Justin Houtz

1 Samuel 19; 1 Chronicles 7; Psalm 59; Matthew 4

DateVersionReading Plan
April 17, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

1 Samuel 19

Observation & Interpretation

Saul’s jealousy continued for David, telling his son, Jonathan, and all his servants that David should be killed (v. 1). Jonathan warned David that Saul was seeking to kill him and that he should hide himself (v. 2). Jonathan told David that he would speak to his father and tell David all that he learned (v. 3). This he did and spoke well of David to his father, telling Saul that he should not sin against David and acknowledge the good that David brought to Saul through his good deeds (v. 4-5). Saul said that as the LORD lives, David shall not be put to death (v. 6). Jonathan called David, reported these things to him and brought David into Saul’s presence as before (v. 7).

However, war broke out again and David fought with the Philistines, striking a great blow against them such that they fled before him (v. 8). A harmful spirit from the LORD then came upon Saul and he sought to pin David to the wall with his spear but David fled and escaped (v. 9-10).

Application

It should alarm us to see quickly Saul’s jealousy kindled afresh, breaking his oath not to kill David as he saw David’s success against the Philistines. When speaking to Jonathan, Saul seemed resolute in his promise but once circumstances changed, he went back on his promise and proved himself to be “a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). Most sorrowful is to realize that such hypocrisy is not limited to Saul but is the sinful propensity of every human heart. In our fallenness, we allow situations to shift our attention away from what is best to what is most selfishly expedient.

In stark contrast is our Lord Jesus who was faithful unto death, even death on a cross. On the cross, Jesus proved His steadfast alignment with the Father’s will by taking upon Himself all that we deserve. All praise be to our Lord God for His unending grace, the worthy Lamb of God who was pierced for our transgressions, pierced for our iniquities and by whose wounds we are healed.

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