Topical Bible: Malice: Saul Toward David

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The relationship between King Saul and David is a profound narrative of malice and jealousy, illustrating the destructive power of envy and the consequences of turning away from God's guidance. Saul, the first king of Israel, initially welcomed David into his service, but as David's popularity and success grew, Saul's heart turned toward malice and hostility.

Background and Rise of David

David first enters Saul's service as a young shepherd boy who gains favor by playing the harp to soothe Saul's troubled spirit (1 Samuel 16:14-23). His victory over Goliath further elevates his status, earning him the admiration of the people and the affection of Saul's son, Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1-4). David's military successes and the resulting praise from the Israelites ignite Saul's jealousy. The women of Israel sing, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7), which deeply angers Saul and plants the seeds of malice in his heart.

Saul's Attempts on David's Life

Saul's jealousy quickly escalates into attempts on David's life. In a fit of rage, Saul hurls a spear at David, intending to pin him to the wall, but David evades him twice (1 Samuel 18:10-11). Saul's fear of David grows as he recognizes that the LORD is with David but has departed from him (1 Samuel 18:12). Saul's malice is further demonstrated when he plots to have David killed by the Philistines, offering his daughter Michal in marriage as a snare (1 Samuel 18:17-25). Despite these schemes, David continues to prosper, and Saul's fear and hatred intensify.

Pursuit and Persecution

Saul's malice reaches its peak as he relentlessly pursues David, forcing him to flee for his life. Saul orders the execution of the priests of Nob for aiding David, showcasing the extent of his paranoia and cruelty (1 Samuel 22:16-19). David, now a fugitive, is pursued by Saul across the wilderness. Despite opportunities to kill Saul, David refrains, demonstrating his respect for God's anointed and his refusal to repay malice with malice (1 Samuel 24:6-7; 26:9-11).

Spiritual Decline of Saul

Saul's malice toward David is symptomatic of his broader spiritual decline. Initially chosen by God to lead Israel, Saul's disobedience and failure to fully carry out God's commands lead to his rejection as king (1 Samuel 15:26-28). His jealousy and malice toward David further alienate him from God's favor. Saul's descent into madness and his eventual consultation with a medium at Endor (1 Samuel 28:7-20) underscore his departure from God's will.

David's Response to Saul's Malice

David's response to Saul's malice is marked by patience, humility, and faith in God's justice. He consistently refuses to harm Saul, trusting that God will vindicate him in due time. David's lament upon hearing of Saul's death (2 Samuel 1:17-27) reflects his respect for Saul's position as the LORD's anointed and his sorrow over the tragic end of a once-promising king.

The narrative of Saul's malice toward David serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of envy and the importance of remaining faithful to God's commands. It highlights the virtues of patience, forgiveness, and trust in divine justice, as exemplified by David, a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

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1 Samuel 18:8-29
And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
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1 Samuel 19:1
And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
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1 Samuel 20:30-33
Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, You son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own confusion, and to the confusion of your mother's nakedness?
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1 Samuel 22:6-18
When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul stayed in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
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1 Samuel 23:7-23
And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God has delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that has gates and bars.
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1 Samuel 26:18
And he said, Why does my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
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Library

The History of Saul
... Then Goliath rose and hied toward David, and David on that ... harm, and our Lord hath
yielded the malice of Nabal ... After this Saul always sought David for to slay ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of saul.htm

The victory of Unarmed Faith
... David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army ... Sometimes in kindness and sometimes
in malice, the world ... hampered, and all but smothered, in Saul's harness. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the victory of unarmed faith.htm

St. Paul's Wish to be Accursed from Christ.
... This mighty Abaddan of diabolical and Jewish malice, is arrested ... When we view Saul
of Tarsus making havoc of the ... the mercy which had been exercised toward him. ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon ix st pauls wish.htm

Homilies on the Statues.
... David, though small, a victor, [887]458 ... in man's natural love of virtue, [1206]429;
the leader of the Jews in war, [1207]435; silence toward Saul from gentleness ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/homilies on the statues.htm

Fifth Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to the Fruits of Faith.
... angry face of God was bent upon King Saul, and before ... them and he turns eye and ear
toward them; and ... Not by malice, might and violence can your enemies take ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/fifth sunday after trinity exhortation.htm

Use to be Made of the Doctrine of Providence.
... But turning toward the Lord, he forgot the injury, and ... of theft or murder, fraud
and preconceived malice have existed ... Gen.6:6), and of having raised Saul to the ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 17 use to be.htm

Acts ii. 37
... They conceived no malice toward each other; they committed all to the ... What more wicked
than Saul? ... out unsuspiciously, while they received his words in malice? ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily vii acts ii 37.htm

1 Cor. xiii. 4
... vice, and he is in danger of falling into malice. ... hearted, support the weak, be long
suffering toward all." (1 ... what could be more savage and frantic than Saul? ...
/.../homily xxxiii 1 cor xiii.htm

Colossians iii. 7-May
... also put away all these, anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful ... although there were
such then, as Saul shows,) but ... And so great was his love toward it, that ...
/.../homily viii colossians iii 7-may.htm

Second Sunday after Epiphany
... love and fidelity to God, but from the hate, the malice, of the ... 1, 17; 3, 33) that
David lamented for Saul, Jonathan and ... "Be of the same mind one toward another ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/second sunday after epiphany.htm