King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Monday, April 14, 2025
Chapters: I Samuel 19-20, Psalms 11, 59
Message: I Samuel: David And Jonathan’s Covenant
Hello My Friend,
As we continue in the reading of 1 Samuel, we learn that jealousy makes enemies even among friends, and although faithful Christians are often obligated to leave earthly comforts for Christ’s sake, they find great comfort in the Saviour, knowing that they have an everlasting covenant with God who will exalt them in due time, [1 Peter 5:6-9 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.]
Speaking of the devil, he is the very source of jealousy and if you were to take a deep look into God’s relationship with the devil we will come to understand that he is extremely jealous of God’s people and will try everything he can to overthrow God’s will and prophecies. Yesterday we learned that Saul, with the help of the evil spirit that would provoke him, had become extremely jealous over David’s success and tried everything to get him killed. Today, we learn that Saul’s jealousy toward David increased even more as he no longer seeks some kind of scheme to get him killed, he flat out commands that he be killed.
[1 Samuel 19:1-2,4-5 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. 2 But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: 4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: 5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?]
Jonathan reminds Saul that if it were not for David killing Goliath that things would be much worse than they are now with the Philistines. Johnathan was right, David, had done absolutely nothing wrong that would warrant his death, but Saul’s jealousy toward him was now consuming him to the point that all he saw was an enemy. Well, for the time being Johnathan was able to buy some time for David, but it did not last long as the Philistines attacked Israel again and David led the army to another victory.
[1 Samuel 19:8-11 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. 9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. 11 Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.]
Keep in mind that whenever it says the evil spirit from the LORD came upon anyone it is referring to the devil. Right now God keeps him around to send judgment on the wicked as well as His own people when they become rebellious. While the devil can only go so far to afflict a saved soul, the sky is the limit for an unsaved soul unless that person can somehow escape his chain, [Luke 8:11-12 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.]
Can you imagine some rod flying pass the corner of your eye and just missing you? This is what I picture as David just missed that rod striking him. There is another emotion that comes with jealousy that brings people to do some down right atrocious things and that is envy, [James 4:5-7 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.]
All the hate that Saul had toward David was backed by jealousy, envy, and fear, and the evil spirit had no problem taunting him since God rejected his family from going any further on the throne. So, at this point David was a little confused, he could not understand why Saul, who happened to be his father-in-law, wanted him dead. That was when he prayed this prayer.
[Psalms 59:1-3,8-9,16-17 To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. 2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. 3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD. 8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. 9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. 16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. 17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.]
We really have nothing to fear when God is on our side because He truly is our defense. If there is something that God has called us to do then nothing and no one can stop that, not even the devil himself, even though that still does not stop him from trying. Jesus, said it this way when Pilate tried to tell Him that he had the power to keep Him from being crucified, [John 19:10-11 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.]
Jealousy and envy is like a life threatening disease, it slowly spreads until it consumes and controls the person that it captures and stops at nothing to destroy what gets in its way. The only thing Saul saw David as right now was a threat to his throne including those who helped him. In fact, when he found out that his daughter helped David escape he saw her as an accomplice.
[1 Samuel 19:12,15,17-18 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. 15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. 17-18 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee? 18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.]
David decided to go visit Samuel, but when Saul found out he sent men to capture him, but when they got there, God had sent the Holy Spirit upon the men and stopped them. In fact, this happened three times before Saul actually came himself and saw the same vision.
[1 Samuel 19:20,23-24 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?]
Now Saul did not strip himself completely, only his upper garments and royal robes, this was often done by the prophets out of humility. Nevertheless, Saul behaved himself in so no ill a manner came upon David that night, but the people still could not believe that he would be found among the prophets of the Lord, and prophesying as they did when it was known all over town that he was after David. Conviction, has a way of bringing humility to wicked people, but the sad thing is that it does not bring repentance. Remember Judas? While he did feel remorse for betraying Jesus, he never accepted Him as his Saviour, [Matthew 27:3-5 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.]
Now that it was revealed to Saul and everyone else that David would be king, David left Samuel and met up with Jonathan. He still did not understand why Saul was trying to kill him, in fact he had no intention of trying to take the throne from him. He asks Johnathan if he knew why Saul wanted him dead.
[1 Samuel 20:1-4 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? 2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so. 3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. 4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.]
Wow! You can just feel the hurt in his heart and discouragement that he felt. This reminds me of how discouraged we can get sometimes, especially when we have been so faithful to God, and all we have to show for it is one struggle after another. We even start believing that maybe we did do something that is causing the problems. That is exactly how David felt, in fact, he tells Jonathan that if there was any wicked way in him then just kill him now.
[1 Samuel 20:5-8 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. 6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. 7 If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him. 8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?]
David was just like the rest of us, one minute he was singing and praising God through his trial, and the next he was discouraged and felt defeated. Nevertheless, Jonathan was going to get to the bottom of this once and for all, then before God he makes another covenant with David.
[1 Samuel 20:13-17,23 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father. 14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: 15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies. 17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 23 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.]
Sometimes we feel like no one cares about us, and that they would not even be missed when we are gone. Let me tell you, that is Satan’s biggest lie, and the reason why the suicide rate is so high among Christians. That is when God reminds us of how foolish we are, and that we will be missed, even by our enemies. David, understood that this was a trying of his faith, and wrote this Psalm.
[Psalms 11:1-5 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? 4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.]
God, wants to see our faith in the most trying of circumstances, He already knows what the outcome will be, He just wants us to trust Him to get there. More important He wants to prove to Satan that His true believers will not bow down to him. It is Job said when God allowed the Satan to afflict him, [Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.]
The first day that Jonathan sat with his father for dinner and David was missing nothing was said, and no asked why David was not there, but Saul already had determined in his heart that David was doing something wrong. The next day at dinner, Saul, asks Jonathan where David was and it did not go so well.
[1 Samuel 20:25-28 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty. 26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. 27 And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? 28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:]
Is that not like our enemies? They look for anything to find fault and are the first ones to assume the worst. This is another tactic that Satan uses, one that I despise greatly, and that is to make others pass false judgment on us, [Romans 14:13-14 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.]
Now as soon as Jonathan tells Saul that David went to Bethlehem Saul knew that something was up and became so angry that he literally tried to kill his own son, [1 Samuel 20:30-33 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. 32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? 33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.]
There it is right there, the truth came out as to why Saul wanted to kill him, he is telling Jonathan that as long as David is alive, he will never have a chance at being king. Nevertheless, Jonathan did not care about that, he already gave the blessing to David that he would be the next king. That was when Jonathan got up from the table and let David know that he needs to escape for his life.
[1 Samuel 20:34-35,41-42 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame. 35 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. 41 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. 42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.]
Saul, knew God was with David, and that Jonathan and Michal were also on his side. It is the devil that despises anything good, especially when we know that God’s hand in it, and will use anyone, even try to kill anyone who opposes him. So, what if Saul did succeed in killing David? Did he think that that would change the outcome? The devil is no fool, he knows where he is going, yet, he will continue to do whatever he can to stop prophecy from being fulfilled, [James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [1 Samuel 20:22-23 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away. 23 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.]
Today’s Prayer: God, It seems like Christians are being persecuted more than ever from those who are jealous at Your blessing their lives. Lord, give us Your power to keep living by faith and not in fear of those who are jealous of us. Give us Your strength to stand up for ourselves, and not be afraid to confront them. And give us the wisdom, guidance, and love that only You can give us to handle the situations we are faced with. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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