1 Samuel 18 – Murdering the Messiah
Maybe you’re tired reading the same passage every day. Persevere; the chapter doesn’t really make sense in chunks, just as a whole. Saul’s anger and fear bubble into murderous rage, directly in verses 10-11 and indirectly in verses 17-30.
Saul tries to murder David directly by throwing a spear at him while he plays (verses 10-11). In one sense it is “the spirit of harm”. In another sense the spirit is just using what is in Saul’s heart – he is thinking straight and the act is wilful: “I will pin David to the wall.” Perhaps David excused it on grounds of Saul’s bouts of madness. Saul then tries to murder David indirectly. David is owed his daughter’s hand in marriage for defeating Goliath (17:25), but Saul changes the terms of the agreement. Now he must “continue to fight valiantly” (verse17). Saul’s hope is that he will be killed. But David is too humble to take the offer.
Saul has another opportunity – his daughter Michal loves David. After some subtle pressure from courtiers David is interested, but can’t afford the dowry. A large dowry is needed to honour the daughter. It’s a little like a restaurant where you pay what you think the meal is worth. Saul sets the strange bride-price of 100 Philistine foreskins. This might seem strange but was possibly common practice. Often heads and hands were cut off to keep tally. On the surface Saul is saying, “I’m willing to accept a poor but valiant suitor.” But his plan is revealed in verse 25. So imagine Saul’s joy when David survives and presents him with 100 Philistine foreskins!
All of Saul’s schemes backfire. He gives David a wife who will protect him in chapter 19, and he makes David a serious contender to be his successor by bringing him into his family by marriage. Saul’s fears multiply – verse 29. A plan to murder the messiah that fails and simply deepens the wicked one’s predicament? Sound familiar?
Questions
- Where do we even more clearly see murderous plots against the Messiah fail with spectacular backfiring?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks for a Saviour who had his hand strengthened by murderous plots and intentions. Pray that God would likewise use Satan’s plots against you to strengthen you.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.