Beginning Of The Kings- King Saul (Part 16)

While David was saving his town from bandits, Saul was preparing for the very battle David was sent home by the Philistines from.
1 Samuel 28:3-6-  Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.  And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Saul gathered his army together like he knew he had to, but he was so afraid. There were so many Philistines! Saul had tried to do what he thought Samuel wanted. He put all the wizards and witches out of his kingdom.
Saul wanted to know what to do about the battle. He wanted counsel. But, Samuel was dead, and God wasn't talking to him. You see, his sin and pride had come between him and God. And he wasn't going to humble himself enough to ask for forgiveness; so God wasn't going to answer him.
I Samuel 28:7-8- Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
Since Saul couldn't get an answer from God, he decided to turn to witchcraft. He asked his servants to find him a witch. And they knew just where one was.
He put on a disguise and went to see her. He asked her to bring up a spirit.
I Samuel 28:9-11- And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
The witch knew that she could be killed for practicing magic. But, Saul swore that nothing would happen to her. She believed him and asked him who he wanted to talk to. Saul wanted to talk to Samuel.
I Samuel 28:12- And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
Do you know why the woman screamed? Because she was use to speaking to a devil and deceiving the people who came to her. She would talk to a devil who would pretend to be the person's loved one, but really it wasn't. God allowed her to bring up the actual spirit of Samuel, and this scared her!
I Samuel 28:13-14- And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
The witch thought that it was a god, but it wasn't. The Lord allowed Samuel to come speak to Saul. This is the only time in the Bible where God used a witch or wizard. But, the consequences of using witchcraft were steep, as Saul would find out.
When Saul found out that she had actually called Samuel up, he was happy. He knew he would get an answer now.
I Samuel 28:15-19- And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
Samuel said that Saul had disobeyed God so much that God had become his enemy. What a scary thought! That we could be so disobedient that God would work things out for the worst in our lives!
Samuel told Saul that he and his sons would die in this battle for his sin.
I Samuel 28:20-25- Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way. But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof: And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
Saul didn't want to eat. He was so afraid that he didn't want to go face his fate. The witch and his servants begged him to eat, and he finally gave in. After they had eaten, they went back to the battlefield.
The next day, Samuel's words came true.
I Samuel 31:1-2- Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.
As Saul fought, he watched his people start to die. Some of them ran away from the battle. Then he saw 3 of his sons killed. And then, he was wounded.
I Samuel 31:3-5- And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
Saul knew that if he didn't die, the Philistines would torture him to death. He asked his armor bearer to kill him, but the boy was too afraid. So, Saul took out his sword and killed himself. When his armor bearer saw that he was dead, he killed himself, also.
What a terrible ending for a life that once had so much potential!
I Samuel 31:6 - So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
What a shame!
I Samuel 31:7-10-  And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
As the Israelite army was dying, the people in the cities around the battlefield ran away. The Philistines took over those cities and lived there.
They took the bodies of Saul and his sons and put them in their false god's temple to give their idol the praise and worship for their enemy's death.
There were some brave, good men left in Israel, and they didn't want Saul's family used to give a false god worship.
I Samuel 31:11-13- And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
These brave men went and took their bodies and buried them.
I Chronicles 10:13-  So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;
God will not allow his worship to go to someone else. Once Saul stooped to using witchcraft he sealed his fate. We, too, need to be careful. There's so much in our world that is on the brink of witchcraft that if we aren't watching out we will be guilty of giving God's worship to something unholy.

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Beginning Of The Kings- King Saul (Part 15)

David has moved his army and his family to the land of the Philistines. He hasn't forgotten that he is to be the next king of Israel, nor has he forgotten who the enemies of the Lord are even though it seems that he has.
I Samuel 29:1-2- Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel. And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.
The Philistines were gathering together for another battle against Israel. The king of Gath, where David was living, had brought David and his men with him. The Lord didn't want David fighting against the children of Israel, so He was going to fix it so that David wouldn't have to.
I Samuel 29:3-4- Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day? And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
The leaders of the Philistines told king Achish that they didn't want David and his men there in case they decided to start fighting against them during the battle.
Achish said that he trusted David. He said that he found no fault in him in. Does that ring a bell? There are only two people in the Bible that are said by a heathen to have no fault found in them- David and Christ. That's quite interesting!
I Samuel 29:6-7- Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not. Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
Achish called David and told him that the lords of the Philistines wanted him to leave, that they didn't trust him in the battle.
I Samuel 29:11-  So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
David and his men left in the morning, and it was a good thing, too! Because something had happened to their town of Ziklag while they were away.
I Samuel 30:1-4- And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
While they were away, some enemies came and took everything that they owned and destroyed their town! The soldiers were so heart broken over this that they even started to threaten David!
I Samuel 30:6-8-  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
David was really stressing out! But, he turned to the Lord. He asked God if He would help him get his family and his possessions back. And God answered him! God said that he would recover all without fail- that means don't even worry because you're sure to win!
I Samuel 30:9-13- So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed. But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor. And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water; And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights. And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.
On their way to find who took their things, David's army had to split up. There were some men who were too weary to go to battle. They stayed behind with the provisions that David and his army had left, while the rest of the men pushed forward to find their enemies.
On the way, the found an Egyptian lying almost dead on the ground. they helped him to feel better and then asked him who he was. He said that he was the servant of the enemies that David was seeking.
I Samuel 30:15-16- And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company. And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
The Egyptian took David's army to where their enemies were. The Amalekites thought they had gotten away with their thieving and they were throwing a party because of it.
I Samuel 30:17-19-  And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled. And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.
David attacked and killed all but 400 of them. This is significant because Samuel had told Saul to wipe out the Amalekites. Saul said that he had only saved the king, Agag. But, here there was a large army of Amalekites. Saul had let more than just the king live, and God knew it!
David was able to save his family, his soldier's family, and all their possessions. Plus, the got the other goods that the Amalekites had stolen from the other places they had attacked.
I Samuel 30:20-22- And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil. And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them. Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.
Now, David's army was a bunch of people that were either in debt or discontent with Saul's government. This didn't mean that they were good men. There were some wicked men among them. These wicked men didn't want to give the 200 that had stayed behind anything except their families.
I Samuel 30:23-25- Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike. And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.
David said "no". He said that the people who stayed behind to take care of things at home would get the same reward as those who went out to the battle. This is very important. Sometimes we can't go to the mission field, or the prisons, or even preach; but you could give money, or buy tracts and Bibles, or even support the preacher through cleaning the church and helping others out. By doing this, we will be given the same rewards that the pastors, evangelists, and missionaries will be given in heaven. We will part alike!
David made it a rule in Israel.
David, also, shared some of his spoils with the towns of Judah where he and his men had hidden when Saul was chasing him.
I Samuel 30:26, 31- And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD; And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.
You see, David was a man after God's own heart. He knew that the Lord would reward those who stayed and kept everything at home going smoothly. He knew that the Lord gave blessings to him so that he could pass those blessings on to others. And, we should follow David's example.

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Beginning Of The Kings- King Saul (Part 14)

David has had his ups and downs while running from Saul. He has saved a town, and gained an army. He has hidden and run and protected. He has lost his wife, and gained some more.
I Samuel 25:42-44- And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives. But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.
It seemed that every time things started to look good for David, Saul was at his heels again.
I Samuel 26:1-3- And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon? Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
Saul had come to where David was hiding and he brought an army of 3,000 with him. Remember, David only had about 600 men in his army.
I Samuel 26:4-7- David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed. And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him. Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee. So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
David and his nephew sneaked down to Saul's camp while the people were sleeping. They were able to creep right up to where Saul was laying with his spear in the ground beside him.
I Samuel 26:8-12- Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.
Abishai, David's nephew, wanted David to let him kill Saul. The Lord had put the whole army into such a deep sleep that no one woke up to see them. But, David, again, would not kill Saul. He knew that he would rather be on the run and in God's protective grace, than on the throne with God's judgement.
David stole the spear and the water canteen that Saul had and then he and Abishai sneaked far enough away to not get attacked when they woke Saul and his army up.
I Samuel 26:13-16- Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them: And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king? And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
David called out to the captain of Saul's army, Abner. He told Abner that he had been careless in his duty. He asked Abner to look around and see where Saul's spear and canteen were. For someone to get that close to the king was really bad! The captain would normally be put to death for being so careless.
But, Saul recognized David's voice.
I Sameul 26:17-18- And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
Saul asked if it was David talking. David said, "Yes, and why are you trying to kill me again?"
I Samuel 26:21-25- Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it. The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed. And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation. Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Saul realized that he was being foolish trying to kill David again. He told David that he would stop hunting him. David returned Saul's stuff, and Saul left.
But, David knew that Saul wouldn't stop trying to kill him. He knew that if he were to stay in Israel that Saul would hunt him down again.
I Samuel 27:1-3- And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
David took his two wives and his army and  moved to the land of the Philistines. When Saul heard that, he knew it would be pointless to try and hunt David any more.
I Samuel 27:4- And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
David made friends with the king of Gath, and  he settled down to his new life there.
I Samuel 27:5-6- And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee? Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
David asked the king, Achish, if he could have a small town to live in. Achish gave David the town of Ziklag. From that day on it belonged to the kings of Judah.
Even though David lived among the Philistines, he knew what God wanted of him. He still fought the Lord's battles.
I Samuel 27:7-12- And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt. And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish. And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites. And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines. And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.
David went out and destroyed the enemies of the Israelites. He made sure to kill everyone in the places he attacked so that no one could tell that it was David who had destroyed them. When king Achish asked him where he had battled, he would say that he had battled against people in Israel. Achish believed David because he liked him.
David stayed here and lived this way for over a year.

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Beginning Of The Kings- King Saul (Part 13)

David has been hiding where ever he could to keep Saul from finding him. He's already had many close encounters with him. During this time, something sad happened.
I Samuel 25:1- And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
The prophet who had anointed both Saul and David died. He had judged Israel almost his whole life, and was the last of the judges.
David was now hiding in Carmel.
I Samuel 25:2-8- And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb. And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep. And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel. Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
David was among the servants of Nabal. The Bible tells us two things about Nabal. The first was that he was an evil man. The second is that he was married to a good woman. The Bible doesn't tell us how  this evil man and this good woman came to be married. But, it will show us how God will bless a woman who does right.
David sent his men to talk to Nabal and ask him for some food.
I Samuel 25:9-12- And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
David's men asked Nabal for food, but Nabal didn't want to help. He said that David was a run away slave, and he wasn't going to help him.
I Samuel 25:13-  And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
Oh, boy! David was mad! He told his soldiers to get ready for battle.
I Samuel 25:14-17- But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
One of the servants of Nabal had heard what happened. He knew that David was a good man. He also knew that David's men kept them safe while they were out in the fields. He went to Abigail, Nabal's wife, and told her what had happened. He also told her that David would probably be coming.
What do you think this wise woman would do?
I Samuel 25:18-20- Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.  And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.
Abigail hurried up and gathered up some food for David and his men. She got it all together and she and her servants went to meet David with their present.
David was on his way with his army. He was very angry, and he planned on killing everyone.
I Samuel 25:21-22-  Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good. So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
Oh, David was angry, all right! He was ready to wipe them all out. Abigail met him just in time.
I Samuel 15:23-25, 27-28, 30-31- And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,  And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid. Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send. And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
Abigail showed David the present that she had brought. She told David that her husband was a wicked man and that she didn't know that David had asked for food. She reminded David that he would one day be king, and that he didn't want to be grieved that he had killed an entire family because of his anger.
David's anger had been calmed by her sincere apology and her present.
I Samuel 25:32-33, 35- And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.
David thanked her for her gift, and for keeping him from killing innocent people. He accepted the present and returned to his hiding place.
But, what about Abigail? What would Nabal do when he found out that she had taken food to David after he had said "no"?
I Samuel 25:36-38- And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
Abigail didn't try to deceive her husband. She didn't tell him what she had done when he was drunk and wouldn't remember it in the morning. She was going to do what was right no matter the consequences.
When Nabal woke up in the morning, sober, she told him what she had done. God was not only going to protect Abigail for doing right, he was also going to bless her.
God killed Nabal for his sins.
I Samuel 25:39-40, 42- And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife. And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
Not only did God kill Nabal, but he gave Abigail a wonderful new husband. She got to marry David, the man after God's own heart.
When we put God first, and do what He asks of us, He will bless us far greater than we could ever imagine!

Beginning of the Kings series coloring pages

Beginning Of The Kings- King Saul (Part 12)

It didn't seem to matter what David did. Everywhere he turned he was running for his life. I'm sure he questioned why God would allow this to happen to him when he didn't do anything wrong.
Even though he probably didn't understand the why of his circumstances, he was learning some very valuable things about the protection and guidance of God. These lessons would help him to become the king that he became.
I Samuel 24 :1-2- And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
Saul had gone to fight with the Philistines, but when the battle was over he was back on David's heels. God was still trying to get Saul to realize that he had done wrong. God was going to use David to help Saul see how far from God's will he had gone.
I Samuel 24:3-4- And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
Saul and his men found a cave while they were searching for David. Saul went into the cave to use the bathroom, but he didn't realize that was where David and his men were hiding.
David's men wanted him to kill Saul, but David wouldn't. He sneaked up and cut part of Saul's robe off, and then went back to hiding. Saul had no idea that had even happened.
I Samuel 24:5-7- And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
David's men wanted Saul dead. But, David wouldn't hear of it. He knew that even though Saul was out of the will of God he was still the Lord's anointed- his chosen one to lead Israel at that time. He told his men that he wasn't going to sin against God by killing Saul.
I Samuel 24:8-12- David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
David went out of the cave after Saul had left and called him. He showed him the piece of his robe that he had cut off and told Saul that he could have killed him, but didn't. He wanted Saul to understand that he wasn't going about trying to kill him or take the kingdom away from him.
I Samuel 24:16-22- And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
Saul began to realize the David wasn't trying to kill him. Do you think that meant that Saul would stop trying to kill him? This time Saul did stop. He made David promise not to destroy his family when he became king. Then, he went back to his home.

Beginning of the Kings series coloring pages

Beginning Of The Kings- King Saul (Part 11)

David has taken his parents to Moab. He has returned to Judah and acquired a band of soldiers, and a priest who was left homeless when Saul destroyed a city that ​David had visited.
But, David still wanted to help his people. And God was going to give him a chance.
I Samuel 23:1-2- Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
David had learned from his mistake at Nob, the city of the priests. From now on, David was going to get God's direction for everything. God told David to go save the people of Keilah from the Philistines.
I Samuel 23:3- And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
David's soldiers were afraid. They were not hardened men of battle. They were just men that were in debt and unaccepting of the current government. These scared men were going to have to be shaped slowly by God into something very special.
I Samuel 23:4-5- Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
David and his men won the battle against the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah.
I Samuel 23:6-8- And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
Abiathar came to Keilah after the battle and brought his priest's ephod with him. But, Saul had heard that David was at Keilah and he went there, too.
I Samuel 23:9-12- And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.
David saw that a war was coming. He wanted to know if the people of Keilah would allow him to stay or if they would give him to Saul to save themselves. So, he asked God. God told David that the people would give him to Saul.
Why do you think they would do that? David had just saved their homes and their families. Why would they give up their savior?
Because Saul sat on the throne. It doesn't matter who the savior in your life is, you are going to give all to whatever sits on the throne of your heart. The people of Keilah certainly were thankful to David for being their savior, but they had already given their allegiance to Saul.
I Samuel 23:13-14- Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth. And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
David quietly escaped out of Keilah with his men. He now had a band of soldiers that numbered about 600. He was slowly growing his army. God was going to turn these scared men into what would be known later as David's Mighty Men.
But, right now, David needed some encouragement. God knew this, and he sent some to David by a very missed friendly face.
I Samuel 23:15-18- And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
Jonathan came out to encourage David. But, Jonathan, like the men of Keilah, had sworn his allegiance to Saul. Jonathan knew that he was suppose to be with David- he told David that he would be next to him once he took the throne. But, God wanted Jonathan with David now. Because Jonathan wouldn't obey God's will and leave his father, he would never get the opportunity to be next to David upon the throne. Jonathan would remain faithful to his father and it would cost him his life.
Everywhere David turned, it seemed someone was selling him out. He was only in his twenties and he was on the run for his life with a band of scared soldiers.
I Samuel 23:19-20- Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.
I Samuel 23:24-29- And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
Even though Saul was going to chase David to the ends of Israel, God wouldn't allow Saul to catch him. God was watching out for David. He was turning David into the king that He wanted on the throne. David and his Mighty Men were being formed by the Lord.

Beginning of the Kings series coloring pages

Beginning Of The Kings- King Saul (Part 10)

David has learned that King Saul wants to kill him. He has said goodbye to his friend Jonathan and has left his wife and his family behind. He was on the run.
1 Samuel 21:1-6- Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present. And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
So, David has run to a city of priests. Did God tell David to go here? I don't think so. I think at this point in his life David was just scared and running where ever he could think of. We are going to see David slowly slip out of God's will for his life, and God is going to have to nudge him back into his will.
Do you want to know why I think David is out of God's will? Because he starts out by lying. He tells the priest that he's about the king's business. And then he asks for some food. The priest gives him some of the holy bread that is with him.
But David thinks he needs more. And, again he lies.
I Samuel 21:8-10- And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste. And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me. And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
David asks for a weapon. The only weapon that was around was the sword of the giant, Goliath. David readily accepted this. Do you think that God wanted David using a weapon that once belonged to an enemy of Israel? A weapon that once was wielded by a man who defied God? I don't think so.
But, as with all our sin, someone is always watching. God saw, but so did someone else.
I Samuel 21:7- Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
There was a soldier of Saul there who was detained before the Lord- that means that God kept him there. Doeg was where God wanted him; David was not!
I Samuel 21:10- And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
Here's my favorite part of this story. David said that there wasn't another sword like Goliath's. That means that this sword could be identified because of it's uniqueness. Then, David, in his backslidden state, takes Goliath's sword to his hometown of Gath! What was he thinking? Did he think no one would recognize him as the man who slew their Champion? Did he think they wouldn't recognize their own Champion's weapon?
They did!
I Samuel 21:11-12- And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
David was found out! What would he do? Pray and trust God? I'm afraid that David was a little too backslidden to do that. Instead, he did what any normal man would do- he pretended to be crazy!
I Samuel 21:13-15- And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
David wriggled and let drool fall out of his mouth and acted like he was completely insane. The king of Gath didn't want a crazy person in his kingdom, and so they thrust him out.
So, David got out of Gath unscathed. But, this is the last time that we hear of the sword of Goliath. We don't know if the king of Gath took it, or if David got rid of it along the way.
I Samuel 22:1-3- David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
David was slowly amassing an army. Those who were in debt or just didn't like King Saul came and joined David. He became the captain of about 400 men.
But, David still hadn't turned his heart to God. And, he still hadn't seen the consequences of his going to the town of the priests.
I Samuel 22:3-5- And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold. And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
David went to yet another enemy of Israel- the Moabites. I guess because he was a descendant he thought it would be okay- Remember, Ruth the Moabitess was David's great grandmother. David brought his parents to live in Moab to keep them safe. He was also going to stay in Moab, but God sent someone to talk to him.
A prophet named Gad came to David and told him to get back into Israel. So, David went back. Finally, David was hearing God again. But, what about the town of priests?
I Samuel 22:6-10- When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;) Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
Saul asked his men if anyone had any information on David's where abouts. Doeg told Saul that he saw David go to the city of the priests, and the priests helped him.
I Samuel 22:11-15- Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king. And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
Saul called the priests and asked them why they had helped David. The priests said that they helped him because he was the king's son-in-law and he had said that he was on an errand for the king.
Saul didn't care that David had lied. Saul didn't care that the priests thought they were doing right. Saul just wanted to punish David.
I Samuel 22:16-19- And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
Because of David's lie, Saul not only killed the one priest that helped him, but he wiped out the entire city. All the men. All the women. All the children. All the animals. David's lie cost so many lives!
I Samuel 22:20-23- And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests. And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house. Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
Only one man survived. He ran to David and told him what Saul had done. David now saw the consequences of his backsliding. He saw the cost of the lie he told.
Sometimes, we don't see the price tag of the sins we commit. Sometimes, it takes years for us to understand what a certain sin actually cost. But, make no mistake- all sin comes with a price.

Beginning of the Kings series coloring pages

Beginning Of The Kings- King Saul (Part 9)

David has fled from Saul's presence because Saul wants to kill him. He's tried throwing a javelin at him. He's tried sending soldiers to kill him. He's even chased him to Samuel's house.
David didn't know what he had done. He didn't know why Saul wanted to kill him. He wanted answers.
I Samuel 20:1- And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
Jonathan was hoping that he could, again, talk to his father and get his father to come to his senses.
I Samuel 20:2- And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
David didn't think that would work again. He was afraid for his life.
I Samuel 20:3-8- And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee. And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him. Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
David asked Jonathan to find out for sure. He said there was a feast coming up and that Saul would want David there. He told Jonathan to say that David was keeping the feast with his family in Bethlehem. If Saul was okay with that then Jonathan would know that everything would be okay. But, if Saul got angry Jonathan would know that it wasn't safe for David to come back.
I Samuel 20:9, 16-17- And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?  So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Because Jonathan wanted to keep David safe, he had a sneaky way to get the information to David. He knew that they couldn't risk David being seen if his father really wanted him dead.
I Samuel 20:18-22- Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel. And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth. But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.
Jonathan told David to come back in three days. He told him to hide in a specific place. Jonathan would shoot some arrows and then send his lad to retrieve the arrows. There would be code words that only Jonathan and David knew. If Jonathan said "this side of thee" that would mean that everything was okay and David could come home. But, if he said "beyond thee" then David would have to flee because Saul really did want to kill him.
I Samuel 20:24-29- So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem: And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.
The first day of the feast Saul said nothing about David's absence. He thought that maybe David was unclean and, according to Jewish law, he couldn't attend the feast.
But, when David wasn't there the second day Saul asked Jonathan why. Jonathan answered that David was keeping the feast with his family in Bethlehem. Now, he just had to see how the king would react to this news.
I Samuel 20:30-34- Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
Saul was so mad that he threw his javelin at Jonathan. He tried to kill his own son! Jonathan got mad and stormed out of the feast. The next morning, which was three days after he had told David he would find out, he went out to tell David the news.
I Samuel 20:35-40- And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
Jonathan shot his arrows, said his code words, and then sent the lad back to the city so that he could speak to David in private.
I Samuel 20:41-42- And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
David and Jonathan wept. Jonathan cried because he was losing his dear friend. David cried more because he was not only losing his friend, but his wife and his home.
Jonathan sent David away and reminded him that they swore to protect each other's family no matter what the future held. Then he watched his friend leave, and with a heavy heart went back into his father's castle.

Beginning of the Kings series coloring pages

Beginning Of The Kings- King Saul (Part 8)

Even though David was winning battles for Saul, the king had become very afraid of him. He was jealous of David's fame and he feared David's wisdom. But most of all, he was afraid because he knew that God was no longer with him, but God was with David.
Because of all his fear and paranoia, Saul wanted David dead.
I Samuel 19:1-3- And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.
Jonathan told David that Saul wanted to kill him. He was hoping that he could talk to his father and make everything better. He told David to hide until he knew how his father would respond.
I Samuel 19:4-6- And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
It seemed that Jonathan had gotten through to his father. Saul swore an oath to the Lord that he would not kill David, nor would he have anyone else kill David.
I Samuel 19:7-8- And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past. And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
Everything seemed to be getting back to how it was at the beginning. David was free to come into the king's presence. He was leading part of the army when they went out to battle the Philistines. And God was helping him to win the battles.
I Samuel 19:9-10- And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
Once the evil spirit from the Lord troubled Saul again, Saul went back to his old ways. He tried to kill David himself! And when David got away. He tried to send soldiers to bring him back.
I Samuel 19:11-18- Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster. And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee? So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
Michal loved David so much that she begged David to flee. She helped keep her father from following David by making a dummy and putting it in his bed. She covered it up so that it looked like a person laying there. When the soldiers showed up she told them that David was in bed sick.
Saul was very upset when he found out that Michal lied. Michal was afraid of what Saul would do to her that she lied again. She said that David threatened her if she didn't do it. The kept her father from being angry at her.
David ran to Samuel and told him all that was going on.
I Samuel 19:19-23- And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
Saul sent men after David. But, each time he sent men, they ended up prophesying. Finally, Saul went himself. But, he, too, began to prophesy. God didn't want Saul to kill David. So, he stopped Saul from getting him.
We don't know why God had David go through this. David was only in his 20's, and through no fault of his own had become Israel's most wanted. Could God have stopped it? Yes. But God had a reason for allowing this to happen to David. And God never stopped being with David. He helped him and protected him the entire time he was on the run.

Beginning of the Kings series coloring pages

Beginning Of The Kings- King Saul (Part 7)

David had just defeated the giant Goliath. He had received praise from the people in Jerusalem. And not only gained the notice of the king, but the also the watchful eye of his jealousy.
But, King Saul had a son named Jonathan. The same Jonathan that started the battle against the Philistines with his armor bearer. Jonathan had seen the courage and bravery of this young boy David. He saw that God was with him.
I Samuel 18:1- And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
David and Jonathan became fast friends. Jonathan loved him as his own soul. He loved David like he was a brother or a son.
After the battle with Goliath, Saul took David into his army. He was still gathering soldiers and building his army. But, he still wasn't asking God for direction. He didn't even talk to Samuel anymore!
I Samuel 18:2-4- And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
Jonathan dressed David in his own clothes. This was to show David how much he meant to him. David knew by this action that Jonathan would die for him.
I Samuel 18:5- And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
Not only did Jonathan accept David like his own family. But also, all of Israel accepted David. He was wise and brave, and the people knew that he would lead them and protect them.
This didn't help with Saul's jealousy. It only made it worse.
I Samuel 18:10-12- And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
Not only was Saul jealous, but now he was paranoid and ready to kill David! He tried to kill David twice, but David was able to get away. This made Saul even more paranoid. Now, he was afraid.
I Samuel 18:13-14- Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
Saul moved David from his position in the castle to a captain in the army. He went out with the troops, and was no longer around the king.
Just because David wasn't in the king's presence didn't mean he started acting less noble. David knew that God was still watching, even if no one else saw him.
I Samuel 18:15-16- Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
Now Saul was even more scared. David was gaining the love of the children of Israel. Saul needed to do something.
I Samuel 18:17-20- And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him. And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king? But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
Saul was hoping that by sending David out to battle that eventually he would die in the war. He promised David that he would become the king's son-in-law. All he wanted in return was for David to keep battling the Philistines.
I Samuel 18:20-24- And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain. And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law. And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed? And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
Saul had a younger daughter that liked David. Saul knew that his daughter, Michal, could be a stumbling block to David. So, he put his servants to the task of trying to get David to accept marrying her.
David didn't deem himself worthy to be the king's son-in-law. He was a poor man. He couldn't give her the life he thought she deserved.
When the servants told the king why David didn't want to marry into the family, Saul came up with a plan. He, again, thought that he could use the Philistines to take David out.
I Samuel 18:25-27- And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired. Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
Saul told David that he wanted something that would require David to kill 100 Philistines. David knew that God would help him do that. So, he gladly accepted this dowry. But, David doubled it!
Saul kept his word and let David marry Michal. He was still hoping that Michal would make David mess up. But, she didn't.
I Samuel 18:28-30- 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; 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.
Michal loved David. And this made Saul even more afraid of David. Because of all his fear, Saul became David's enemy. Even though David was held in high regard by all Israel because he was wise, Saul still thought of him as someone that needed to be destroyed.

Beginning of the Kings series coloring pages

Beginning Of The Kings- King Saul (Part 6)

David had been anointed by Samuel as the next king of Israel. He had gone to live with King Saul to play his harp whenever the evil spirit troubled him, and he was learning to be Saul's armor bearer.
I Samuel 17:1-2- Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
Not everything can remain peaceful. The Philistines were still in the land of Canaan, and they were still stirring up trouble. They had gathered themselves together to fight against King Saul and his army.
I Samuel 17:3-7- And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
The Philistines had come up with a plan. You see, they had a Champion fighter- a giant that was so tall and strong that they were sure he could defeat anyone!
I Samuel 17:8-10- And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
The Champion came out and made a proposal. Only two people would fight instead of both armies. Whoever won out of those two people would be considered the winner of the war. The loser's army would then become servants to the winner.
I Samuel 17:11- When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
No one wanted to fight the giant! They were all afraid! They had grown up hearing the stories about how God had overthrown the armies of Pharaoh in the Red Sea after allowing the children of Israel to cross on dry ground. The were told how God helped Joshua to defeat his enemies while holding the sun and the moon still in the sky. The bed time tales of Gideon's army of 300 men and the battle that a woman won. But, none of them had enough faith to believe that God could help them overcome one giant.
The king was the one who was suppose to accept this challenge. Remember, Saul was head and shoulders taller than all the other people in all of Israel. He was the tallest man and the leader of the armies! But, he had turned his back on the Lord long ago and he wouldn't humble himself to ask God for His help.
I Samuel 17:12-15- Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
David had gone back to his father's house to take care of the sheep while his three oldest brothers went with Saul to battle the Philistines.
I Samuel 17:16-19- And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
The battle had been going on for 40 days now and Jesse wanted to know how his other sons were doing. He packed up some provisions and asked David to take them to the place where his brothers were and find out how they were doing.
One thing I notice about the people God likes to use is that most of them were obedient to their parents. Jesus, himself, submitted to his parents and obeyed them. When a child learns to listen and obey their parents, they learn to listen to and obey God.
I Samuel 17:20-24- And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
No sooner did David start talking with his brothers finding out how they were than the Champion of the Philistines came out and began his usual challenge.
David looked about and watched as what was suppose to be the mighty army of the Lord ran to hide.
I Samuel 17:25-27- And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
David heard the soldiers talking about the giant and the challenge. He heard how the king had promised a great reward and great honor to the person who would accept this challenge and win.
David felt the Spirit of God on him as he talked with these soldiers. He knew that Goliath may be a champion of his people, but that God was the one who decided who would win the battle.
As David talked to the soldiers about this, his brother was getting angry. Perhaps his brother felt guilty that he didn't have the courage to accept this challenge. Or, perhaps he was bitter about his younger brother being chosen by God as the next king. We don't know why!
I Samuel 17:28-30- And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
Well, this questioning got people talking.
I Samuel 17:31- And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
David went before King Saul and told the king that he would be willing to fight Goliath.
I Samuel 17:32- And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
King Saul tried to reason with David. He knew that this Champion had years of experience when it came to battle. David was still a young man. How could a shepherd boy who looks after sheep take on a giant with years of killing under his belt?
I Samuel 17:33-36- And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
David may not have been in wars, but he had fought battles. He had fought a lion and a bear. How many kids do you know that have taken on a lion and a bear and killed them both?
David learned something while keeping the sheep. He learned that no matter how big or scary the enemy God was always there to help him. David looked at this giant as another enemy that God could help him defeat.
I Samuel 17:37- David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
King Saul said that David could go. It had been 40 days and none of his soldiers had the courage to take up the giant's challenge! But, Saul wanted it to look like he was the brave one.
I Samuel 17:38-39- And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
Saul dressed David in his own armor. From a distance, no one would know who it was that was really out there. The only tell tale sign would be whose armor it was.
But, David had never fought in armor. He didn't know that this armor would be a help to him. He knew that he needed to trust in God and not in fancy weapons. He knew he had to go in the strength of the Lord with the weapons that God had taught him to use.
I Samuel 17:40- And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
Why do you think David got 5 stones? Do you think he thought he might miss? No. He was getting ready for the battle. You see, Goliath had brothers- 4 of them. David was getting ready in case he needed to fight them all.
I Chronicles 20:4-8- And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued. And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam. And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant. But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him. These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
In time, David's men would kill all of the brothers of Goliath. This was going to be the battle that starts David and his men on the path to defeating the Philistines once and for all.
I Samuel 17:41-44- And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
When Goliath saw this little boy coming to fight him he was upset. He wondered why they would send a child out instead of a hardened soldier. He cursed David by his false gods and told David that he would kill him and feed him to wild animals.
But, this didn't even phase David. He knew that Goliath's false gods were no match for the God of Israel!
I Samuel 17:45-47- Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
David told the giant that the battle belonged to the God of creation. He said it would be the giant that the wild animals ate.
This made Goliath mad. He stood up and didn't even grab his helmet. He came after David without even getting his shield from his armor bearer. His anger left him open and unprotected.
I Samuel 17:48-49- And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
Goliath's haste allowed David to have an open target. God guided the stone that David slung and it hit the mark with such force that it sank into Goliath's skull. He fell down dead.
I Samuel 17:50-51- So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
David wanted everyone to know for certain that the Philistine champion was dead. He ran up to the body, took Goliath's own sword, and cut off the giant's head. There was no argument now! Everyone knew that a young boy had defeated the giant.
The Philistine army ran away terrified! If a small shepherd boy could defeat a war hero giant, what could the entire army of Israel do to them?
This fleeing gave the Israelite army the courage to go after the Philistines.
I Samuel 17:52-54- And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
The Lord helped the Israelites to have a great victory that day. David kept the sword of Goliath. We find out later that he put it in the tabernacle of the Lord. He took the giant's armor as a trophy, and brought the giant's head to Jerusalem.
Saul didn't know who David was. The Bible says that Saul had David around playing the harp when the evil spirit was troubling him. It says that David also was Saul's armor bearer. So, why didn't Saul know who he was?
I Samuel 17:55-56- And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell. And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.
Not only did the king not know who David was, but neither did the captain of the army. David was called wise and brave, but the leaders of Israel didn't care to pay attention to a child. Well, this got their attention!
They called David a stripling. That is a middle English word means a young boy or man that doesn't have to shave yet. The King James Translators used this word to show us how young David was when he fought the giant. He was probably no older than 16, and quite possibly younger.
I Samuel 17:57-58- And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.
Saul may not have known who David was, but the people of Jerusalem did. And they showered David with song of praise when he returned from the battle. But, this didn't make King Saul happy. In fact, it made him jealous.
I Samuel 18:6-9- And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

Beginning of the Kings series coloring pages