1 Samuel 19:11

1 Samuel 19:11 says, 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.  Saul sent messengers to David's house to not only watch him but to kill him in the morning.  They were there to make sure David didn't leave.  God was watching out for David, though, and Michal, his wife warned him of Saul’s plans, even though he was her father.  We can be certain that God is always watching out for us, no matter what happens in life, and it is also important that we put our spouse above our parents.  Verse twelve adds, So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.  Michal not only warned David, but she helped him escape as well.  She could have been putting herself in danger, but she was willing to put David first, and she lowered him out window and he escaped.  We need to be willing to put ourself in danger if necessary in order to help our fellow Christians.  Verse thirteen continues, And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.  Michal then made a dummy to put in David’s bed so it would look like he was still sleeping.  She went above and beyond what many people would do, even for a spouse.  After all, Saul was still considered the king, even though God had already replaced him.  We also should be willing to stand up against authorities if they are threatening our fellow Christians.  Verse fourteen states, And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.  When Saul sent messengers to take David, Michal said he was sick, still risking her safety to save him.  Sometimes, we may have to use whatever method we have in order to help a fellow Christian, and we should be willing to do so even if it is risky for us.  Verse fifteen adds, And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.  Saul was not going to be put off.  He told the messengers to bring David in his bed so that he could slay him.  Saul might have even liked that better than having to face David man to man, especially since he knew God was with David and not him. We can expect the people of the world to use every advantage available to discredit or destroy Christians.  Verse sixteen continues, And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster.  The messengers discovered that an image and a wig were in David’s bed.  If they were the ones responsible for watching him, they  could have been in big trouble.  Verse seventeen says, 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?  Saul asked Michal, his daughter, why she had sent David his enemy away, and she said David had said he would have to kill her if she didn't.  Matthew Henry points out that this false implication might have made Saul feel even more justified in wanting to kill David.  Though she had helped David escape, Michal did not stand up to her father by telling him the truth when she was put in a position of a possible threat to herself, and we may find friends who have stood with us against evil in the world today abandon us if they feel threatened, much like Peter did with Jesus right before His crucifixion.  Verse eighteen declares, 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 didn't return to his family, but went to Samuel instead, which might have partially been because Samuel had anointed him as king.  Whatever reason we might have for running when faced with a threat because of our being a Christian today, we need to go to the source of our power, which is God Himself, and for David, Samuel represented the source of God's power.  Verse nineteen adds, And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.  David and Samuel had gone to Naioth, and Saul was told this, evidently by some of the people of Israel who were either still loyal to Saul or afraid of him.  We need to pray that we as God's people today do not become divided and betray one another.  Verse twenty continues, 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.  Saul sent messengers to take David, but when they found themselves in the company of prophets, the themselves began to prophesy as well as the Spirit of the LORD came over them. God can change the heart of those who are working against us just as easily today, especially if we have a group of Christians acting under His leadership.  Verse twenty-one says, And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.  Saul sent messengers twice more, and both times they began to prophesy as well.  When the Spirit of God is at work, it doesn't matter how many times nor how many people His enemies send against Him.  God can change their heart if they are open to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, which these messengers had to have been, because as stated before God does not force His will on anyone.  Verse twenty-two adds, Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.   Then Saul went looking for David and Samuel himself and stopped at a great well in Sechu and asked someone where they were.  He was given a truthful answer that they were at Naioth.  Whether the person who told Saul knew of his intent or not, he was still king, if in name only.  We may not always know the true intent of people today when they ask about things relating to God and His.people, so all we can do is tell the truth under God's guidance.  Verse twenty-three continues, 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.  As Saul continued on to Naioth, the Spirit of the LORD came on him as well.  God had never really abandoned Saul, and when he was open to God's Spirit, He still directed Saul. Verse twenty-four concludes, 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? Saul stripped off his clothes and began to prophesy himself, lying naked all night, and the people began to ask if Saul was now a prophet.  Removing his clothes may have been symbolic of removing everything that stood between God and him.  He was no longer Saul the king but simply a man with nothing between God and Himself.   We may at times,e specially if we have gotten off track as Christians, need to strip our soul bare before God and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our life.

1 Samuel 19:1

1 Samuel 19:1 says, And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.  Saul began to attempt to recruit his servants and even his son, Jonathan, to kill David.  His subtle plans had failed, so he became more open in acting on his hatred or jealousy of David.  When subtle methods don't work in discrediting or destroying Christians, or at least their works for God today, we should not be surprised when those who hate or are jealous of us begin to use more open, aggressive means in attempting to do so.  Verse two adds, 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:  Instead of following his father’s orders, Jonathan who was a true friend to David, warned him of Saul's intent and told him to go and hide himself.  If people are plotting against us as followers of Christ today, we need to pray that we have at least one friend like Jonathan who will stand beside us no matter what.  Jonathan would have been the apparent successor to Saul as his son, but he did not allow jealousy about David's popularity to keep him from doing what was best for David. We may seem to be the heir apparent to a position in the church today, but we cannot allow selfish desires to keep us from looking out for the best interest of other Christians, even if they take the place we might assume should have been ours.  Verse three continues, And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.  Not only did Jonathan warn David, he said he would take his place by his father’s side and warn David of Saul's intent toward David.  Jonathan was really putting himself at risk, nor only in battle, but also by defying his father's order to kill David.   We should be willing as Christians to put ourselves in danger for the benefit of our fellow Christians if necessary.   Verse four states, 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 theeward very good:  Jonathan also spoke to his father on David's behalf, telling him that David had done nothing but good toward Saul, which was true.  We need to be that kind of friend to our fellow Christians today if they are in danger.  Verse five adds, 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 reminded Saul that by God's grace David had delivered the people of Israel from Goliath, and that Saul had rejoiced because of it, and then asked him why he now wanted to shed the innocent blood of David.  Jonathan was really putting himself in danger by doing this, since he was questioning a jealous king filled with hatred for David.  It is one thing to silently support our fellow Christians, but we need the faith in God that causes us to openly support them no matter what it may cost us.  Verse six concludes, And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. Saul listened to Jonathan and swore that as surely as the LORD lived he would not destroy David.  Of course, we will see later that Saul didn't live up to this promise, even though it was made to God.  People of the world may make promises about not trying to destroy Christians or even God's word, but they seldom remain true to these promises.  Verse seven says, And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.  Jonathan called David out of hiding, and David was once again in Saul’s presence as he had been in the past.  There was at least a temporary truce on Saul's part, since David didn't need to make one since he had never attempted to do anything to harm Saul.  If there is a truce between the world and us today it needs to be on their part, since we as Christians should never want to do anything to harm them.  We are called on to reach out to the lost people of the world with love and compassion, and not with hatred and evil intent.  Verse eight adds, 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.  The war with the Philistines continued,and David continued to fight against and kill them, so the Philistines were afraid of him.  All we can do today as followers Christ is to be willing to engage in the battle against sin and evil in the world  even if it puts us in danger.  Verse nine declares, 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.  Once again we are told that an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, but as I have stated before, I don't believe that God ever sends evil spirits on anyone.  Saul may have attributed the evil spirit to God, but it was really a result of Saul's own lack of being willing to follow God's will that resulted in his attitude, which was once again a desire to kill David.  Temporary truces with the people of the world today will never last.  Saul sat with a javelin in his hand as David played the harp again.  David was still willing to do all that he could to please Saul under God's guidance.  We should be willing to do all that we can to help people today, even those who may be our enemies, as long as we don't go against God's word.  Verse ten adds, 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.  As David was playing the harp for Saul, Saul threw the javelin at David, again trying to kill him in spite of his word to Jonathan and God, but once again God protected Davtd and he slipped away.  All we can do today in our battle against Satan and his forces is to put our life in God's hands.  He will keep us secure in our everlasting relationship with Him no matter what happens in this world.

1 Samuel 18:20

1 Samuel 18:20 says, And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.  One of Saul's daughters, Michal, loved David and this pleased Saul.  He wasn't pleased for his daughter, though, but was pleased because he thought he could use her by having having her marry David.   Verse twenty-one adds, And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.  Saul’s plan was still to have David killed by the Philistines, believing they would hate David even more if he was his son-in-law.  Of course,  David was likely already more hated by the Philistines than Saul was, because David was killing more of them.  If we are being highly effective as Christians today, which would not be in killing but in reaching the lost, the people of the world are going to attempt to stop us by some method.  Saul told David this was going to happen that day, and as a loyal subject to Saul, I don't believe that David would have objected.  Verse three continues, And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law.  In order to ensure that David would agree to marry his daughter, Saul had his servants talk with David privately and tell him that Saul loved him and wanted him to be his son-in-law.  As Christians, we should not be surprised if people today use our friends and aquantenances in an attempt to make us think they are being nice to us while they are secretly attempting to destroy our effectiveness in reaching the lost world.   Verse twenty-three states, And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?  When the servants told David this, he asked if they thought it was a light, or unimportant thing, that he become the king’s son-in-law, since he was a poor man and lightly esteemed.  David was still a humble shepherd's son, even though he had killed Goliath and had been anointed king by Samueland more importantly by God.  No matter our position by God's calling in the church today, we should always remain but a humble sinner saved by grace.  Verse twenty-four adds, And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.  His servants told Saul what David had said.  Like David, they were obedient to Saul.  Verse twenty-five continues, And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.  Saul sent word back to David that insteadof a dowry, he wanted the foreskins of a hundred Philistines, not because he really waited them, but because he figured David would be killed trying to get them.  People today still often act as though they are being nice to Christians while secretly working to destroy them.  It should never be our fellow Christians who are attempting to do this though, as it was with Saul and David, both being a part of God's Chosen People, at least by birth.  Verse twenty-six says, And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired.  When David heard this, it pleased him. Still, we would think that David would have prayed about this instead of just basing his decision on what pleased him.  I do know that as followers of Christ, we should never base our decisions just on what pleases us, because often we may gain whatever it is, and it may not be what God wanted for us.  God may have blessed David's decision, but David should have prayed about it first, and we are not told that he did.  The time for David to take action had not expired.  Verse twenty-seven adds, Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.  David and his men went out immediately and killed not one hundred, but two hundred Philistines and David brought their foreskins to Saul.  David had brought double what Saul requested, but this really wasn't anything Saul wanted.  The fact that David was still alive meant that Saul’s plan had failed.  As long as we are faithful to God, man's plans to destroy us will always fail.  Saul had no choice but to give his daughter to David in marriage.   Verse twenty-eight declares, And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.  I am sure that it was much to Saul’s dismay that he realized that God was with David and not with Saul himself, and adding to Saul’s dismay was the fact that Michal actually loved David.  I believe the people of the world are often dismayed when their plans to destroy Christians backfire on them, and ultimately they all will.  Verse twenty-nine continues, And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.  Saul was now even more afraid of David, because David was now a part of Saul's family, giving him even more  power in the eyes of the rest of Israel, and Saul became David’s enemy continually.  We should note that this was a one-sided hatred.  David was still loyal to Saul.  When  people of the world treat us with hatred, we are still called on to treat them with Godly love.  Verse thirty concludes. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.  The Philistines were getting ready for another war, and David was still behaving even more wisely, which made the people of Israel esteem him highly.  There will always be enemies of God at war with Christians, and all we can do is be ready and behave in a way that pleases God and brings honor to Him.

1 Samuel 18:12

1 Samuel 18:12 says, And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.  Saul was afraid of David, not because David was stronger or richer, but because God was with David and had departed from Saul.  I believe it is more accurate to say that Saul had stopped being obedient to God and David still was obedient to Him.  As followers of Christ, we can be certain that God is not going to just arbitrarily leave us, so if we believe that He is blessing someone else more, instead of being jealous, we just need to get closer to God.  Verse thirteen adds,  Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.  Saul moved David away from himself by making him a captain over a thousand, and David went 8n and came out before the people.  Of course, this had the effect of making David more visible and endeared to the people of Israel, which certainly had not been Saul’s intention.  The best laid plans of those who stand against God today will always ultimately fail, and at times may have the opposite effect of what they intended.  Verse fourteen continues, And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.  David continued to behave wisely, or under the direction of God, since all true wisdom comes from God.  David was still faithfully serving Saul and even though he had already been anointed as the king of Israel, he was content to let it happen in God's time.  If we know that God has called us for a particular purpose in the church today, we need to just continue to serve Him until He decides the time is right for us to do what He has called us to do.  We should never attempt to force ourself into any position before God says it's time.  Verse fifteen states, Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. Seeing how wisely David behaved made Saul even more afraid of him.  When we act wisely, or under God's leadership, as Christians in the world today, we should not be surprised if the people of the world become even more afraid us.  If we are no different than them, they will have no reason to even think about us, much less be afraid of us.  Verse sixteen continues, But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.  All the people of Israel and Judah loved David, because he was always out amongst them.  As followers of Christ, if we want the people of the world to love us today, we need to first love them and be out amongst them.  We cannot reach the world with the gospel of Christ by withdrawing from it.  We need to be out amongst them with Godly wisdom guiding us.  Verse seventeen says, And 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. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.  Saul then devised a plan to have David marry one of his daughters, which would show the people of Israel that he loved David, and then have David to swear to act valiantly for him.  All this was done not out of any love for David, but for the purpose of having David die in battle, so the people would not know that Saul wanted him dead.  As Christians, people today may appear to be our friends while they are secretly plotting how to destroy us.  Verse eighteen adds, And David said unto 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 asked Saul who he was or even who his father was that he should become the son of a king, which he would have been considered had he married Saul’s daughter.   We need to realize that this all happened after Samuel, under God's direction, had already anointed David as king, but David was still humble servant to Saul.  I believe that sometimes as Christians, we let self-pride get in the way of our effectively fulfilling the position that God has called us to.  Verse nineteen continues, But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.  At the time when Saul’s daughter, Merab, should have been marrying David, she was given in marriage to another man instead.  Matthew Henry says Saul did this in an attempt to get David to mutiny against him, and then Saul would have had a reason to kill David.  We can be certain that the people of the world are often going to do everything they can to get us to react in anger instead of out of love and concern under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

1 Samuel 18:1

1 Samuel 18:1 says, And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.  After Jonathan heard David's speech to Saul, he began to love David like a brother as much as he loved his own soul.   Jonathan, who it would seem should have been the heir to the throne was not jealous of David, but accepted him wholeheartedly like a brother.  We cannot allow what we may assume should be our future position in the church to cause us to be jealous of someone God has  chosen instead.  Verse two adds, And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. After David defeated Goliath, Saul took him into his house and would not allow him to return home to his father.  Though Saul didn't know it, he had brought his replacement as king into the place he governed from.  If people today are in a position of leadership in the church but are not following God's will, their replacement may already be with them and they do not even realize it.  Verse three continues, Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.  Jonathan and David made a covenant between themselves that day, because Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.   We are not told what this covenant was, but can assume it was to always support one another no matter what was happening.   We need Christian friends like that today.  Verse four concludes, And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.  Jonathan gave David his robe and his armament.  He didn't know it, but David was already anointed as replacement as the future king, so this would have symbolically transferred that position.  Even if we think we should be the next to assume a position of leadership in the church, we should never allow that to keep us from being friends with someone that God has called to the position instead.  Matthew Henry equates this with Jesus's love for the church, where He stripped Himself of His royal robes, but instead of putting them on us, He put on our fifty rags instead, spiritually speaking.  Verse five states, And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself 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.  David was obedient to Saul, going wherever Saul sent him, and Saul set him over the men of war.  Matthew Henry points out that Abner was still the overall leader of the army, but that David was placed in some position of authority over them.  Today, instead of attempting to hang on to a position of power in the church and maybe even thinking that one of our children should succeed us,we need to be preparing for the replacement that God has chosen to be called.  Verse six adds, And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.  After a period of time, when David would return from battling the Philistines, the woman would come out sining praises, not to David, but to Saul.   Since Saul was still king, this would have been normal, and we don't read anything about David resenting this fact.  Not that we serve God for personal glory, but we need to be careful that we don't become jealous if someone else is praised for something that we did in the church.  Verse seven continues, And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.  Of course, even as the women sang praises to Saul, they gave David more honor, saying Ssul had killed his thousands and David his ten-thousands.  I don't believe that David was seeking this praise, and neither should we be seeking praise above any other person who is in a position of leadership in the church today, even if they like Saul may not be following God's guidance.  Verse eight says, And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?   David might not have been seeking their praise, but Saul definitely noted it.  He asked if they were attributing more honor to David than to Saul himself, then what more could David want but his kingdom.  Two things we should note.  First,  God had already given David the kingdom, and second, it was not Saul's kingdom to give or have taken away from him, but it was God's kingdom.  As long as we as followers of Christ recognize that the Church is God's and He calls people into positions of leadership, we have no reason to envy anyone.  Verse nine adds, And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.  Saul began to watch David from that day forward.  Though David had no intention of overthrowing Saul, Saul’s jealousy made him think he did.  We can never control how our fellow Christians view us, but as long as we are obedient to God, it is not our responsibility to placate them.  Verse ten continues, And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.  We are told that an evil spirit from God came upon Saul, but as stated earlier,  I don't believe God sends evil spirits on anyone.  I believe more accurately it would be that Saul allowed an evil spirit to control him and attributed it to God, and then under the influence of the evil spirit, he began to prophesy.  Matthew Henry says this was likely to make it seem that God was behind his coming behavior.  I don't believe that as followers of Christ that we should ever attempt to credit God with our evil behavior, and we certainly should never try to use this to justify our bad behavior if we act on it.  Verse eleven concludes, And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.  Saul then threw a javelin at David twice, but missed both times.  Saul thought if he killed David that his problems would be over, but his problem was not David, but God's rejection of him because of his own unwillingness to serve God.  If we as Christians are unwilling to do what God calls us to do, we should never become angry with someone who is willing. 

1 Samuel 17:48

1 Samuel 17:48 says, And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.  When the Philistine army came toward David, he rushed to meet them and their champion, Goliath.  He not only didn't run away, but he ran toward the enemy.  We should also never run from the enemies of God today, but should be ready to meet them head on.  Verse forty-nine adds, And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.  David was armed only with a sling and a few rocks plus his faith in God, but that was enough.  As long as we are faithful to God, He will provide us with all we need to succeed.  The first rock sunk into Goliath's forehead, and he fell face down to the ground.  David had no need of the other rocks, but even with faith it is best to be as prepared as possible when facing the giants in our life.  Verse fifty continues, So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.  As just discussed, David prevailed over Goliath with a sling and a stone,and he had no sword in his hand for afterward.  Again, when we are acting by faith in God, if we need something to be successful, He will provide it.  Verse fifty-one states, Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head thereawith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.  Having no sword of his own, David ran to Goliath,  pulled his sword out of its sheath, and used it to cut off Goliath's head.  Goliath was so confident in his victory that he hadn't even drawn his sword.  He was also there representing the Philistines and their gods, and had said that the people following the one who lost would serve the people of the victor, but the Philistine army ran away in fear instead.  People of the world serving their gods today are still at times so unconcerned with Christians that they don't even draw their weapons against us.  Verse fifty-two adds, And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.  Saul and his army, who had been cowering in fear before Goliath suddenly found the courage to engage in battle.   It may only take one brave Christian to stand up by faith in God against what seems to be a giant by today to inspire other Christians to join the battle.  The Israelites chased the Philistines all the way to their cities.  Verse fifty-three continues, And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.  This says that when the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines they spoiled their tents, but as Matthew Henry points out, they brought the spoils of the war back to their tents.  Of course, since they were attempting to profit materially from their victory, and we are not told that God directed them to do this, they may have indeed spoiled their tents.  We are not called to fight evil in the world today so that we may profit materially from a victory, but instead so that God may be glorified.  Verse fifty-four declares, And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.  David took Goliath's head to Jerusalem, but he kept Goliath's armor in his tent.  Later, Goliath's sword would be preseved behind the ephod in the tabernacle consecrated to God as a memorial to His victory, because ultimately it was God and not David Who slew Goliath.  We need to consecrate our victories as followers of Christ today to God, because He is always the source of our victories.  Verse fifty-five adds, And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.  When Saul saw David go against Goliath, he asked Abner, who had earlier brought David to him to entertain him with the harp, whose son David was, and Abner said he could not tell.  Saul had forgotten David who had been gone from his court for some time.  David had just been a musician and not a champion of Israel.  Sometimes, it may be hard to see God's champions today because we have known them as something unimportant before.  Verse fifty-six continues, And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.  Saul told Abner to find out whose son David was.  We are not told Saul's motive for wanting to know, but David had done what Saul himself had failed to do.  Verse fifty-seven states, And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.  When David returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, with Goliath's head in his hand, Abner brought him to Saul.  Evidently, neither remembered David from his earlier time in the king's court.  We may be just as unmemerable to our fellow Christians today unless we do something that seems miraculous, and that should be okay with us.  David was not looking for praise for himself,  but for glory for God, as we should be doing today as Christians.  Verse fifty-eight adds, And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.  When Saul asked David whose son he was, David said he was the son of Saul’s servant Jesse of Bethlehem.  Whether Saul remembered David at this time or not we are not told.  David did not mention Samuel visiting his father and anointing David as king of Israel, but simply referred to him as Saul’s servant.  David was content to allow God to do things in His own time, and so must we be today. 

1 Samuel 17:40

1 Samuel 17:40 says, And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.  David had removed Saul's armor, and instead went to face Goliath with a five smooth stones he got out of a stream along the way and his sling. This wouldn't seem to be much armament against a well armed giant, but David was going by faith in God.  We may seem ill armed to fight against the forces of Satan in the world today, but even if we are armed to the teeth, we had better be relying on God and not superior weapons.  Give me God and a sling everytime over all the weapons in the world without Him.  Verse forty-one adds, And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.  Not only was Goliath armed, he had a shield bearer going before him, which would have freed his hands to be used in the battle.  As tall as Goliath was, I have to wonder how the shield bearer was able to shield him completely and of course we know that he didn't shield Goliath'shead.  As we engage in battle with the world today as Christians, we may find that they have people helping protect them, even by being shielded by the laws of man.  Verse forty-two continues, And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.  When Goliath saw David, he looked on him with disdain.  Goliath and challenged the people of Israel for days to send their best man to face him, and now he saw a youth had been sent.  What Goliath didn't.realize was that though he had no shield bearer, David was not alone.  He had God on his side to protect Him, and as followers of Christ, we always have the Holy Spirit with us to keep us safe forever, no matter what happens in this world.  Even if we were to lose the battle, we have already won the war.  Verse forty-three states, And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.  Goliath asked David if he thought he was no more powerful than a dog that David would come at him with staves.  Goliath was full of self-pride, and because of that, he cursed David in the name of his gods.  People still look down on Christians today and curse them in the name of their gods, which is anything that they consider to be more powerful than God.  Verse forty-four adds, And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Goliath then told David to come to him, and he would not only kill him, but he would scatter his body for the birds and the beast to feed on.   People always have been willing to overlook the power of Christians who are acting under God's power and authority.  Of course, being a Christian in name only will leave us cowering as the rest of the people of Israel were doing.  They will also be willing to let us go fight the battle, even if they don't think we stand much of a chance of winning.  Verse forty-five declares, Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  David openly declared the source of His power, and that was the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel Whom Goliath had defied.  Of course, at this point the armies of Israel were not acting as though they believed in the power of God themselves.   We cannot allow people to insult God even if we stand alone against overwhelming odds if we are truly a follower of Christ.  David said Goliath might be better armed to fight, but that he was armed with something more important, and that was faith in God.  We need to realize this today as well.  We have the only God there is on our side.  Verse forty-six adds,This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.  Though it might seem that David was bragging as Goliath had been, there was one main difference.  David didn't say that he was going to slay Goliath, but that God would deliver him into David's hand, and then he would kill him.  Through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, those who put their faith in Him have already been given victory over all the powers of the world.  We simply need to be like David and act on our faith.  Verse forty-seven continues, And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.  David had said that when, not if, he defeated Goliath that the world would know that there is a God in Israel, and now he continues by saying that God does not save by the sword and spear, but by faith in His power.  We may profess to know that God is all powerful and that He has already defeated sin and death, but if we are unwilling to put our faith in Him, we will never truly know this.  David could have said that he knew God was going to give him the victory, but then refused to face Goliath.   We must be willing to face our giants head on if we are to be victorious for God, and if we do, we must then make sure that we give God the glory.