July 14, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Samuel and Mark? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Samuel 18 (NIV)
Saul’s Growing Fear of David
1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.…..Continue Reading
After David defeats Goliath, he goes on to win many more battles. Saul is so jealous that he wants to kill David. God is with David now, and he hates it. I am amazed by the attitude of Jonathan. Instead of being jealous and hating David, he becomes good friends with him, even willing to die for him. He was the son of the king. {Saul} Next in line to become king. But he puts David before himself. He was also a great leader and warrior. But he has observed Saul with his interactions with Samuel both good and bad. He understands that God is no longer on Saul`s side and is now clearly on David`s side. David was the only one that God used to defeat Goliath and all the other victorys. Not even Jonathan had faith enough in God to defeat Goliath. So instead of being bitter toward God, he embraces God`s will. That is for David to become king in God`s own time. God bless.
The self centeredness of Saul that we have seen earlier is highlighted again in this chapter. Once David has more success than him, he is threatened by him and finds various means to get rid of him. Certainly behavior and a mindset that should not be something we participate in. We should be able to glory in the success of others and trust God for His will in their lives and in ours. Because we are secure in Christ, we don’t need to be jealous or threatened by anything or anyone. And yet Jonathan shows he is very different than his father and is able to act in wisdom in how God is moving. And David does exactly what we all should do…obeying authority and following God’s plan rather that worrying about what other people are doing.
1 Samuel 18; Romans 9-10
1 Samuel 18
Saul once again is showing that prideful side of him and when he notices that God’s favor is clearly with David he immediately is intimidated by this. David is humble despite his many victories, it does not go to his head. This chapter is like a little snapshot of what God is looking for from our hearts and what He is not!
1 Samuel 17 & 18
I was thinking about Jonathan loving David as his own soul. God tells us to “love our neighbor as ourselves” it seems like this is a love we should have for all. Obviously this expresses something deeper than a commanded love, but an internal fondness. I think of the love of brothers.
I have been working a lot lately, so not time to comment. I read a Psalm every morning. I am also working on the women’s Bible study in Romans which will start in the fall.
1 Samuel 18
No matter what devious plans Saul had for David it failed. David had the Lords blessing. Saul spent his whole life fearing David.