When
we last left off, David had just slain Goliath that giant of a man who
provoked Israel. What happened next was just as exciting as David's adventure
with Goliath! Read on, my friends...
After David killed Goliath, Abner took him to King Saul. David was holding Goliath's head in his hand for he had cut it off after he killed him. As David stood there, Saul said to him, "Whose son art thou, thou young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."
Now while David was speaking to King Saul, King Saul's son, Jonathan, was listening. By the time David finished talking, Jonathan loved David just like he loved his own soul. David was brave and courageous and he believed in God. Saul took David that day and would not let him go home to his father's house. David's new home would be with King Saul and Jonathan.
David and Jonathan made a convenant with each other because Jonathan loved David like he loved his own soul. Jonathan gave David many gifts--his robe, clothing, his sword, and his girdle.
Because of David's wisdom and bravery, King Saul entrusted him to do many things for him. David went wherever Saul sent him and he was in charge of the army. David behaved himself wisely and all the people and Saul's servants accepted him even though he was so young.
Oh-oh, troubled times
On the way back from the slaughter of Goliath, the women of the cities of Israel were outside dancing and singing to meet King Saul. They had musical instruments and they were very joyful because their enemies, the Philistines, had been beaten. As they made merry, the women said, "Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands." Oh-oh. Saul got so mad. He was very displeased that the women said this. He said, "They say that David killed ten thousands and that I have only killed thousands. He has all their admiration, the only thing left is that he become king!" From that time on, Saul eyed David. He was exceeding envious of him.
In the past, King Saul disobeyed God and as a result an evil spirit would sometimes trouble him. David used to play harp to soothe Saul when the evil spirit came upon him. Well the day after the women sang their songs, the evil spirit came upon Saul again. And so, as in other times, David played the harp for King Saul to comfort him. As David beautifully played the harp, there was a sharp javelin in King Saul's hand. A javelin was used to kill people. It is like a spear. As David played, King Saul said to himself, "I will smite David to the wall with it." King Saul threw the javelin at David two times, but both times, David dodged out of the way. Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with David and had left Saul. Therefore Saul had David removed David and made him his captain over a thousand men.
David continued to behave himself very wisely in all his ways and the Lord was with him. So when Saul saw this he was again afraid of David. But all Israel and Judah loved David because he dwelt among them. Saul was very jealous of this and came up with a plan...
Plans for the murder of David
Saul said to David, "Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the lord's battles." Saul was thinking to himself that instead of him killing David, he would send David to war and his enemies would kill him. Then 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?" David was confused because he came from a lowly family and the king wanted him to marry his daughter.
When it came time for the wedding, Saul's daughter was given to another man to marry. I wonder if David felt sad. Saul had another daughter named Michal who loved David. They told Saul and it pleased Saul that they should marry--Saul said in his heart, " I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Saul knew that his daughter would be trouble to David so he said, "Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain."
Saul commanded his servants, "Commune with David secretly and tell him, 'Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.'" And so, the king servants spoke these words in the ears of David. David answered and said, "Does it seem insignificant to you to be a king's son-in-law considering that I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?"
Then Saul's servants went back and told Saul what David said. Then Saul said, "Thus shall ye say to David, 'The king does not want a dowry (a gift for his daughter) but rather 100 foreskins of his enemies the Philistines.'" King Saul didn't really want the foreskins, he wanted David to get killed while fighting the Philistines. After the servants told David what the King said, David was pleased to be the king's son-in-law. So David and his men went and killed 200 Philistines and David brought their foreskins to the King. Saul's plan didn't work. God help David to slay the king's enemies. Saul then gave David his daughter Michal to wife. Saul grew more afraid of David because he could see that the hand of the Lord was with David. He also saw that his daughter Michal loved David. This made Saul more and more jealous and he became more of an enemy to David. All the people loved David because he behaved himself more and more wisely.
What happened to David? Did Saul kill him? Stay tuned to find out more.
Did you know that the God of David can be your God? God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sins. If you will admit that you are a sinner and believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, David's God will be your God. You will become a Christian and you will have the power of God on your side.