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.
