1 Samuel 18:6 - Meaning and Application

David’s troubles begin now, and they come on the heels of his victories. That is how empty worldly glory is, it often turns right into hardship.

The common people praised David too highly. Some time after the victory, Saul traveled in triumph through the nearby cities of Israel to receive public honor. When he entered a town, the women came out first to show respect, as was common in those celebrations (1 Samuel 18:6). They sang a dance song, probably written by some poet who admired David’s courage more than he should have. The song said, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Moses had once made a similar distinction between the numbers of Ephraim and Manasseh (Deuteronomy 33:17).

This deeply upset Saul and filled him with envy toward David (1 Samuel 18:8-9). He should have understood that the song only referred to that recent battle and was not meant to take anything away from Saul’s earlier victories. In fact, in that battle David really did, by killing Goliath, bring down the Philistines in effect, because he broke their army and led to their defeat. So the people were only giving David the honor he deserved.

It may be that the songwriter was simply using poetic freedom and did not mean to compare Saul and David in a hurtful way. Even if he did, a king should have risen above such a slight when the public good was clearly meant. But Saul became very angry and began to suspect treason in it all. He thought, “What more can he have but the kingdom?” From then on he watched David with jealousy, and his old warm regard cooled off (1 Samuel 18:9).

Proud people cannot bear to hear anyone praised but themselves. They feel that any honor given to another person takes something from them. A bad response to small offenses is often a sign that God’s Spirit has left a person. Such people become suspicious, touchy, and harsh. But the wisdom from above makes us very different.

In his fury, Saul tried to kill David (1 Samuel 18:10-11). Jealousy is a violent kind of rage, and it made Saul desperate to get David out of the way. The very next day, after his hatred had taken root, the evil spirit from God that had troubled him before came upon him again. People who give themselves over to envy and bitterness make room for the devil and invite worse evil back in. Where envy rules, there is confusion.

Saul acted as if he were in a religious trance. The text says he “prophesied in the midst of the house,” meaning he acted like a prophet and went along with the appearance well enough to lure David into danger. He wanted David to feel safe and let down his guard. Perhaps he even meant, if he killed David, to blame it on a divine impulse and on the spirit he seemed to have. But in truth, it was a hellish rage that drove him.

David, though now promoted to a much higher position, did not think it beneath him to serve his master by playing the harp again. “He played with his hand as at other times.” Let no one think any task too small if it allows them to do good or help those they are bound to serve.

Saul then used the chance to strike at David’s life. A sword in a madman’s hand is dangerous, especially a man mad with malice. Saul had a javelin in his hand, and he hurled it at David, trying not just in a flash of anger, but on purpose, to pin him to the wall with it. David later speaks of enemies who hate him with a cruel hatred (Psalm 25:19). No life seems too precious for malice to sacrifice.

If gratitude for David’s great service to the nation could not calm Saul, then surely Saul should at least have remembered the kindness David was doing for him at that moment. No one else could relieve him from his torment like David could. Those are truly under a devilish influence who repay good with evil. Compare David, harp in hand, trying to serve Saul, with Saul, javelin in hand, trying to kill David. Then you see the gentleness and usefulness of God’s persecuted people, and the brutality of those who oppose them. “The bloodthirsty hate the upright, but the righteous seek his life” (Proverbs 29:10).

David escaped the blow twice, here and later as well (compare 1 Samuel 19:10). He did not throw the javelin back or strike Saul in return. He withdrew for his own safety. He had enough strength and courage, and even enough right, to resist and avenge himself, but he did no more than protect himself by getting out of the way.

David surely kept a careful eye on Saul’s hand and the javelin in it, and he ran from it as bravely as he had once run toward Goliath. Yet his safety must be credited above all to God’s watchful care. God protected his servant from the harmful sword, and this narrow escape showed that David was being preserved for something greater.