1 Samuel 18 is the turning point for David and Saul's relationship...once fast friends, here in 18 we read they became enemies continually. God had surrounded Saul, the Bible tells us, with valiant men whose hearts He had touched. God had also brought David into Saul's life. David was a man after God's own heart. David loved Saul....and the word tells us that Saul had loved David greatly. What happened to cause the change of heart on Saul's part? We read this in Chapter 18:
And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.† And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.--1 Samuel 18:5-9
David was getting lots of attention...Saul did not like it. From this point on there were continuous attempts by Saul on David's life. Further down in Chapter 18 we read:
And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. --1 Samuel 18:12-16
and by the end of the chapter we read this:
And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.--1 Samuel 18:28-30
David who at one time was a beloved, faithful and loyal servant to Saul had now become his enemy continually. WHY...because Saul knew that the Lord was with David. How sad! Saul's turning away from David says much about where Saul's own relationship was with his Lord. David's godly obedience must have pierced him to the heart causing Saul to see what could have been in his own life if he had obeyed God. His sin and failure must have loomed large when David was in view.
The same is true for us when we turn away from the godly people God has placed in our own lives and instead begin to surround ourselves with the world. Sure, we will have lots of reasons for doing what we do, but whatever the reason, the overruling reason is that their godliness confronts us with the sin in our life that we do not want to see. Our downhill slide has begun. Turning away from our godly friends, however, was not the first step in this slide. The first steps were those taken in the opposite direction of our Father in Heaven.
This passage should serve as a warning to each of us. Examine your heart...keep it with all diligence. If you have drifted off course, draw near once again to your God, confess your sin and do an about face. Ask Him to show you what you are running from...what are you loving more than him?
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.--Hebrews 2:1
For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”--Isaiah 30:15
Addendum...a word to those who are the David’s in this passage...
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.—Matthew 5:10-12
