1 Samuel 18:20-30

David Marries Saul’s Daughter

20 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable [l]to him. 21 Saul thought, “I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “For a second time you may be my son-in-law today.” 22 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words [m]to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?” 24 The servants of Saul reported to him [n]according to these words which David spoke. 25 Saul then said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 When his servants told David these words, [o]it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. [p]Before the days had expired 27 David rose up and went, he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife. 28 When Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30 Then the commanders of the Philistines went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.

Jealousy and fear make you think in very odd ways. Here Saul finds out that his daughter loved David, and Saul finds this “agreeable”. But not in the normal way, where a father approves of a man for his daughter. No, he wanted to use this affection to get rid of David.

Again David shows humility, which could have been a signal of his respect to Saul. But Saul misses that entirely, as he is caught up in his scheme to get rid of David.

The best part, is that David goes above and beyond. He so wanted to show Saul honor, that he killed twice the required number of Philistines. But what happens? Saul becomes even more afraid of David.

Again, jealousy and fear make you think in very odd ways. When you find these monsters creeping into your mind, take it to God and be rid of them. It may not happen overnight, but “God has not given us a spirit of fear…” He wants to give us a sound mind, and shower us with His love and peace.

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