Saul's Jealousy, and Attempts upon David's Life - David marries Michal - Ripening of Saul's Purpose of

Murder - David's Flight to Samuel - Saul among the Prophets - David finally leaves the Court of Saul. (1

SAMUEL 18:4-20:42)

THE friendship between Jonathan and David, which dated from the victory over Goliath, and the modest,

genuine bearing of the young conqueror, is the one point of light in a history which grows darker and darker

as it proceeds. We can imagine how a spirit so generous as that of Jonathan would b e drawn towards that

unaffected, brave youth, so free from all self-consciousness or self-seeking, who would seem the very

embodiment of Israelitish valor and piety. And we can equally perceive how gratitude and admiration of

such real nobleness would kindle in the heart of David an affection almost womanly in its tenderness.

Ancient history records not a few instances of such love between heroes, ratified like this by a "covenant,"

and betokened by such gifts as when Jonathan put on David his "mantle," his "armor-coat,"  173 and even his

arms, - but none more pure and elevated, or penetrated, as in this instance, by the highest and best feelings

of true piety.

There can be no doubt that this friendship was among the means which helped David to preserve that

loyalty to Saul which was the grand characteristic of his conduct in the very trying period which now

ensued. How these trials called out his faith, and consequently his patience; how they drew him closer to

God, ripened his inner life, and so prepared him for his ultimate calling, will best appear from a comparison of

the Psalms which date from this time. The events, as recorded in the sacred text, are not given in strict

chronological order, but rather in that of their internal connection. As we understand it, after David's victory

over Goliath, he was taken into the permanent employ of Saul. This and his general success174 in all

undertakings, as well as his prudence and modesty, which, at least during the first period, disarmed even the

jealousy of Saul's courtiers, are indicated in general terms in 1 Samuel 18:5. But matters could not long

progress peacefully. On the return of the army from the pursuit of the Philistines, the conquerors had, after

the custom of the times, been met in every city through which they passed by choruses of women, who,

with mimic dances, sung antiphonally  175 the praise of the heroes, ascribing the victory over thousands to

Saul, and over ten thousands to David.

It was quite characteristic of the people, and it implied not even conscious preference for David, least of all

danger to Saul's throne. But it sufficed to kindle in Saul deep and revengeful envy. Following upon what the

spirit of evil from the Lord had set before him as his own fate, sealed as it was by his solemn rejection from

the kingdom and the conscious departure of the Spirit of God, the popular praise seemed to point out David

as his rival. And every fresh success of David, betokening the manifest help of God, and every failure of his

own attempts to rid himself of this rival, would only deepen and embitter this feeling, and lead him onwards,

from step to step, until the murderous passion became all engrossing, and made the king not only forgetful

of Jehovah, and of what evidently was His purpose, but also wholly regardless of the means which he used.

Thus Saul's dark passions were ultimately concentrated in the one thought of murder. Yet in reality it was

against Jehovah that he contended rather than against David. So true is it that all sin is ultimately against

the Lord; so bitter is the root of self; and so terrible the power of evil in its constantly growing strength, till

it casts out all fear of God or care for man. So true also is it that "he that hateth his brother is a murderer," in

heart and principle. On the other hand, these constant unprovoked attempts upon the life of David,

regardless of the means employed, till at last the whole forces of the kingdom were used for no other

purpose than to hunt down an innocent fugitive, whose only crime was that God was with him, and that he

had successfully fought the cause of Israel, must have had a very detrimental effect upon the people. They

must have convinced all that he who now occupied the throne was unfit for the post, while at the same time

they could not but demoralize the people in regard to their real enemies, thus bringing about the very results

which Saul so much dreaded.