JESUS CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF 1 SAMUEL #2 - SAUL AND DAVID
JESUS CHRIST IN 1 SAMUEL (#2) – SAUL AND DAVID
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
April 15, 2025, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
In my feeble attempt to cover a book of the Bible every week, I was only able to cover the ministry of Samuel last week. In 1 Samuel 8, the narrative moves away from Samuel toward Saul, the second of the three major characters of this book.
SAUL
Saul, son of Kish, was the first King of Israel. In principle, he is akin to
Eli a type of the old order. He represents carnal leadership in spiritual government. This self-willed, impulsive King was “the man who lost his crown.” Saul speaks of the Old Man, the antichrist nature that is described in detail in 1 Sam. 8: 10-18. The Beast (world system) nature is revealed in the character of Saul.
Saul had a few positive characteristics. In the presence of the prophets, the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied. At one time, he was little in his own sight (1 Sa. 9:21; 1 Sa. 15:17). He was victorious in battle in his campaigns against the Ammonites (1 Sam. 11), the Philistines (1 Sam. 13-14), the armies of Moab, Ammon, Edom and Zobah (1 Sam. 14:47), In the Philistine battle with Goliath (1 Sam. 17), His last battle against the Philistines resulted in his death. (1 Sa. 28-31). Saul’s most prolonged warfare was against David (1 Sa. 18-27). His list of failures is long marked by human wisdom and human strength to committing suicide in humiliating defeat and losing his sons.
1 Sa. 8:4-7: All the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said, “Look you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” This displeased Samuel. So, Samuel prayed to the LORD. The LORD SAID “Heed the voice of the people in all they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
In chapter 9, Saul’s search for his father’s lost donkeys is the providence of God for the divine appointment with Samuel.
1 Sa. 9:15-16: The LORD had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, “Tomorrow about this time, I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines, for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.” So, when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, “There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.”
Contrary to what some teach, Saul was called, chosen, and ordained by God to be King. At the Lord’s direction, Saul was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be Israel’s first King.
1 Sa. 10:1-9: Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said, “Is it not because the LORD has anointed you commander over His inheritance? …When you depart, you will find two men by Rachel’s tomb. They will say to you. ‘the donkeys which you went to look for have been found. Now your father is worrying about you.’ Go forward to the terebinth tree of Tabor. Three men will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another three loves of bread, another a skin of wine…receive the bread. After that you shall come to the hill of God… You will meet a group of prophets with stringed instruments…they will be prophesying. The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man…I will come to you to Gilgal…Seven days you shall wait, till I show you what you should do….” God gave him (Saul) another heart, and all those signs came to pass that day.
Three signs reveal royalty from God, under God and with God.
This is the first mention of Samuel’s school of prophets.
Samuel called the twelve tribes to Mizpen and reminded Israel they had rejected God. The tribe of Benjamin was chosen. Saul was chosen, but he was hiding and could not be found.
1 Sa, 10:24: Samuel said to all the people, “do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, there is no one like him among all the people.” So, all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”
From there, Saul went home to Gibeah. Valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched.
In chapter 11, Saul wins his first victory. The gross insult of Nahash, the Ammonite to the inhabitants of Jabesh, a town of Gilead in Transjordan, was told to Saul at Gibeah. Saul was anointed by the Spirit to deliver Israel in the manner of the earlier judges. He mustered Israel to arms and won both a great victory over Ammon and public acclaim in the kingship as well.
Chapter 12, Samuel declares his integrity as a Prophet-Judge. This took place at Gilgal before the assembly of all Israel had dispersed. Samuel affirmed that Jehovah and his anointed (Saul) were witnesses against Israel’s ingratitude as he rehearsed the “righteous acts of the LORD.” Jehovah confirmed these words of his servant by signs following. (1 Sa. 12:18 thunder and rain).
In chapter 13, we meet Jonathan which is a study unto itself. He was a fine young man, who saw the coming of the NEW ORDER, He actually prophesied of the coming Kingdom, He knew and loved the coming new King dearly, yet missed being in that Kingdom of glory. He refused to bear the painful reproach of being one of the outcasts of Israel who separated themselves unto God as they became prisoners of the LORD in the cave with David (1 Sa. 22:1-2). Jonathan began well, but he straddled the fence. He tried to put new wine in an old bottle. His life was torn and destroyed. Only those who suffer with him will reign with him. Jonathan could not leave the old order, the house and table of Saul.
Saul showed flagrant unbelief and disobedience by intruding into the Priest’s office at Gilgal. His excuse to Samuel revealed his unbelief and rebellion to God’s Law. So, the prophet announced Saul’s unfitness and rejection as King! The unworthy monarch’s subsequent career demonstrated the futility of trying to discharge the Lord’s work without the Lord’s grace and blessing. The Old Order which rejected the principles of God and the Order of His Government falls as defenseless prey to the enemies of God.
Chapter 14: King Saul was surrounded by a company, among whom were relatives of the reprobate, Eli. Jonathan and his armor-bearer discovered themselves in the garrison of the Philistines, defeated them, and turned the tide for Israel. Jehovah honored this faith with an earthquake, sending destruction and confusion among the Philistines. This is Saul’s second year and his second failure was to make a rash oath for the people to not eat anything after the battle. Jonathan didn’t know about it and ate honey. Despite the king’s unworthiness, God nevertheless granted victories for the sake of his people.
Chapter 15: Saul is rejected by God. 15:10-11 The word of the LORD came to Samuel saying, “I greatly regret that I have set Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” It grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night.
Saul repented and begged forgiveness, but it was too late.
15:23-29: Samuel said… for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he also has rejected you from being king. Saul said, ‘I have sinned for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD. Samuel said, “I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel. Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. Also, the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent for He is not a man that he should relent.”
15:35: Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless, Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel
DAVID.
In chapter 16, we meet David son of Jesse, the second King of Israel. David in principle is akin to Samuel. He is a type of the New Order. He represents spiritual leadership in a spiritual government. Like Saul, David also made three major mistakes. He remained a man after God’s heart in that he knew how to repent.
His three failures were:
1. He resorted to the Philistines ( 1 Sa. 21; 27).
2. He was an adulterer and then a murderer (2 Sa. 11).
3. He numbered the people (2 Sam. 24; 1 Chron. 21).
As with Samuel, the principle of prayer was a key to David’s life and ministry. He was “ever before the LORD.”
David speaks of the new man, the Christ nature.
David, chosen by the Lord was anointed three times to be king of Israel.
(1 Sam. 16:1; 12). Each anointing came at a very high cost of trials, testing, threat of life, threat to family, great battles both spiritual and physical.
1. 1 Sam. 16:13: Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him (as King over Israel) in the midst of his brethren; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward (1 Sam 16:1).
With this first anointing, he killed a bear, a lion, and a giant (while Saul was still ruling).
2. 11 Sam 2:4: The men of Judah came; and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah… This second anointing, Judah made him King of Judah.
3. 11 Sam. 5:3: All the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and King David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord and they anointed David king over Israel. With this third anointing, all of Israel crowned him King at Hebron. David ruled all things. This took place when he was 30 (the number of maturities, authority, full stature, the throne) --- compare Joseph and Jesus. This was oil upon the beard (of a full-grown man – Eph. 4:13; Psa. 122; Num. 4:30) ---full maturity.
These anointings worked in and energized many areas of his life and ministry:
1. Musician (he wrote 73 of the Psalms)
2. A just man 11 Sam. 8:15: David ruled over all Israel; and executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
3. A wise man 1 Sam. 18:14; 30: David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.
4. A meek man. 11 Sam. 16:11: David reasoned that if the Lord had told this Benjamite to curse him, who should say, “Why do you do it?” He also reasoned that if God had allowed his own son to seek his life as part of the chastening for his sin, then how much more would he allow a Benjamite of a rival faction to do what he was doing. If God allowed it, the man should be let alone (meekness).
5. A merciful man 11 Sam. 9:6 19:23: …David said, Mephibosheth, and he answered, behold thy servant! David said unto him; “Fear not; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake. I will restore to you all the land of Saul, your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
6. A Prophet and the “Sweet Psalmist of Israel.” 11 Sam 23: 1-7: These are the last words of David. The son of Jesse said, “and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, “He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.”
Our story begins in 1 Samuel 15. David was shepherding the sheep. David’s occupation as a shepherd set forth the relation of Christ to God’s elect and foreshadowed Christ’s redemptive work.
16:1: The Lord said to Samuel, how long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.
God provided himself a King. Samuel feared that Saul would kill him, so at God’s command Samuel took a heifer with him. “Take a heifer with you, and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD” (Vs. 2). 16:10: Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. Samuel said, “the LORD has not chosen these.” Do you have another son? … There yet remained the youngest. Samuel said “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down until he comes here,” David is described as having a beautiful countenance (from the heart to the face), and goodly to look upon. The LORD said, “ARISE, anoint him for this is he.” Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren, and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.
The Spirit of God had departed from Saul and an evil spirit (sent by God) began to torment him (16: 15). David was summoned because his anointing was already recognized.
16:18: …one of the servants said, Behold I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, and is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
This reveals five characteristics of his first anointing: valiant, prudent (knowing of speech), man of war, comely, anointed. David was being groomed for the throne in the King’s court under the providential care of the Lord.
Saul sent for David. When he stood before Saul, Saul loved him greatly; and he became his armorbearer (vs. 21).
David, the sweet psalmist of Israel had authority over the evil spirit thus refreshing the harassed and tormented king “and the evil spirit departed from him (Vs. 23).
The next great turning point in David’s life was his victory over Goliath. This symbolizes the triumph of Christ over the great enemy (Satan) of God’s people. David’s sling and stone teach that God’s victories are not achieved by man’s methods and equipment. In the first anointing, David slew the lion, the bear, and the uncircumcised Philistine.
1 Sa. 17:50b-51: …there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore, David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath and slew him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
There were six great epochs in David’s life:
1. The Shepherd at Bethlehem (lst anointing).
2. The Courtier at Gibeah (Saul’s court).
3. The outlaw in the wilderness.
4. The warrior/general.
5. The King of Judah at Hebron (2nd anointing).
6. The King of Israel at Jerusalem (3rd. anointing).
With each anointing, we can expect a new identity. The Lord spoke to me when I was teaching this on 8/14/2018. He said Eastgate Church’s identity had become synonymous with Little White Church. He removed us to give us another anointing and a new identity or epoch in the life of the ministry.
At each level of anointing, there must be death to the carnal soul.
On the journey was the principle of the covenant of David and Jonathan (1 Sam. 18:1-30).
18:1: ...the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
This was a noble, but soulish friendship silhouetted against the dark background of Saul’s demonic jealousy and his treachery toward David regarding his daughter Merab and his other daughter Michal. The latter, however, became David’s wife, despite the trap Saul set for David in arranging the marriage.
1 Sam 18:12: Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and had departed from Saul…David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.
We are in “contract” with the King of Kings. “Man can accept or reject the divine contract, but we cannot alter the terms.” (Kelly Varner, Whose Right it is).
Jonathan had watched God’s anointed minister despite the slander of his brothers and the insurmountable odds of the giant, Goliath. Jonathan stripped himself (unmasked) in humility. He stepped down so that David could rule.
1 Sam 18:4: Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. David went out wherever Saul sent him and behaved himself wisely. 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.
In 1 Sam. 19, Saul tried to get Jonathan to kill David. The deranged king, despite his oath to Jonathan, was overwhelmed with his mania and tried to pin David to the wall with his javelin. Michal, by a ruse, saved David’s life. David fled to Samuel. The grace of God dealt with Saul, but his disobedience was his ruin. Saul declares open war on David.
20:1: David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”
20: 24-29: – David hid in the field. At the new moon feast, Saul sat on his seat, Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty. Jonathan reinforced David’s lie. Jonathan now has a crisis and turning point. He entered David’s sufferings as he felt the wrath of Saul.
20: 30-32: Saul’s anger was aroused against Jonatha, and he said to him, “you son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not now that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established nor your kingdom. Therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” Jonathan answered Saul his father, “why should he be killed? What has he done?
Ch. 21: Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech, the priest. Nob is (north of Jerusalem). Ahimelech was High Priest. Hungry and unarmed, David arrived on the Sabbath and asked for food. David and his men ate the Shewbread….
Again, a lapse in David’s faith was seen. This great Philistine fighter feigned insanity among the Philistines.
David was now openly an outlaw and an outcast to many of his former friends and brethren.
Two anointed kings in Israel---Saul and David! The one-sided contest is on, and it grows more and more bitter as the days go by. Saul out of envy and jealousy was out to trap David and slay him.
The men who identified themselves with David all had their D.D.D.:
1 Sam. 22:2: Every one that was in distress, every one that was in debt, every one that was discontented, gathered them-selves unto him. David became captain over them: There were with him about four hundred men.
These men were genuinely sincere in their loyalty to David. They had caught the vision of the kingdom. These hosts of D.D.D’s became a kingly company. But they needed to learn discipline. They had to learn God’s ways.
When Saul was sleeping soundly because of a heavy drowsiness that God had put him under, they naturally assumed it was for the purpose
that David might take the kingdom now. They urged David to give them permission to kill Saul. David’s only concern was to wait for God, do God’s will, and save Saul’s life.
Man derives his authority from God by submitting unto God’s authority.
Ch. 23: The mountain will not hold both David and Saul as Keilah is spared.
Ch. 24: Encounter a demonstration of righteousness: faith will wait as David refuses to take the Kingdom out of season.
Ch. 25: The discernment of Abigail temporarily spares a foolish man’s life.
Ch. 26: David demonstrates God’s heart of compassion and mercy as Saul’s life and rule is spared a second time.
Ch. 27: Self-pity sends David seeking asylum among the heathen again.
Ch. 28: Riding by night, Saul consults the witch of Endor.
Ch. 29: Achish dismisses David before the battle with Israel at Jezreel.
Ch. 30: Encouraging himself in the LORD, David defends Ziklag, defeats the Amalekites, and their heritage.
Chaapter 31: The Philistines fought against Israel. They followed hard after Saul and his sons. The Philistines killed Saul’s sons. The battle became fierce against Saul. He was severely wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.” But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore, Saul took his sword and fell on it. The armorbearer also fell on his sword and died with him… The Philistines cut off Saul’s head and stripped off his armor… The valiant men of Jabesh Gilead traveled all night and took the body of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and burned them in Jabesh. They buried their bones under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh.
Eli, the anointed Priest, and Saul, the anointed King, were castaways because of their failure to obey.
Lord Jesus, every time I preach and teach your Word, I am convicted of my failures and selfishness. Lord Jesus, help me to live out my last years as a humble and meek servant, loving you and your people.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries church, 10115 West Hidden Lakes Lane, Richmond, TX.
Scripture from K.J.V. and N.K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of Principles of Present truth by Kelly Varner. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of Dr. Varner.