1. Verses 8-9: (Aggravation)
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.
Saul saw David’s abilities and achievements were damaging his own reputation among the people. And to Saul, about the kingdom, it appeared to be no honour left for David except for him to take the throne. Oddly, this is exactly what God had determined. It is a bad sign for a leader when they resent or feel threatened by the success of one of their followers. It is a certain sign of weakness in that leader.
Saul’s mind is also filled with suspicion towards David. He will begin to hear most everything David says with suspicious ears and with suspicious eyes. His thoughts about David will be twisted by suspicion. We can know that when a person in power has this mind and heart against person like David, it is going to be difficult for David (life miserable). But God will use it!
God had the power to either change Saul’s mind, or take him out of the way. But God allowed it , to do a special work in David and to accomplish His eternal purpose. And to let you remember that God is still in control.”
3. Verse 10: (Abuse)
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.
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often refers to unfairly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise verbal aggression. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)
Saul’s suspicious heart towards David lays the foundation for this attempt to abuse and that is to kill David.
10 And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul
This distressing spirit was first mentioned in 1 Samuel 16:14. Permitted by the Lord, it came upon Saul, when the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). David was brought into Saul’s royal court to play music, so that Saul would be ministered to and pacified when suffering from the distressing spirit.
According to bible scholars, the expression Saul prophesied can be used as genuine prophecy or an inconsistent prophetic trance associated with the delirious of false prophets and pagans priests. Whatever the cases here, God was judging Saul for his previous disobedience by allowing his mind to become troubled. Saul was simply babbling like a man not in his right mind. For he said, “I will pin David to the wall with it.” This wasn’t an accident. He didn’t want to just frighten David, but to kill him. So Saul threw the spear, and it missed David. Possibly God supernaturally guided the spear to miss. However it happened, the spear missed and lay on the floor. And what did David do? David didn’t pick up the spear. He didn’t throw it back. He simply escaped his presence.
But David had a different heart. David was determined to leave the situation in God’s hands, and not take the throne for himself. David wouldn’t do it! Why? Was it because David lacked courage? No, we all know that he demonstrated his courage in the battle against Goliath. And I know for sure, if anybody had thrown a spear at you, you would have picked it up and killed the man who tried to kill you as self-defence. But David knew the principle of Romans 13:1 before it was ever written:
Romans 13:1 (KJV)
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
David could had said, “Lord, you put Saul on the throne. And I know I’m supposed to the be next king, because You have given me Your promise and Your anointing. But getting Saul out of the way is Your business. I won’t touch it, because he is an authority appointed by You. You started his reign, so You have to end it.”
11 And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.
Interestingly David escaped his presence twice: This means that Saul threw the spear twice and missed twice. It reveals that after the first miss, David came back and played again?
This is where many of us will draw the line. When you knew that at first time that your life is in danger, you will probably not come back to report on your duty, right? But David’s submission is extraordinary; he sat back down to play for Saul again after the first attempt on his life. He knew the danger, and he knew Saul’s heart, but he had to trust God. How about us, do we trust GOD?
2. Behaving very wisely in all our ways is walking in holiness before God. [v. 12-16]
1 Samuel 18: 12-16 (NKJV)
12 Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul. 13Therefore 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.
If we do not live holy lives in the sight of God, then the Lord will not be with us. There is nowhere record in the Scriptures where we see David verbally criticizing Saul for his wicked behaviour. When David could have slain Saul, he did not, but rather gave his warriors instructions harm not the Lord’s anointed. In fact, when a young man came to David and report that he had killed Saul, David became very disappointed with the young man and eventually put him to death for his cowardly act (see 2 Sam. 1).
For us to attract the presence of God in our lives, we must make a commitment to behave wisely. HOW? Like David, we must not hold a grudge against those who are against us. Instead, we must show love to them regardless of how much they may try to frustrate us.
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he (Ps. 16:20KJV).
Whenever we handle matters in wise ways, the result will be good for us. We must never repay evil for evil to anyone but we must trust the Lord to work on our behalf and if we do this, then “happy we shall be.” Remember, vengeance belong only to God the Word of God says,
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay saith, the Lord (Rom. 12:19: KJV).
Because David behaved himself in a wise way, Saul became afraid of him. Do you know that whenever we behave ourselves in a wise way that our enemies become afraid of us? “Why do they become afraid of us?” One of the reasons our enemies become afraid of us because they will realize that we are not fighting in our own strength but we are fighting in the strength of the Lord. Our fight is not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.
3. Behaving wisely is not manipulation but having an honest (truthful) intention. [17-24]
1 Samuel 18: 17-24(NKJV)
David Marries Michal
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.”
Saul had previously promised to give his daughter to the man who killed Goliath (17:25). His promise was offering his older daughter Merab to David. This seemed like a sign of kindness and goodness on Saul’s part. David was supposed to have confidence, David must had thought… “Saul has forgiven. He has let bygones be bygones. He threw two spears at me before, but all of that is over now.” But Saul was not thinking that way at all. In his heart was a different motive: Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.
How would taking Merab in marriage bring the Philistines against David? Because of the dowry that Saul would demand. Only be valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles, said Saul: Saul is working as a clever manipulator. He takes advantage of David’s loyalty and patriotism. From a carnal perspective, this was a pretty smart plan on Saul’s part! It was smart in the flesh, but God would not honour Saul’s manipulation.
Manipulation tries to maneuver [control] people and events to accomplish his own hidden agenda. It can be cool in the flesh, but will never be blessed by God. So David said to Saul, “Who am I . . . that I should be son-in-law to the king?” David had no idea what was going on in Saul’s heart. David simply had a humble heart before the Lord, and God protected him against Saul’s manipulation.
The question “Who am I?” shows David’s humble heart. He was nationally famous. All Israel loved him. Even all Saul’s staff loved him. The crown prince Jonathan loved him. All over Israel, women sang and danced in his honor. Yet when the hand of Merab is offered to David, he doesn’t think, “Well, this is about time. I’m glad someone noticed.”
The Bible says God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. God was showing His grace to the humble heart of David by protecting him. Though God could see Saul’s thoughts, David could not. And if ever David suspected it and confronted Saul, we can be sure that Saul would have denied it all.
In the flesh, by all outward appearance, David is at a tremendous disadvantage. But as he kept a humble heart before the Lord, God protected him.
Take notice that David was initially hesitant to marry Merab, Saul’s daughter but Saul tried another strategy. He suddenly gave her to another man Adriel, to try and make David angry or jealous. Davidcould have said, “This was my woman to marry. She was promised to me because I beat Goliath. This was my way to marry into the royal family and get closer to the throne. This isn’t fair!” But the Lord had his hand in it and was watching out for David. Saul’s plan failed. Since this didn’t succeed, we should understand this, as a warning to Saul. In this failed plan, it seems that Saul’s manipulation is not working.
4. Behaving wisely is doing exceptional (remarkable, extraordinary) things before men and God. [v.25-27]
1 Samuel 18: 25-27(NKJV)
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
For a second attempt Saul hoped that offering Michal in marriage would lead to David’s death. Here he associates the marriage to future conquest, hoping that David would be killed by the Philistines. As David did not have the resources to bring a wedding dowry fit for a king, in that day, a dowry was required whenever a man married.
The dowry would be paid to the bride’s father, and the more important and prestigious the bride and her family, the higher the dowry price would be. The purpose of the dowry was twofold. First, it compensated the bride’s family for the loss of a family “worker.” Second, the father held a dowry as life insurance or “alimony in advance.” That is, if the husband died or divorced his wife, and she had to go back to her father’s household, there would be something to support her.
Since David was a man from a humble family, there was no way he could pay the monetary value for a daughter of a king. Saul knew this, but the king does not desire any dowry but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines. The foreskins would be a proof that David had killed that many Philistines. Saul figured out that this job was too big and dangerous for David, and probably would be killed.
Saul’s clever plan is a specific manipulative request - one hundred foreskins of the Philistines that make it sound like Saul isn’t asking for much, when he is really asking for something far greater than a lot of money. He asks David to put his life in great danger, because Saul wants him dead!
It was designed to make the Philistines completely outraged at David, because from their perspective, not only were their men killed, but their dead bodies were desecrated (Dishonoured/humiliated).
David had such a pure, humble heart that he seems to be blind to Saul’s manipulation and cunning. How can a simple man like David ever endure? Because God was with him!
Apparently there was a time limit during which David had to fulfil the conditions of the dowry. David arose and went and his men. Instead of killing one hundred, he killed two hundred men of the Philistines. What did David do with Saul’s attempt at manipulation? He took control of the situation by being a humble servant, and by giving more than what was required. David not only simply obeys but did a remarkable job. David provided twice the number that Saul required.
Conclusion:
Behaving more wisely bring more great honour and recognition before men and God. [28-30]
1 Samuel 18: 28-30 (NKJV)
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.
The war with the Philistine continued, as so was David’s brave achievements. David’s successful military engagements gained him increasing honour and recognition. As a result, Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David. Saul became David’s enemy continually. He knew that the Lord was with David, but because Saul was making himself the enemy of the Lord, he was also the enemy of David. It didn’t have to be like this, but Saul’s heart was set on this destructive course.
Saul’s cunning plan against David continues. Then the princes of the Philistines went out to war: No doubt, the Philistines went out to war against David in retaliation for what they felt was a terrible disgrace against the Philistine people. Saul wanted to make David a marked man, and he succeeded in this area.
Saul’s plan has completely failed. Why? Because David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, his name became highly esteemed. David is not only alive, but more popular and closer to the Lord than ever. But Saul will not give up, and will use more manipulation, cunning, and outright violence to attack David.
As we can see in the story, to handle ourselves in a wise manner is pleasing to the Lord and thus will attract the blessings of God upon us but our good conduct will not guarantee that will spare us from trials or from the attacks of our enemies. This is the bottom line…Behave yourself wisely and let God fight your battles for you.
Let us ask ourselves, “did we behave wisely lately?” Most may not admit it, but we all want to be promoted in our job, to be honoured, recognized, and respected and to have a long, abundant life here in the UAE. Imagine going to work one day and being greeted by your boss, who says “Come to my office at 9:00 am, I’d like to talk to you about how you are doing on the job.”
This could be a nervous time for you as you think about what your boss might say. You wonder… “How does my boss think I’ve been doing? Could there be a promotion with pay increase? Or would I loose job? Am I going to hear, “Well done “or YOU’RE DONE?”
We do not have to worry about anything, for God will be with us and our enemy will be afraid of us. But if not, God is merciful; we don’t need to be like Saul’s heart that was set on this destructive course. While we have time, while we may find Him, we need to seek God. And if, still we are not sure how to behave wisely on a certain specific difficult situation of our lives we face, we could ask God for wisdom.
Remember, wisdom involves not only intelligence but also moral integrity; we need to repent from sinful lifestyle which is ultimately self-destructive. Wisdom is commended as the only path to a full and fruitful life according to the book of proverb. The source of wisdom is God who by wisdom numbered the clouds, founded the earth and made the world. James said when we lack of wisdom; we should ask. (James 1:5)
Job 11:6 (NKJV) That He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence.
Proverbs 22:4 (NKJV) By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Proverbs 15: 33(NKJV) the fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honour is humility.
