1 Samuel

The beauty of holiness

1 Samuel 1
A man named Elkanah (God has possessed or God has created) had 2 wives: Hannah (grace) and Peninnah (jewel)

Hannah had no children and Peninnah had both sons and daughters

Each year Elkanah took all his family to worship the Lord

When they sacrificed to the Lord, he gave Hannah a double portion because he loved her, but the Lord had closed her womb

[I love you with an everlasting love, says the Lord]
Jeremiah 31:3

Her rival tormented her for this, and she poured out her heart to God and wept greatly
Eli, the priest, saw her talking to the Lord in her heart with her lips moving but no sound coming out and thought she was drunk

He said, How long will you be drunk? put away your wine from you

Hannah said, Don’t think I’m wicked. I’m a woman pained in spirit have poured out my soul before the LORD
Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant your request that you have asked of Him

[Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son
If you ask anything in my name, I will do it]
John 14:13, 14

Hannah went away no longer sad
When they returned home, the Lord remembered Hannah and she conceived and she bore a son, and called his name Samuel (to ask), saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD
Hannah didn’t go to the yearly sacrifices again until the child was weaned. Then she took him with her, with 3 bulls, and one bushel of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh: the child was young
And they killed a bull and brought the child to Eli. And she said, Oh my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman that stood by you here, praying to the LORD

I prayed for this child; and the LORD has given me my request I asked of him

So I have loaned him to the LORD; as long as he lives he will be lent to the LORD
And he worshipped the LORD there

[O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth]
Psalm 96:9

Those that honor Me I will honor

1 Samuel 2
Hannah prayed, My heart rejoices in the LORD, my strength (rays of light) is exalted in the LORD
There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside You: Don’t talk proudly for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed
mighty men are broken, the strong stumble
The LORD kills and makes live: He brings down to the grave and brings up

[The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God
and those that hear will live]
John 5:25
The LORD makes poor, and makes rich: He raises the poor out of the dust to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory

[He that overcomes will sit with Me on My throne]
Revelation 3:21
for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S. He has set the world upon them
He will keep/guard the feet of His saints, and the wicked will be silent in darkness; for no man prevails by strength
The enemies of the LORD will be broken to pieces; out of heaven He will thunder upon them
the LORD will judge the ends of the earth; and He will give strength to His king and exalt the light of His anointed
Elkanah took his family home and the child Samuel served the LORD before Eli the priest
Now the sons of Eli were sons wickedness; they didn’t know the LORD. They stole the best of the offerings of Israel for themselves, by force if the man protested, and lay with women who came to the door of the sanctuary to worship
The sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for the men despised the offering of the LORD
But Samuel served before the LORD, being a child, clothed with a priestly robe of linen. And his mother made him a little coat and brought it to him each year.
Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife and said, The LORD give you seed of this woman for the loan that is lent to the LORD. The LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and over the years bore 3 sons and 2 daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD
Eli said to his sons, I hear of your evil doings from all the people. No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear: you make the LORD'S people transgress
If a man sins against another the judge will judge him: but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intervene for him?
But they didn’t listen to their father because the LORD desired to kill them
A man of God came to Eli and said, The Lord says, Didn’t I reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer on My altar, to burn incense, to wear a priestly robe before Me
You honor your sons above Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people

So, the LORD God says, I promised that your house, and the house of your father would walk before me forever

but now the LORD says, Far be that from Me; for those that honor me I will honor, and those that despise Me will be thought little of
Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your family. The men will die young and cause your eyes to fail and grieve your heart and you will see an enemy in My dwelling
A sign confirming this will happen to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they will both die.
And I will raise for Myself a faithful priest, that will do what is in My heart and in My mind
and I will build him a secure house; and he will walk before My anointed forever

Speak Lord for your servant hears

1 Samuel 3
The child Samuel served the LORD before Eli

The word of the LORD was valuable/prized/precious/rare in those days; there was no open vision

Before the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was, they were lying down

The LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here I am

He ran to Eli, and said, Here I am for you called me

And Eli said, I didn’t call; go lie down. The Lord called twice more before Eli realized it was the Lord calling Samuel

[The mighty God, even the LORD, has spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its going down]
Psalm 50:1

Eli said, Go, lie down. If he calls say, Speak, LORD; for your servant hears
And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel

Then Samuel answered, Speak, for your servant hears

The LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, that will make everyone’s ears tingle

I will stand up against Eli and do all I have said about his house: when I defile, I will end (their evil) because his sons made themselves vile, and he didn’t restrain them

Their sins will not be atoned for (because they sought no relationship with their Maker whatsoever, and He won't force Himself on anyone)

(All who seek Him find Him and He washes away all their sins 'as far is the east is from the west' - Psalm 103:12)

The next morning Eli asked Samuel what the Lord had said, and threatened him if he didn’t tell every word

So Samuel told him and he said, It is the LORD: let Him do what He sees valuable, excellent, rich to Him

[He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are justice: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He]
Deuteronomy 32:4
And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground
All Israel knew that he was confirmed to be a prophet of the LORD

And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh

the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD

[Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to Himself a special people]
Titus 2:13, 14

His Glory endures forever

1 Samuel 4
The word of Samuel (from the Lord) came to all Israel

Now Israel went to war against the Philistines and the Philistines killed 4,000 men of the army in the field
When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Why has the LORD struck us today before the Philistines? Let’s bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh to save us out of the hand of our enemies
(They’re looking to the object not the Lord whose covenant it represents)
The people sent to Shiloh, to bring back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of angel-armies, Who dwells between the cherubim
The 2 sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God
And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth resounded
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they knew that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp and were afraid, for they said, God has come into the camp

Who can deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods that struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness
Be strong, and be men, or we will be their servants as they have been ours - be men, and fight
The Philistines fought, and Israel was struck, and there was a very great slaughter; 30,000 footmen of Israel fell
and they ran, every man to his tent
And the ark of God was taken; and the 2 sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed
A man of Benjamin ran out of the battle-line and came to Shiloh that day with his clothes torn, and with earth on his head and told it all in the city
When Eli heard he was sitting by the gate watching, though he was 98 years old and blind

When he heard the ark was taken and his 2 sons dead, he fell off his seat backwards beside the gate and broke his neck and died
He had judged Israel 40 years

(Israel was God's special people on earth to show the nations the wonders of Him and His love so they would be saved

But they were corrupt, worshipping idols and doing worse vile things than other nations

God would not be just and right to let these things pass and allow all the suffering evil brings to continue)

[Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice]
Isaiah 32:1

His daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the news she bent down and delivered; for her pains came upon her
And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said, Don’t fear; you have born a son

[Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government will be upon His shoulder: and His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace]
Isaiah 9:6

But she didn’t answer or set her heart on it
And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel
for the ark of God is taken

[The glory of the Lord will endure forever: the Lord will rejoice in His works]
Psalm 104:31

He corrects from love so all will turn back to Him who is life

1 Samuel 5
The Philistines took the ark of God to the house of Dagon, their god, and set it by Dagon

The next morning they saw Dagon had fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD and they took Dagon and set him in his place again

The next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD

and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the fishy part of Dagon remained
[At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth]
Philippians 2:10
The hand of the LORD was severe on those in Ashdod;
He destroyed them and struck them with hemorrhoid tumors, Ashdod and its borders

When men saw it they said, The ark of the God of Israel can’t stay with us: his hand is severe on us, and on Dagon our god
They gathered all the Lords of the Philistines and decided, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried to Gath

In Gath the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and He struck down the men of the city, both small and great, and they had tumors in their secret parts (bursting forth)
So they sent the ark of God to Ekron, and when it arrived the Ekronites cried out saying, They’ve sent the ark of the God of Israel to us to kill us and our people
They gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, Let’s return the ark to his own place, that it not kill us;

for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there

The men that hadn’t died were struck with the hemorrhoid tumors: and the cry of the city went up to heaven
[God is a refuge and strength a very present help in time of need]
Psalm 46:1
When we are judged we are corrected by the Lord so we won’t be condemned with the world
1 Corinthians 11:32
He is long-suffering, not willing that any perish but that all turn back to Him]
2 Peter 3:9

He is awesome and to be feared

1 Samuel 6
The ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines 7 months

The Philistines sent it away with a guilt offering saying, Don’t harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did when He dealt severely among them when they didn’t let the people go
They sent the ark away being pulled by 2 milk cows on a new cart with a coffer of 5 golden hemorrhoids and many gold mice as the guilt offering saying, maybe He will lift His hand from us
They watched the cart as it went saying, If it goes straight on the road back, not turning to the right or left, then we will know that it was His hand on us and not just by chance
The cart went straight on the road

Those of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it
They put the ark on the great stone of Abel there in the field and offered sacrifices (the ancient communion service)
The LORD struck 50,070 men of the people because they disrespected Him by looking inside the ark

and the people mourned because the LORD struck many of the people with a great slaughter

[Blessed are those that mourn: for they will be comforted
Matthew 5:4

Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort
Who comforts us in all our troubles]
2 Corinthians 1:3, 4
The men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? to whom shall He go from us?

(Is it wise not to fear One with all the power in the universe?)

And they sent messengers to those dwelling at Kirjathjearim saying, The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD; come down and bring it up to you

[It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God]
Hebrews 10:31

(Everything He does is for good, to bring all who will to Him and His glory, to be His beloved children forever

and to destroy the evil that causes all the ruin, pain, suffering, and death in the world)

He fights for us

1 Samuel 7

The ark of the covenant was kept in the hill country in the house of Abinadab for 20 years

And the people mourned after the Lord
Samuel told them, If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and set your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only

He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines

[In returning and rest you will be delivered

In quietness and confidence will be your strength]
Isaiah 30:15
The children of Israel said to Samuel, Don’t stop calling out to the LORD our God to save us out of the hand of the Philistines

Samuel offered the gifts showing the Lord’s great love for us and the LORD heard him
And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines came to fight against Israel

but the LORD thundered with a great voice that day on the Philistines and crushed them; and they were defeated before Israel
The men of Israel chased the Philistines and struck them until they came below Bethcar

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, This far the LORD helped us
So the Philistines were humbled and didn’t come again to the border of Israel

and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel
The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored from Ekron to Gath and its border

And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites

[being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ]
Romans 5:1

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, I give to you. don't let your heart be troubled or afraid]
John 14:27
And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places

And returned was to Ramah; for his house was there; and there he judged Israel

And he build an altar there to the LORD (the altar is the place we draw near to God)

['Draw near to God and He will draw near to you' anytime, anyplace]
James 4:8

He gives, not takes

1 Samuel 8
When Samuel was old, he made his sons, Joel and Abiah, judges over Israel. The didn’t walk in his ways but went after money and took bribes and perverted justice.
All Israel’s leaders went to Samuel said, Make a king to judge us like all the nations. This thing was evil to Samuel, so he prayed

[...in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths]
Proverbs 3:5, 6

and the LORD said, Listen to the people for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them: Like they have done since I brought them out of Egypt.

They have forsaken Me and served other gods.

[I will never leave you or forsake you. Do not fear.]
Hebrews 13:5

But solemnly repeat them the rights of the king.
Samuel told the leaders, The king that will reign over you will take your sons for himself, for his chariots, his horsemen and to run before his chariots. Some will work his fields, some will make his weapons. He will take your daughters for perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive yards, to give them to his servants. He will take 1/10 of your seed, your vineyards, your servants and best young men and animals to do his work.

You will be his servants. And you will cry out because of your king you have chosen; and the LORD will not hear you.

[...He gives to all life, and breath, and all things]
Acts 17:25
But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; they said, No! We will have a king over us to judge us and fight our battles.

[The Lord your God goes before you, he will fight for you]
Deuteronomy 1:30

Our King will reign in righteousness

1 Samuel 9
Kish, a mighty man of power from the tribe of Benjamin, had a son named Saul, a handsome young man:
there was not a more handsome man among the children of Israel. He was head and shoulders taller than any of the people.
Kish’s donkeys were lot and he sent Saul with a servant to find them. They passed through much country of Benjamin and didn’t find them. Saul said to the young man with him, Let’s turn back so my father won’t be worried about us.
The young man said, Look, in this city there’s a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says certainly comes to pass: let’s go there now; maybe he can tell us our way that we should go.
[I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.]
John 14:6
Then Saul said, But, behold, if we go, what can we bring the man? The food is gone and there is no gift to bring to the man of God:
The young man said, I have here 1/4th part of a shekel of silver: I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.
As they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and asked, Is the prophet here?
They answered, look, he is before you: hurry for he came to the city today for a sacrifice in the high place:
When they came into the city, behold, Samuel came out opposite them to go up to the high place.
The LORD had told Samuel in his ear the day before saying, Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin; you will anoint him to be leader over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines.
For I have looked on my people because their cry has come to Me.
And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, See the man! This one will rule over my people.
[A King will reign in righteousness and princes will rule with justice.]
Isaiah 32:1
They asked Samuel the way to the prophets house and he said, I’m the prophet: go up before me to the high place; for you will eat with me today.
[And in this mountain the Lord of hosts will make all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, purified.]
Isaiah 25:6
Tomorrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart. About your donkeys that were lost 3 days ago, don’t set your heart on them; for they have been found.
And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you, and on all your father's house?
[and the desire of all nations will come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.]
Haggai 2:7
And Saul said, I’m from the smallest tribe of Israel? and my family is the least of them. Why do you say this to me?
Samuel took Saul and his young man into the hall and gave them the place at the head of those who were invited, about 30 persons.
He had the cook bring him the best part of the food.

[And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to Me will never hunger; and he that believes on Me will never thirst.]
John 6:35
The next morning as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Tell the young man to pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but you stand still a while, so I may show you the word of God.
[My words are life to all that find them and health to all their flesh.]
Proverbs 4:20-22

He holds us up rightly

1 Samuel 10
Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it on Saul’s head, and kissed him, and said, The LORD has anointed you to be leader over His people.
He gave Saul 3 signs that would happen when he left Samuel and said, When these signs have occurred, the Holy Spirit will come on you and the Lord will turn you into another man.
Then do what the occasion needs for the Lord is with you.

[Don't be afraid; for I am with you: don't be confused or discouraged; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.]
Isaiah 41:10
It all happened as Samuel said, and the Spirit of the Lord came on him and he spoke the words of God and God turned him into another man.
Samuel called the people to the Lord at Mizpeh and said, The LORD God of Israel says this: I brought Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians,
and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and from those that oppressed you.'
And today you have rejected your God, who Himself saved you out of all your evil and your troubles;
and you have said to Him, No, set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
Samuel brought each tribe, then family before the Lord to show it was the Lord who chose their king.

[For promotion doesn’t come from the east, or from the west. But God is the judge: He puts down one, and sets up another.]
Psalm 75:6, 7

Saul wasn’t among the chosen so they asked the Lord, and He said, 'He is hiding among the baggage.'
They brought him and he stood in the midst of the people, head and shoulder above all the people.
Samuel said, Look, this is the one the Lord has chosen. The people shouted, May the king live!
Samuel wrote the duties, rights, and privileges of the king in a book and rested it before the face of the Lord (inside the holy of holies before the ark of the covenant)
[Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government will be on His shoulder: and his name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end and on His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on even forever.]
Isaiah 9:6, 7

He conquers our enemies

1 Samuel 11
Nahash the Ammonite came to conquer Jabeshgilead. The men of Jabesh said, Make a covenant with us and we will serve you. Nahash said, Only on the condition that you come to us and let us dig out your right eyes.
[God’s covenant He offers to the world is, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but has everlasting life ] John 3:16
Jabesh said, Give us 7 days to see if we can get help. If not, we will come out to you.

When the people heard about it, they wept. Saul was bringing the herd out of the field and asked, What’s happened to make the people weep?
When he heard, ‘the Spirit of the Lord came on him and his anger blazed.’

He cut apart oxen and sent messengers to all Israel saying this is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who doesn’t come now.
300,000 warriors of Israel and 30,000 from Judah assembled and defeated the ammonites so badly that no two of them were left together.
[Thanks be to God Who always causes us to triumph in Christ.]
2 Corinthians 2:14
Then men of Israel said, Where are the men who refused to let Saul reign over them, bring them for us to put to death.
Saul said, 'No one will be put to death today for the Lord has worked salvation for Israel.'
[The thief comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy: I come that they have life, and that have it more abundantly.] John 10:10

The Lord is real who does great things for us

1 Samuel 12
Samuel told all Israel, I listened to you and made a king over you. I’m old now.

Have I taken anything from any of you or harmed you in any way? The Lord and His anointed One are witnesses.

They answered, The Lord is witness. You haven’t harmed us or taken anything.

[The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good.]
Proverbs 15:3
Samuel said, The Lord brought you out of Egyptian slavery by the hand of Moses and Aaron. He gave you the blessed land and when you forsook Him repeatedly, He allowed foreign kings to rule over you.

When you cried to the Lord, He always sent a deliverer.
Now when this king of Ammon came against you, you demanded a king when the Lord was your King.

If you will follow the Lord and hear Him it will be well for you but if not, He will be against you.
Now stand and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. Isn’t the wheat harvest today?

I will call to the LORD to send thunder and rain; that you may know and see that your wickedness is great, that you have done in the sight of the LORD to ask for yourselves a king.
So Samuel called to the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day.

And all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel, and said to Samuel, Pray for us that we won’t die: for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.
And Samuel said to the people, Don’t fear: you have done all this wickedness: but don’t turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
Don’t turn aside: for then you go after unreal things that can’t profit or deliver for they aren't real.
The LORD won’t forsake His people for His great name's sake: because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people.
As for me, God forbid that I sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way.
Fear only the LORD, and serve Him. See that He has done great things for you. But if you still do evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king.

To His kingdom there will be no end

1 Samuel 13
Saul chose 3,000 men and sent the rest home. Jonathan attacked a Philistine garrison causing them to mobilize for war.
30,000 chariots, and 6,000 cavalry, and people as the sand on the sea shore in multitude came and camped against Israel.
Saul called up their military and waited for Samuel. But he was late; so Saul offered burnt offerings to the Lord.
Right after he finished Samuel arrived and said, You have done foolishly. The Lord would have established your kingdom forever.

[For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government will be upon His shoulder:

and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne and on His kingdom,

to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on even for ever.]
Isaiah 9:6, 7

But since you disobeyed His command, He is seeking a man after His own heart.
Samuel left and Saul stayed where they were. There were no blacksmiths in Israel because the Philistines wouldn’t allow them any weapons.

['The Lord opens their ears in oppression.' (to hear Him)]
Job 36:15

They had to go to the philistines to sharpen their plows and pitchforks and axes. The charge was ¼ ounce of silver.
Philistine raiders began to attack from 3 different directions. The Israelites were unarmed except Saul and Jonathan.

It's nothing for God to save by many or by few

1 Samuel 14
Saul’s son Jonathan said to his armor bearer, Let’s attack that Philistine garrison for ‘it is nothing with God to save by many or by a few.’

They climbed up between two rock walls and attacked the garrison, but didn’t tell his father.
The two of them struck down 20 Philistines and there was a great trembling among all the enemy.

The earth quaked with a very great quaking of God. In panic, the enemy began striking down one another.
Saul had ordered the people saying, Cursed is the man that eats any food until evening, that I may be avenged on my enemies. So none of the people tasted any food, and grew faint.
But Jonathan hadn’t heard the command and when they came into the forest there was honey on the ground. He dipped the end of his staff in the honey, tasted it, and his eyes brightened.

He said, How much more could we have done today if we had eaten the plunder of our enemy?
Saul said, Let’s go down and fight them through the night. He prayed to the Lord. But the Lord didn’t answer him. So he said, Let’s find out who has sinned?

[If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.]
Psalm 66:18
He prayed to the Lord, ‘give a perfect answer.’ He and Jonathan were named, so he said to Jonathan, Tell me what you have done.

Jonathan said, I tasted a little honey on the end of my staff, and now I must die.
But the people said, ‘Will Jonathan die, who did this great deliverance in Israel? Far be it: as the LORD lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground; for he worked with God today.’ So the people rescued Jonathan.
Saul led Israel to battle, defeating their enemies on every side. There was severe war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. Whenever he saw a strong warrior, he drafted him.

[Now thanks be to God, Who always causes us to triumph in Christ.]
2 Corinthians 2:14

Vengeance is His, He will repay

1 Samuel 15
Samuel told Saul, The Lord says, I remember how Amalek ambushed Israel in the road when they came out of Egypt. Go strike Amalek and leave nothing living of man or animal.

[Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.]
Romans 12:19
Saul took 200,000 infantry and attacked Amalek but saved the king alive with the best of the animals.
The Lord told Samuel, I regret I made Saul king for he has turned back from following Me.
Saul went somewhere else and Samuel went to him. Saul said to Samuel, Be blessed of the Lord. I have done what He commanded.
Samuel said, Then what is this bleating of the sheep I hear and lowing of the oxen? Saul said, We saved the best of their animals to sacrifice to the Lord.
Samuel said, Stay and let me tell you what the Lord told me tonight for you. ‘When you were little in your own eyes, weren’t you made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed you king over Israel?
And the LORD sent you on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
Why didn’t you obey the voice of the LORD, but flew on the plunder, and did evil in the sight of the LORD?
Saul said, I did obey. I went and destroyed all the Amalekites and brought the best to sacrifice to the Lord.
Samuel said, Does the LORD have as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than to sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.
Saul said, I have sinned, but return with me that I may worship.
Samuel said, I won’t return. But Saul took hold of the hem of Samuel's robe and tore it. Samuel said, The Lord has torn the kingdom from you today and given it to a neighbor who is better than you.
The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind: for He is not a man, to change His mind.

God looks at the heart

1 Samuel 16
The Lord asked Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul since I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?

Go to Jesse at Bethlehem for I have provided Me a king among his sons.
Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hears he will kill me.
The Lord said, Take a heifer and say you are going to sacrifice to the Lord.
The leaders of the city trembled at his arrival asking, Have you come in peace?

Yes, he answered, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.

[Peace I leave to you; My peace I give to you, not as the world gives, I give to you,

Don't let your heart be troubled. Don't let it be afraid.]
John 14:27
Jesse and his sons were called to the sacrifice and when they came, Samuel saw Eliab, the oldest and thought, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.
The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t look at his appearance for I have rejected him.'

'Man looks at the outer appearance, but God looks at the heart.’
One by one Jesse’s 7 sons passed before Samuel. He asked Jesse, are all your sons here? Jesse said, All but the youngest. He is feeding the flock.
Samuel said, Send for him. We won’t sit until he is here.
They brought him in and he was healthy with beautiful eyes and a handsome form. And the LORD said, Rise, anoint him: for this is he.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers:

and the Spirit of the LORD came strongly on David from that day forward.
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrified him.

[the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, he will teach you all things, and remind you of all things that I said to you.]
John 14:26
Saul’s servants said, Send for someone skillful at playing the harp and when the evil spirit from the Lord comes on you, let him play and you will be well and the evil spirit from the Lord will leave.
Another servant said, I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who plays with skill, a mighty warrior, a man of battle, prudent in words, handsome, and the LORD is with him.
And Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send me your son David, who is with the flock.
And Jesse took a donkey loaded with food, a bottle of wine, and a baby goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul.
And David came to Saul and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Please let David, stand before me; for he has found grace in my sight.
And when the evil spirit from God was on Saul, David took a harp, and played with his hand: so, Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit left him.

Sons of the Living God

1 Samuel 17
The Philistines gathered to attack Israel and Israel assembled against them. The Philistines were on one mountain and Israel across the valley on another.
A champion named Goliath, 9½ feet tall, wearing a bronze helmet and a bronze javelin several inches thick, tipped with a 25# iron spearhead came and challenged Israel, Choose a man to come down to me.
If he kills me, then will we be your slaves: but if I kill him, then you will be our slaves. I defy Israel today; give me a man to fight.
When Saul and all Israel heard these words, they were terrified. For 40 days Philistine came morning and evening.
David was the youngest son of Jesse, an old man in the days of Saul. His 3 oldest sons were with Saul at the battle. But David came and went from Saul to feed his father's sheep.
Jesse said to David, Please take your brothers a bushel of parched grain, and these 10 loaves, and run to the camp of your brothers with these 10 cheeses for the captain, and see how your brothers are.
When David talked with his brothers, he heard the men of Israel say, The man who kills him, the king will enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house tax free in Israel.
David asked, Who is this uncircumcised Philistine to defy the armies of the living God?
When David’s words were repeated to Saul: and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; I will go and fight with this Philistine.
Saul said, You aren’t able to go against him for you are so young, and he a warrior from his youth.
David said, While keeping my father's sheep, a lion came, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: I went after him, and struck him, and delivered it out of his mouth.
I have killed both a lion and a bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine will be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.
The Lord that delivered me out of the hand of the lion, and out of the hand of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.
And Saul said, Go, and the Lord be with you. Saul clothed David with his armor but David couldn’t walk in it.
He took his staff in his hand and chose 5 smooth stones out of the brook (there were 5 giants) and his sling was in his hand: and he went to the Philistine.
When the Philistine saw David, he despised him: for he was young, and red haired, and handsome. He said to David, Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
He said, Come. I will give your flesh to the birds and to beasts of the field.
Then David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword and a spear but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you defied.
Today the Lord will deliver you into my hand; and I will kill you, take your head; and I will give the carcasses of the army of the Philistines to the birds and wild beasts of the earth;
so that all the earth may know the God in Israel.
And all people will know that the Lord doesn’t save with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands.
The Philistine came at David. David ran to meet the Philistine. David took a stone, and slung it, the stone sunk into the Philistine's forehead; and he fell on his face to the earth.
David ran, stood on the Philistine, took his sword, drew it out of its sheath, killed him, and cut off his head.
When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they ran. The men of Israel chased them far, to the gates of Ekron, then returned and plundered their tents.
David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent.
When David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him to Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
Saul said to him, Whose son are you, young man? And David answered, I am the son of Jesse of Bethlehem.

['You are sons of the Living God.']
Hosea 1:10

The One who loves us with His everlasting love fights our battles

1 Samuel 18
When Saul finished speaking, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David. They made a covenant together and Saul kept him in his service. Jonathan loved David as his own soul.

[I love you with an everlasting love, says the Lord.]
Jeremiah 31:3
Wherever he went David acted wisely. Saul set him over the military and the women danced and sang as the men returned from battle, ‘Saul has slain his thousands and David tens of thousands.’
Saul was furious and jealous and said, What more can he have but the kingdom?
From then on he sought ways to kill him. He threw his javelin at him; but David escaped twice.
All Israel loved David because he fought their battles. Saul became more and more afraid of David because the Lord was with him and had departed from Saul.

[The battle is the Lord's. The Lord will fight for you and you will hold your peace.]
1 Samuel 17:47
Exodus 14:14
Saul offered Michal his daughter as a wife. But David hesitated, being poor and not a nobleman in Israel. Saul said, I require no dowry but 100 foreskins of the Philistines.
David and his men went and conquered and brought a full count of 200 and Saul gave Michal to David for his wife.
Captains of the Philistines kept raiding and David acted more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name precious, prized.

He surrounds us with songs of deliverance

1 Samuel 19
Saul told his son and all his servants to kill David. His son, Jonathan, who delighted greatly in David, told David to hide while he talked with his father about this.

[You are my hiding place; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with songs of deliverance.]
Psalm 32:7
He said, Don’t sin against David for he hasn’t sinned against you. He has done you much good. He risked his life to kill the Philistine and brought a great salvation for Israel that day. You saw it and rejoiced.
Why sin now against innocent blood, to kill David for no reason?
Saul listened to Jonathan: and Saul swore, As the Lord lives, he won’t be killed. David was restored to Saul’s presence.
There was war again: and David fought with the Philistines, and killed them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.

[Jesus,'I didn't come to judge the world, but to save the world.']
John 12:47
An evil spirit from the Lord was on Saul as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played music.
And Saul threw the javelin at him, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and the javelin stuck in the wall: and David ran, and escaped that night.
Saul sent messengers to watch David’s house and kill him in the morning but Michal had him escape out the window during the night.
David went to Samuel at Ramah. Saul sent messengers twice to kill David, but Samuel was prophesying, and the Spirit of God came on the messengers, and they prophesied also.
This happened twice and then Saul came himself to kill David and the Spirit of God came on him also. He prophesied all day and night. So it became a saying, Is Saul also among the prophets?

The Lord is between us

1 Samuel 20
Saul ordered his men to kill David. David ran, and then asked Jonathan, What have I done? Jonathan didn’t believe it. David said, ‘as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.’
Jonathan tested his father, and it was true. He said, Why, what has he done? Saul said, ‘You son of perverse rebellion, don’t you know you are choosing the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?
For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you won’t be established, or your kingdom. Send for him and bring him to me now for he will surely die.’
Jonathan helped David escape and they promised to protect each other. ‘And don’t stop your kindness from my house forever: no, not when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.’
And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
[That’s how Jesus loves us, as His own soul.]
‘Who gave Himself for our sins, to deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our Father.’
Galatians 1:4
David and Jonathan kissed one another, and wept together. And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, since we have sworn in the name of the Lord saying, ‘The Lord be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed forever.’
(When God is between all of us it will be great peace.)
‘How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like precious ointment on the head: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.’
Psalm 133:1, 3

He is the Bread of life

1 Samuel 21
David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at meeting David, and said to him, Why are you alone?
David said, the king sent me on an urgent secret errand, and I am meeting my men at an appointed place.
What bread do you have here? Give me 5 loaves. The priest said, We only have the holy bread taken from the Presence of the Lord to replace with fresh baked.

['I am the bread of life. He that comes to me will never hunger. He that believes in Me will never thirst.]
John 6:35
David said, Give it to me. Do you have a sword or spear? The priest said, Only the sword of Goliath whom you killed. David said, there is none like it. Give it to me.
David ran from king Saul that day to Achish, king of Gath (a Philistine city) whose servants said, Isn’t this David of whom the women sing in dances, ‘Saul has killed his thousands and David his ten thousands?’
David kept this in his heart and became very afraid of Achish. He pretended to be insane and wasn’t brought into the king’s house.

['Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.']
Psalm 23:6

Hide in the secret place of the Most High

1 Samuel 22
David escaped to the cave Adullam: and his brothers and all his father's house joined him there with everyone in distress, or debt, or discontented, and he became captain over them, about 400 men.

(Jesus paid our full debt to our heavenly Father, all the love and obedience and holiness that we owed Him, being made in His image.)
Then David took his father and mother to stay with the king of Moab, ‘until I know what God will do for me.’
The prophet Gad said to David, Don’t stay in the stronghold; go into the land of Judah. Then David left and came into the forest of Hareth.
When Saul heard that David was found, (Saul was in Gibeah under a tree with his spear in his hand and all his men standing around him) he said, Who of you has conspired against me not to tell me that my son made a covenant with the son of Jesse and stirs him up to come against me.
Doeg the Edomite answered, I saw him at Nob with Ahimelech, who enquired of the Lord for him and gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
The king summoned Ahimelech and all his family, and all the priests and accused him.

Ahimelech said, Who is so faithful among all your servants as David, the king's son in law, and goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your household.

Don’t accuse me of that, or any in my father’s house: for we didn’t know anything about any of this.
The king said to the guards that stood around him, Turn and kill the priests of the Lord because their hand is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and didn’t show me.

But the servants of the king wouldn’t lift a hand to fall on the priests of the Lord.
And the king said to Doeg, You turn, and fall on the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned and killed 85 persons that wore a linen ephod.
And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants, oxen, asses, and sheep, with the sword.
But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and ran to David. And Abiathar showed David that Saul had killed the Lord's priests.
And David said to Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I am accountable for all the lives of your father’s house.

(Wouldn't it be Saul and those who did the killing that are accountable?)

Stay with me. Don’t be afraid: for he that seeks my life seeks your life: with me you will be guarded.

[He that dwells is the secret place of the Most High will abide under the shadow of the Almighty

where no evil will happen to you and no plague can come near your dwelling.]
Psalm 91

The eternal God will direct our paths

1 Samuel 23
David heard the Philistines attacked Keilah and were robbing the threshing floors. He asked the Lord, Shall I go fight them and save Keilah.
The Lord told him, Rise, go. For I am giving the Philistines into your hand. David defeated them with a ‘great slaughter.’
Saul heard where David was and went to capture him and his men.

David heard he was coming and asked the Lord, Will the men of Keilah turn us over to Saul. The Lord told him, Yes.
[Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.]
Proverbs 3:5, 6
So David escaped and the Saul quit pursuing him.
David dwelled in strong holds and in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God didn’t deliver him into his hand.
Jonathan came to him there and strengthened him saying, Don’t be afraid: my father won’t find you; and you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you; my father knows this.
And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord.
[Our covenant with God is, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but has everlasting life.’]
John 3:16
Saul heard David and his men were in the strongholds in the mountain wilderness and went after him.
Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain. Saul and his men surrounded David and his men, about to capture them.
But a messenger came saying, Hurry! Come! for the Philistines have invaded the land.

So, Saul turned from pursuing David, and went after the Philistines.
And David went from there and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
[Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or You formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.]
Psalm 90:1, 2

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