1 Samuel 18
Leaders Prep Section
Watch this video, read these notes, and send the pre-written email (below) to your group 2-3 days before you meet.
Notes
David has just killed Goliath and everyone’s talking. But the real story of the book of Samuel is God’s work in the lives of four men…Samuel, Saul, Jonathan, and David. He is making leaders.
Group Guide Starts Here
Context of scripture
The Philistines have lost a pivotal battle and are on their heels against the advancing Israelites. David is leading the charge both personally and as a symbol of God’s power. The Israelites, brought up on the history of stories from Moses to Samson, are witnessing a new hero. However, Saul is still the king…handpicked by God himself to do a job he’s still working hard at.
Read 1 Samuel 18: 1-4
Jonathan is about to become a pivotal character in the story of leadership training. But for now all we know is he recognizes something in David that creates a bond between them. In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan and one other man attacked a garrison. And the first time Jonathan would have ever seen David, it would have been the day David fought Goliath. It’s also possible he was near the tent where David and Saul were talking.
Why are bonds so strong between men who have fought in battle…even if those battles are separated by decades?
Read 1 Samuel 18: 5-16
Note v 10 says an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul (NIV). It clearly implies God pushed him to do this…meaning Saul would not have attacked David on his own.
Some leaders push others past their breaking point to expose them…either their weakness or greatness. Do you think this is a valuable approach to training?
In your opinion, should Saul be held accountable to snapping on David when God pushed him to do it?
Read 1 Samuel 18: 17-30
Human trophy collection, while rare, is not limited to Philistine foreskins. Historically, Japanese samurai collected Korean noses during their 16th century invasion, scalps were collected during American expansion, and more recently some soldiers reportedly collected ears during Vietnam.
Visualize this scene: Saul has asked for one hundred foreskins, David and his men return with two hundred…then proceed to count them out for Saul. God is definitely working on Saul. He is both persecuting him to the point of acting out against David and simultaneously pushing David’s accomplishments through the roof.
This story isn’t accidentally in the Bible. God is pushing these men to something. Any guesses on what it is?