Year One, August 22

My Soul Keeps Your Testimonies1

1 Samuel 17:55-58

55As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know. 56And the king said, “Inquire whose son the boy is.” (Saul should have recognized the young man who played music to calm his nerves. Great people usually have bad memories when it comes to those who serve them. David’s appearance may have changed and the king was almost insane the last time he saw him. Perhaps this is why he did not remember David. To this day the Jews cannot answer that question concerning Christ “Whose son is he?” The blind world looks for an outward glory and does not recognize the Son of the Highest.)

57And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.” (It is difficult to be honored for such a victory and still remain humble. David showed his greatness as much after the fight as he did before and during it. Saul was not a man of integrity. If he had been, he would have given the youthful hero his daughter’s hand in marriage and every other reward within his power.)

  

1 Samuel 18:6-16; 28-30

6As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,

“Saul has struck down his thousands,

and David his ten thousands.”

When our Lord returned victorious over death and hell, and leading a host of captives,2 the heavenly angels praised him in their songs. Do not our hearts also rejoice in the victories of Immanuel our King?

8And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9And Saul eyed David from that day on. (Envy, first-born of hell, whom will you not attack? David’s modest behavior should have protected him from Saul’s bitterness. We should not be surprised that Saul was again struck with his old mental illness. Those who allow an evil temper into their heart, should not be astonished when a gloomy spirit comes along with it to haunt their deepest thoughts.)

10The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. 11And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

12Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. 13So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 14And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. 15And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.

We might have expected to find David afraid of his powerful enemy, but it was just the opposite. “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”3

16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

The more they saw him, the better they loved him. He was an active leader and always ready to serve. Persistence and steadfastness earn the respect of the wise.

28But when Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed. (Good conduct is the great thing in life. May the Lord make us followers of him who was greater than David, of whom it was said, “He has done all things well.”4 Holy Spirit, form us in the image of our Lord, that he may be glorified in us.)

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¹ Psalm 119:167

² A reference to Ephesians 4:8 where Paul quotes Psalm 68:18

³ Proverbs 28:1

⁴ Mark 7:37