As a child of the 1980's in America, two of my favorite movies growing up were Star Wars and Back to the Future. If you know anything about these movies you know they have sequels or a part two (and a three, four, five, etc.) The one thing that I noticed is that the part two of these movies are a lot darker, more ominous than the first and they both end unresolved. Though these are fictional stories, we all know that best fiction mimics real life. And so we turn to the real life historic account of the once king of Israel, David.
As we read through 1 Samuel we see that chapter 17 ended with David's triumph over Goliath and the Philistines. We learn of our hero, his character and of his time to shine. David is then called into the presence of King Saul. Saul asks him, “Who are you? Where did you come from?” And as we move into chapter 18, we see that its like the sequel or part two of this ongoing drama. The hero continues to shine but with his popularity comes a price.
As we will see, chapter 18 breaks naturally into two parts. First we see David rising in popularity and then we see the price that David has to pay for that popularity. So first, let us turn to the word of God and see:
The Rise of Popularity
“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants” (1 Samuel 18:1-5).
After David tells Saul about who he is and his family history, Saul forbids David to return to his father's sheep, which, if you remember is what David was doing; going back and forth between Saul and his flocks. And so David is brought into the full service of the king and his court. And by this, we can see God ordering events in order that David, a little shepherd, would be prepared to serve as king of God's people. Saul sends David out to handle business around the kingdom and David was successful at what he did and in turn, Saul gave David a high military office. David becomes the epitome of Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” In the military service, he would be prepared for the many battles that would come in his future. And through his hard work, wisdom and success the people and Saul's servants begin to love David.
This love of David also spread to Saul's own household. Saul' son Jonathan after seeing David's exploits on the field and hearing what kind of a young man he is finds that his soul is knit together with David's. Jonathan who would be the natural heir to his father's throne has a perfect opportunity to be jealous of this up and coming kid. He might even be fearful of David since there was talk of David becoming Jonathan's brother-in-law as a prize for killing Goliath. But Jonathan displays great humility and grace toward David by giving him his own royal robe and his weapons. Jonathan found in David a kindred spirit.
I recently read in a popular news magazine about this account of David and Jonathan. The writer claimed that all the controversy about homosexuality in the Christian world was unfounded because David and Jonathan were a couple. It is sad that people can look upon this love between Jonathan and David and not see that it reflects the love of God for his people. The world doesn't understand that two men can love each other and it not be romantic. Perhaps, the church has forgotten that too. Maybe we view the love of 1 Corinthians 13 as the love between boyfriend and girlfriend and we miss the awesome love that Jesus had for his people. Of course, if we don't know the love of Jesus, then this great love between two men doesn't make any sense.
So we have here the rise of David in popularity. Hopefully, this reminds us also of the life of Jesus for he, “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52). And just like Jesus, David's rise in popularity will bring a world of trouble. So, now let's turn and look at:
The Price of Popularity
“ As 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. 7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,
“Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.”
8 And 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?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on,” (1 Samuel 18:6-9).
As the army returns home the women of the nation break out in song over the victory. But this isn't the first time we've seen this in history of the nation. After the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh's army, the Israelite women sang a song too. Their song was, “Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.” (Exodus 15:21) Notice the difference here? Then, it was the LORD not Moses that won the victory, here it is Saul and David without mention of the LORD. It's not there. This betrays the heart of the people. Their focus is upon the human vessel rather than God himself.
A.W. Pink said this about this passage, “Alas that this is so often the case today: we are living in an age of hero worship, and Christendom itself is infected by this evil spirit. Man is eulogized and magnified on every hand, not only out in the world, but even in the so-called churches, Bible conferences, and religious periodicals—seen in the advertising of the speakers, the printing of their photos, and the toadying to them. O how little hiding behind the Cross, how little self-effacement there is today. "Cease ye from man" (Isa. 2:22), needs to be placed in large letters over the platforms of all the big religious gatherings in this man-deifying age. No wonder the Holy Spirit is "grieved" and "quenched," yet where are the voices being raised in faithful protest?”
Well, we find Saul not being pleased with the lyrics of this top hit of the day. Not because it didn't mention God but because it put the greater honor on David. Saul see that the people look on David with a greater favor than he, he becomes jealous and “eye[s] David from that day on.” This is a great testimony to human nature. One minute Saul is parading around his mighty man David with praise and the next he is despising him because David is getting praise not just him. What a sad people we are!
“The 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. 11 And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. 15 And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them,” (1 Samuel 18:10-15).
The next day after receiving the praise of the people now David is dodging spears from the king. How quickly things change. Saul's jealousy is so great and the harmful spirit so tormenting that he tries to kill David in cold blood. The Bible doesn't give us the details but the fact that David evades the spear twice causes Saul to fear. Which is weird to me because the one that should be afraid ought to be the guy that just had a spear thrown at this chest. Since, Saul didn't succeed he sets David as a commander and sends him into battle with the obvious motive of, “If I can't do it maybe he'll be killed in battle”. But God was with David and not Saul and so the opposite happens. Not only does David not die but he is always successful and his popularity continues to skyrocket.
This is the way life often works. When the hand of God is working in the life of a Christian the world, Satan and all his forces will come up against you. But, they fail. As Joseph said, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20).
“Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord's battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19 But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife,” (1 Samuel 18:17-19).
Since David was not killed in battle, he devises a plan to incite David to evil. He promises Merab his daughter to be David's wife. David show his character by saying that he is a nobody and comes from a family of nobodies and doesn't deserve to be in the royal family. And as the day of the wedding approaches Saul says, “You know what, you're right.” And gives Merab to another man. A little side note here. The five sons that Merab has with Adriel are cursed and hanged on a mountain in 2 Samuel 21. What does David do in response to this trick? Apparently nothing because Saul moves on to plan “D”.
“Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.” 22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king's son-in-law.’” 23 And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” 24 And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.’” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired, 27 David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 28 But when Saul saw and knew that n the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, 29 Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy continually,” (1 Samuel 18:20-29).
By now you have to see that Saul is a very wicked man. Because of David's popularity and the hand of God being upon him, Saul is willing to exploit the love of his daughter in order to see David fall. Again we see the character of David contrasted against Saul's. David makes clear that he is not important enough or from the right family to be the son-in-law of the king. David doesn't have the money to pay the bride price for a princess. But Saul, knowing that David is a man of honor and duty allows David to forgo the bride price for a show of bravery. He sets the price for his daughter at a hundred dead and humiliated Philistines. Saul knows that the Philistines despise the Hebrew people and circumcision and to have some of their own killed and circumcised would set them off against David, and surely he would be killed. But what happens? David returns with 200 dead Philistines.
“Then the princes 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,” (1 Samuel 18:30). And though this is the end of this part of the story we could say “to be continued...” because Saul's murderous plans continue on and David continues to succeed.
So we have seen the continual rise of David and the price that he had to pay for that popularity: a murderous king bent on his destruction. We had displayed to us the many qualities that a follower of God ought to have in David. We too ought to have that same humility that would not allow the praise of our nation give us a big head or the praise of a national leader to make us think higher of ourselves than we ought. We too ought to have the sense of duty and honor that when asked to do a dangerous thing for the Lord that we would not only complete it but go the extra mile. We too ought to trust in the Lord more than we trust in our fellow man.
The price of popularity is great. Jesus said, “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26). As Christians often times people will come to you see your love and compassion. They will love you for it. They will flatter you all day long. They will invite you over to their houses and give you gifts because when they are around you they see God working. But you must be on your guard. Don't let the temptation to take credit for it yourself overcome you. Always point back to God and his work not because of you but through you. And don't be like Saul, when you see others working for the Lord and their ministry is growing and doing great. Don't be jealous of others because in time, God will raise you up too.
And the last thing that we should learn from David, is that he did not seek the approval of man like Saul did. David's popularity meant nothing to him. Only the approval of the Lord was what David sought. So let me ask you this: Is being liked by your family, your friends, your neighbors, your community, your co-workers, anybody worth more than the approval of God?
This account of David, should point our gaze forward in the scriptures to Christ. Like David, Jesus came from a humble family, rose to great popularity and suffered at the hands of earthly leaders. Like David, he too was willing to give his life for his people. Both David and Jesus sought approval from God and not the feelings of man. But unlike David, Jesus led a perfect life and gave that life to do something no king could ever do, lead people out of bondage from their sin.
Philippians 2:3-11 is a fitting end for our time in God's word . “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
