David Reading Plan – W2D5

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David Reading | Week 2 | Day 5

Prayer

As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Thank Jesus that he came to save you!

Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 18:1-16

Read these verses three times slowly.

After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang:

“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.”

Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.

The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.

Reflection & Questions

Yesterday, we read of the defining moment for David and Saul. David’s slaying of Goliath. It was a sign that King Saul was the past and King David was most certainly the future.

In fact, in a moment that was as hilarious for us, as it was infuriating to Saul, was him being greeted by the women of the town singing: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” This hit right at Saul’s weak spot: His jealousy and insecurity. He couldn’t handle being the “has been” or “the lesser.” But there was an inevitability to it all. Saul saw the writing on the wall. He “was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul.”

David went from success to success because “the Lord was with him.” And as he went, he won the favor of “all the troops” and even Saul’s officers. But it was Saul’s son, Jonathan, who became “one in spirit” with David. They shared a friendship that was like brotherhood, and would propel David to kingship, which ironically would have been Johnathan’s rightful claim.

All of this was because the Lord was with David. As Jesus would later tell his disciples, “apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

1. Do you wrestle with jealousy or insecurity like Saul? What is the root of that? How can you fight it?
2. Do you believe that apart from Jesus you can do nothing? How do you know?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to the reading today.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?