David And Saul

So David came to Saul and stood before him. And heso much so, that he sought to kill David. Several
loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.times, Saul tried to kill David himself with a spear, but
And so it was, whenever the spirit from God waseven though David was playing the harp at the time,
upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play ithe easily escaped.
with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshedAs David's fame increased, so did Saul's jealousy and
and well, and the distressing spirit would depart fromhis efforts to kill David. When Saul's son Jonathan
him.was discovered protecting David, Saul threw a spear
... when David was returning from the slaughter ofat his own son in an effort to kill him (1 Samuel
the Philistine, ...the women had come out of all the20:32-43). After that, David fled for his life, on a
cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Sauljourney that took him throughout the wilderness of
... So the women sang as they danced, and said:Judea, and to Gath, the capital city of the Philistines.
"Saul has slain his thousands, And David his tenOnly when David was actually in Gath did Saul cease
thousands."to pursue him, but whenever he was within Israel,
Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeasedSaul pursued him with all his might. At the same time,
him; ... So Saul eyed David from that day forward.Saul was also busy committing other major sins, such
And Saul cast the spear, for he said, "I will pin Davidas killing Ahimelech the priest, and consulting with the
to the wall!" But David escaped his presence twice.witch of Endor in an effort to contact the prophet
... David behaved more wisely than all the servants ofSamuel after his death. Saul was attempting to
Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.defiantly secure the guidance the Lord had refused
Then Saul ... came to ... a cave; and Saul went in ...to provide him through the forbidden use of
And David arose and secretly cut off a corner ofwitchcraft.
Saul's robe.... afterward ... David's heart troubled himSeveral times King Saul was within striking distance of
because he had cut Saul's robe.David, but David was unwilling to slay the anointed
Then [Saul] said to David: "You are more righteousking of Israel. David knew that he had been anointed
than I; for you have rewarded me with good,to be king of Israel by the Lord Himself through his
whereas I have rewarded you with evil.prophet Samuel, and that he would be king in the
So David took the spear and the jug of water byLord's time. But unlike Saul, David was content to
Saul's head, and they got away; and no man saw orwait for the Lord to act, and absolutely refused to
knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, becauseact on his own behalf. The Lord called David, a man
a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.after his own heart, and David's desire was for the
Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my sonLord to accomplish His will, without any contaminating
David....."intervention by himself.
Then Saul said to David, "May you be blessed, mySo what do David and Saul teach us about faith?
son David! You shall both do great things and also stillFirst, true faith, continually seeks the Lord's will and
prevail." (1 Samuel 16:21,23; 18:6-9,11,30; 24:2-5,17;timing. Second, true faith waits for the Lord to
26:12,21,25, NKJV)accomplish his will, without any additional intervention
Even though King Saul, initially loved David and greatlyon one's own behalf, unless otherwise commanded
respected his judgment and leadership abilities, Saulby the Lord Himself. Third, false faith continually
was dominated by a spirit of jealousy. He gladlystrives to exert one's own will over the Lord's, which
made David one of his commanders, and enjoyedis a form of witchcraft and is an abomination in the
the benefits of David's victories, but he becameeyes of the Lord.
enraged when David received more praise than he,