So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul. So Saul was afraid of DavidThe Hebrew word for "afraid" here is "yare," which conveys a deep sense of fear or dread. Saul's fear of David is not merely a personal insecurity but a spiritual recognition of the divine favor that David possesses. Historically, Saul's fear can be seen as a reflection of his awareness of his own disobedience and the resulting loss of God's favor. This fear is compounded by David's growing popularity and success, which Saul perceives as a threat to his throne. In a broader scriptural context, this fear illustrates the spiritual principle that those who are not aligned with God's will often find themselves in opposition to those who are. because the LORD was with David
The phrase "the LORD was with David" signifies the divine presence and favor that David enjoyed. The Hebrew name for "LORD" here is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, indicating a personal and relational presence. This divine accompaniment is a recurring theme in David's life, marking him as a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Theologically, this presence is a source of strength, guidance, and protection, enabling David to succeed in his endeavors. It serves as a reminder that God's presence is the ultimate source of true success and favor, contrasting with Saul's experience of God's departure. but had departed from Saul
The word "departed" in Hebrew is "suwr," meaning to turn aside or remove. This indicates a significant and tragic shift in Saul's spiritual state. God's departure from Saul is a direct consequence of Saul's repeated disobedience and rejection of God's commands (1 Samuel 15:26). This departure is not merely the absence of divine favor but also the removal of divine guidance and protection, leaving Saul vulnerable to fear and instability. In a broader biblical context, this serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of maintaining a faithful relationship with God. Saul's spiritual decline contrasts sharply with David's rise, underscoring the biblical principle that obedience and faithfulness to God result in His abiding presence. Persons / Places / Events 1. SaulThe first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel. Saul's reign was marked by initial success but later marred by disobedience to God, leading to his rejection by God as king. 2. DavidA young shepherd anointed by Samuel to be the future king of Israel. Known for his faithfulness to God, David was a man after God's own heart and became a central figure in Israel's history. 3. The LORDThe covenant name of God, Yahweh, who is actively involved in the lives of His people. His presence with David signifies divine favor and guidance. 4. IsraelThe nation over which Saul was king and David would eventually rule. Israel's history is deeply intertwined with God's covenant promises. 5. The Departure of the LORD's SpiritA significant event where God's Spirit, which had empowered Saul, departed from him due to his disobedience, marking a turning point in Saul's reign. Teaching Points The Presence of GodThe presence of the LORD with David is a source of strength and success. As believers, we should seek to live in a way that invites God's presence into our lives. Fear and InsecuritySaul's fear of David highlights how insecurity can arise when we are not aligned with God's will. Trusting in God's plan can help us overcome fear. Obedience and DisobedienceSaul's disobedience led to the loss of God's favor. Obedience to God is crucial for maintaining His presence and blessing in our lives. God's SovereigntyGod's choice of David over Saul demonstrates His sovereign will. We must trust in God's plans, even when they differ from our own. Spiritual LeadershipThe contrast between Saul and David underscores the importance of spiritual leadership that is rooted in a relationship with God. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the presence of the LORD in our lives influence our daily actions and decisions? 2. In what ways can we guard against the fear and insecurity that Saul experienced? 3. How can we ensure that we remain obedient to God, even when faced with difficult choices? 4. What can we learn from David's example about seeking God's heart and favor? 5. How does understanding God's sovereignty help us trust Him more fully in our own lives? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Samuel 16:14This verse describes the departure of the Spirit of the LORD from Saul and the distressing spirit that troubled him, setting the stage for Saul's fear of David. Psalm 51:11David's plea for God not to take His Holy Spirit from him, reflecting the importance of God's presence and favor, which Saul lost. Acts 13:22Paul references David as a man after God's own heart, contrasting David's faithfulness with Saul's disobedience. People Adriel, David, Jonathan, Merab, Michal, SaulPlaces JerusalemTopics Afraid, Aside, David, Departed, Fear, Presence, SaulDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Samuel 18:12 5770 abandonment 1 Samuel 18:6-12 5890 insecurity 1 Samuel 18:6-15 5965 temperament 1 Samuel 18:9-12 5086 David, rise of Library A Soul's Tragedy
'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. 6. 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. 7. And the women answered one another as they played, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureWar! War! War!
At the present crisis, the minds of men are exceedingly agitated with direful prospects of a terrible struggle. We know not whereunto this matter may grow. The signs of the times are dark and direful. We fear that the vials of God's wrath are about to be poured out, and that the earth will be deluged with blood. As long as there remains a hope, let us pray for peace, nay, even in the time of war let us still beseech the throne of God, crying, that he would "send us peace in our days." The war will …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859 And V the Kingdom Undivided and the Kingdom Divided
THE HISTORICAL BOOKS: I and II Samuel. I and II Kings. I and II Chronicles. NOTE.--As these three pairs of books are so closely related in their historical contents, it is deemed best to study them together, though they overlap the two divisions of IV and V. I. CHARTS Chart A. General Contents +--+ " I AND II SAMUEL " +-------------+-----+------+ "Samuel "Saul "David " +-------------+-----+------+----------+ " " " " I AND II KINGS "NOTE.--Biblical …
Frank Nelson Palmer—A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible The Exile.
David's first years at the court of Saul in Gibeah do not appear to have produced any psalms which still survive. "The sweetest songs are those Which tell of saddest thought." It was natural, then, that a period full of novelty and of prosperous activity, very unlike the quiet days at Bethlehem, should rather accumulate materials for future use than be fruitful in actual production. The old life shut to behind him for ever, like some enchanted door in a hill-side, and an unexplored land lay beckoning …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David Salvation Published from the Mountains
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid: say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! I t would be improper to propose an alteration, though a slight one, in the reading of a text, without bearing my testimony to the great value of our English version, which I believe, in point of simplicity, strength, and fidelity, is not likely to be excelled by a new translation …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 How the Poor and the Rich Should be Admonished.
(Admonition 3.) Differently to be admonished are the poor and the rich: for to the former we ought to offer the solace of comfort against tribulation, but in the latter to induce fear as against elation. For to the poor one it is said by the Lord through the prophet, Fear not, for thou shalt not be confounded (Isai. liv. 4). And not long after, soothing her, He says, O thou poor little one, tossed with tempest (Ibid. 11). And again He comforts her, saying, I have chosen thee in the furnace of …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great The Publication of the Gospel
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it [or of the preachers] P erhaps no one Psalm has given greater exercise to the skill and patience of commentators and critics, than the sixty-eighth. I suppose the difficulties do not properly belong to the Psalm, but arise from our ignorance of various circumstances to which the Psalmist alludes; which probably were, at that time, generally known and understood. The first verse is the same with the stated form of benediction …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Ramah. Ramathaim Zophim. Gibeah.
There was a certain Ramah, in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25, and that within sight of Jerusalem, as it seems, Judges 19:13; where it is named with Gibeah:--and elsewhere, Hosea 5:8; which towns were not much distant. See 1 Samuel 22:6; "Saul sat in Gibeah, under a grove in Ramah." Here the Gemarists trifle: "Whence is it (say they) that Ramah is placed near Gibea? To hint to you, that the speech of Samuel of Ramah was the cause, why Saul remained two years and a half in Gibeah." They blindly …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill.' Exod 20: 13. In this commandment is a sin forbidden, which is murder, Thou shalt not kill,' and a duty implied, which is, to preserve our own life, and the life of others. The sin forbidden is murder: Thou shalt not kill.' Here two things are to be understood, the not injuring another, nor ourselves. I. The not injuring another. [1] We must not injure another in his name. A good name is a precious balsam.' It is a great cruelty to murder a man in his name. We injure others in …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Samuel 18:12 NIV1 Samuel 18:12 NLT1 Samuel 18:12 ESV1 Samuel 18:12 NASB1 Samuel 18:12 KJV
1 Samuel 18:12 Commentaries
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