1 Samuel 20:24–42 Saul’s Anger Against David

[Study Aired June 8, 2026]

In today’s study, our focus will be centered on three areas – Saul’s questioning Jonathan about David’s absence, His anger towards David, when he realized that he had intentionally absented himself from the New Moon feast and Jonathan’s signal to give direction to David regarding what he should do. 

The chapter ends with David and Jonathan sharing an emotional farewell as they part ways, while comforting themselves of the covenant they swore to each other in the name of the Lord.

Saul Questions David’s Absence

1Sa 20:24  So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. 
1Sa 20:25  And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty. 
1Sa 20:26  Nevertheless Saul spake not anything that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. 

As indicated in our previous study, David hiding himself signifies David taking refuge in Christ as His protector, redeemer, comforter, etc. 

Psa 32:7  Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. 
Psa 32:8  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.  

It is instructive to note that David hid himself in the field which symbolizes the world. This reminds us of our Lord Jesus Christ while he was here on earth. The people wanted to kill him after His sermon in the synagogue as they thrust Him out of the city. However, he escaped by going through the midst of the people. Spiritually, our hiding place is being in Christ. Outwardly, being in the midst of the people of the world hides us from our Babylonian brothers and sisters who want to harm us.

Joh 8:59  Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Luk 4:20  And he (Jesus) closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 
Luk 4:21  And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 
Luk 4:22  And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son? 
Luk 4:23  And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. 
Luk 4:24  And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 
Luk 4:25  But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
Luk 4:26  But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
Luk 4:27  And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. 
Luk 4:28  And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 
Luk 4:29  And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 
Luk 4:30  But he passing through the midst of them went his way. 

Here in verse 24, King Saul sat down to eat meat as part of the new moon festivities. Saul represents our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world. Saul, sitting at table to eat meat at the new moon implies that it is the church system of this world which observes days, months, times and years, which is part of the weak and beggarly elements, which disqualify us for the prize of the higher calling of the Lord. 

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 
Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.    

It was while Saul sat at the table to eat meat that he noticed that David was missing. Initially, he thought that David’s absence was due to his sinful deeds. This implies that what our brothers and sisters feed on in terms of the word of the Lord, only cause them to regard us, His elect, as being sinful, just as the Pharisees regarded Jesus as being sinful as they accused Him of possessing demons, blaspheming and associating with sinners. As the Lord is, so are we in this life. If the church system of Jesus’ days accused Him of being a sinner, they will do the same with us. 

1Pe 4:3  For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 
1Pe 4:4  With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; (ESV)

Mar 3:22  And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 

Joh 15:20  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 
Joh 15:21  But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 

1Sa 20:27  And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
1Sa 20:28  And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem: 
1Sa 20:29  And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table. 

It was on the second day of the month that Saul noticed David’s absence from their New Moon feast. The second day in the scriptures, in the negative context, signifies the time in our lives as the Lord’s elect that we come to see the enmity against us by our brothers and sisters in Babylon, after our escape from Babylon. 

Jdg 20:24  And the children of Israel (our Babylonian brothers and sisters) came near against the children of Benjamin (the Lord’s elect) the second day.
Jdg 20:25  And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.

Jonathan, a symbol of the Lord’s elect still trapped in Babylon, tried to explain to Saul, that David asked for permission to visit his family in Bethlehem. It is insightful to note that Bethlehem means ‘the house of bread.’ What this implies is that David’s destination after leaving Babylon was to join the church of the Lord’s elect (Bethlehem) or the church of the firstborn or the heavenly Jerusalem. 

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 

As stated in verse 29, Jonathan told his father Saul that David was going to join his family for a sacrifice in Bethlehem. It is through what every joint supplies in the gathering of the family of the Lord’s elect, that we can offer ourselves as living sacrifice to the Lord. 

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Our exit from our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world is what draws out their hatred against us, making us come to see clearly the deplorable state of the church. Their hatred against us becomes obvious as they consider us, the Lord’s elect, as spiritually dead in the streets of the church system of this world or Jerusalem. 

Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 
Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.  

1Sa 20:30  Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness? 

As indicated, Saul’s anger against his son, Jonathan, who was an elect but still trapped in Babylon,  shows us the hatred of the church system of this world against the Lord’s elect. What Saul said in his anger against Jonathan speaks volumes of the church system of this world or Babylon. Saul referred to his son as the son of the perverse rebellious woman in verse 30. This is a concise and clear description of the woman who represents the church system of this world, who rebels against her husband Christ and is a harlot. 

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 
Rev 17:6  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 

Saul also made a profound statement to Jonathan in verse 30 by saying that choosing David, the son of Jesse, amounts to unveiling his own confusion and his mother’s nakedness. Jonathan’s mother signifies Babylon. This shows why our brothers and sisters in Babylon do not want to recognize us as the Lord’s elect. This is because doing so means bearing witness to their confusion and also unveiling the sinful state of the church system, which is symbolized by Jonathan’s mother’s nakedness. That is why the church system of this world hates us and considers us as dead in their corridors of worship or the streets of Jerusalem.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 
Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 
Mat 10:24  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 
Mat 10:25  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 

1Sa 20:31  For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. 

Saul’s statement in verse 31 that as long as David lives, he, Jonathan shall not inherit the promise of being established in the kingdom. This is a prophesy that it is the Lord’s elect who shall be established and reign as kings with Christ at the expense of our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world. In other words, we, His elect, have obtained mercy at the expense of our brothers and sisters in Babylon in this age, to reign with Christ in the fullness of time. 

Rom 11:28  As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 

The fact that Saul told Jonathan in verse 31 that David must surely die attests to the fact that our brothers and sisters see us as spiritually dead in the street of Jerusalem where our Lord was crucified. 

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 

1Sa 20:32  And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? 
1Sa 20:33  And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. 
1Sa 20:34  So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame. 

It is at this point that Jonathan came to realize that his father Saul intended to kill David. The throwing of Saul’s javelin to smite Jonathan served as a witness of Saul’s intention to kill David. As indicated in previous studies, the javelin in the hand of Saul signifies false doctrines which comes out of the smoke from his bottomless pit or his heart and mind, which darkens the sun and the air. That is to say that the javelin thrown at Jonathan in verse 33 represents the false doctrines which darken our understanding of the word of truth and makes us spiritually dead while in Babylon. 

Although the javelin thrown at Jonathan did not slay him, it was a sign for him to escape Babylon with David. However, unlike Moses, who left the king’s palace in Egypt to suffer with the Lord’s people, Jonathan did not run away with David as he was not ready to suffer with David for the Lord’s sake. As we shall see later in the study, he ended up dying with his father Saul.

Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 
Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 
Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 

In verse 34, Jonathan refused to eat meat on the second day of the feast as he grieved for David. This suggest that Jonathan stopped imbibing the false doctrines spewed in the streets of Babylon and was concerned about the Lord’s elect (David). There are few people in Babylon who are aware of the damnable heresies spewed in Babylon and have come to appreciate the word of the Lord through the Lord’s elect. However, they do not want to leave Babylon because of their strong ties with the brothers and sisters there. Just as Jonathan died with his father Saul, such people run the risk of becoming spiritually dead.

2Sa 1:4  And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 

2Sa 1:11  Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 
2Sa 1:12  And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.     

Jonathan’s Signal to Give Direction to David

1Sa 20:35  And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. 
1Sa 20:36  And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 
1Sa 20:37  And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? 
1Sa 20:38  And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. 
1Sa 20:39  But the lad knew not anything: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 

As shown in the previous study, when Jonathan tells the young lad that the arrows he shot were close by, then it means that David’s life was not in danger. The rationale behind this riddle is that if what we are looking for is close by, then we do not need to exert effort to find it. That is the greasy kind of religion which permeates the church system of this world where we thought we were already saved and therefore did not need to strive for the mastery. The Lord wants us to persevere in our quest to know Him. 

Rom 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

On the other hand, if the arrows shot by Jonathan are beyond the reach of the young man, it signifies that the judgment of the Lord is at hand and that David must run for his life. It also means that Lord intentionally hides His truths, mysteries, and deep wisdom, and as the Lord’s royals or elect, we must search for it. This searching out is a lifetime pursuit which involves hearing the voice of the Lord in the midst of the fire of our affliction. 

Pro 25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings (the Lord’s elect) is to search out a matter. 

Deu 4:36  Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. 

Deu 5:24  And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.   

As shown in verses 36 and 37, Jonathan told the young lad that the arrows were beyond him. This implies that the judgment of the Lord is nigh to David and that he must run for his life as a scapegoat let loose in the wilderness to complement the suffering of Christ.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:  

The lad not knowing Jonathan’s signal for David to run away implies that when we were young in the faith during our time in the churches of this world, we did not know about the mysteries of the kingdom as we had not been given the keys of David yet. 

Isa 22:22  And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Rev 3:7  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

1Sa 20:40  And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city. 
1Sa 20:41  And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. 
1Sa 20:42  And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed forever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city. 

Jonathan giving the young lad his artillery in verse 40, to be taken back to the city symbolically shows how Jonathan’s heart is attached to the city, which represents the church system of this world or Babylon. As a result, he could not leave Babylon with David. He was not ready to suffer reproach as we go to meet the Lord outside the camp of the church system of this world. 

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 
Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.  

In verse 42, Jonathan going back to the city as David departed as a scapegoat into the wilderness shows how the Lord separates us for His purpose even from those who have been helpful to us in our earlier walk with Christ. It also shows how David was prepared to suffer in his pursuit of Christ while Jonathan was not ready to leave Babylon to suffer reproach. As the deer pants for the water, so was David’s heart (the heart of the Lord’s elect) focused on Christ. 

Psa 42:1  To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Psa 42:2  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 

We thank the Lord for how far He has brought us in our walk with Him, and our prayer is that He continues to uphold us in Him to the very end. Amen!!

1 Samuel 19:1–24 Saul Tried to Kill David

[Study Aired May 25, 2026]

In today’s study, we shall look at four attempts from Saul to assassinate David. However, in all these attempts, He was delivered from them, through the intervention by Jonathan’s mediation, Michal, his wife, and Samuel’s protection, and by his own agility. 

The fact that there were four attempts on David’s life in this chapter, shows us the whole of the devil’s scheme to destroy us in our walk with the Lord. However, as the word of the Lord reminds us, no weapon formed or fashioned against us shall prosper.

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. 

Jonathan’s Intervention in Saving David’s Life 

1Sa 19:1  And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. 

Saul, in this context, represents the leaders of the church system of this world or Babylon. Jonathan, on the other hand, signifies our time as the Lord’s elect  in Babylon and Saul’s servants symbolize our brothers and sisters in Babylon. David on the other hand, stands for the Lord’s elect who have just left Babylon. With this in mind, it becomes easier to understand the spiritual significance of verse 1. What we are being told is that the message of the leaders of the church system of this world kills as we see Saul telling his son Jonathan and servants to kill David. In other words, their message is what puts us to death, spiritually.  

As we are aware, the church system of this world focuses on the physical interpretation of the word of the Lord or the letter, which kills. This ministration of death is what the law of Moses represents. 

2Co 3:6  who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 
2Co 3:7  Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 
2Co 3:8  will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 

Apart from the fact that the letter kills, the false doctrines propagated by these leaders of the church system of this world also kills. That is to say that the false doctrines from Babylon end up killing the hearers spiritually. 

2Pe 2:1  But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 
2Pe 2:2  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 

1Sa 19:2  But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: 
1Sa 19:3  And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee. 

Jonathan delighted much in David is Jonathan loving David. It demonstrates the love that binds us together as the Lord’s elect. This is the love that Jesus prayed that we should have for one another as it shows that we are really His disciples. 

Joh 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 
Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.   

Jonathan telling David that Saul was seeking to kill him refers to when we come to realize in Babylon that the church system will only put us to death spiritually. That is what expedites our exit from Babylon. In other words, knowing that our continued fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world represented by Saul will cause us to be spiritually dead, demands that we leave Babylon.    

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 

Jonathan pleading with David to abide in a secret place and hide himself is the need to abide under the shadow of the Almighty, where we are hidden in Christ, such that we are delivered from the devil’s traps (the snare of the fowler) and from deadly plagues (noisome pestilence) of false doctrines of man’s wisdom and tradition, spewed from the pulpits of Babylon. 

Psa 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 
Psa 91:2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 
Psa 91:3  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 
Psa 91:4  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psa 91:5  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;  

The question is, “How do we abide in the secret place of the most high under the shadow of the Almighty?”  Here in Psalm 91, we are given three clues as to what it means to abide in the secret place of the most high. In verse 4 of Psalm 91, we are told that truth shall be our shield and buckler. This implies that a key to abiding in the secret place of the most high is being given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. The second clue from Psalm 91 is as follows:

Psa 91:9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;  

Making the Most high our habitation involves the Lord coming to us with the spirit of His mouth to destroy our old man or the man of sin who sits in our temple, claiming himself to be God. The destruction of the man of sin is the judgment or the suffering marked out for us, which makes us abide in the secret place of the Lord.

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

The third sign that we are abiding under the shadow of the Almighty is as follows:

Psa 91:14  Because he (the elect) hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 

Our love towards the Lord is demonstrated by our obedience. Through our obedience, we are being protected under the secret place of the Most High – our hiding place.

In verse 3 of the study, Jonathan wanted to talk with his father Saul in the field to reconcile him with David. As indicated, Jonathan represents our walk as the Lord’s elect in Babylon. At that time of our walk, we did not have a clue that what was happening to us (David) is of the Lord, as He wants us to leave Babylon. We thought that the church system of which we belonged to, would come to understand our views of the scriptures. We therefore did not have a clue that the solution was to leave Babylon.  

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 

1Sa 19:4  And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: 
1Sa 19:5  For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? 
1Sa 19:6  And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. 
1Sa 19:7  And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past. 

As we can see from these verses, Jonathan was able to reconcile his father with David. This is to show us that our exit from Babylon is a process. We may be physically detached from the churches of this world, but yet retain its false doctrines which bind us to Babylon. At that time, both Jonathan and David did not know that Saul’s enmity against David was all of the Lord and that He was seeking for an occasion to judge David. 

Jdg 14:1  And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 
Jdg 14:2  And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. 
Jdg 14:3  Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. 
Jdg 14:4  But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.  

1Sa 19:8  And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. 

As long as we are living, we have to contend with our flesh regularly. Here in verse 8, we see David battling the Philistines and through the mercy of the Lord, he came out victorious. The Philistines fleeing from David is to let us know that there are times of relief in our lives, where our flesh is under control. There are other times, too, that we have to rise up and fight our flesh which is influenced by the devil, with the full confidence that we shall be victorious in the final analysis, as we see David’s victory over the Philistines.

Ecc 3:8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 

1Sa 19:9  And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 
1Sa 19:10  And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. 

When a brother or sister becomes disobedient to the Lord and falls away, such a person is possessed by an evil spirit from the Lord, which troubles him or her. Just as the words of the Lord are spirit, false doctrines are also spirit from the devil. Therefore, Saul being troubled by an evil spirit from the Lord, means that those who fall away are troubled by the false doctrines in their hearts and minds. 

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 
1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

As we are aware, a spear or a sword in the positive sense represents the word of the Lord. However, the javelin or spear in the hand of Saul signifies false doctrines which come out of the smoke from his bottomless pit or his heart and mind, which darkens the sun and the air. That is to say that the javelin thrown at David in verse 10 signifies the false doctrines which darkens our understanding of the word of truth and makes us spiritually dead. 

David fleeing from Saul’s presence signifies our exit from Babylon. As we can see, David’s continued stay with Saul would have resulted in his death through the spear of Saul. It signifies that our continued stay in Babylon or the church system of this world would have resulted in our spiritual death through false doctrines of man’s wisdom and tradition. 

Michal’s Intervention in Saving David’s Life

1Sa 19:11  Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, tomorrow thou shalt be slain. 
1Sa 19:12  So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. 

After escaping from Saul’s house, David went to Michal, his wife. Michal, in this case, represents the church system of this world or Babylon because of her affiliation to her father Saul. Usually, when we leave one Babylonian church, we end up with another Babylonian church thinking that would be better. However, the churches of this world or Babylon are the same in terms of their harlotry inclination and therefore are not faithful to Christ. 

Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.    

Michal telling David to escape with his life that night or risk being killed means that during our walk in the churches of this world, the Lord sometimes spoke to us through the churches to prepare our exit from it. As we are aware, the Lord even spoke through a donkey (a beast) to stop Balaam from his trip. 

Num 22:27  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 
Num 22:28  And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?   

Michal helping David to escape by letting David down through a window implies that our escape from Babylon is a life or death matter and not through a conventional farewell through the door. We escape like a bird out of the snare of the fowler. It is also important to note that Michal helping David to escape also means that we are pushed out of the church system or Babylon by the church.  

Psa 124:7  Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. 
Psa 124:8  Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.  

1Sa 19:13  And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. 
1Sa 19:14  And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. 
1Sa 19:15  And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. 
1Sa 19:16  And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster. 
1Sa 19:17  And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

As indicated, Michal represents the church system of this world which is in bondage with her children through deception. We can see here in these verses that Michal was involved in deception as a way to preserve the life of David. This is to show us that the Lord uses both good and evil to achieve His purpose in our lives. 

Psa 139:12  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 

Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. 

A typical example of how the Lord uses both good and evil to achieve His purposes is the story of how king Ahab was drawn to battle to die by a lying spirit proclaiming that Ahab would win the war. 

1Ki 22:20  And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
1Ki 22:21  And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 
1Ki 22:22  And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. 
1Ki 22:23  Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee. 

Saul Pursuing David to Ramah

1Sa 19:18  So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. 

David fleeing and coming to Samuel at Ramah signifies our escape from the churches of this world, as we come to the church of the New Jerusalem or the Lord’s elect. The name Ramah means ‘height’ and Naioth denotes ‘dwelling’. David coming to Naioth in Ramah symbolizes the beginning of our spiritual elevation or height as we dwell with our brothers and sisters in the Lord in unity. When we come to the assembly of the firstborn or the Lord’s elect, we are helped by what every joint supplies, to escape from the flood of false doctrines spewed by the devil through the false teachers and apostles parading in the corridors of the church system of this world.  

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 
Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 

1Sa 19:19  And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. 
1Sa 19:20  And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
1Sa 19:21  And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 

These messengers sent by Saul represents false brethren who are secretly brought in to spy out our liberty in Christ with the purpose of bringing us into bondage, that is, kill us spiritually. 

Gal 2:4  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 
Gal 2:5  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 

The fact that these false messengers were sent three times by Saul to take David indicates the process of spiritual maturity that we must all go through as the Lord’s elect, resulting in our spiritual maturity, when we come to the church of the first born or the New Jerusalem. 

As we can see, these false messengers prophesied under the unction of the Holy Spirit when they came into the body, although their orientation was not to seek after the prize of the higher calling of God. We have seen how some have come into our fellowship being gifted with prophesying, but yet were easily offended, when they were challenged of their heretical teachings. Saul sending these messengers three times, means that their coming and going out of the body is all part of the process of our spiritual maturity through suffering (the significance of the number three).

Gal 1:6  I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 
Gal 1:7  not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 
Gal 1:8  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 

1Sa 19:22  Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. 
1Sa 19:23  And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 
1Sa 19:24  And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? 

Saul ending up in Naioth in Ramah in pursuit of David and the messengers he sent earlier to take down David are all the same in spiritual significance – the coming of false brethren into our midst to spy on our liberty in Christ with the purpose of bringing us into bondage, that is, killing us spiritually. However, in the case of Saul, we are given further information that he stripped off his clothes and prophesied as he lay naked throughout the day and night. 

Saul stripping off his clothes and lying naked signifies that as the body of Christ, we shall come to know the sinful motives of these false brethren who come in our midst, just as all things are naked and opened to the eyes of the Lord.   

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

May we continue in Him having the full assurance that He who has started this good work in us shall see to its completion. Amen! 

1 Samuel 18:1–30 David and Jonathan’s Friendship

[Study Aired May 18, 2026]

David’s triumph over Goliath won him a place in Saul’s administration. Saul set David over the men of war and also as his personal attendant.  Davis also became Jonathan’s covenant friend and the darling of Israel, which drew out envy from Saul. As a result, Saul hated David and wanted to kill him. 

Saul proposed giving David to his first daughter, but intentionally cheated him of the eldest daughter by marrying her to somebody else to provoke David. Saul ended up proposing his younger daughter in marriage to David, but under conditions which would endanger his life. However, David was able to fulfill the conditions and ended up marrying Saul’s younger daughter. This made Saul afraid, which made him continue his enmity against David.

In this study, we shall look at the spiritual significance of all this. This is because it is the spirit that gives life. Just knowing the story as it is, does not give life or help us in our walk with Christ.  

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 

David and Jonathan’s Friendship

1Sa 18:1  And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
1Sa 18:2  And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. 
1Sa 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 

In verse 1, Jonathan came to love David as his own soul. This is for us to know that as His elect, the Lord always gives us our “Jonathan”, who cares so much for us, to help us in our walk with Christ. Such people may not continue with us in life, but are instruments that the Lord uses at various stages of our walk to help us in our journey to become overcomers. As David’s story unfolds, Saul would have killed David if not for Jonathan’s intervention. 

As Paul indicated in his letter to the Romans, Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives to save him. 

Rom 16:3  Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 
Rom 16:4  Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 

We must remember that Jonathan was initially the Lord’s elect, and therefore loving David as his own soul implies how as the Lord’s elect, we are to love one another. In verse 3, Jonathan and David making a covenant is to make us aware that as the Lord’s elect, we are covenanted to love one another. Our Lord Jesus emphasized that we must love one another. That is the only way that men may know that we are His disciples. 

Joh 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 
Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

In verse 2, Saul took David with him and did not allow him to go to his father’s house again. There is a saying in my local language which says that when a child learns how to wash his hands, he is ready to eat with kings and elders. David overcoming Goliath, his flesh, means that he is now ready to dine with kings and elders.

The first time that the phrase “father’s house” was used in the Bible, it refers to the Lord commanding Abraham to leave his father’s house. The father’s house in the negative context, refers to Babylon or the church system of this world.  

Gen 12:1  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Saul, in this case, represents our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world. Apart from the command by the Lord to leave Babylon, the enmity of our brothers and sisters in the church system against us, His elect, helps prevent us from wanting to do anything with Babylon or our father’s house.

1Sa 18:4  And 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. 

To understand what it means for Jonathan to strip himself of his robe and give it to David, we must know that later, Jonathan refused to join David in escaping from Saul’s death threat. His decision to remain with his father, caused him his death. 

2Sa 1:17  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 
2Sa 1:19  “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 

Jonathan started as the Lord’s elect with his bravery and defeat of the Philistines at their garrison with his armor bearer. However, he deemed his alliance to his father, Saul, to be more precious than the suffering he had to go through with David as the scape goat, set loose in the wilderness. He was not like Moses, who chose to suffer affliction with the Lord’s people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 
Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 
Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 

Removing his robe, his garment and his weapons and giving to David shows how he was predicting his rejection of the Lord’s mercy or the crown promised to the Lord’s overcomers or the prize of the higher calling of God and accepting the rulership of the Lord’s elect (David) in the fullness of time. In other words, we, His elect, have received mercy at the expense of our brothers and sisters in Babylon. 

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

1Sa 18:5  And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and 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 verse 5, we see that David’s obedience to Saul, the king, won him the honor of being set over the men of war by Saul. We can say in verse 5 that Saul here represents the Lord and that our obedience to His words will cause us to be set over our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world. This is clearly portrayed in the story of Joseph who was set as ruler over Egypt and over his brothers. Our obedience to the Lord will win us the prize of being the Lord’s overcomers and therefore rulers or kings over the world and our brothers and sisters in Babylon, in the fulness of time.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

Our obedience to the Lord will not only win us the prize of rulership in the future, but gives us favor in the sight of all men in this age.

Pro 3:3  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 
Pro 3:4  So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 

In Proverbs 3:3 above, we are told that it is through mercy and truth that we find favor and good understanding before the Lord and man. Mercy here is the grace of the Lord which chastises us or our judgment, while the truth here is our eyes being opened to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. This is what grants us favor in the sight of the Lord and man.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

The teaching used here in Titus 2:12 means discipline or chasten  from Strong’s Dictionary G3816.

Saul’s Jealousy of David

1Sa 18:6  And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. 

Our victory over the flesh as overcomers will also be the victory of the church system of this world and the world, represented by the Israelites women singing and dancing. We shall be their saviors in the fullness of time, when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. This is what it means when the Bible says that the creature is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, who are the saviors of the world.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 

1Sa 18:7  And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 

Our victory over the flesh will cause the church system of this world to proclaim, in the fullness of time, that our victory far surpasses the victory they had experienced in Babylon, represented by Saul. The saying that Saul had slain his thousands, but that David had slain his ten thousands had spiritual significance. Ten thousand is ten multiplied four times (10,000 = 10x10x10x10). This implies that David’s victory or our victory as the Lord’s elect, is a whole or total victory over our flesh in its fullness.

On the other hand, the victory of Saul over thousands, implies that when we were in Babylon, signified by Saul, we did win some victories over our flesh. However, we did not overcome wholly. Our Lord Jesus pointed out that the sin of self-righteousness, which is iniquity before the Lord, is what we were committing when we were in the churches of this world or Babylon. The thousands ascribed to Saul’s victory signifies some victories won over the flesh but excluding self-righteousness or iniquity. In other words, Saul’s victory, which represents our victories over the flesh when we were in the churches of this world, are partial and not whole or total victory, which is required of an overcomer.

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.    

1Sa 18:8  And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? 
1Sa 18:9  And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.  

Saul becoming displeased with David is of the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to come and judge David, using Saul as his instrument of judgment through his enmity with David. In the same way, our rejection by our brothers and sisters in Babylon is all part of the Lord’s judgment of us in this age. 

Jdg 14:1  And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 
Jdg 14:2  And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
Jdg 14:3  Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. 
Jdg 14:4  But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

1Sa 18:10  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. 
1Sa 18:11  And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. 
1Sa 18:12  And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul. 

When a brother or sister becomes disobedient to the Lord and falls away, such a person is possessed by an evil spirit from the Lord, which troubles him or her. Just as the words of the Lord are spirit, false doctrines are also spirits from the devil. Therefore, Saul being troubled by an evil spirit from the Lord, means that those who fall away are troubled by the false doctrines in their hearts and minds. 

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 
1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;    

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Therefore, Saul prophesying in the house is him spewing out false doctrines from his heart and mind. As we are aware, a spear or a sword in the positive sense represents the word of the Lord. However, the javelin or spear in the hand of Saul signifies false doctrines which comes out of the smoke from his bottomless pit or his heart and mind, which darkens the sun and the air. That is to say that the javelin thrown at David in verse 11 signifies the false doctrines which darkens our understanding of the word of truth and makes us spiritually dead. 

David avoiding Saul’s presence twice in verse 11 is to let us know that as the Lord’s witnesses, we are to avoid a brother or a sister who is always spewing false doctrines when we are with him or her. 

When the Lord is with us, those who come against us will be afraid as Saul became afraid of David. David departing from Saul in verse 12 implies that we must do away with any brothers or sister who continually spew false doctrines when we are with him or her.  

1Sa 18:13  Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
1Sa 18:14  And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. 
1Sa 18:15  Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. 
1Sa 18:16  But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. 

Here in verse 13, it looks like David had been demoted by Saul from being set over the men of war to making him a captain of a thousand, which is all of the Lord with the purpose of taking David through the fire. However, we can see that David continued to please the Lord by his way of life, which made Saul afraid of him. It is obvious that David was being refined by the fire of the Lord and as we have indicated earlier, it is through mercy and truth that we obtain favor before the Lord and men.     

Pro 3:3  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 
Pro 3:4  So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 

David Marries Michal

1Sa 18:17  And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD’S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him. 
1Sa 18:18  And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king? 
1Sa 18:19  But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife. 

To understand these verses in the spirit, we have to know that in the spirit realm, there is neither male nor female. This implies that this proposed royal marriage of the king (Saul)’s daughter, Merab to David is the same as the marriage of the Lord’s elect (the bride) to Christ the royal (God’s son). As Saul indicated in verse 17, this proposed marriage can take place only through David’s heroism over the Philistines. This means that becoming the bride of Christ is only through overcoming the flesh, represented here as the Philistines. 

David’s apprehension that he was not fit to be the son in law of the king in verse 18 shows us that at the early stages of our walk with Christ, we do not have what it takes to become the bride of Christ. Saul giving his elder daughter to Adriel instead of David in verse 19 means that at a certain stage of our walk, we were not qualified to become the bride of Christ. The reason we were not qualified was because we did not have information as to how to become the Lord’s bride. In other words, we were not given the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom, to become the bride of Christ. Although, we were the Lord’s elect, we were with the multitude (Babylon) and therefore we were not given to hear the truth of the Lord’s words.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.   

1Sa 18:20  And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 
1Sa 18:21  And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain. 
1Sa 18:22  And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law. 
1Sa 18:23  And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed? 

In verse 20, Saul was pleased that his younger daughter loved David and was prepared to give her to David and so he commanded his servants to commune secretly with David about this in verse 22. However, the conditions for becoming the son in law of the king had not changed as shown in verse 21, where David’s marriage to Michal would be possible only after engaging the Philistines. 

David’s apprehension in verse 23, by saying that it is not a light thing to be the King’s son in law shows that becoming the bride of Christ is not an easy task as our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world think. This is because in our quest as the Lord’s elect to become the bride of Christ, we have to endure being hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted and  struck down. It is through suffering that we put to death our old man or flesh or the Philistines.     

2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 
2Co 4:11  For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 
2Co 4:12  So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 

1Sa 18:24  And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David. 
1Sa 18:25  And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 
1Sa 18:26  And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired.
1Sa 18:27  Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

We can see from these verses that David finally got to know what exactly he had to do to become the son in law of the king. He had to present to King Saul, a hundred foreskins of the Philistines in order to marry Michal. Incidentally, Michal means ‘brook’, which in the context of the study today may imply that it is through the truth of the word of the Lord (brook) that we can become the bride of Christ. The fact that David knew what it takes to become the son in law of the king is to make us aware that it is until our eyes of understanding are enlightened to know the mysteries of the kingdom that we need a hundred foreskins of the Philistines to become the bride of Christ. That is to say that we have to overcome the flesh to become the Lord’s bride.

Rev 14:4  It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 
Rev 14:5  and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. 

In verse 27, David killing two hundred Philistines and presenting their foreskins to Saul, won him the right of being the king’s son in law. Michal was therefore given to him as his wife. It is important to note that Saul requested for only a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. However, David doubled it (200 = 2×100). Our righteousness must surpass the righteousness of our brothers and sisters in Babylon.  

Mat 5:20  For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Doubling the number of foreskins of the Philistines also shows us that overcoming the flesh is what serves as a witness (the significance of the number two) to becoming the bride of Christ in the fullness of time.

Rev 19:6  And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 
Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

1Sa 18:28  And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.
1Sa 18:29  And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually. 

Through our victory over the flesh in this age, our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world or Babylon will come to acknowledge that the Lord was really with us and that we are loved greatly by the Lord. In this age, however, our brothers and sisters look to us as their enemy as we see Saul becoming David’s enemy continually in verse 29. If you can remember, the Jews during the time of the apostles, also hated the disciples of Christ. This is what the Lord said about this hatred:

Joh 15:18  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 
Joh 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 

1Sa 18:30  Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by. 

This verse has a much easier to understand translation as follows:

1Sa 18:30  Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed. (ESV) 

As long as we are here in this tent of the flesh, we shall always be in battle against our flesh, signified by the Philistines coming out in battle against David. However, just as David had more success than all the servants of Saul, our victory over the flesh shall be overwhelming, far more than the small victories over the flesh won by our brothers and sisters in Babylon, represented here in verse 30 as Saul’s servants.

May the Name of the Lord be Praised for Favoring us in this Age. Amen!!

1 Samuel 14:24–52 Saul’s Oath 

[Study Aired April 13, 2026]

The study for today focuses on Saul’s oath which troubled the people of Israel.  It looks at Jonathan’s error through ignorance and Saul’s determination to put him to death, in spite of him being his son. However, the people of Israel rescued him. The study ends with Saul’s battle with the neighboring tribes and an account of his family.

Saul’s Rash Vow

1Sa 14:24  And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. 

As indicated in the previous study, Saul and the men of Israel with him represent the church system of this world or Babylon. According to Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB), the men of Israel being distressed that day means being under a taskmaster, ruler, oppressor or tyrant. This oppressor or tyrant is the devil who empowers our flesh. 

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon [the devil] which gave power unto the beast [Our flesh]: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

Here in verse 24, we are given the reason why the men of Israel were under distress. It was because they had been commanded not to eat food until the evening when Saul, their king, had avenged his enemies. Not to eat food spiritually means that the men of Israel represent us during our time in the church system of this world or Babylon, where we are not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 
Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 
Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

Our brothers and sisters in Babylon’s inability to understand the word of the Lord is because their leadership, represented by Saul, has put a curse on them not to eat any food. That is to say that the leadership of Babylon are not given to know the truth of the Lord’s word, and therefore what they give (the false doctrines) prevents them from knowing the truth. 

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

This curse will continue until the evening, when Saul has avenged his enemies. The evening refers to the lake of fire age of judgment, when our brothers and sisters in Babylon will come to know the truth. That is the time when their flesh or carnal mind (the enemy) is destroyed or avenged.

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

1Sa 14:25  And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. 
1Sa 14:26  And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. 

These verses are to show us that initially, the church system of this world or Babylon was endowed with the fundamental truth of the Lord’s word, represented here as honey. However, because of false doctrines spewed by their leaders, signified by Saul’s command for the people not to eat, even the basic truths of His word were perverted, such that we could not assess the milk and honey of the Lord’s word in Babylon.

Exo 3:17  And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.  

Isa 9:15  The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. 
Isa 9:16  For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. 

Eze 16:13  Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
Eze 16:15  But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was. 
Eze 16:16  And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.
Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them, 

1Sa 14:27  But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. 
1Sa 14:28  Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint. 
1Sa 14:29  Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 
1Sa 14:30  How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines? 

As we have indicated in the previous study, Jonathan represents the Lord’s elect during our time in the church system of this world. The fact that Jonathan did not hear his father’s oath and proceeded to eat of the honey implies that as the Lord’s elect, the Lord in His mercy, caused us to eat of the honey of His word, even while we were in Babylon, which caused our eyes to be enlightened (verse 27). 

In verse 28, one of the people told Jonathan about how his father has cursed anyone who eats any food that day, and therefore caused the people to be faint. This is to let us know that it was in Babylon that we become aware that the leaders in the church system are the cause of our inability to know the truth of His word. 

In verses 29 and 30, Jonathan’s assessment of his father’s error is summed up by his word that his father has troubled the land and that their inability to achieve a greater slaughter of the Philistines was because of the lack of the foundational truth of the Lord’s word. In other words, it is in Babylon that we come to realize that our leaders have failed us and as a result, we cannot worship the Lord acceptably while we continue in Babylon. This is all in preparation for our exit from Babylon at the appointed time. 

2Pe 2:17  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 
2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Psa 137:1  By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 
Psa 137:2  We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 
Psa 137:3  For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 
Psa 137:4  How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land? 

1Sa 14:31  And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint. 
1Sa 14:32  And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood. 
1Sa 14:33  Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day. 

The smiting of the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon by the people of Israel in verse 31 is to let us know that while we were in the churches of this world, we were given some victories over our flesh. For example, we were delivered from some of the attributes of the flesh such as fornication, adultery, hatred, wrath, envying, etc.  

Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 
Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 
Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.   

The people taking sheep, oxen and calves, killing them and eating them with the blood in verse 32, was forbidden by the Lord.  The reason why the Israelites were forbidden under the law of Moses to eat meat with blood is because blood was used as atonement for sin, and therefore, blood was seen as a sacred thing. God wanted to ensure that the blood of the sacrifices was always considered precious.    

Deu 12:15  Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart. 
Deu 12:16  Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water. 

If we willfully continue to sin, then it means that we have treated the blood of Christ as an unholy thing. That is the spiritual meaning of eating meat with blood. Therefore, the people eating meat with blood in it shows us that during our time in Babylon, we continued to sin, even though we were enriched in Him. As a result, we were actually trampling on the blood of Christ.   

Heb 10:26  For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 
Heb 10:27  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28  He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 
Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 

Verse 33 shows us that the leaders of the church system of this world are aware of the sins of the people of the church system of this world, but their method of addressing sin is wrong, as we shall see Saul’s way of dealing with the sins of the people. 

1Sa 14:34  And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there. 
1Sa 14:35  And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD. 
1Sa 14:36  And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. 

Saul’s dealings with the people that sinned was not in accordance with what the Lord enjoins us to do. We are to rebuke those who sin publicly that others may be afraid. However, he only asked the people to come and slay their oxen and sheep before him so that they do not sin. Spiritually, what Saul is saying  was that the gathering of the church system of this world, automatically causes people to stop sinning.   

1Ti 5:20  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
1Ti 5:21  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.  

In verses 35 and 36, Saul built an altar to the Lord, and based on this, he wanted to go after the Philistines and destroy them, but the priest reminded him to draw near to the Lord first. The leaders of the church system of this world, represented by Saul, are only interested in works (building churches) and think that in doing this, their flesh will just die. That is to say that in Babylon, the people think that the works of their hands will save them from their flesh. However, the priest reminding Saul to draw near to the Lord is to show us that what is important is our relationship with Christ as we draw near to Him. It is not about the works of our hands. Jesus warned us about those who think that the works of their hands can guarantee the kingdom of heaven as follows: 

Mat 7:21  Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

1Sa 14:37  And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day. 
1Sa 14:38  And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. 
1Sa 14:39  For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. 

Saul not being answered by the Lord in verse 37, shows us our situation when we were in the churches of this world. We did not hear from the Lord. As we shall see in the latter part of the Book of Samuel, Saul enquired of the Lord because of the Philistines, but did not receive an answer from the Lord. 

1Sa 28:5  And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 
1Sa 28:6  And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 

In our desperation, we vent our anger on the Lord’s elect signified by Saul vowing to kill Jonathan in verse 39. We, the Lord’s elect, are spiritually dead to our brothers and sisters in Babylon, just like the two witnesses, whose dead bodies were in the streets of Jerusalem or Sodom and Egypt. 

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.  

1Sa 14:40  Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee. 
1Sa 14:41  Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. 
1Sa 14:42  And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken. 
1Sa 14:43  Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
1Sa 14:44  And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
1Sa 14:45  And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. 

As shown in these verses, lots were cast which determined that Jonathan was guilty of eating while Saul had given a command for them not to eat until he has avenged his enemies. In this case, Saul’s command is the command or the word of the Lord. We know that the outcome of a lot is always of the Lord. 

Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. (ESV)

As we have shown earlier, Jonathan is a symbol of the Lord’s elect. During our time as the Lord’s elect in Babylon, we were guilty of not knowing the word of the Lord, and therefore we should have been put to death. As shown in verse 45, the people rescued Jonathan from death at the hands of Saul. In the same way, the Lord rescued or showed mercy to us, His elect, from Babylon at the expense of our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world. 

Rom 11:30  For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 
Rom 11:31  so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. 

1Sa 14:46  Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. 

Saul, who represents the church system of this world, stopped pursuing  the Philistines and went to his own place. That is to show us that when we were in Babylon, we were not engaged in a war with our flesh. It also implies that we did not consider ourselves as being able to win the war with our flesh.

Rev 13:4  And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”  

Saul Fights Israel’s Enemies

1Sa 14:47  So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.
1Sa 14:48  And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them. 

These verses show us our struggle with the flesh during our time in the churches of this world. We had some victories over our flesh in certain areas of our lives, as indicated in verse 48 where Saul and his host smote the Amalekites. However, the flesh, symbolized by all the enemies surrounding Israel (Moab, Ammon, Edom, kings of Zobah, the Philistines and the Amalekites) was still a formidable opposition during our walk in Babylon.

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 
Rom 7:15  For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 
Rom 7:16  Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 
Rom 7:17  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 
Rom 7:18  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 
Rom 7:24  Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 
Rom 7:25  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

1Sa 14:49  Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal: 
1Sa 14:50  And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 
1Sa 14:51  And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 
1Sa 14:52  And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him. 

These verses focuses on Saul’s family and the enmity between Saul and the Philistines. Saul had three sons – Jonathan, which means ‘Jehovah has given’, Ishui – ‘He resembles me’ and Melchishua – ‘My king is salvation.’ What this implies is that to be like Christ, who was given by God as our salvation, we must go through the process of spiritual maturity which is through the Lord’s judgment. The two daughters of Saul – Merab (increase) and Michal (who is like God) show us the two church systems. We have the church system of this world which is given to increase in this age and the other church system which represents the church of the Lord’s elect, which is making us become like Christ.

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.  

It is in the church of the Lord’s elect, represented by Saul’s wife, Ahinoam, which means ‘my brother is delight’, that we come to enjoy the delightfulness of our brothers and sisters through what every joint supplies. 

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

The commander of Israel’s army’s name was Abner which means ‘the father of light’ or ‘enlightening.’ It is through the Lord’s enlightenment that we become enrolled in His army. Kish, who is Saul’s father, means a bow. This implies that our Lord is a warrior. 

Exo 15:3  The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.  

Verse 52 tells us that there was sore war against the Philistines during all the time of Saul as king of Israel. This is to show us that our fight against our flesh is a lifetime struggle. However, unlike Saul, we, as the Lord’s elect, are assured of victory in the final analysis.

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

Amen!

1 Samuel 14:1–23 Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

[Study Aired April 6, 2026]

Our study for today looks at the faith and courage of Jonathan in attacking the guard post of the Philistines with his armor-bearer. Through faith in the Lord and courage, they were able to overcome the Philistines. 

Jos 1:6  Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 

This victory set the stage for Saul and his forces of six hundred men who had remained with him, together with the other Israelites who had fled the impending battle with the Philistines, to join Jonathan to fight and gain the victory over the Philistines.

To be able to understand the spiritual significance of today’s study, we need to look at the previous study to understand the context. As we saw in the previous study, it was only Saul and Jonathan, among the people of Israel, who were equipped to fight the Philistines. At that time, all the people of Israel did not have swords or spears to engage the Philistines in a battle, as they were deprived by the Philistines from possessing such weapons of war. 

1Sa 13:19  Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
1Sa 13:20  But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. 
1Sa 13:21  Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. 
1Sa 13:22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. 

The smith in these verses above, represents the Lord’s elect or what every joint supplies in the body of Christ. The fact that there was no one in Israel with sword or spear except Saul and Jonathan, implies that the people of Israel at that time signify the church system of this world or Babylon, where we were not given the truth of the Lord’s word, to fight our flesh or the Philistines in our lives. 

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

Saul and Jonathan therefore denote our time in the churches of this world or Babylon as the Lord’s elect. It is in Babylon that we cannot sing the Lord’s song in a strange land, which means that we cannot worship the Lord acceptably during our time in Babylon as we do not have the truth of the word to combat our flesh. 

Psa 137:3  For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 
Psa 137:4  How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?

Our situation in Babylon was such that it was impossible to have the weapons (the truth of the Lord’s word) needed to battle our flesh or the Philistines. This was because we were ruled by our flesh when we were in Babylon, and this dominion shows itself in the love of the world.

Mat 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.  

Jonathan’s Courageous Act

1Sa 14:1  Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.   

As indicated, Jonathan signifies the Lord’s elect while we were in the churches of this world or Babylon. It is important to note that while we were in Babylon, we did win some victories over the flesh or the Philistines as we see Jonathan ready to engage the Philistines. The armor-bearer denotes all those whom the Lord brings our way to help or encourage us with our walk with Christ. Saul, Jonathan’s father, being the king of Israel, here signifies the leadership of the church system of this world. Remember that Saul in the previous chapter, was rejected by the Lord for not waiting for Samuel as he chose to offer the burnt offering, which was the prerogative of Samuel, a priest of the Lord. 

1Sa 13:13  And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. 
1Sa 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. 

Jonathan not telling Saul about his decision to attack the garrison of the Philistines is to let us know that the victories over the flesh that we won in Babylon were not because of the leadership of the church system of this world, but because of the leadings of the Lord, since He had chosen us in Him before the foundation of this world. 

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

1Sa 14:2  And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men; 
1Sa 14:3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. 

The six hundred men with Saul in verse 2 represent the Lord’s elect. We must remember that initially, the number of those who assembled to fight the Philistines were three thousand.

1Sa 13:2  Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 

However, many left because of the fear of the Philistines, and only six hundred remained. Those who left felt that they could not win the war with our flesh.

Jdg 18:11  And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war. 

1Sa 27:2  And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 

It is instructive to note that the six hundred men were with Saul at Gibeah, which means ‘hill.’ As we have indicated in many previous studies, hills or mountains, on a positive note, represent a church. The fact that Saul and the six hundred men tarried at Migron, which means ‘precipice’, which is a steep or overhanging rock such as a high cliff. Migron, therefore, spiritually signifies a dangerous, perilous, or highly unstable situation, which is the description of the church system of this world or Babylon. Therefore, what we are being told is that we, at a certain point of our walk with Christ, were in Babylon. It is here in Babylon that we started engaging the flesh or the Philistines. 

The mention of Ahiab of the descendant of Eli, wearing an ephod as a priest, with the company of Saul and the six hundred men in verse 3, is to emphasize the point that the Lord’s elect, represented by the six hundred men, were in Babylonian captivity where the law of Moses still prevailed. As we are aware, it is when faith comes that we are no longer under the schoolmaster of the law of Moses which is still being practiced in the church system of this world.

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

The fact that the people did not know that Jonathan was gone to confront the Philistines in verse 3, is to let us know that the church system of this world is not aware of the fact that the Lord has a special people or His elect, represented by Jonathan, who are overcoming the flesh in this age. 

Rom 11:4  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

1Sa 14:4  And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 
1Sa 14:5 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah. 

In order to confront or wage war successfully with our flesh, we need to overcome two things – the sharp rock on one side called Bozez and another sharp rock on the other side called Seneh. Bozez means ‘shining’ or ‘surpassing white.’ In the negative context, the color white means ‘leprous.’ 

2Ki 5:27  The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed forever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. 

Our flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of the Lord, and therefore when we are under the domain of our flesh, it is like having an incurable disease of leprosy, which makes our skin or flesh as white as snow. The first thing Jonathan did was to overcome this mentality that we cannot win the war against our flesh. 

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?   

The name of the other sharp rock was Seneh which means ‘thorny’, which spiritually signifies false doctrines. Our flesh is empowered by the false doctrines in our hearts and minds. If we are to wage a successful war with our flesh, then the false doctrines in our heavens must be removed. The more the false doctrines in our heavens are removed, the more successful we become in our engagement with the flesh. 

Eze 2:6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their the sharp rock at words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

In verse 5, we are told that the sharp rock called Bozez was facing Michmash which means ‘hidden.’ This shows us that the leprous state of our flesh is hidden to many. The other rock, Seneh, facing Gibeah which means ‘hill’ shows us that it is in the church of the Lord’s elect that the false doctrines in our heavens are destroyed through what every joint supplies.

1Sa 14:6  And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. 
1Sa 14:7  And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. 

It is instructive in verse 6, to note that Jonathan referred to the Philistines as uncircumcised. This is to show us that when we are under the control of our flesh, then we are spiritually uncircumcised. Jonathan’s statement that there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few is to assure us that no matter the circumstance in which we find ourselves, the Lord is able to do exceedingly beyond what we can think or imagine. 

Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

As indicated earlier, the armor-bearer represents our brothers and sisters whom the Lord brings our way to help us with our walk with Christ. The armor-bearer’s statement in verse 7 that Jonathan should do all that is in his heart and that he was very supportive of Jonathan’s actions is to let us know how we are to encourage our brothers and sisters to reach for the prize of the Lord’s higher calling. Some of our brothers and sisters are given that gift of encouraging us to strive for mastery. In the Bible, Barnabas, whose name means ‘son of encouragement’, was very instrumental in helping establish Paul’s ministry – he welcomed Paul when other disciples were afraid of him and advocated for him. He encouraged John Mark after he failed in his missionary journey, showing a commitment to picking others up. He was a generous man, selling his field and bringing the money to the church.

Act 4:36  And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 
Act 4:37  Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 

1Sa 14:8  Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. 
1Sa 14:9  If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. 
1Sa 14:10  But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us. 
1Sa 14:11  And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. 
1Sa 14:12  And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. 

These verses show us how we are to deal with our flesh denoted here as the Philistines. If we are to wait for our flesh to come to us, that means the flesh gradually is losing its hold on us over time as we continue to worship the Lord, we may never become the overcomers that we dream of. Many in the church system of this world think that by continuing doing good, the flesh just disappears. 

If we are to win the war against our flesh, then we must take the fight to our flesh, just as Jonathan realized that the Lord’s will was for him to engage the flesh (the Philistines) and that it is through this fight that victory is won. This does not mean that we have the strength of our own to win the war against the flesh. It is all the work of the Lord to make us overcomers over the flesh. However, we must constantly weigh our thoughts and motives in the light of the Lord’s word to see if we are falling short as we continue to cry to the Lord to change us. The Lord’s tool of destroying our flesh is through His judgment of our flesh. 

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 
Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

1Sa 14:13  And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. 
1Sa 14:14  And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
1Sa 14:15  And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.  

In verse 13, Jonathan and his armor-bearer climbed up the precipice with their hands and feet to confront the Philistines. Climbing up with our hands and feet means that the word of the Lord becomes a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path. In other words, we begin to order our lives according to the word of the Lord such that it permeates our walk with Christ (our feet) and the works of our hands (our hands).  

Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  

As shown in verse 13, the Philistines fell before Jonathan and his armor bearer’s drawn sword to slay them. This emphasizes the fact that our victory over the flesh is not by our strength. It is the work of the Lord as He judges us, such that our walk with Him and the works of our hands are in line with His word. 

Psa 91:9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 
Psa 91:10  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 
Psa 91:11  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 
Psa 91:12  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

It is insightful to note that the first slaughter by Jonathan and his armor bearer against the Philistines consisted of twenty men in verse 14. This brings us to the negative application of the number twenty. In the negative sense, the number twenty means ‘being prepared for judgment.’ Our initial victory over the flesh is the Lord preparing us for His judgment to subdue our flesh as He causes our exit from Babylon. 

Gen 18:31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

The first strike by Jonathan and his armor bearer was within half an acre of land. In biblical times, an “acre” was not a fixed size but represented the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plow in one day. Half an acre therefore indicates a very small space. Killing twenty-armed men in such a restricted space therefore highlights the miraculous nature of our victory over the flesh. The sight of so many bodies in such a small area caused the rest of the Philistine army to believe they were being attacked by a much larger force, leading to massive panic as shown in verse 15. This implies that our initial victories over certain areas of our walk with Christ, makes it easier for us to win further victories over the flesh. On the other hand, when we are defeated, it empowers our flesh to overcome us. A Bible verse which supports this assertion is as follows:

1Sa 17:37  And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!” 

1Sa 14:16  And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
1Sa 14:17  Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.

The fact that the camp noticed that Jonathan and His armorbearer were absent and that they may have been responsible for the confusion among the Philistines is to let us know that in the fullness of time, our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world together with the whole of humanity will come to appreciate the victory that the Lord has wrought on our behalf as His elect. It is during this time that they will all come to know that their salvation is dependent upon our victory.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  

1Sa 14:18  And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. 
1Sa 14:19  And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.

A better translation of verse 19 is as follows:

1Sa 14:19 Saul was talking to Ahijah the priest waiting for advice from God. But the noise and confusion in the Philistine camp was growing and growing. Saul was becoming impatient. Finally, he said to Ahijah the priest, “That’s enough. Put your hand down and stop praying.” (ERV) 

1 Sa 14:19 As Saul was speaking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp kept getting worse, so Saul said to him, “There’s no time to consult the LORD!” (GNB) 

When the church system of this world or Babylon come to see who really are the overcomers or the sons of the Lord, they will abandoned their way of worship as symbolized by Saul telling Ahiah, the priest in verse 19, to stop praying.  

1Sa 14:20  And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. 
1Sa 14:21  Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. 
1Sa 14:22  Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. 
1Sa 14:23  So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.

Every man’s sword being against his fellow in the camp of the Philistines is to show us that the battle against our flesh is the work of the Lord who brought confusion among the Philistines to slaughter one another. In this battle against our flesh, we are to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord as He destroys our flesh through the sufferings that we go through.

Exo 14:13  And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. 
Exo 14:14  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Saul and the six hundred men with him, together with all the men of Israel which had hid themselves from the Philistines, joined the battle as they followed after the Philistines when they realized that the Philistines were fleeing. This is to let us know that in the fullness of time, during the lake of fire age, all humanity will have victory over the flesh, being led to victory by the overcomers in this age, the Lord’s elect, which are symbolized by Jonathan and his armourbearer. The elect are the saviors who will come and judge mount Esau or the people of the world, to bring salvation to all humanity.  

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

The battle being passed over to Bethaven is to let us know that the church system of this world or Babylon, will be the last on the line to be saved from their flesh or carnal mind. This is because Bethaven, which means ‘house of vanity’, represents the church system of this world or Babylon. 

Eze 16:55  When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.  

We thank the Lord for this privilege to overcome the flesh in this age. Amen!!

The Love Energy Loop between Christ and His Wife is Constant and Endless

[Study Aired May 26, 2021]

In April, the previous mini-study showed how nature, and particularly Birds of Paradise, displays that it is a shame for a man to have long hair. It graphically and colorfully portrayed the order of headship in the Godhead with an earthly husband representing the Father’s shadow as head of the family. It was an excerpt from a particularly long draft study in the making I named, “The Worship of Women Destroys the Love they Covet.”

Following is another excerpt from the same paper. It doesn’t give away the ultimate expression of that paper, yet for this exercise, I hope to inspire those Elect in marriage to deeply consider privately between the spouses how they can attain the love expressed in the next section as physically portrayed by David and Jonathan. The single saints can likewise do the same in their hearts, yet more directly to their fiancé, Christ. The advantage the married Elect have is their profound bond through the emotions of their marital union that should leave them awestruck in excitement for the spiritual reality when they see Christ in person.

As we progress through this paper, the purpose is to please reflect on how Christ can amplify His spirit – that energy flow between him and us, and us back to him.

The ultimate goal as a physical being

The ultimate goals are to live our physical lives, especially in marriage, to the fullest as a mirror-image of the Bride’s relationship with her Husband; to be “one” as Christ and the Father are “one”.

The Bride of Christ is not yet fully married to Christ. We are in the courtship phase. While we all are asleep and waiting as the Bridegroom seemingly tarries, we still can refine a few fleshly acts to reflect our relationship with our Lord more elegantly. It may seem pointless since we will soon hear the horse’s hooves thundering in the distance as He comes for us, especially when we understand these verses.

Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

1Co 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none. “Let no man glory in men [women!] for all things are yours”.

Men glory in women, and women glory in women. Ironically, if only women could fully see that if they gloried in their husbands, they would be on the path to a stunning physical relationship which points to a spectacular spiritual relationship with Christ. Yet, in these troublesome “end times”, the above scripture admonishes us not to focus on the earthly delights a beautifully seductive and Christ-like wife can lavish on her husband, since the reality in Christ infinitely surpasses the shadow of the breathtaking pleasures she can give serving the flesh.

Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

In our haste to mortify the deeds of the flesh, we overlook some vital male and female differences that would help make our marriage yoke light and result in a love that could “surpass the love of women”. It is infinitely more critical for us to have a love for Christ that surpasses the love of what a saintly wife of the Lord can bring to a relationship. Christ and the Father do have a love that surpasses the love of women.

2Sa 1:23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death, they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

2Sa 1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

David and Jonathan, in type and shadow, are juxtaposed in lockstep as the Father and Christ. Their love assuredly was, is, and will be more wonderful in the Elect than the love of an earthly woman can sensually and spiritually delight her husband and him, her. What man wouldn’t like to experience that kind of love, both physically and spiritually? What saintly woman wouldn’t want to give that kind of love to her husband? If she did have within her that quality, she would be as Christ, even God. Try to envisage how physically a woman can give her love to a man that surpasses any conceivable love ANY woman who has ever existed can give to her husband. The very same physical aspects two males can righteously give to each other as did David and Jonathan. The physical delights with which she is potently gifted are amplified beyond measure when she has the mind of Christ. What a woman! What a Bride of Christ!

The ultimate plan in the primary paper is to show how we can have a love for Christ that infinitely surpasses the love of women, the same love Christ has for the Father and He for Christ. It is the type of love reserved only for the Bride of Christ.

The title, “The Worship of Women Destroys the Love they Covet“, highlights Rachel’s physical and spiritual expression that ravished Jacob. There is nothing more ravishing (H7686 to go astray; to mislead always) to a man than a pretty girl who unreservedly expresses delight in him. Her authentic presentation and laughter in uninhibited responsiveness to him and showing in her eyes is designed by God to ravish him. What seals that ravishing, in the positive sense, is her dedicated submission to him in all things spiritual. To boot, should they have vastly more common interests than differences, then their relationship is a match made in heaven. Those heart-thumping experiences create anticipation in him. If she is authentic in every detail of her personality, she, too, delightedly experiences immense tension in their relationship. She would be a fool and a whore to be inauthentic with her romantic and erotic machinations. These enormous and sensual titillations are why God told a young man (any man) not to go near a loose woman. She doesn’t have to have the traditional looks of a whore to lure him, for she is far more wily with the subtle use of her God-given femininity. She is infinitely more likely to be a mutual friend in your circle of friends or the girl next door, even the church down the street that exudes ‘love’.

Conversely, the more delusions and imagined commonalities a couple have, that, too, is a match made in heaven of a turbulent kind. If one or both parties of a courting couple gloss over personal dislikes in the other, the stage is set for growing discord that will ultimately end in strife. A little leaven leavens the entire lump, and since God bound the two together, it is a match made in heaven for much overcoming and spiritual strife.

When the physical ravishings overrule the spiritual ravishings, any heart’s idols will come back to haunt and mislead the couple. If a girl’s idol of the heart is to give sex or sensual titillations just to get ‘love’, or for a guy to give ‘love’ with an underlying plan to get sex, their idols of the heart potentially will bite them badly. Sexual strife, pre-marriage and in a marriage, is a result of spiritual strife. David and Jonathan, in their relationship, didn’t have the discord any woman has the potential to bring to a relationship to “err”; or a man to his relationship to Christ. Consequently, their love was “wonderful” and “passing the love of women”. Whoa! Now that concept should make us sit up and take notice!

2Sa 1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

Wouldn’t it be astonishingly “wonderful” for the husband if his wife, with all of her extraordinary womanly delights, also had embedded in her heart and soul the same love David and Jonathan had for each other, for her husband?! She would be the recipient of everything beautiful from him if she (at God’s will) broke the curse of being against him.

Wouldn’t it be astonishingly “wonderful” for Christ if every member of the Body of Christ with all of her extraordinary womanly delights also had embedded in her heart and soul that same love Christ has for her? She will be the recipient of everything “wonderful” in the First Resurrection, if to Him she submits in “everything” – a relationship without discord and contention and being”One” in Christ.

The stark reality is that Jonathan and David did have a “wonderful” relationship that surpassed any love a woman could give a man short of sexual love. A woman’s unique sexual delights are designed expressly for the man; an ace-card surpassed by the righteous love two men can have for each other. That love (the two men) is a shadow of the love of God that the Father and Christ have for each other. Their love is one of implicit unity and oneness in “everything” as an earthly wife is to have for her husband in “everything”.

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the Wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

He becomes a saviour of both the physical body from a sexual standpoint and the spiritual connection. How good is that!?

Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

Now, as I’ve frequently been known to say, a wife being subject to a husband in “everything” doesn’t mean that if the husband loves anchovies on his pizza that his wife has to fall in line and love anchovies, too. However, the more remarkable that oneness between them in “everything” is, the closer their relationship is to surpassing the love even a saintly husband has for his wife. It is a physical shadow of Christ’s love for the Father that surpasses the love He has for his wife, the Bride of Christ. That quality is the pinnacle of love I hope (at His will) to guide submissive Saints, both male and female, in the Body of Christ to possibly achieve certain marital interactions that highlight Christ’s love for the Father.

What Type of Love  Surpasses the Love of a Woman?

That heading is a topic which will make every human since the beginning of creation sit up and take notice! They all will look in astonishment upon the wife of Christ, who walked hidden in their midst for two thousand years, and wonder at the Son whose love for the Father surpassed His love for His wife. Yet, He gave His life for His wife and family.

Mat 10:37 He that loveth Father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

David’s slaying of Goliath breathtakingly overshadowed Jonathan’s outstanding battle accomplishments. This ruddy complexioned stripling of a lad turned battle-hardened soldiers’ heads in awe. Seasoned soldiers, steeped unflinchingly in the gore of many conflicts, gaped at this lad in astonishment before an uproarious applause.

1Sa 18:1 And it came to pass, when he [David] had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
1Sa 18:2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his Father’s house.
1Sa 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
1Sa 18:4 And 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.
1Sa 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and 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.

Men delight in every aspect of a woman; every detail of her is titillation to his senses. So what is this quality two men can have for each other that a woman (thankfully!) is incapable of contributing?

I say, “thankfully” since we are not to confuse the sexes by a woman taking on the man’s qualities in a vain attempt to achieve the love that Jonathan and David had. Saul, Jonathan and David would loathe any Zena warrior-like woman standing shoulder to shoulder with them holding an enemy’s head aloft.

Jonathan’s and David’s very souls were knit by David’s extraordinary courage to slay the uncircumcised Philistine whom the armies of Israel feared. Saul, like Cain, became sullen and morose for not “do[ing] well” with their offerings and prefigures the likes of Esau and Queen Vashti and a host of other notables who nonchalantly refused God.

Christ, like Saul, takes us, His bride, permanently into His house forever. Before Christ took His bride, the Father and Christ made a covenant together to create man and the resulting slaying of man’s giants in his land. Christ and the Father, as did Jonathan and David, love each other as do the Father and Christ love mankind.

Christ likewise makes a pure white linen robe, the same as His, and dresses His wife together with His sword and bow of truth to protect and guide her in rulership just as Jonathan gave David his fighting gear. Jonathan and David were one in everything by their souls being knit, as husbands and wives are to be. Jonathan and David were the epitomai [plural] that flesh could produce which reflects the love Christ and the Father have for each other as males without the sexual union, which a female is unique in bestowing.

As from the First Resurrection, the wife of Christ goes out wherever He sends her to judge wisely and bring out His sword upon a lawless generation in the fearful sight of all the people, Saul’s figurative servants.

I make no apologies for the endless juxtaposing of the natural against and preceding the spiritual examples in this paper. Consequently, God created utterly graphic violence of intense colour and imagery as “ensamples” in both the animal world and the human beast world as mechanisms to partly shock us into submission. Only through painful trials and sufferings to which all flesh contributes will eventually the world be subdued to say, “Your will be done, mighty Lord and King; your word rules; you are God.”

Thankfully, our delightful lady-folk are unlike Zena, the warrior princess for the married husbands and to whom he comes home. Nonetheless, are our lady Saints afraid to read and see the graphic and intense imagery of Heber’s wife driving a nail through his temple? How about a son killing her other son, as did Cain with its horrific and nightmarish recollections for decades? What about seeing your son beat up and nailed upon a cross right before your eyes? Christ didn’t like the idea, yet his mother and family were made to endure the violent imagery ~ pretty graphic and colourful, wouldn’t you say? The Bible is a book full of harlotry and whoredoms of which the sisters, Oholah and Oholibah outrank the most outlandish shady ladies.

All of those vivid pictorials are ensamples for us to muse upon for their spiritual applications in which we delight. Especially Gentile Christian women, and likewise men, are not exempt from shying away from those expressive images; they cannot understand why God wants our forebears to kill little children and women.

Men who cannot lead as God requires are men who unwittingly reflect the nature of women; they are feminised and unconsciously have women ruling over them. A woman doesn’t have the “privy members” of a male that denote masculinity and leadership. His privy members are the two highly notable assets at birth that clearly denote masculinity.

Deu 23:1 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. [A eunuch could not be a priest of the Lord; why?]

Lev 21:17 Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
Lev 21:18 For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,
Lev 21:19 Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,
Lev 21:20 Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;
Lev 21:21 No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.
Lev 21:22 He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.
Lev 21:23 Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

All of those “blemishes”, as we know, are symbols of the higher spiritual meaning. Aaron’s seed came from Abraham and down to Christ and was sworn by Abraham’s servant’s hand “under my thigh” to garner a wife for Jacob from his “seed” or kindred. A blind man denotes the endemic blindness of all mankind. A lame man (spiritually) cannot walk in truth and spirit to rightly judge even these issues and even speak righteously about them. A more spiritually savvy Saint may have a better meaning for the “flat nose”, yet it means deformed, as does all things “superfluous” or deformed. Likewise, a broken foot or hand handicaps our walk and work’s spiritual use, as does a crooked back and dwarfism and poor eyesight and diseases.

So why couldn’t a man having a damaged or missing “member” or “stones” be a Priest, and why should that be a problem when the New Covenant was being established and enacted? Philip outrageously, to the Jews, by guiding the Ethiopian eunuch in God’s word, showed the fact that eunuchs, like us with blemishes, will be made into the new man.

A male’s privy members highlight his masculinity, and only males, in the Law of Moses, complete with those qualities and lacking blemishes, could be a priest. Having a full complement of privy members without bodily blemishes portrays the purity and headship of the Father and, in order, Christ, the man and then the woman and children.

We in the Body are fully aware that we must not attempt to state a date or time when Christ will come ‘in person’ for the First Resurrection. We can see clearly that these increasingly unstable times are an overture to that event. Given the seemingly short time between now and the First Resurrection, it seems somewhat trite that we should be seeking to fulfil the desires of the flesh in our marriages, especially since Paul said it is nobler to not focus overly on the flesh in marriage:

1Co 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
1Co 7:30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
1Co 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
1Co 7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
1Co 7:33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his Wife.

Nonetheless, we can be given to see some astonishing connections in our fleshly marriages that will greatly ravish our love for Christ; again, the natural precedes the spiritual.

There is a correlation that ultimately exists between the Father and Christ and the order of headship! That order is the Father, Christ and His wife and then the rest of humanity. Ultimately, the Father and Son’s priority is to the Father as if Christ had no wife! “… that both they that have wives be as though they had none.” Hypothetically and in the impossible event that the wife of Christ is found to be impure and cast out forever into nothingness, the Father and the Word would default to what they were before creation – as though they had none – no wife. The Father without Christ and Christ without his wife  would yet exist as God and the Word being with God – a love that is “wonderful” and “passing the love of women”.

Yet, we still need to care for our spouses and not defraud the other by avoiding conjugal rights both physically and spiritually while in the last days of the clay.

In part, this paper will seem like an amplification of the flesh; well, yes, it possibly will appear like that, yet to the glory of God. The hopeful revelations exposed, I expect, will make Christ and God brighter and exceedingly more massive in what they propose for the Bride. Seeing the natural more clearly will vastly amplify the thing that casts the shadow, Christ!

Rom 6:14 For sin [flesh that is so easily subject to sin] shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. [So, it will seem a bit uninspiring to reflect so strongly on aspects of our flesh. We don’t walk away from our marriages to be wholly freed from the flesh ~ just yet.]
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin [the flesh].

Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. [In this instance, when we see more fully what God has given us in the flesh, we will see and experience more dramatically the fullness of Christ, our Husband.]

The answers as to how the flesh can have a love for their spouse which is greater than any woman can give to a man, is for possible future study.

With the following discussion, I would like it to be a part of this study, probably not for the Babylonian’s viewing, since they cannot eat from our table.

I dissuade any overt sexually sensitive expressions; however, how would you envisage the Elect could more intensely complete the spiritual energy loop in a married couple that is a shadow eclipsed by the Wife’s relationship with Christ? In electrical terms, it would be similar to a direct current as opposed to main alternating current – an endless and powerful flow from Christ to his wife and back to Him.

[Author may be contacted at gtsquelch (at) gmail.com]