1 Samuel 18:28 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Samuel 18:28

Comments

‘And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David.’ What was he afraid of precisely? That David would come at him? No, he was afraid David would somehow either mount a coup, or the people would just acclaim him, and Saul would be deposed. People were coming to rely on David more and more, as the one who represented the nation at court. But the passage tells us that Saul knew that the LORD was with David: that formed part of his fear. He did not believe in God enough to obey him, to truly praise and thank him, or to trust him for forgiveness and salvation; but he believed in God enough to know that the Lord was helping David, and he was against Saul. His conscience told him that he was doing evil to David, and it was as if he nervously glanced at him to get a very much unwanted confirmation of that. He feared God’s punishment, and the blessings on David’s life told him that his worst fears of God’s anger with him were indeed true. He feared even when he saw his daughter’s love for David. He could not control her emotions and all that he tried to do to hurt David was having the opposite effect and was being turned to blessing for David.

Application

‘And Saul became David's enemy continually.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.’ Here we are as believers in our place of business, or our place of study. And the things for which we stand may be held in contempt, and the things we believe and our words of witness may be rejected. But if we behave ourselves more courteously, more kindly, in every way in a superior manner to worldlings, then it will be noted and well-known and appreciated. If only that could be reflected in all of us. With the world, the flesh, and the devil against us: that we behave ourselves more carefully, so that's many people are affected by our conduct.

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1 Samuel 18:28 Commentary and Bible Study