在這幾章裡，我們看見上帝特別眷顧大衛的性命。大衛在擊敗歌利亞後即被掃羅延攬入宮專職服事，因為他是個大能的勇士（14：52），並且，要作國王未來的女婿也理當有入宮實習的機會（參17：25）。這更是上帝預備大衛作王的計畫之一。

        約拿單第一次看見大衛、聽見他和父親掃羅說話，就與他深相契合（18：1）。他們二人有相似的心靈，因為他們都愛上帝，且對上帝有極大的信心，這點使他們產生堅固的聯合（14：6；17：47）。約拿單主動與大衛立約，這樣一來，他們不只有深厚的情誼，而且相互委身，永遠彼此忠誠、支持、保護對方。

        約拿單將自己的外袍和武器給大衛為禮，作他們立約的記號，也表示大衛與約拿單無異。那是信與愛的聯盟，因為他們的關係是出於上帝的計畫，也是以上帝為中心。約拿單是個敬虔的人，他認識到大衛蒙上帝的揀選為王，超越他作為父親長子的繼承權。

        大衛的戰績、智慧、和性格使他愈來愈受以色列民愛戴。婦女所唱的歌推崇大衛勝過掃羅，使得掃羅妒火中燒，感到自己的王位倍受威脅，從此猜疑、怒視大衛（18：8~9）。有兩次當掃羅被「惡靈」干擾，大衛為他彈琴時（18：11；19：10），掃羅曾企圖想要用手中象徵權柄的長槍刺殺他。不過，最高權威的上帝兩次都保全了大衛的牲命。撒但無疑的是在利用機會毀滅上帝所揀選的器皿。上帝在大衛的生命中有一個計畫，所以沒有任何攻擊可以傷害他。上帝藉以差遣彌賽亞到世間來的大衛家譜斷不會被毀滅。

        掃羅奸詐、不忠、又不誠實。他發誓不殺大衛，但都未遵守誓言，這對上帝是極大的不敬，因為他所起的誓是奉耶和華的名起的（19：6）。他也兩次毀約，沒有將女兒給大衛為妻（17：25；18：19）。當他終於把女兒米甲賜給大衛時，原本是想使女兒作大衛的「網羅」（18：21），但米甲如同約拿單一樣，她也愛大衛，並且幫助大衛逃脫父親之手（19：11~17）。

        每一次掃羅派大衛去與非利士人爭戰，都是希望他戰死沙場，但每一次上帝都使大衛得勝，大衛在民間的聲望扶搖直上，離王位也愈來愈近。掃羅多次陷害大衛不成，自己乾脆公開、直接的在拉瑪要置大衛於死地。拉瑪是撒母耳的家鄉，他在那裡領導一所先知學校。上帝的聖靈再次干預，掃羅如同在他前面的使者一樣，被聖靈所感，無法完成他邪惡的計畫（19：23）。

        想想上帝如何拯救大衛的性命，成就祂在大衛身上的計畫。如果一個人真正委身與上帝，上帝就真完全掌管他生命中的每一個領域。信徒生命中所發生的事沒有一件是偶然的。正如上帝控制大衛生命中的每一情況，祂也會引導我們的每一步路，只要我們每天信靠祂。

        主啊，大衛作事無不精明，我們也希望如此。您在雅各書應許我們，我們若求智慧，您就必賜給我們。現在我們求您賜給我們智慧，也相信您的應許。謝謝您的賞賜。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        In these chapters, we learn of the special care God took over David's life. After defeating Goliath, David was taken into the fulltime service of king Saul because he was a mighty man of valour (14:52), and it was only fitting that the king's future son-in-law should learn the ways of the royal court (cf.17:25). This was part of God's plan to prepare him for his future kingship.

        When Jonathan first saw David and heard him speaking with his father, he felt a close bond with him (18:1). The two had a kindred spirit, for they both loved God and had great faith in Him. This made their union very strong (14:6; 17:47). Jonathan took the initiative to make a covenant with David, thus they were under a legal commitment of not only love and a deep friendship, but also loyalty, support, and protection forever.

        The covenant was sealed by Jonathan's gift of his robe and armour to David, indicating that David became as Jonathan himself. They were one in the bond of love and faith, since their relationship, which had been planned by God, was centred in Him. Jonathan was a godly man who came to recogize that David's divine appointment to the throne took priority over his own birthright as his father's successor.

        Because of David's military accomplishments, wisdom, and personality, his popularity among all the people grew greatly. The songs the women sang, giving David higher praise than Saul, caused great jealousy in Saul's heart. Feeling his position as king threatened, he was constantly suspicious and kept a close eye on David (18:8-9). On two occasions, when Saul was suffering from the "distressing spirit", he attempted to kill David while he was playing music to calm him (18:11; 19:10). It is likely that he often sat with his spear as a king would hold a sceptre to symbolize authority. However, God, who is the ultimate authority, saved David both times from Saul's spear. Surely Satan, on these attempts and others, was trying to destroy God's chosen instrument. God had a plan and a purpose for the life of David, and therefore no attacks could bring him any harm. The continuing line of David, from which God would send His Messiah, was not to be destroyed.

        As well as being a treacherous and violent person, Saul was dishonourable and dishonest. He broke his vow about not trying to kill David; this was a serious offense against God, because the vow had been made in the name of God (19:6). He also broke his promise twice by not giving his daughter in marriage to David (17:25; 18:19). When another daughter was eventually given to him as a wife, it was with the hope that she would be "a snare to him" (18:21). But she, like Jonathan, loved David and helped him to escape her father's evil intentions (19:11-17).

        Each time he sent David to fight the Philistines, it was with the hope that he would not return, yet each time God gave David victory, and he returned to gain more popularity and came even closer to the kingship. When many attempts to destroy David were not successful, Saul took a more open and direct action to personally kill him in Ramah. This was Samuel's hometown, where he led the school of the prophets (Naioth; 19:22). Once again, the Spirit of God intervened and, like the other messengers before him, Saul himself was overwhelmed by the Spirit of God and could not carry out his evil plan (19:23).

        Just think how the plan of God worked in the saving of David's life. God is truly sovereign in every area of one's life, if one is truly committed to Him. Nothing happens by chance in the believer's life. Just as God controlled these circumstances in David's life, so too He will lead us as we walk daily trusting in Him.

        Lord, as David behaved wisely, so we desire the same. You promised through James that You would give us wisdom if we would ask You. We're asking You and we're believing Your promise. Thank you for wisdom.