The Lord Was With David

THE LORD WAS WITH DAVID

a prayer to open

My Lord, my God, show me your heart. Ground me in your presence.

Draw me near and hold me close.

After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. . . . And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. . . .

Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike.

When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. This was their song:

“Saul has killed his thousands,

and David his ten thousands!”

This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.

Saul was then afraid of David, for the LORD was with David and had turned away from Saul. Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.

David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the LORD was with him. When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.

David experienced the favor of God after stepping forward in faith to defeat Goliath. He won the loyalty, trust, and love of not only the Israelites but also Saul’s own son and heir, Jonathan. Saul, on the other hand, descended into anger, jealousy, and fear and was overtaken by “a tormenting spirit from God” (verse 10) as a result of his disobedience. As the story continues, we will see the devastating impact fear and jealousy can have on a human heart. But in David we will see how love and trust in God act as powerful antidotes for fear and move us toward hope.

• What was at the heart of Saul’s jealousy toward David?
• In what areas do you struggle with anger or jealousy? What fear underlies those feelings?
• Is there any anger, jealousy, or fear currently taking up space in your heart? What is one step you can take toward releasing those feelings?

Father, thank you for every blessing you have poured into my life. Help me release any fear that hides in my heart and triggers anger and jealousy. Heal the wounds that have created this fear and hindered my ability to follow you fully. Give me the courage to love generously and with a heart that believes the best about others. Lead me into hope and life. Amen.