David and Jonathan

In chapters 19 and 20, in the book of 1 Samuel, David was persecuted by the Israelite king Saul.

Saul had a son named Jonathan, who had taken quite a liking to David.  Suffice it to say, Jonathan loved David more than he loved himself.  In these chapters, Saul tries to have David killed several times but David escapes.

Oddly enough, even when Jonathan confronted his father that David's actions only made him look better, Saul vowed not to kill David--then, in the next breath, an evil spirit had entered him and he was back to his murderous rage once again.

As a final test, there was a festival where David was supposed to sit next to Saul.  David hid in the fields and Jonathan was to advise David what the king's reaction would be.  When Saul became outraged, Jonathan knew David once again needed to flee from Saul.

Saul's jealous streak

In the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 18, Saul kept David close to him and used him to command his armies against the Israelites.

David was very successful and had the full respect of all his men.  So much so, that King Saul became jealous of David's success.  Everything seemed to be David's doing, not Saul's.  The Israelites seemed to turn on Saul.

Saul even tried to kill him outright, by throwing a spear at David while he was playing the harp, but David dodged the spears each time.

Saul then plotted to have one of his daughter's marry David, and had David bring back the foreskins of 200 Philistines the night before the wedding.  David succeeded.

And became very famous.  People came from far and wide just to meet him.

One of the most memorable showdowns in the Bible: David versus Goliath

In the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 17, is one of the most memorable stories in the Old Testament--if not, in fact, in the entire Bible with the exception of the first books of the New Testament that deal with Jesus and His time on earth.

This is the showdown of Goliath and David.

David was a shepard boy, who tended the sheep for his father Jesse.  One day, the Philistines lined up to battle the Israelites.  One Philistine named Goliath--who was in fact over nine-feet tall--challenged the Israelites to a battle: one man must face Goliath, and whomever wins, the other side will be forever slaves.

This went on for forty days, with Goliath taunting the Israelites.  Then, David came out, armed with a sling and five smooth stones from the river.  Goliath had full armor and weapons.

David knew he had the power of the Lord on his side.  With a single rock, he killed Goliath and then cut off his head.

The Philistines were defeated.

The Israelites won.

There once was a boy named David

David--who will become David and who will also be a descendant to Jesus of Nazareth--is introduced in chapter 16 of the book of 1 Samuel.

Samuel has rejected Saul as the king of Israel, and the Lord told him that a son of a man named Jesse from Bethlehem will be annointed king.

Samuel was afraid to do so, for fear of Saul knowing what was transpiring.  Samuel went to Jesse's house and called each son forward, but the Lord chose none of them.  Until Samuel asked if he had any other sons.  He said the youngest was out in the field, caring for the sheep.

Thsi was the one.  His name was David.

And the Lord chose him as the future king of Israel.

Samuel sent David to be with Saul, to act as a trusted servant.  At that time, Saul was tormented by evil spirits, and all David had to do was play his harp and the spirits would leave him alone.