1 Samuel 18:1-30 Check that your Focus is on God

Theological Proposition/Focus: There is a profound contrast between the lunacy of self-focus and the peace of God focus.

Christ Focus: This passage foreshadows the humility and selflessness of Christ, who, unlike Saul, embraced his role in God's plan and sought the glory of the Father above his own.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: Self-focus leads to destructive emotions like jealousy and fear, while a focus on God invites peace, assurance, and strong relationships. By examining Saul and David's contrasting responses to God's work in David's life, we highlight the importance of humility and trust in God's greater plan.

Introduction

Setting the Stage:

David's triumph over Goliath in the Valley of Elah catapulted him to national fame and earned him the right to marry Saul's daughter (1 Sam. 17:25). However, this same victory stirred deep jealousy in Saul (1 Sam. 18:9), setting off a chain of events that shape the rest of the narrative in 1 Samuel. David, once a favored servant, now becomes a perceived rival. Saul's envy increasingly alienates him from David, and as the story progresses through chapters 18 to 31, their relationship deteriorates further and further.

This section begins to unfold the growing strain in the relationship between Saul and David. Rather than presenting this conflict directly, the narrator draws a nuanced contrast by showing how members of Saul's family respond positively to David, while Saul himself grows increasingly hostile. The narrative opens with Jonathan, Saul's son, forming a deep bond with David (18:1-4), followed by scenes that depict Saul's jealousy and his attempts on David's life (18:5-16). It then moves to interactions between David and Saul's daughters (18:17-30). The affection Saul's children show David highlights the stark contrast with Saul's own envy, which fluctuates between deadly rage and reluctant tolerance.

Yet the central theme of this passage isn't merely the unfolding drama within the royal household—it is theological. The narrator makes it clear that the underlying reason for these developments is the Lord's rejection of Saul and His favor toward David. The phrase "the Lord was with David" appears multiple times, underscoring divine involvement. Ironically, Saul's efforts to hinder David's growing reputation only accelerate it.

Body

Companion or competition — A self-focused heart misses the joy of God's blessings—Saul could have shared in the celebration of God's anointed, but instead he saw only a threat (1-9).

Jonathan saw a brother; Saul saw a rival.

The contrast in 1 Samuel 18 begins with a beautiful picture of godly friendship. Jonathan, the crown prince, sees in David not a competitor for the throne but a kindred spirit. Verse 1 says Jonathan "became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself." This is not a passing emotional connection but a covenantal loyalty rooted in shared faith and devotion to God.

Jonathan's actions in verses 3-4 are symbolic and weighty: he gives David his robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt—symbols of royalty, power, and inheritance. In essence, Jonathan acknowledges God's hand on David and responds not with jealousy but with joyful submission. He chooses God's plan over personal ambition. This is brotherhood born of humility and trust in God's sovereignty.

And yet, the beauty of this moment is soured by Saul's reaction. Unlike his son, Saul doesn't see a brother—he sees a threat. His focus is not on God's will or the good of the kingdom but on protecting his own position. Verse 8 tells us Saul "was very angry" and that "from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David." His obsession with self-preservation blinded him to the blessing David could have been to his rule.

Let me pause and say: some modern interpreters twist this passage for ideological purposes, missing its true message. They fixate on the love between Jonathan and David and miss the point. This is not a story about romantic love—it is a story about selfless covenant friendship and the corrosive power of envy. The word love used here carries important political overtones. For example, the king of Tyre in 1 Kings 5:1 also loved David. The overtones here emphasize the covenantal relationship. Specifically, Jonathan and David are close friends, close enough that they really see each other as brothers. When we see it in the broader biblical and political context, we recognize Jonathan's gestures as an extraordinary act of humility and faith, and Saul's as a tragic turn toward self-destruction.

The people saw a champion; Saul saw a threat.

The popular song that the women sing—"Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands"—is hard. It likely led Saul to feel a threat, but maybe the song is in fact reflective of a feeling Saul was already projecting to the people.

Imagine how different the story could have gone. What if Saul had taken the initiative to honor David publicly? What if he had proclaimed, "Look what God has done through this young man!"? Instead of a rivalry, the people might have celebrated a partnership. The song might have gone, "Together, Saul and David have brought peace to Israel!" But Saul left a vacuum, and people filled it with comparison.

Let me share something I've learned: people will make comparisons, but a wise leader can turn those comparisons into a call to unity. Had Saul embraced David and affirmed him, there likely would have been no song of rivalry—only a song of unity. But self-focused leaders fear the spotlight moving elsewhere, and that fear fractures fellowship.

Saul wants the results of David's success—military victory, national admiration—but he cannot stomach the recognition David receives. This is self-focus in its most subtle and destructive form. His desire for glory undermines his leadership and distorts his perception. Saul, already insecure, hears the people's celebrations as a threat rather than an opportunity.

What could have united the kingdom, divided Saul's heart.

David was not a threat to Saul's kingdom—he was God's blessing to it. Jonathan embraced that truth; Saul resisted it. The tragedy of 1 Samuel 18 is not simply Saul's jealousy—it is that he stood in the way of a gift God was trying to give him.

David could have unified the royal family. Jonathan admired him, the people celebrated him, and Saul's daughters loved him. But Saul alone turned inward. His heart, ruled by fear and pride, began to spiral—and that spiral would lead to his ruin.

This is a sobering warning: When we are focused on ourselves—our image, our control, our success—we miss the joy of joining in what God is doing around us. We isolate ourselves from His blessings.

Image: Looking good through a rising star

Let me tell you a real story. I'll change the names to protect identities, but this is true.

There was a man named Tom, a vice president in a company undergoing significant changes. The company brought in a young director—John—full of fresh ideas and energy. John implemented bold strategies, and soon, the company saw impressive results. His innovations gained recognition even beyond the company.

Now, Tom had tried to initiate some of those changes himself, and he could have been jealous or territorial. But he wasn't. What stood out to me was how Tom constantly went out of his way to praise John's work, especially in front of others. He celebrated John's success and made sure everyone knew about it.

Here's what happened: instead of being overshadowed, Tom actually gained more respect. People said, "Tom's a great leader—he empowered the right person." By shining the light on John, Tom ended up being honored too.

I'm convinced that because Tom chose to share the spotlight, he shared in the blessing. He didn't cling to control—he partnered in purpose.

Now contrast that with Saul. Saul was on his way out, yes, but that doesn't mean he couldn't have shared in what God was doing through David. Had he humbled himself, had he rejoiced in God's favor on another, perhaps his legacy would have been redeemed.

MTR: Instead of looking at life through a focus on self, look at it through a focus on God—and enjoy the privilege of sharing the spotlight.

Let Jonathan be your model, not Saul. Let your friendships, your ministry, and your leadership be marked by humility, celebration of others, and a God-first mindset. When you see someone else shining, don't let jealousy whisper threats—let gratitude sing praises to the God who raises up champions for His glory.

Friend or foe — A self-focused heart will sacrifice the very people and blessings God sends—Saul's obsession with protecting his position led him to destroy what mattered most (10-19).

Instead of seeing a servant, Saul saw a threat.

As we move into verses 10-19, the tension escalates. Saul's fear has now become open hostility. Instead of seeing David as a faithful servant and a soothing musician, Saul sees him as a dangerous rival. The tragedy? Saul tries to kill the very one who was helping him.

Verse 10 tells us that "an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul." This is a hard phrase, but we need to understand it in the context of God's sovereignty. The biblical writer isn't claiming that God is the author of evil. Rather, Saul has so thoroughly rejected God's presence that he is now vulnerable to torment. The phrase could suggest God permitted this distressing spirit as a form of judgment or consequence, but it doesn't have to mean that. What is clear is that we see Saul's unraveling mental and emotional state.

Saul begins to "prophesy in his house," but this word, vayitnabeh (וַיִּתְנַבֵּא), is in the Hitpael stem and carries the idea not so much of prophecy as we know it but rather to exhibit the behavior of a raging lunatic. That is, Saul is exhibiting a kind of frenzied or manic behavior. It's not true prophetic speech; it's closer to raving or uncontrolled ranting. In short, Saul is coming undone. He's not just losing his grip on the throne—he's losing his grip on reality.

And in the middle of that chaos, Saul hurls a spear at David. Why? Because David was playing music to soothe him. Imagine how far Saul has fallen: he targets the very person sent to bring peace to his tormented heart.

Self-focus does this. It blinds us to the good that God has placed in front of us. Instead of gratitude for God's provision, Saul is consumed by jealousy, and it leads him to attack those who mean him no harm. When fear and pride rule the heart, even friends look like enemies.

Saul used his daughter as bait; the people began to see the rise of a leader.

As I read the narrative, what strikes me is that in the middle of lunacy, Saul also has moments of partial clarity. Saul realizes that he may be able to trap David and so he begins implementing a plan. He tries to trap David with marriage—yet David's humility only endeared him more to the nation.

In the midst of Saul's madness, a darker kind of clarity emerges. He hatches a manipulative plan: "I'll use my daughters to trap David." Twice Saul offers a daughter in marriage—not as an honor, but as a snare. He hopes that by marrying David into the royal family, he can entangle him in dangerous military service or compromise him politically. In short, Saul is willing to exploit his own children to eliminate a rival.

This is where Saul's character is fully exposed. He is no longer interested in ruling with integrity. He's interested in surviving at any cost.

Now contrast that with David. The narrator gives us no insight into David's internal thoughts—only his actions. But those actions speak volumes. David declines Saul's first offer, saying, "Who am I, and what is my family... that I should become the king's son-in-law?" That humility is remarkable. He had earned this honor by defeating Goliath. But David refuses to demand what was promised, showing respect for the office of the king, even as Saul dishonors it.

David's humility only increases his popularity. The people see a rising leader—not just because of his military success, but because of his character. He walks with integrity while Saul plots in the shadows. David doesn't chase the crown; he honors the king. And in doing so, he proves himself to be the kind of leader Israel needs.

Saul had been blessed with sons and daughters and wanted a dynasty, but his jealousy leads him to make absurd decisions. Jealousy makes us sabotage our own blessing.

Jealousy sabotages blessing.

Saul had everything a king could hope for: a throne, victories, sons, daughters, a legacy in the making. But because he couldn't rejoice in the success of another, he falls flat. His jealousy makes him irrational. He breaks promises, manipulates his family, and alienates himself from those who loved him.

How many of us have done the same in smaller ways? God places someone in our life to help us, sharpen us, or support us—but we feel threatened, so we keep them at arm's length or cut them off. We miss the blessing because we fear being overshadowed.

Image: Sibling birthdays

Let me offer a simple picture. Imagine two sisters—one is eight, the other six. It's the younger sister's birthday. There's cake, games, presents, and a whole celebration. The older sister now has a choice: she can enjoy the party, eat cake, play games, and celebrate with her sister—or she can sulk in the corner, upset that she's not the center of attention. I've seen both happen.

When the older sibling chooses to celebrate too, everyone has a better time. But when she makes it about herself, she misses all the joy.

That's what jealousy does. It takes a gift someone else is receiving and turns it into bitterness in your own soul. But it doesn't have to. You can enjoy what God is doing—even if it's not your moment.

MTR: Choose to enjoy the success of others instead of seeing it as a challenge to your position.

God often blesses others near us to give us a share in that blessing. But when we turn those people into rivals, we isolate ourselves from what God wants to do through them—and possibly for us.

Let's be like David, walking humbly and trusting God with the outcome. And let's refuse to be like Saul, sabotaging what God has given out of fear that someone else is getting more.

Strategy to self-destruction — Self-focus leads to foolishness—when we try to manipulate outcomes for our own gain, we often end up working against the very purposes of God (20-30).

Saul schemed; David served.

As the chapter progresses, Saul continues down the path of manipulation and pride. He's not simply reacting anymore—he's actively plotting. He knows the people love David. He knows his own influence is slipping. So what does he do? He returns to an old tactic: using his daughter as bait, this time offering Michal in marriage.

Now don't miss this—David had already turned down a royal marriage, calling himself a poor man and unworthy of such an honor. His response wasn't false modesty; it reflected a genuine humility before God and respect for the office of king.

But Saul sees an opportunity. With feigned generosity, he sets a trap. He doesn't ask David for a dowry of money or gold—he asks for 100 Philistine foreskins, a grotesque and dangerous mission designed to provoke enemies and place David in harm's way. This isn't a military assignment—it's an assassination mission wrapped in royal ribbon.

I want you to notice the absurdity of Saul's request. This is more than just a request to kill 100 men; this is a request to incite great retributive passion through desecration of the bodies and take great risk to desecrate these bodies. I truly believe Saul expects David to fail. It's absurd, it's brutal, and it's manipulative. But Saul assumes David will either die trying or be disgraced in the effort. His pride has blinded him to David's character and God's calling.

Saul manipulated; David rose.

But God was with David. And that makes all the difference.

David, still humble and loyal, accepts the task—not to earn Saul's favor but to honor the request of the king. He doesn't just meet the demand; he exceeds it. He returns with double the number—200 Philistines defeated.

Every time Saul tries to tear David down, David rises higher. Why? Because you cannot outmaneuver the will of God. What Saul meant for harm, God used to lift David in the eyes of the people—and even Saul himself now fully realizes: "David is my enemy" in verse 29

Here's the irony: Saul is using every ounce of his energy to defeat someone God has chosen. And it's not working. It's backfiring.

A thousand years later, a wise Jewish teacher named Gamaliel would speak a truth that Saul should have embraced:

Saul abandoned the truth that later Gamaliel would state Acts 5:39.

"If this is from God, you will not be able to stop it."

Saul refused to accept that. He couldn't bring himself to align with God's plan if it didn't benefit him personally. But that refusal didn't stop God—it only hastened Saul's downfall.

The wisdom of standing with God's plan

There's a lesson here for us. When God is clearly at work in someone else's life, don't fight it—celebrate it. Align yourself with it. You don't need to be the one in the spotlight for God to bless you. In fact, trying to force your way to prominence by pushing others down will only isolate you from the blessing God intended to share.

Here is the reality: we need to align ourselves with God's plan regardless of what that means for our own plans.

Image: Some great advice from Dad

Growing up with three brothers, there was always a little bit of competition in the house. We competed for attention, for privileges, for the last cookie—sometimes we even joked at each other's expense to make ourselves feel bigger.

But my dad would often step in and say something I'll never forget:

"You can't build yourself up by tearing someone else down."

That line stuck. It's simple, but it's some of the best advice I've ever received. And it's exactly what Saul refused to learn.

MTR: Remind yourself: I cannot elevate myself by tearing someone else down.

Saul is a cautionary tale in a world obsessed with platform and power. He used every strategy he could think of to stay on top—and lost everything. But David points us to a better way: the way of humility, trust, and faithful obedience.

Let go of control. Celebrate what God is doing in others. And trust that His plan is big enough to include all whom He calls.