1Sa 19:10-11 | KingComments | STEP | When there is war with the Philistines, David attained a great victory, so that the Philistines flee before him. Instead of rejoicing over it, the evil spirit of the LORD comes on Saul. Then David leaves his place of celebrated general and takes again the place of the humble minstrel to calm down a king tormented by an evil spirit. He knows that in that place he should not be on his guard of the Philistine spear, but of Saul’s spear ( ). Because in addition to David's victory, it is mentioned that an evil spirit takes possession of Saul, we can assume that David’s victory makes Saul jealous. Jealousy offers demons an opening to gain control over a human being. Saul again tries to kill David with his spear. Because David is always on his guard, he dodges the spear with a presence of mind given to him by the LORD. Then he flees and escapes.

‏ 1 Samuel 19:10-11

Saul Tries to Kill David

When there is war with the Philistines, David attained a great victory, so that the Philistines flee before him. Instead of rejoicing over it, the evil spirit of the LORD comes on Saul. Then David leaves his place of celebrated general and takes again the place of the humble minstrel to calm down a king tormented by an evil spirit. He knows that in that place he should not be on his guard of the Philistine spear, but of Saul’s spear (1Sam 18:10-11).

Because in addition to David's victory, it is mentioned that an evil spirit takes possession of Saul, we can assume that David’s victory makes Saul jealous. Jealousy offers demons an opening to gain control over a human being. Saul again tries to kill David with his spear. Because David is always on his guard, he dodges the spear with a presence of mind given to him by the LORD. Then he flees and escapes.

Michal Helps David to Escape

While Saul’s servants surround the house, David writes Psalm 59 (Psa 59:1a). In it he prays for deliverance (Psa 59:1b-2). Therein he is a type of the remnant. In such circumstances we may trust in God and say that in the morning we will praise Him. At the same time David uses the opportunity offered to escape. He flees in a way like that of Saul, later Paul (Acts 9:24-25).

The use of the idol means that there is an idol in the house of David. Perhaps the application is allowed that this is the way Michal looks at David: she adores him, he is her idol. It leads her to help her husband stay out of her father’s hands. There are women who adore their husband so much that they support him through thick and thin, even in evil. We do not know whether Sapphira, for example, worshiped her husband Ananias, but she did support him in evil and shares his judgment (Acts 5:1-2 ; 5 ; 9-10).

The illness that David is said to have is no obstacle to Saul to let him bring to him. He now is that keen on the death of David that he wants to kill him himself to have the certainty of his death.

Michal has a certain love for David, but it is a selfish love. She is not a Saul, but neither is she a wife who follows her husband. Her help to the refugee resembles in the distance the help Rachab gave to the spies (Jos 2:4-6).

The deceit is discovered. Saul blames Michal very much and calls David “my enemy”. Then Michal’s self-love appears. She speaks of David to her father as someone who has threatened to kill her if she would not help him escape. Michal is not Saul, but certainly also not Jonathan who spoke well of David to his father Saul (1Sam 19:4).