What Time I am Afraid, I Will Trust in You, O Lord

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(Psalm 56:1) (To the chief musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.) Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresses me.

This psalm follows chronologically the events of David.  He had fled from Saul to Gath where the Philistines seized him for fear he had come to seize their kingdom since he had killed their Goliath.  Some of the words David used in introducing his psalms were often a great mystery to scholars as they are found nowhere else in scripture.  Michtam is one of those words.  It's a term he used for some of his psalms perhaps for how they were to be presented or recorded.  David often introduced his psalms "to the chief musician of ________."  In the past psalms studied, it seemed that most scholars thought he referred to the musical instrument to be used.  However, the long word above is actually four words, Jonath-elem-recho-kim, meaning “the silent dove of far-off places.”  Although there could have been a musical instrument they called that, it rather sounds like the name of a song already in existence at the time, and David desired his psalm be sung to that melody.

David began his psalm by asking the Lord to be merciful to him.  We should always desire mercy and never what we deserve.  The filthy sinners that we are deserve nothing of our own and do not even deserve to be in the presence of God asking Him for anything.  Therefore, our cry should be for His mercy.  Without the Lord's mercy and intervention, men would destroy him, for they came after him daily.

(2) My enemies would daily swallow me up, for there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

David declared that he had many enemies who would daily swallow him up.  Saul indeed, had many servants who sought his life for their king.  However, a believer has many enemies that attack him on a daily basis, sin, Satan, and the world, seeking to destroy him.  Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, wrote that he didn't believe that "Most High" was meant to be a title of the Lord.  He argued that the verse should have read, "...for there are many who fight against me from on high," meaning Saul and his servants.

(3) What time I am afraid, I will trust in You. (4) In God I will praise His word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do to me.

What a beautiful sentiment that we should all take to heart.  Whenever we are afraid, we should put our trust in the Lord, as David said he did.  He would praise God's word and hold onto the promises God made about protecting and delivering him.  He would not fear what man could do to him when he had God on his side.

(5) Every day they wrest my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil.

David declared that every day his enemies twisted his words.  That certainly sounds like our enemies today!  In this super-polarized world we find ourselves in today, someone is always looking for ways to twist our words into something that proves their case, for all their thoughts are evil against us, as in David's time.  We should remember that no matter the words a person may have clumsily used, if that was not his meaning, then to pretend it meant something else is to lie.

(6) They gather themselves together; they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

David's enemies gathered themselves together, hiding themselves, but watching his every move, and they lay in wait for an opportunity to take his life.  I couldn't help but think about President Trump with this one.  If there was ever a person whose every step and every word were so carefully watched in order to take him down politically and even literally, that man was Donald Trump!

(7) Shall they escape by iniquity? In Your anger, cast down the people, O God.

David wonders if the wicked will be able to escape punishment by their wickedness.  Again, this is so illustrative of our present time when it seems that the wicked are actually too big and important to be brought to justice.  They have done wicked things so big that to expose them might destroy the country.  God must be angry with such wickedness, with people who act as gods who can do whatever they want and are not held accountable, and David asked that He bring them down in His righteous anger.

(8) You tell my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?

The Lord alone knew how long David would wander this world.  He kept track of his sorrows and his tears; they were in God's book of remembrance, not a literal book, but God takes notice of all and remembers all.

(9) When I cry to You, then shall my enemies turn back; this I know, for God is for me.

Whenever David cried out to the Lord, his enemies were forced back.  David had full confidence that God was on his side.

(10) In God will I praise His word; in the Lord will I praise His word.

David repeated his sentiment in verse 4; he would praise God's word and His promises.  He first called his Lord "God," that is, "Elohim," the supreme Judge.  Then he used "Lord," "Yehovah," the self-existent eternal One.

(11) In God have I put my trust; I will not be afraid what man can do to me.

David repeated the rest of verse 4, that he had put his trust in God, and therefore would not be afraid of what man could do to him.

(12) Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render praises to You.

David, having received what he needed from God, would continually offer praises of glory and thanksgiving.

(13) For You have delivered my soul from death and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

David recognized that the Lord had delivered him from death and from falling into destruction in order that he might be a light in the land of the living, serving and glorifying God.  Is that not the purpose of all of us?  We are here to serve and glorify God so that others may be brought to salvation.  We are to be a light unto the world, and we should not hide our lights under a bushel basket (Matthew 5:15).

Taste and See That the Lord is Good

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(Psalm 34:1) (Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech who drove him away, and he departed) I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise continually in my mouth.

David apparently wrote this psalm after leaving Achish, king of Gath, at the end of the last post (1 Samuel 21:15).  The king's name was Achish, but here he is called by his title, Abimelech, which meant literally "father of the king."  David proclaimed he would bless the Lord at all times, giving Him honor, praise, and glory, continually, for all that He continued to do for David, or just for who He was.

(2) My soul shall make her boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear and be glad.

David said his soul would boast in the Lord.  He would not boast of himself, but in the Lord and what He had done for him.  The humble ones, the lowly and depressed or the poor and needy, would hear his boasts of the Lord and be glad, having hope and receiving encouragement that they might receive such deliverance from the Lord.  The humble might also refer to those with humble hearts and spirits who would rejoice with those who rejoiced and be glad to see others share in the goodness and grace of God.

(3) O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together.

David invited the humble ones to join him in magnifying the Lord and praising and exalting His name together.

(4) I sought the Lord, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.

David said he sought the Lord, and the Lord delivered him from his fears.  This is interesting.  David had been afraid of Achish, Abimelech (1 Samuel 21:12), and had surely prayed to God to deliver him.  And the Lord delivered him.  Had the Lord put David in a mad fit so that the king of Gath would send him away?  1 Samuel 21:13 said that David had feigned himself mad, but actually the original word was "halal," and it meant "be mad" or "act madly."  There is another word "mirmah" that meant "feigned," and that is not included here.  Just because David acted madly doesn't mean he feigned it himself.  He changed his behavior, but it may not have been by his own will.  God could have made him act madly, and that seems very plausible considering David's retelling of the incident in his psalm.  

(5) They looked to Him and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed.

The humble ones looked to the Lord and were brightened as they became cheerful, which is the more complete definition of the original word that was translated as "lightened."  They were not ashamed to have put their trust in the Lord, nor were they disappointed.

(6) This poor man cried, and the Lord heard and saved him out of all his troubles.

David, referring to himself as a poor man, a poor, afflicted, persecuted man, cried out to the Lord, and He heard him and saved him from his troubles.

(7) The angel of the Lord encamps round about them who fear Him and delivers them.

The Lord sets His angels around the people who reverently fear Him to watch over them, and He delivers them.  Some commentators believe David was speaking prophetically, and what is meant is the Angel of the Lord, Jesus Christ, literally encamps around them; He indwells them with His Holy Spirit, and He delivers them.

(8) O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him. (9) O fear the Lord, you His saints, for no want to them who fear Him.

David invited people to taste, try the flavor of, that is, test by experience, that the Lord was good.  The one who put his trust in the Lord was blessed.  And that doesn't mean that he is always materially blessed or blessed in the way that the world might judge blessing, but he is blessed in a way that the world cannot comprehend.  There is peace, and freedom and joy, in knowing that the Lord is in charge of one's life.  His yoke is easy (Matthew 11:30); you can let go, and let Him, and that is the real blessing that everyone desires whether they really understand it or not.  Those who fear the Lord want for nothing (Psalm 23:1) because the Lord provides all their needs (Philippians 4:19).

(10) The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they who seek the Lord shall not want any good.

The young lions, those who ravage and spoil by their own strength, or perhaps the very young who depend on their parents, do sometimes lack and suffer hunger, just as people who rely on themselves and other people will sometimes lack.  However, those who seek the Lord and rely on Him do not want for any good thing.  Once again, the good things of the Lord are not necessarily what the world considers good.

(11) Come, you children, hearken to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

David calls his eventual children, his eventual subjects, or any not yet followers of the Lord, to listen to him.  As many Biblical scholars see this psalm as an allusion to the Messiah, these could be the words of Jesus beckoning all to come to Him, and He would teach them about the Lord.

(12) What man desires life and loves many days that he may see good? (13) Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking guile.

All men naturally desire long lives, enjoying prosperity and happiness. David began to teach those children from verse 11 the way of the Lord.  He instructed them to guard their mouths from speaking evil.

(14) Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

David encouraged them to avoid evil, evil men and situations, and evil temptations within themselves.  He told them to seek and even pursue peace as much as humanly possible (Romans 12:18):  "If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men."

(15) The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears open to their cry. (16) The face of the Lord is against them who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Actually, the Lord's eyes are on everyone, but He watches over the righteous and listens to their cries and prayers.  However, the Lord is against those who persist in evil, and He will cut off the remembrance of them, or at least they will never be thought of except with contempt.  Hitler is remembered, but only for his evil; nothing good he ever did is ever remembered.  As we are all sinners, I like to think that this also means that the Lord cuts off the remembrance of the evil that we have done when we turn to Him (Hebrews 8:12).

(17) They cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. (18) The Lord is near to them who are of a broken heart and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.

The righteous cry out to the Lord, and He delivers them out of their troubles.  The Lord is near to all who are of a broken spirit.  He loves all His children and desires that all be saved (2 Peter 3:9).  Most often it is when people reach their lowest that they turn to God, so He is always near to them then, desiring that they turn to Him, and He saves those of a contrite spirit, humbled under a sense of sin and repentant.

(19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. 

Even though we may be blessed by the Lord, it doesn't mean we will have no afflictions.  On the contrary, we will have many, but the Lord delivers us out of them, or sometimes through them that good may come, as "all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."  

(20) He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

This indeed, seems to be a prophetic reference to Jesus Christ, as not one of His bones were broken.  As far as the righteous, many human bones will be broken, however, not one of their spiritual bones will be broken, so to speak, as no one can do anything to take away their salvation in Christ (John 10:28).

(21) Evil shall slay the wicked, and they who hate the righteous will be desolate. (22) The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of them who trust in Him shall be desolate.

Evil will eventually kill the wicked.  Their evil schemes might catch up with them in this life, but it will certainly catch up with them in the next, in eternity.  Those who hate the righteous will be desolate.  The original word that was translated as "desolate" is "asham."  The primary meaning according to Strong's is "to be guilty; by implication to be punished or perish."  But "asham" is interesting, as they will be eternally ashamed when they realize what they have done, as all will come to know the truth in the end (Romans 14:11).  The Lord redeems the souls of His servants, and none of them who trust in Him shall be made desolate.  Though the evil may kill the body, they cannot kill the soul (Matthew 10:28).

I couldn't help but relate this to the recent murder of Charlie Kirk.  Evil killed the righteous, but it's the one who killed the righteous who will be desolate.  If he doesn't give his life to Jesus, he will be eternally desolate.  The righteous will never be desolate.  Though his body died, his soul was immediately in the joyful presence of his Savior.  And if his murderer came to salvation in Christ because of what he had done, Charlie Kirk would have been glad to have been a part of God's purpose for him, which he always was.  He knew the risks he took, but he was never ashamed to proclaim Christ and to do his part to bring people to His truth.

Psalm 34 was one of David's acrostic or alphabetical psalms where each Hebrew letter began a verse in sequential order.  It's a wonder that at such a time when his life was in such danger that he had the presence of mind to write a more complicated psalm.  However, as many Biblical scholars believe many of these words were prophetic about the coming Messiah, he was surely divinely inspired to write what he did.

David Takes Consecrated Bread

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(1 Samuel 21:1) Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest, and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said to him, "Why are you alone and no man with you?"

Jonathan had warned David that Saul intended to kill him, and David had run away.  He came to Nob, a city of priests, where the tabernacle was at that time.  I imagine David felt safe in the tabernacle of the Lord where he might receive counsel of the Lord.  The high priest Ahimelech was afraid when he saw David alone.  He may have heard of the king's displeasure with him, but also as the king's son-in-law, he should have had attendants with him.  David coming alone did not seem right, and he sensed trouble.  He asked David why he had come alone.

(2) And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has commanded me some business and has said to me, 'Let no man know anything of the business whereabout I send you and what I have commanded you,' and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place."

David then told the high priest a lie, telling him that the king had sent him on some business and had sworn him to secrecy, so he had sent his servants away.  As good a man as David was, living a life of integrity as he had proclaimed in the last post in Psalm 26, this is the second time that we read of David lying (1 Samuel 20:6).

(3) "Now therefore, what is under your hand? Give five loaves of bread in my hand or what there is present."

David asked the priest what he had on hand, with regard to bread or something to eat, as we may assume he had had nothing to eat on his journey.  He asked the priest to give him five loaves of bread or whatever he had on hand.

(4) And the priest answered David, and said, "No common bread under my hand, but there is hallowed bread, if the young men have kept themselves at least from women."

The priest told David that he had no common bread on hand, but there was hallowed bread that had been devoted for sacred use.  However, he seemed willing to give it to David and any of his men if they had abstained from women and were considered clean.

(5) And David answered the priest and said to him, "Of a truth, women 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."

It seems as if David may have had some men with him that he had sent away when he came to Ahimelech, unless he was still lying.  He told the priest that they had not been with women for three days since he had left and been on this journey.  Whether or not it was true, that was the length of time the law required for sanctifying themselves after being with women.  David added that the vessels of his young men were holy, not having been defiled with any ceremonial uncleanness.  He also suggested that the bread was common at that time anyway as it had been removed from the showbread table, as may be assumed because the priest said he had it on hand, as bread taken off the showbread table was then lawful to be eaten by the priest and his family.  Supposedly, in case of necessity through hunger, the bread might be lawfully allowed to strangers.

(6) So the priest gave him hallowed bread, for there was no bread there but the showbread that was taken from before the Lord to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

The priest gave David the hallowed bread, that which had been taken off the showbread table before the Lord, in order to place fresh bread there.  It was lawful for the priests only to eat the showbread; but David and his companions were starving and no other bread could be had at the time.  Therefore he and his companions ate of it without sin, and this we know because Jesus referred to this incident in Mark 2:25-26, implying that because he had need and was hungry, his actions were not sinful, because strict legalistic adherence to laws to the detriment of people was not aligned with the spirit of the law.  "I desire mercy and not sacrifice," said the Lord (Hosea 6:6), and it was repeated by Jesus (Matthew 12:7).  Jesus also spoke of the law of the Sabbath, saying it was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath, once again meaning it should not be so legalistically adhered to so as to cause detriment to people.

(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 herdsmen of Saul.

There was a servant of Saul's named Doeg who was either at the tabernacle or in close proximity to it.  He was the chief of the herdsmen of Saul and so might be considered more loyal to Saul than just any herdsman.  He was detained before the Lord, probably just meaning he himself chose to stay, tarrying to worship the Lord.

(8) And David said to Ahimelech, "And is there not here under your hand spear or sword? For I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me because the king's business required haste."

David asked the priest if he had any weapons on hand because he had not brought any weapons with him because the king's business had required haste.  I suppose you could say that part of what David told the priest was true.  It was the king's business to kill him, and he indeed had to leave in haste.

(9) And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold it wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is no other save that here." And David said, "None like that; give it to me."

The priest told David that the sword of Goliath, the giant David had killed, was there wrapped in a cloth behind the place where the priestly garment lay.  He told him he could take that if he wanted it, for there was nothing else there.  David said there was nothing like it, definitely because of its size, but David had been well able to use it to cut off Goliath's head (1 Samuel 17:51), and also because it would serve as a symbol of God's faithfulness in delivering him as He had previously done.

(10) And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath.

David fled from there to Gath, to Achish, the king of Gath.  It seems strange that David would flee to an enemy king, but Saul's rage was so great and David's life in such danger, that perhaps he felt a little safety in the presence of a rival king to Saul.  "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," as the proverb goes.

(11) And the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands'? (12) And David laid up these words in his heart and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

However, the servants of Achish considered David to be the king or at least recognized him as the king elect of Israel as they remembered the women dancing and singing that while Saul had killed his thousands, David had killed his ten thousands (1 Samuel 18:7).  Perhaps they even meant that David was the king of their land, as Goliath had proposed that if any man were to kill him, the Philistines would become subjects of Israel (1 Samuel 17:9), and maybe they thought David had come to overthrow Achish and take the crown.  Either way, David became afraid of what Achish might do to him when he knew that. 

(13) And he changed his behavior toward them and feigned himself mad in their hands and scrabbled on the doors of the gate and let his spittle fall down on his beard.

David changed his behavior toward the servants of Achish and pretended to be mad "in their hands," which sounds as if they may have taken hold of David.  He scratched on the doors of the gate and drooled down his beard.

(14) Then Achish said to his servants, "Lo, you see the man is mad. Why have you brought him to me? (15) Have I need of mad men that you have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? Shall he come into my house?"

Achish's servants brought David to him, but because he saw him as mad, he demanded to know why his servants brought a mad man to him as if he needed a mad man in his house.  Although this psalm ends right here, we can assume that the king sent him away, as 1 Samuel 22 begins with the fact that David left.  However, my chronological study takes me to Psalms next.

David pretending to be mad when he wasn't is yet another example of his dishonesty.  I have often pondered whether or not every lie is a sin against God.  What makes me wonder that is that the commandment against lying actually says, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."  Do not tell a lie about your neighbor.  Is that the same as telling a lie to an enemy of God to save one's life?  I suppose it could represent a lack of faith in God to deliver one out of danger when he believes he must do something to deliver himself.  Quoting Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, "Justly are troubles called temptations, for many are by them drawn into sin."  By this, he suggests that because of his troubles, David was drawn into the sin of lying.  And surely, even if it was not an actual sin against God, everything we do has a chain reaction, whether good or bad.  And there is a slippery slope we find ourselves on when we start with little white lies as they make it easier to tell bigger lies.

Lord, Judge Me and Protect Me from My Enemies

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

In the last post, at the end of 1 Samuel 20, Jonathan had warned David that his father, King Saul, intended to kill him, and David had gone away.  It is assumed that David may have written this psalm about that time:

(Psalm 26:1) (Of David) Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity; I have trusted also in the Lord; I shall not slide.

David asked that the Lord judge him, that is, judge whether or not he was just in the matter between him and Saul.  He felt he had walked with integrity and had done nothing wrong to make Saul want to kill him.  He had trusted in the Lord, and he would not waver.

(2) Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

David asked that the Lord examine him and his motives and prove whether or not they were just.  He asked that the Lord test his reins and his heart.  The reins were the kidneys, the gut, the seat of emotions.  He asked that the Lord search his heart and the pit of his emotions to test whether or not they were pure.

(3) For your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in your truth. (4) I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. (5) I have hated the congregation of evil doers and will not sit with the wicked.

David recognized how loving and kind the Lord had been to him, and he had walked in God's truth, in His ways.  He did not associate with vain people, those who were evil and false.  He would not be in the company of dissemblers, those who lied and hid their true evil motives.  He, in fact, hated evil doers and would not associate with the wicked.

(6) I will wash my hands in innocency, so I will compass Your altar, O Lord, (7) That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all Your wondrous works. (8) Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house and the place where Your honor dwells.

David determined to wash his hands in innocence, to be clean and pure, that he might be able to move about the Lord's altar with clean hands and a pure heart, that he might proclaim the wonderful works of the Lord with thanksgiving.  David had loved dwelling in the house of the Lord where He was worshiped, but I believe he also meant dwelling in the presence of the Lord, as he felt his Lord was always with him.

(9) Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men, (10) In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.

David asked that the Lord not count him among sinners, gathering him up for destruction with them.  He asked that the Lord not let his life be taken away by bloody men, those who shed blood, while bribing judges to pervert righteous judgment.

(11) But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.

David determined to always live a life of integrity, but even so, he realized he could never be perfect, and he asked that the Lord be merciful to him and redeem him from sin.

(12) My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations will I bless the Lord.

David proclaimed that he stood upon a sure and solid foundation, being under the protection of God's almighty and watchful providence.  Not only in private, but he would publicly praise the Lord.

This psalm of David seems rightly to have been written after he had fled from Saul.  As he had previously expressed to Jonathan, he did not feel he had done anything to warrant Saul's desire to kill him.  He pleaded with the Lord to judge him and find him guiltless and redeem him from any sins that may have plagued him, as he always strived to live a life of integrity following in the Lord's way.

Jonathan Warns David, and David Leaves

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(1 Samuel 20:1) And David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sin before your father that he seeks my life?"

When we last left David, Saul had his servants surrounding David's house at night waiting to kill him the next morning, but his wife Micah let him down out a window where he fled to Samuel in Ramah, and then Samuel and David went to Naioth.  Saul went to Naioth after him, but the Lord put a spirit of prophecy on Saul, and he was detained a day and a night, giving David time to escape from Naioth.  He came to Jonathan and begged to know what he had done that made Saul seek to kill him.

(2) And he said to him, "God forbid, you shall not die; behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will show it to me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so."

Jonathan told David he was sure his father was not trying to kill him because his father always told him his plans, great or small, and he could not believe that his father would hide so great a thing from him.  He was sure it was not true.

(3) And David swore moreover, and said, "Your father certainly knows that I have found grace in your eyes, and he said, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved,' but truly, as the Lord lives and your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death."

David swore to Jonathan that he knew it to be true.  He told him that his father surely knew that David had found great favor with Jonathan and that he had hidden his intentions from Jonathan because of their great friendship.  He swore to him that he knew his life was in imminent danger.

(4) Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever your soul desires, I will do for you." (5) And David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at the meal, but let me go that I may hide myself in the field until the third day at evening."

Jonathan assured David he would do whatever David asked him to do.  David told him that the next day was the new moon which was the first day of the month, as the months of the Hebrews were lunar months, counted from new moon to new moon.  On the new moon they offered sacrifices and had a feast (Numbers 28:11), and David said he would be expected to join the king at the feast.  However, he asked Jonathan to let him go and hide out until the third day when the feast was over.

(6) "If your father at all misses me, then say, 'David earnestly asked of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city, for a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.'"

David told Jonathan that if his father asked about him, to tell him that David wanted to go to Bethlehem for a yearly sacrifice there for all his family.  That may have been true and not just an excuse as his family did indeed make yearly sacrifices (1 Samuel 1:21).

(7) "If he says thus, 'It is well,' your servant shall have peace, but if he is very angry, be sure that evil is determined by him."

David told Jonathan that if his father said that it was well and good that David should go to his family feast, then he knew he would be safe.  However, if his father became very angry, then Jonathan could be sure that Saul determined evil against David.

(8) "Therefore you shall deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you; notwithstanding, if there is in me iniquity, slay me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?"

David knew that Jonathan would deal kindly with him because of a covenant of friendship between Jonathan and David, of which Jonathan had been the initiator.  However, David said that if there was any iniquity found in him, he implored that Jonathan kill him himself rather than bring him to his father.

(9) And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! For if I knew certainly that evil was determined by my father to come upon you, then wouldn't I tell you?"

Jonathan told David that thought should be far from him that he would conceal his father's ill intentions against him.  If he had known of any such intentions, he would have certainly told David.

(10) Then David said to Jonathan, "Who shall tell me? Or what if your father answers you roughly?"

David asked Jonathan how he would know how Saul had responded when he wasn't at the feast.  What if his father dealt with him harshly because he knew that he loved David and may have protected him?

(11) And Jonathan said to David, "Come and let us go out into the field." And both of them went out into the field. (12) And Jonathan said to David, "O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded out my father anytime tomorrow or the third day, and behold, if there is good toward David, and then I do not send to you and show it to you, (13) The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan, but if it please my father to do you evil, then I will show it to you and send you away, that you may go in peace, and the Lord be with you, as He has been with my father."

Jonathan asked David to go out into the field with him, probably so that they could talk more freely, not being overheard by Saul's servants.  They went out to the field, and Jonathan assured David by the Lord God of Israel, that when he knew the mood and intentions of his father, he would certainly tell him.  Let the vengeance of the Lord fall on him if he failed to tell David.  He would tell him if the news was good, and if it was bad, he would tell him and help him get away, that he may go in peace.  He added the blessing that the Lord be with him as He had been with his father, suggesting that he might be aware that David was to succeed his father as king.

(14) "And you shall not only while I yet live show me the kindness of the Lord, that I not die, (15) But you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever; no, not when the Lord has cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth."

For David's part in this covenant, Jonathan asked that he show kindness to him when he came to the throne and not take away his life.  He asked that David not cut off that kindness from his family forever, or for as long as he was on the throne.  Not even after the Lord had cut off all his enemies and presumably then he had peace, he was never to cut off his kindness to Jonathan's posterity.

(16) So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, "Let the Lord even require at the hand of David's enemies."

It appears that this covenant was to go beyond David's time on the throne and was to continue with his descendants, "the house of David."  If either side broke this covenant, Jonathan asked that the Lord punish the violators by the hand of David's enemies.

(17) And Jonathan caused David to swear again because he loved him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Jonathan asked David to swear to this oath, for he loved him like a brother or even closer, like himself, and he desired that their families continue to observe their covenant throughout their generations.

(18) Then Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you shall be missed because your seat will be empty. (19) And when you have stayed three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you did hide yourself when the business was and shall remain by the stone Ezel."

Jonathan reiterated the fact that the next day was the new moon and that David would not be at the feast.  He went on to instruct him to wait three days and then go down to the place where he had hidden before when the business of Saul seeking David's life first became known to them (1 Samuel 19:2).  He told him to remain at a stone called Ezel.

(20) "And I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a mark. (21) And behold, I will send a lad, 'Go find the arrows.' If I expressly say to the lad, 'Behold, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,' then you come, for there is peace to you and no hurt, as the Lord lives. (22) But if I say thus to the young man, 'Behold, the arrows are beyond you,' go your way for the Lord has sent you away."

Jonathan devised a signal for David.  After the three days, he would go out to the field and shoot three arrows.  He would tell the servant with him to go fetch the arrows.  If he expressly told the young man that the arrows were to the side of him, then David was to come forth because Jonathan meant that it was safe and no harm would come to him; as sure as the Lord lived, he could be assured of his safety.  However, if he said to the young man that the arrows were beyond him, that was David's signal to go away, for it was not safe.  Jonathan said it would mean that the Lord had sent him away.  They assigned everything to the will of God.  If Saul became angry at David's absence, it would be the will of God that David should leave.

(23) "And the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be between you and me forever."

Jonathan added, as if it might be the only parting message he could make if David was to flee after his signal, that the Lord was the witness to their covenant that should remain forever.

(24) So David hid himself in the field, and when the new moon had come, the king sat down to eat the meal. (25) And the king sat upon his seat as at other times, upon a seat by the wall, and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.

David hid in the field as he and Jonathan had planned.  The new moon came the following day, and Saul sat down to eat the feast.  He sat at his usual place by the wall.  Jonathan arose, probably out of respect for his father who had come to the table.  Abner, Saul's cousin and the captain of his army, sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.

(26) Nevertheless, Saul spoke not anything that day, for he thought, "Something has befallen him; he is not clean, surely, he is not clean."

However, Saul didn't say anything about David not being there.  He assumed something had happened that made him unclean and not lawful for him to attend the feast.

(27) And it came to pass on the next day, the second day of the month, that David's place was empty, and Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has the son of Jesse not come to eat, neither yesterday nor today?" (28) And Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. (29) And he said, 'Let me go, I pray you, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there, and now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away, I pray you, and see my brethren.' Therefore he comes not to the king's table."

On the second day of the feast, when David was absent again, Saul asked Jonathan why he was not there for two days in a row.  Jonathan gave Saul the prearranged story that David had asked to return to his home for a sacrifice his family was having, saying that his brother had commanded his attendance.  David had pleaded with Jonathan, and in Saul's absence, Jonathan gave him permission to go.

(30) Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of the perverse rebelliousness! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?"

Saul became angry with Jonathan, calling him rebellious and saying that he knew he had chosen David over his own family and had brought shame to himself and to his mother.  After all, Jonathan should have succeeded Saul to the throne, so what would men think?  They might assume Jonathan had no right to the throne, that a son-in-law took his place, perhaps because his mother had played the whore, and he was no son of Saul.  Saul felt that Jonathan had brought shame on the entire family.

(31) "For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the ground, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Now, therefore, send and fetch him to me, for he shall surely die."

Indeed, Saul told Jonathan that as long as David lived, Jonathan would never be established as king.  Therefore, he told Jonathan to go get David and bring him back to him, as he must die.

(32) And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, "Why shall he be killed? What has he done?" (33) And Saul cast a javelin at him to strike him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to kill David.

Jonathan asked Saul why David should be killed, what he had done to deserve death.  Saul was so angry that he cast his javelin at Jonathan with the intention of hitting him with it.  Jonathan knew without a doubt that Saul intended to kill David.

(34) So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David because his father had done him shame.

Jonathan was also very angry and arose from the table without eating of the feast.  He grieved for David, and he was angry because of what his father had done to him in calling him perverse and rebellious and even trying to kill him in his anger.

(35) 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. (36) And he said to the lad, "Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot." As the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

The next morning Jonathan went out to the field with a lad with him, as he had prearranged with David.  He told the lad to run ahead and fetch the arrows he was going to shoot.  He then shot an arrow beyond the lad as he was running.

(37) And when the lad had come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, "Isn't the arrow beyond you?"

The young man went to the place at which the arrow had been shot, but Jonathan cried out to him that he thought the arrow was beyond him, which of course was the signal to David that he should run away.

(38) And Jonathan cried after the lad, "Make speed, haste, do not stay!" And Jonathan's lad had gathered up the arrows and came to his master. (39) But the lad did not know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. (40) And Jonathan gave his artillery to his lad and said to him, "Go, carry them to the city."

Jonathan then called to his lad to get the arrows quickly, which he did and came back to Jonathan.  The lad knew nothing of David in the field and that Jonathan had just given him a signal.  Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to the young man and told him to take them back to the city.

(41) 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 with one another until David exceeded.

As soon as the young man left, David came out from hiding and fell on his face to the ground.  He bowed himself three times before Jonathan, probably reverencing him as the prince who could have had him killed, but instead was his great faithful friend.  They kissed one another and wept until David's emotions exceeded.  He was losing more than his friend Jonathan.  He had lost his wife and his family before that.  He had lost the altar of God as he was to be in exile.

(42) And Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, since we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, 'The Lord be between you and me, and between my descendants and your descendants forever.'" And he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

Jonathan told David he could go in peace because of the covenant that he and David had made that would remain throughout their generations of descendants.  David rose up and departed, and Jonathan went to the city. 

Teach Me Your Paths, O Lord!

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(Psalm 25:1) (Of David) To You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

When we last left David, his house had been surrounded at night by Saul's servants who had the intention of killing him the next morning.  There have since been two psalms of his asking the Lord to deliver him from his enemies.  It is the opinion of Skip Andrews who wrote the chronological study I am following, that he may have written this one at that time as well.

David began his psalm by saying that he lifted up his soul to the Lord.  He couldn't literally and physically do that, of course, but his meditations and prayers he directed up to God.  He gave himself and his circumstances to God as He was his only defense.

(2) O my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me.

David put his trust in the Lord.  It's not that David was ever ashamed to call on his Lord, but his point was that he never be so forsaken by God as to have occasion for shame that he had trusted in a God who was unable to help him.  I don't believe that David could ever have such shame, but it might be seen by his enemies that he had put his trust in an unreliable source.  Let him not be shamed by them by allowing his enemies to triumph over him.

(3) Yea, let none who wait on You be ashamed; let them be ashamed who transgress without cause.

David prayed that none who waited on the Lord ever be ashamed, but rather the ones who sinned without cause should be brought to shame.

(4) Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. (5) Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You the God of my salvation, on You do I wait all the day.

David asked that the Lord show him His ways and teach him in the way he should go.  He asked to be led by the Lord in His truth, for God was his only salvation, and he would wait on him all day long, or continually.  He would not be shamed or rushed in doing something on his own, but desired to wait on the Lord to lead him.

(6) Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindness, for they are of old.

It's not as if God had to be prompted to remember anything.  But David's point was that the Lord had always been merciful, loving, and kind, to him, that He had always been so from the beginning, and he prayed that the Lord continue with that same mercy and lovingkindness.

(7) Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Your mercy remember me for Your goodness's sake, O Lord.

David asked that the Lord not remember the sins of his youth or his present transgressions, but forgive them according to His great mercy and goodness, because that was who He was, and it had nothing to do with David's worthiness.

(8) Good and upright the Lord; therefore He will teach sinners in the way.

Because the Lord was good and upright and could be nothing other than that, He would teach His people who are all sinners in His ways, that they might be good and upright.

(9) The meek He will guide in judgment, and the meek He will teach His way.

The meek and humble the Lord would guide and teach according to His judgment.  The Lord searches the hearts of men to know the humble hearts that are willing to come to Him and be led and taught.  It's not that the Lord couldn't make anyone, even the hard-hearted, do as He would have them do, but as far as being led and taught by Him, to walk in His ways, He gives free will to all and will lead and teach His ways to only those who humble themselves before Him.

(10) All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.

To those who keep the word of the Lord, all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth.  Even in affliction, God, in His mercy, uses those to bring us to a closer dependence on and relationship with Him, and He works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).

(11) For Your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

David asked the Lord to forgive his great iniquity, not because he deserved it, but because of the loving mercy that was the nature of the Lord.  At this point in the accounts of David, we haven't been made aware of any great sin of David's, but then all sin against God and His commandments is great.  It might be that this psalm belongs at a later time chronologically when David had greatly sinned.

(12) What man is he who fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He shall choose. (13) His soul shall dwell at ease, and his seed shall inherit the earth.

Whatever man who feared the Lord, one who had reverence and a heart ready to submit to His authority and obey Him with cheerfulness, that man the Lord would teach in which way he should choose, the Lord's way.  And because the Lord directed his paths, his soul would be at ease and at peace because he could completely trust in the Lord.  He who fears God has nothing else to fear.  His descendants shall inherit the earth.  God remembered Isaac for the sake of Abraham, and Jacob for the sake of Isaac.  Sons of righteous men have an advantage coming into the world.  That's not to say that they can't reject God, but as the prodigal son returned to his father, so sons of righteous men may return to the truth of God.  "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)  Imagine the advantage we may have been born into because generations before us were righteous people who prayed for their posterity.  And for those who do not have biological posterity, there are countless opportunities for spiritual posterity.  May the Lord make us the joyful parents of many spiritual children!

(14) The secret of the Lord is with them who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.

There are secrets of the Lord that He will show those who fear Him and follow Him, that none can understand unless they themselves love and reverence and follow the Lord.  Who can understand the Holy Spirit within us unless they have experienced it within themselves?  That peace in times of trouble, that general joy because we know we are in the hands of our Lord, the fact that we need not fear because our Lord goes before us, and our confidence that we know where we will spend eternity; how can the ungodly understand those things?  Just as we do not fear when we die or when our loved ones who are believers die, as 1 Thessalonians 4:13 says, "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep (meaning dead), that you do not sorrow as others who have no hope."  However, 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to "...be ready always to give an answer to every man who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."  It is our duty to tell them, but until they have actually experienced those secrets of the Lord and His Holy Spirit, words cannot fully describe it.

(15) My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.

David proclaimed that he always looked toward the Lord as he put all his trust in Him alone, for he knew that God would show him the way, and if he ever got entangled in a situation, God would deliver him out of it.

(16) Turn Yourself to me and have mercy on me for I am desolate and afflicted. (17) The troubles of my heart are enlarged. O bring me out of my distresses!

David always looked to the Lord with hope and expectation, and he wished for the Lord to look upon him and see his troubles and his need for the Lord's deliverance.  The troubles that plagued his heart were many and overwhelming, and he pleaded with the Lord to bring him out of his distress.

(18) Look upon my affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins.

David pleaded with the Lord to look upon his affliction and pain, and this time he added a plea to forgive all his sins.  Whether he was conscious of a particular sin at this point or not, he may have thought that the affliction had come upon him because of some sin of his, and his desire was that the Lord forgive him of that.

(19) Consider my enemies for they are many, and they hate me with cruel hatred.

David asked the Lord to consider how many enemies he had who hated him with cruel hatred and without cause which made it all the more cruel and unjust.  Perhaps his point was that there were so many that it was impossible for him to overcome them unless the Lord intervened and delivered him.

(20) O keep my soul and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.

David prayed that the Lord save him from sin and keep him alive and deliver him from his enemies.  He ended his psalm the way he began it, asking the Lord to not let him be shamed for putting his trust and confidence in the Lord.

(21) Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on You.

I believe this was meant to be a prayer asking for integrity and uprightness, the Lord's way, in order to preserve himself, for he depended on the Lord.

(22) Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.

Finally, David extended his prayer to all of Israel, that the Lord deliver Israel out of all its troubles.

Psalm 25 is the first psalm that David wrote in an alphabetical arrangement in which each verse begins with a subsequent letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from alef to tav, from A to Z, so to speak.  Such psalms usually had 22 verses corresponding with 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  David appears to be the first to use such an arrangement, and his purpose was probably to make it a more visually, as well as lyrically, beautiful song.  However, the method came to be used to aid in memory and recitation.  David wrote seven such acrostic psalms--25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145.  Psalms 9 and 10 together form an acrostic, so David probably meant for them to be a single unit.  Occasionally, in these psalms the order of the letters is slightly changed or some of the letters are omitted, but the general structure is observed.  Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, wrote that verse 22 of this psalm was out of the alphabetical order and didn't appear to be part of the acrostic arrangement.  He believed that David added that prayer at the end of his psalm.

David's Prayer for Defense Against the Wicked

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(Psalm 7:1) (Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite) O Lord my God, in You do I put my trust; save me from all them who persecute me, and deliver me.

David called this psalm a shiggaion, which meant an aberration, deviating from the normal, a rambling poem.  He sang it to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, the Benjamite.  We aren't told anything about Cush, but he was a Benjamite, and Saul was from the same tribe, so it is plausible he was a servant of Saul who was among those surrounding David's house whooping in the night.  David began his psalm by telling the Lord he put his faith in Him, and he asked that the Lord save him from those who persecuted him and deliver him from them.

(2) Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending in pieces, while none to deliver.

As the Lord was the only one who could deliver him, Cush would otherwise tear his body apart like a lion if the Lord did not deliver him.

(3) O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there be iniquity in my hands, (4) If I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yea, I have delivered him who without cause is my enemy), (5) Let the enemy persecute my soul and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth and lay my honor in the dust. Selah.

If David had done what Cush and Saul had accused him of, if he had sinned, if he had done evil to one who was only at peace with him, then let his enemy persecute him and kill him.  However, he had only delivered Saul from the Philistines and from the evil spirit that plagued him when he played his harp for him.  He had done good for him although he had become an enemy of Saul's through no fault of his own.  But if God had judged that he had done evil, then he accepted the punishment that should come to him.

(6) Arise, O Lord, in your anger; lift up Yourself because of the rage of my enemies and awake for me the judgment You have commanded.

David prayed that the Lord rise up in righteous anger to execute that righteous judgment which He had commanded by the prophet Samuel, to give David the kingdom.  Perhaps David wished for the Lord to make it known to Saul that David was His chosen king, so that Saul would not continue to pursue him as an enemy, when he himself had done nothing to take his throne from him.  

(7) So shall the congregation of the people surround you; for their sakes, therefore, return You on high.

I believe the sense is that David was saying that the Lord's people were gathered around Him, and for their sakes, he pleaded with the Lord to take His judgment seat on high and execute righteous judgment, vindicating the cause of all oppressed.  He wished to be delivered from his troubles and put into the peaceable possession of the kingdom, if not for his sake, for the sake of the Lord's church and His people, and for the sake of His glory.

(8) The Lord shall judge the people; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to my integrity in me.

The Lord as judge of all the earth judges all people.  David asked that the Lord judge him according to his righteous cause.  David surely did not mean righteousness in himself as he knew no one was righteous before God (Psalm 143:2), "For in Your sight no one living is righteous."  But David acted with integrity in all his actions with Saul, and he asked the Lord to judge him accordingly.

(9) Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just, for the righteous God tries the hearts and reins.

David prayed that the wickedness of the wicked come to an end and that the just be established.  The righteous God knows the hearts of men and can separate the wheat from the chaff, punishing the wicked and delivering the righteous.  God also knows the reins, the kidneys.  At first glance, that seems a strange statement, but our true feelings do seem to come from the gut.  A dictionary definition of "reins" said "(especially in Biblical use) the seat of the feelings or affections, formerly identified with the kidneys."

(10) My defense is of God who saves the upright in heart. (11) God judges the righteous, and God is angry every day.

The original word "magen" that was translated as "defense" literally meant "shield."  God was David's shield against all wickedness as He saved the upright in heart, those whose hearts followed God.  God judged the righteous as He judged all hearts of men and was angry every day because of the wickedness that abounded.

(12) If he turn not, He will whet His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready. (13) He has also prepared for Himself the instruments of death; He ordains His arrows against the persecutors.

If the wicked one does not turn from his wicked ways, God will prepare to bring judgment on him.  God has prepared beforehand the instruments of death which we are all deserving of if we don't turn from our sins and seek to follow God.  God is very patient and may give the wicked many chances to repent which may look as if He will not punish them, but that is because He truly wishes that none should perish and that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  However, in the end, all will be judged righteously as only a completely righteous, just, and holy God can do because that is His very nature.

(14) Behold, he travails with iniquity and has conceived mischief and brought forth falsehood.

As a pregnant woman in labor, the wicked one is full of iniquity and conceives mischief and falsehood.

(15) He made a pit and dug it and is fallen into the ditch he made. (16) His mischief shall return on his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own pate.

The traps the wicked make will eventually ensnare him.  The evil schemes of the wicked may appear to be successful in the short term but eventually the evil comes back on him on the crown of his head.

(17) I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

Because the righteous Lord defended and vindicated the innocent and punished the wicked, David sang praises to His Lord.

Even though this may have been considered by David to be a shiggaion, an erratic, wandering ode, its purpose is pretty clear.  David prayed to God for deliverance from his enemy, professing his innocence and asking God to righteously judge him and his enemies, professing his faith in God to destroy his enemies, and giving God the glory for his deliverance.

C. H. Spurgeon wrote the following beautiful sentiment in his Treasury of David:

"What a blessing would it be if we could turn even the most disastrous event into a theme for song, and so turn the tables upon our great enemy. Let us learn a lesson from Luther, who once said, 'David made Psalms; we also will make Psalms, and sing them as well as we can to the honour of our Lord, and to spite and mock the devil.'"

David's Prayer for Deliverance from His Enemies

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(Psalm 59:1) (To the chief musician, Altaschith, michtam of David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.) Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from them who rise up against me.

In the last post, in 1 Samuel 19, Saul had indeed sent messengers to watch David's house at night and to kill him the next morning (1 Samuel 19:11).  Whereas other psalms have been placed within this chronological study before this one, this is actually the earliest of David's psalms.  Apparently, as he had all night to contemplate his predicament, he had time to write a psalm even as he was in danger.  He wrote it to the chief musician, and it appears he entitled his psalm Altaschith, which Strong's defines as "Thou must not destroy; probably the opening words of a popular song: - Al-taschith."  Interestingly, there is no consensus on what the term "michtam" meant.  Strong's defines it as from a root meaning "an engraving, that is, (technically) a poem."  Only six psalms were called michtams.  Perhaps they were meant to be engraved for long-term preservation.  

David began his psalm asking the Lord to deliver him from his enemies and defend him from those who rose up against him.

(2) Deliver me from the workers of iniquity and save me from bloody men. (3) For lo, they lie in wait for my soul; the mighty are gathered against me, not my transgression, nor my sin, O Lord.

He asked the Lord to deliver him from sinful and murderous men.  At that time, David knew that such men had gathered around his house and lay in wait to kill him.  And this was not because he had sinned against them or the king.

(4) They run and prepare themselves without fault; awake to help me, and behold!

His enemies ran about preparing to come against him without any fault of his being the reason for their actions.  It's not as if the Lord had to be awakened to help David.  The original word "ur" translated as "awake" also meant "rise up" and that is more appropriate here.  Behold!  Please see the distress and danger David was in.

(5) You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen; do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

David called on the Lord of all heavenly and earthly hosts to rise up and visit all heathen, not just the ones after him at the time.  While the Lord visiting someone often meant bringing punishment upon them, it doesn't always mean that.  Strong's defines the original word "paqad" as "to visit (with friendly or hostile intent)."  The Lord visiting someone should certainly not be always considered a bad thing.  When praying for our enemies, the most important thing is to turn them from their wicked plans, let them be drawn to the Lord, and repent.  So we should not be praying to punish our enemies, not when Jesus said to turn the other cheek and love your enemies, but we pray for God to turn them from their wicked plans or have their plans fail, so yes, God, please visit them.  

"Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors" is a little more difficult to interpret in a Christ-like manner.  David had already prayed for all transgressors, as all heathens are, as all of us are, so I believe the point is that if they will not repent and turn away from their wicked schemes but continue as deliberately wicked transgressors, then please do not have mercy on them and let their evil schemes prosper.  A holy God would not continue in fellowship and mercy to hearts hardened against Him, and He knows the heart of each man, whether or not he would ever be turned toward God.  We can certainly pray that God is not merciful toward such men to allow their evil schemes to proceed.  In fact, those who sin willfully and knowingly, after they have received the knowledge of the truth, which would have been the case for all the Israelites at that time, who stubbornly and wickedly persist in their evil, sin against the Holy Spirit of God, whom they have known, and that is the one sin unto death which is not to be prayed for: 

Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. (Matthew 12:31)

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.  (1 John 5:16)

It should be added that we all sin, and we will continue to sin after we receive the Holy Spirit, and we may even backslide for a while like the prodigal son, but we will feel the tugging of the Holy Spirit to draw us back.  It's when one totally rejects the Holy Spirit, blasphemes the Holy Spirit, and chooses to follow another spirit after having known the truth, that is an unforgiveable sin.  And then God turns such a one over to a reprobate mind, and all they can do is sin:

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting. (Romans 1:28)

Back to verse 5 of Psalm 59, above:  another definition of the word that was translated as "visit" is "to number."  As a matter of fact, the word "paqad" is translated as "numbered" more often in the Bible than "visit."  I believe the sense of that in relation to verse 5, would be judging all the heathen hearts as to who is righteous and who is not, and don't be merciful to the ones who are not.  And finally, "selah" just meant pause.

(6) They return at evening; they make a noise like a dog and go round about the city.

Those heathen wicked transgressors from verse 5, whom David perceived were his enemies, came to his house in the evening, making much noise, perhaps war whoops, making their presence known as a threat.  They had likely looked all over the city for him until they found him at his house.

(7) Behold, they belch out with their mouth; swords are in their lips, for "Who," they say, "does hear?"

His enemies gushed out words of abuse; their words were as sharp swords, and they were shameless and unabashed as they feared no one; no one who heard them could stop them.

(8) But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the heathen in derision.

God would have the last laugh, so to speak; He would turn them and their schemes into ridicule and contempt.  He had all heathen in derision, objects of ridicule.

(9) My Strength, I will wait on You, for God is my defense. (10) The God of my mercy shall precede me; God shall let me see upon my enemies.

The Lord was David's strength; He would defend him.  He would go before him, and David would see what He would do to his enemies.

(11) Do not slay them, lest my people forget; scatter them by Your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.

David did not wish for his enemies to be slain, as they were part of his people, and he didn't want them totally forgotten.  He prayed the Lord scatter them and humble them, showing them they had no power against God, David's shield.

(12) For the sin of their mouth, the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride, and for cursing and lying they speak.

Those enemies of God sinned with their mouths, spouting words of insolence and atheism, and they sinned against David with their curses and lies, which was a sin against God.  David prayed that they be taken down in their pride, entangled in their own nets.

(13) Consume them in wrath, consume, that they not be, and let them know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah.

Had David changed his mind about God slaying them?  Or did David mean for God to consume them as they were that they no longer be in honor and dignity that they once were?  To let them know that God ruled in Israel (Jacob) would seem they should still be alive but no longer in a position to do the evil they had done.  Consume them and make them as if they no longer were, that is, no longer as they once were.

(14) And at evening let them return; let them make a noise like a dog and go round about the city. (15) Let them wander up and down for meat and grudge if they be not satisfied.

So yes, let them live, but let them return not as they were.  Now when they made a noise like a dog and went round about the city, they weren't to be feared, as they wandered about looking for food, dissatisfied, as they prowled around seeking a prey that they would never find.

(16) But I will sing of Your power, yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning, for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.

David would sing of God's power, mercy, and protection, as He had always been there to defend him in times of trouble.

(17) To You, O my Strength, I will sing for God my defense, the God of my mercy.

David would sing with full assurance that his merciful and loving God was his strength and defense against his enemies.

This psalm of David demonstrates perfectly how the mind might pass from one thing to another, first uttering fervent prayer, then describing the enemy and his plans, perhaps wishing harm for his enemies, then just wanting God to prevent them from doing harm, finally expressing the confident hope of deliverance, and praising God for that deliverance.

Saul Tries to Kill David

Continuing a chronological Bible study after a brief interlude of psalms:

(1 Samuel 19:1) And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants that they should kill David.

When we last left Saul in chapter 18, he had become so jealous of David that he hated him and wanted him to die.  He kept putting him out front in battles with the Philistines, hoping they would kill him.  He even tried once to kill him himself, but the more he tried, the more the Lord protected David, and the more the people grew to love David.  David had now married Saul's daughter Michal and as son-in-law to the king, he was next in line for Saul's throne, which of course, the Lord had already given him, but Saul didn't know that part yet, though he suspected it would eventually happen.  After so many failed attempts at trying to kill David, Saul now told his son and his servants to kill him.

(2) But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David, and Jonathan told David, saying, "Saul my father seeks to kill you; now therefore, I pray you, take heed to yourself until the morning, and abide in a secret place and hide yourself."

However, Saul did not realize how much even his son Jonathan loved David, and Jonathan told David Saul's plan to kill him.  He pleaded with David to be on guard and hide in a secret place until the morning.

(3) "And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you, and what I see, that I will tell you."

Jonathan continued talking to David.  He said that the next day he would stand with his father near the place David was, and he would talk to his father about David and then report back to him what Saul had to say.

(4) And Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you and because his works toward you are very good. (5) For he did put his life in his hand and killed the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and did rejoice. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?"

Jonathan did speak to his father about David.  He reminded him of how David put his life on the line to kill Goliath, and the Lord had brought a great victory and deliverance for Israel.  He reminded his father how he himself had rejoiced.  He urged him not to sin against David who had done nothing wrong to him, and not to spill innocent blood, killing David without a cause.

(6) And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, "As the Lord lives, he shall not be slain."

Saul listened to Jonathan and seemed to be affected by the truth of what he had to say and was convicted, at least at the present time, that he was wrong in seeking the life of David, and he would stop trying to kill him.

(7) And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as in times past.

Jonathan told David all that Saul had said and brought him back into the palace to Saul where he had been formerly.

(8) And there was war again, and David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great slaughter, and they fled from him.

Then there was war again with the Philistines, and David went out and fought against them, striking them with a mighty blow and great slaughter that they fled from him.

(9) 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.

The evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul again.  David played the harp with his hands to sooth Saul's spirit.  Saul had his javelin in his hand.

(10) And Saul sought to strike David even to the wall with the javelin, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he struck the javelin into the wall, and David fled and escaped that night.

Forgetting his vow in verse 6 not to harm David, again Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his javelin, but David slipped away and fled, escaping that night.

(11) Saul also sent messengers to David's house to watch him and to kill him in the morning, and Michal David's wife told him, saying, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you shall be slain."

Saul sent his messengers to David's house, which surely was very near or even a part of the palace as David had married the king's daughter, to watch him and to kill him in the morning.  Michal, David's wife, warned him to do something to save his life that night or else he would be killed the next day.

(12) So Michal let David down through a window, and he went and fled and escaped.

Michal let David down through a window, probably on a cord or some such makeshift cord, and David was able to escape in the night without Saul's messengers' knowledge.

(13) 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. (14) And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick."

Michal took an "image," not merely a picture, but something with substance like a statue, and laid it in David's bed.  She put a pillow of goats' hair under it and covered it with a cloth.  Then when Saul's messengers came into their house in the morning looking for David, she told them he was sick in bed.

(15) And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me in the bed that I may kill him."

Saul sent his messengers back to David's house and told them to bring him back to him, bed and all, if he wasn't able to rise, so that Saul could kill him.

(16) And when the messengers had come in, behold, an image in the bed with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.

When the messengers went into David's house, they found that all that lay in the bed was a statue with a pillow of goats' hair propping it up.

(17) And Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me so? And sent away my enemy that he has escaped?" And Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, 'Let me go; why should I kill you?'"

Saul asked his daughter why she had deceived him and let his enemy escape, as if she owed more to the wicked passion of her father than she did for her beloved husband.  But rather than telling him that she couldn't allow her husband to be killed, she lied and told her father that David had threatened her if she did not let him go.

(18) 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.

David fled to Samuel in Ramah, Samuel being the one who had anointed him king.  He told Samuel all that Saul had done to him, and David and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth, a place within Ramah, Samuel's home.

(19) And it was told Saul, saying, "Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah." (20) 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.

It was told to Saul that David was in Naioth, so he sent messengers to take David.  However, when they came to David and Samuel, they saw a whole company of prophets prophesying by inspiration of God with Samuel standing over them.  The Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul's messengers, and they, too, began prophesying, forgetting their mission.  "Prophesying" does not always mean foretelling the future; it most often meant telling the Lord's truths, but sometimes those meant telling the future outcome.  In this case, all the prophets and Saul's messengers also, were probably praising God and declaring His truths.

(21) 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.

When that was told to Saul, he sent more messengers to take David, but they wound up prophesying also, forgetting their mission.  Saul sent messengers a third time, and they, too, wound up prophesying and not bringing David back to Saul.

(22) Then he also went to Ramah and came to a great well in Sechu, and he asked and said, "Where are Samuel and David?" And one said, "Behold, at Naioth in Ramah."

Therefore, Saul went himself to find David but evidently did not know exactly where to go.  He stopped at a well and enquired about the whereabouts of David and Samuel and was told they were at Naioth.

(23) And he went there 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.

So Saul went toward Naioth, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, too, and he went onward, prophesying, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

(24) And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

When he came to Samuel, Saul stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel.  He may not have been completely naked, but enough so to be completely humbled before the Lord.  He lay there like that all day and all night.  That "proverb" that came about in 1 Samuel 10:12, when Saul prophesied in a company of prophets, was revived, as people wondered again if Saul was a prophet.

There is no doubt now, that Saul was David's enemy, not because of anything David had done, but because of Saul's jealousy.  The Lord continued to protect David through his loved ones, Jonathan and Michal, and even by His own arm as he turned all David's enemies into prophets, possibly even prophesying that David would become king!

The Lord, Our Refuge and Defense

Within a chronological Bible study, this interlude of psalms:

(Psalm 11:1) (To the Chief Musician, A Psalm of David) In the Lord I put my trust; how can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain"?

David put his trust in the Lord.  Therefore, how could anyone say to him, whether it be enemies, companions, or even thoughts within himself, that he should run away to a mountain for safety, when it was the Lord who was his safety and protection.

2) For lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string, that they may secretly shoot at the upright in heart.

The reason behind the suggestion that David should flee was that the wicked were making ready to attack, to secretly shoot upright men.

(3) If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

If the very foundations of law and justice are destroyed, what can the righteous people do?  That is perhaps still the suggestions of the opposition or the weak in faith, even a temptation of oneself, that there's nothing one can do when evil is all around and the very foundations have been destroyed.  That is, if one puts his trust in man and government...

(4) The Lord in His holy temple, the Lord's throne in heaven, His eyes behold, His eyelids try the children of men.

The Lord is in His church, with His people.  His throne is in heaven where He sees all and searches the hearts of all.  The Lord knows all, and all is in His control.

(5) The Lord tries the righteous, but the wicked and him who loves violence, His soul hates.

When the righteous go through trying times, the Lord is allowing that for our growth and refinement.  Oh, that we should remember that and still hold fast to faith in Him, for we know that He hates the wicked and those who commit violence, and His righteous judgment will prevail.

(6) Upon the wicked He will rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest, the portion of their cup.

The Lord will rain snares upon the wicked, sometimes in their own traps they are caught.  He will send His judgment upon them as a terrible storm, if not in this world, definitely in hellfire and brimstone in the next.  Their portion which will be measured out to them in proportion to their sins, God, in righteous judgment, has appointed for them to drink.

(7) For the righteous Lord loves righteousness; His countenance does behold the upright.

The Lord Himself is completely righteous, and therefore righteousness, as it lies both in punishing the wicked and in maintaining the righteous cause of His people, is loved by Him as it is agreeable to His nature.  God's countenance beholds the upright; He looks with pleasure on them, takes delight in them, takes care of them, and protects and defends them, which was an encouragement to David to trust in the Lord.

Whether from outside sources or from thoughts within himself, this short psalm shows David's struggle with, and triumph over, a strong temptation to distrust God.  That is a struggle we all find ourselves in from time to time, so the feelings are normal.  However, like David, we must triumph over those feelings and put our trust in our only salvation, the Lord God.

David's Cry for Protection Against Falsehood

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(Psalm 12:1) (To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David) Help, Lord, for the Godly man ceases, for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

This is a psalm of David which he may have written during his times of fighting the Philistines.  Saul kept putting David out front in the battles in hopes that the Philistines would kill him.  At this point, I don't think David realized that Saul was his enemy.  David wrote it to the chief musician on "Sheminith."  As that word comes from a root word meaning "eight," Strong's defines it as "probably an eight stringed lyre."  David often wrote his psalms to the musicians he wished to play them.

He began by asking the Lord to help.  It seemed to him that there were no Godly men, that they had ceased from living.  He believed the faithful had failed and had fallen away when things got hard, or perhaps he just meant they had died and were no longer among men.  Or maybe they had just failed in what they were trying to do.  He surely had seen no good men standing up for God and against Goliath.  It sort of resembles the times we live in now, where it seems evil has taken over, and we wonder where the good men are who will stand up against it?

(2) They speak vanity everyone with his neighbor; with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

It seemed men only spoke vanity, or uselessness, or even deceit.  They might flatter to draw you in, but they are double minded, saying one thing and doing another, not to be trusted.

(3) The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks proud things.

This may have been spoken by David as a prayer, "May the Lord cut off all flattering lips..." or he may have meant it as a fact that the Lord will always judge and cut off the wicked eventually.  The tongue that speaks proud things might be one who says great things in deceit, or maybe literally prideful things, and the Lord hates pride and a proud heart (Proverbs 16:5).

(4) Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail; our lips our own; who is lord over us?"

The wicked men believed they would prevail, knowing they purposely spoke flattery and deceit as a way to prevail.  Their lips were their own; they would speak what they pleased, and they saw no one as lord over them who had a right to control them or prevent them from speaking what they wanted to speak.  So the wicked think, but so little do they know...

(5) "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise," says the Lord, "I will set in safety from him who puffs at him."

However, the Lord will rise up for the oppressed poor and the groaning needy and will put them in safety from the one who puffs at them.  "Puff" is an interesting choice of words, and David used it in another psalm (Psalm 10:5).  It puts one in mind of the big bad wolf who huffs and puffs and blows away.  Strong's defines the original word "puach" as "blow with the breath or air; hence to fan (as a breeze), to utter, to kindle (a fire), to scoff: - blow (upon), break, puff, bring into a snare, speak, utter."  It has a wide range of meanings, but we can safely assume that David meant someone who breathed contempt, deceit, and maybe even threats, definitely evil, as he had been talking about their tongues.

(6) The words of the Lord pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

In contrast to the wicked and their wicked tongues, the words of the Lord are pure and holy and true, pure as the purest refined silver that had been purified seven times.  The number seven in the Bible was symbolic of completion or perfection.  The words of the Lord are perfect!

(7) You shall keep them, O Lord; You shall preserve them from this generation forever.

The Lord shall keep and preserve the poor and the needy, saving them from an oppressive and perverse generation forever.  Or perhaps it means the Lord would keep His words and promises and save His people from perverse generations forever.  Either one is true of the Lord.

(8) The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted.

When the vilest men are exalted to high places and offices, the wicked walk boldly all over.  I can't help but relate this to our present time when it seems that wickedness abounds, and the perpetrators of it are now so open and bold and in your face.

In this psalm, David complains of the decrease of God’s faithful servants and of the prevalence of falsehood and treachery in the world.  He foretells the destruction of the wicked, especially of the deceitful and proud, and assures himself and others that no matter how corrupt the times were, God would deliver and preserve His people and fulfill His promises to them.

David Marries Saul's Daughter Michal While Saul's Jealousy Grows

Continuing a chronological Bible study after a brief interlude of psalms:

(1 Samuel 18:1) And it came to pass when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

At the end of 1 Samuel 17, David had reacquainted himself to Saul after killing Goliath when Saul had not recognized him.  Then after speaking to Saul, he won the heart of Saul's son Jonathan who saw in David qualities that he loved and was attracted to, probably because they were much like his own, and Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.  This is the love that God commanded for all His people in Leviticus 19:18, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

(2) And Saul took him that day and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

Formerly, David had been Saul's musician to calm his demons and must have been little noticed by the king, but now Saul brought him into his palace to stay.  He didn't allow David to go back and forth to his father's house as he had done before.

(3) Then Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as his own soul. (4) And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

Jonathan made a covenant of friendship with David because he had a great love for him.  He stripped himself of his princely garments as he was the son of the king and gave them to David.  He even gave him his sword, his bow, and his belt.  This was due to the great kinship he felt for David and probably to have David look the part of a prince rather than a shepherd.

(5) And David went out wherever 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.

David went wherever Saul sent him, and he was made a leader over the men of war.  He always behaved wisely, so that he was accepted by all the people and by Saul's own servants, as well. 

(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 tambourines with joy and with instruments of music.

At that time, when Saul and David had returned from the killing of Goliath and their victory over the Philistines, the women came out as they usually did after great victories, singing and dancing with tambourines and other musical instruments, to meet King Saul returning from battle.

(7) And the women sang as they played, and said, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." (8) And Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him, and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands. And what can he have more but the kingdom?" (9) And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

Although they were supposed to be greeting their king, the women began singing that Saul had killed his thousands, but David had killed his ten thousands.  That made Saul angry with jealousy.  The way Saul saw it, as he had already bestowed great honor on David, and now the people saw him as greater in battle than he was, the only thing left for David to accomplish was to have the kingdom, and Saul watched David carefully from that day forward.

(10) And it came to pass on the next day, 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 a javelin was in Saul's hand.

The next day that evil spirit from God that had tormented him before came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house.  We aren't told what he prophesied, so it may have been the rantings of a mad man since the evil spirit had come upon him.  David was playing music with his hand, probably the harp, as he had done other times when the evil spirit had come upon Saul.  Saul held a javelin in his hand.

(11) And Saul cast the javelin, for he said, "I will strike David to the wall." And David avoided out of his presence twice.

Saul cast the javelin at David, saying that he would pin him to the wall.  However, David escaped Saul twice, as it appears Saul tried twice to pin David.

(12) And Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him and was departed from Saul.

Then was Saul afraid of David because he could see that the Lord was with him, protecting him, and that He had departed from Saul.

(13) Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand, and he went out and came in before the people.

Saul then removed David from his court, but probably because he did fear David and God's hand on him, he did not completely dismiss him, but he made him captain over a troop of one thousand, perhaps hoping he would be slain by the enemy at the head of his troop.  However, David went out and came back again before the people, probably with great honor and respect, which was the opposite of what Saul desired.  It reminds me of the psalm David wrote that I studied in the last chapter, which may have been better placed chronologically after this chapter, "Let them fall by their own counsels..." (Psalm 5:10).  That is, let his enemies' plans fail; let their plots work against them and expose their guilt.  But then again, it may have been perfectly placed as an answer to David's prayer.

(14) And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. (15) Therefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

David always behaved himself wisely, and the Lord was with him.  That made Saul fear him even more as he was gaining favor more and more because of his wise conduct, and that was further proof that the Lord was surely with David.

(16) But all Israel and Judah loved David because he went out and came in before them.

All of Israel and David's own tribe, Judah, loved him as he went before the people.

(17) And Saul said to David, "Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give you as wife, only be valiant for me and fight the Lord's battles." For Saul said, "Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him."

As Saul had promised to the one who killed Goliath, he offered his daughter Merab to David as his wife on the condition that he remain valiant for him and fight the Lord's battles.  Saul still hated David, but rather than him trying to kill him, he would put David out there against his enemies so that the Philistines would kill him.

(18) And David said to 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?"

David seemed surprised at Saul's offer, although that had been promised to the one who killed Goliath.  However, David had not killed Goliath to get all the rewards.  He did it to defend God's honor and that of His people Israel.  You see David's humility here, as he asked Saul why such a lowly man as he was, a shepherd, from a family that was not particularly greatly esteemed or upper-class, should become son-in-law to the king.

(19) But it came to pass at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.

However, Saul did not follow through with his word.  When it came time for Merab to marry David, Saul gave her instead to Adriel, a Meholathite, probably one from Abel-Meholath (Judges 7:22).  Although that could be seen as a great injustice to David, in his modesty before displayed, David showed no signs of resentment.

(20) And Michal Saul's daughter loved David, and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

A younger daughter of Saul, Michal, loved David, and when it was told to Saul, he was pleased with the idea, probably because it gave him a chance to save face with the people after his breach of promise and perhaps another chance to put David in harm's way.

(21) 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." Therefore Saul said to David, "You shall this day be my son-in-law in the twain."

Saul decided he would give Micah to David as his wife so that he could use her as a trap for David, that the Philistines would come against him.  He told David that he would be his son-in-law "in the twain."  As the word means "two," he either meant David would have a second chance to become his son-in-law, or perhaps it referred to the second of his two daughters.  Actually, Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Bible, suggested it meant he would have both daughters, as Merab had actually been betrothed to David, although she never married him.

(22) And Saul commanded his servants, "Commune with David secretly and say, 'Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king's son-in-law." (23) And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?"

It appears that David needed some persuasion to take the deal, and Saul sent his servants to flatter David and encourage him to become the king's son-in-law, by telling him that the king had delight in him, and all his servants loved him.  However, David told them that this was no trifling matter, that a poor shepherd, such as he was, should up and become the king's son-in-law.

(24) And the servants of Saul told him, saying, "In this manner spoke David." (25) And Saul said, "Thus shall you say to David, 'The king desires not any dowry, but a 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.

Saul's servants told him what David had said.  He sent his servants back to David to tell him, since it seemed to him that David mentioned his poverty as a reason why he could not afford a proper dowry to become the king's son-in-law, that Saul did not desire a dowry, but he wanted a hundred foreskins of the Philistines to be avenged of his enemies.  Of course, his real desire was that David be killed by the Philistines.

(26) 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, (27) When David arose and went, he and his men, and killed of the Philistines two hundred men, and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full count to the king, that he might be the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.

When Saul's servants told David what Saul said, it pleased him to consent to being Saul's son-in-law.  After all, David willingly went out wherever Saul sent him (verse 5).  David wasted no time, and he and his men killed two hundred Philistines, double what Saul had asked for, and brought all their foreskins back to Saul.  It seems David felt satisfied then that he was worthy to accept the position of the king's son-in-law.  Saul, realizing he could not refuse, gave Michal his daughter to David as his wife.

(28) And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him. (29) And Saul was yet the more afraid of David, and Saul became David's enemy continually.

Saul could tell that the Lord was with David and now he was married to his daughter, whom he realized loved David very much.  Their marriage, which Saul had hoped would destroy David before it ever happened, would now pave the way for his ascending to Saul's throne.  That made him even more afraid of David, and he became David's constant enemy.

(30) Then the princes of the Philistines went forth, and it came to pass after they went forth, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was much set by.

Then the princes of the Philistines went to war against the Israelites, being provoked by their loss after David killed Goliath.  So much for Goliath's word that if an Israelite killed him, the Philistines would become the servants of Israel (1 Samuel 17:9).  David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, probably showing himself to be more expert in the art of war and more successful in his attacks on the Philistines than all the others.  His name came to be prized, valuable, as was the original meaning of the word "yaqar" that was translated as "set by."  He was held in high esteem by the people.

It is very noteworthy that David's prayer in Psalm 5 that his enemies fall by their own counsels was continually answered by God in that all Saul's schemes to destroy David only served to make him greater and more well esteemed by all the people.  Once a mere shepherd boy, he was now a prince next in line for the king's throne.