1 Samuel 27
KingComments1 Samuel 27:1
David Defeats and Kills Goliath
The fight between the two champions goes off. To the Philistine it seems like he must fight with a dwarf. Like a moving mountain, covered with bronze and iron, he draws near to meet David. David, however, goes faster toward Goliath than Goliath comes to him. The Spirit of God describes David’s actions in detail when he runs quickly to the enemy. He goes toward “the battle line”, because in the Philistine the whole army of the Philistines unites.
One of the stones is enough to prevail over the giant. God loves to achieve great results by small, simple means. In fact, there is no fight. Even in the battle in the end time, when the Lord Jesus comes, there is no battle, no back and forth moving scenes, as if the devil could also have a chance of victory.
David conquers with a sling and a stone, nothing more. By using it correctly, all the power of Goliath and all the Philistines is completely broken in one stroke. The stone has felled the giant. The sword makes a definitive end to the giant. David kills the giant with his own sword. In the same way, by dying, the Lord Jesus conquered death.
The description of the victory has in the original the form of a song. The consequence of the victory over the giant extends to all those who has joined the giant. Both David and Goliath represent a people. In defeating Goliath, the entire army of the Philistines is defeated. The defeated enemies are all fleeing. They do not keep word and do not become willing slaves of the overcomer, as Goliath has provocatively suggested in 1 Samuel 17:9.
1 Samuel 27:2
David Defeats and Kills Goliath
The fight between the two champions goes off. To the Philistine it seems like he must fight with a dwarf. Like a moving mountain, covered with bronze and iron, he draws near to meet David. David, however, goes faster toward Goliath than Goliath comes to him. The Spirit of God describes David’s actions in detail when he runs quickly to the enemy. He goes toward “the battle line”, because in the Philistine the whole army of the Philistines unites.
One of the stones is enough to prevail over the giant. God loves to achieve great results by small, simple means. In fact, there is no fight. Even in the battle in the end time, when the Lord Jesus comes, there is no battle, no back and forth moving scenes, as if the devil could also have a chance of victory.
David conquers with a sling and a stone, nothing more. By using it correctly, all the power of Goliath and all the Philistines is completely broken in one stroke. The stone has felled the giant. The sword makes a definitive end to the giant. David kills the giant with his own sword. In the same way, by dying, the Lord Jesus conquered death.
The description of the victory has in the original the form of a song. The consequence of the victory over the giant extends to all those who has joined the giant. Both David and Goliath represent a people. In defeating Goliath, the entire army of the Philistines is defeated. The defeated enemies are all fleeing. They do not keep word and do not become willing slaves of the overcomer, as Goliath has provocatively suggested in 1 Samuel 17:9.
1 Samuel 27:3
David Defeats and Kills Goliath
The fight between the two champions goes off. To the Philistine it seems like he must fight with a dwarf. Like a moving mountain, covered with bronze and iron, he draws near to meet David. David, however, goes faster toward Goliath than Goliath comes to him. The Spirit of God describes David’s actions in detail when he runs quickly to the enemy. He goes toward “the battle line”, because in the Philistine the whole army of the Philistines unites.
One of the stones is enough to prevail over the giant. God loves to achieve great results by small, simple means. In fact, there is no fight. Even in the battle in the end time, when the Lord Jesus comes, there is no battle, no back and forth moving scenes, as if the devil could also have a chance of victory.
David conquers with a sling and a stone, nothing more. By using it correctly, all the power of Goliath and all the Philistines is completely broken in one stroke. The stone has felled the giant. The sword makes a definitive end to the giant. David kills the giant with his own sword. In the same way, by dying, the Lord Jesus conquered death.
The description of the victory has in the original the form of a song. The consequence of the victory over the giant extends to all those who has joined the giant. Both David and Goliath represent a people. In defeating Goliath, the entire army of the Philistines is defeated. The defeated enemies are all fleeing. They do not keep word and do not become willing slaves of the overcomer, as Goliath has provocatively suggested in 1 Samuel 17:9.
1 Samuel 27:4
Consequences of the Victory
The people of satan are now persecuted by the people of God. The roles are reversed. The victory is great. This will happen for the remnant when the Lord Jesus returns. As an application to us, we can keep the enemy down if we stand in the victory of the Lord Jesus.
The whole power of the clergy is broken for those who have seen the giant fall. The understanding of what the true church is and our personal place in it in the presence of God and in His joy necessarily means the overthrowing of the false church with all its confessors. The impressive armies then suddenly become a scattered troop that proclaim in their confession their ignorance of God and Christ.
In 1 Samuel 17:54, the Spirit of God looks forward again. Jerusalem is currently still in the hands of the enemy, the Jebusites, but the victory over Goliath also guarantees the conquest of the city. The city is later conquered by David. The tent is not David’s either, but here it is the tabernacle. There he lays the sword of Goliath (1 Samuel 21:9). He thus indicates that the honor of victory is for the Lord.
1 Samuel 27:5
Consequences of the Victory
The people of satan are now persecuted by the people of God. The roles are reversed. The victory is great. This will happen for the remnant when the Lord Jesus returns. As an application to us, we can keep the enemy down if we stand in the victory of the Lord Jesus.
The whole power of the clergy is broken for those who have seen the giant fall. The understanding of what the true church is and our personal place in it in the presence of God and in His joy necessarily means the overthrowing of the false church with all its confessors. The impressive armies then suddenly become a scattered troop that proclaim in their confession their ignorance of God and Christ.
In 1 Samuel 17:54, the Spirit of God looks forward again. Jerusalem is currently still in the hands of the enemy, the Jebusites, but the victory over Goliath also guarantees the conquest of the city. The city is later conquered by David. The tent is not David’s either, but here it is the tabernacle. There he lays the sword of Goliath (1 Samuel 21:9). He thus indicates that the honor of victory is for the Lord.
1 Samuel 27:6
Consequences of the Victory
The people of satan are now persecuted by the people of God. The roles are reversed. The victory is great. This will happen for the remnant when the Lord Jesus returns. As an application to us, we can keep the enemy down if we stand in the victory of the Lord Jesus.
The whole power of the clergy is broken for those who have seen the giant fall. The understanding of what the true church is and our personal place in it in the presence of God and in His joy necessarily means the overthrowing of the false church with all its confessors. The impressive armies then suddenly become a scattered troop that proclaim in their confession their ignorance of God and Christ.
In 1 Samuel 17:54, the Spirit of God looks forward again. Jerusalem is currently still in the hands of the enemy, the Jebusites, but the victory over Goliath also guarantees the conquest of the city. The city is later conquered by David. The tent is not David’s either, but here it is the tabernacle. There he lays the sword of Goliath (1 Samuel 21:9). He thus indicates that the honor of victory is for the Lord.
1 Samuel 27:7
Saul Asks Who David Is
Saul’s question to Abner, whose son David is, suggests that Saul does not know David, even though David has been at Saul’s court several times already. Also Abner does not know (anymore) who David is and cannot answer the question. Probably because they only know David as a harp player (1 Samuel 16:23).
Now the young man comes in a special way for Saul’s attention. He looks at him in a new way. If a young man can achieve such a victory, he must be a special person. The question of his father is more than just getting to know his father’s name. It is more about the character of the man who has a son like David with a courage that is special. Then the question arises as to which family he belongs to, what his descendancy is. In this way people can also come under the impression of Who the Lord Jesus is, as we read in the Gospels.
Abner brings David to Saul and Saul asks him the question himself whose son David is. The question shows what is in Saul. Saul has no insight into the thoughts of God. His thoughts do not rise above the earth. He has no eye for David as God sees him. For Saul he must come from a family of violent men, a generation of gods. It is like with the Lord Jesus about Whom the question was asked: “How has this man become learned, having never been educated” (John 7:15)?
David answers in humility. His answer is beautiful: “The son of your servant Jesse.” Jesse means, as already said, ‘Yahweh exists’ and of Him he is the servant. This makes me think of the question whether God is a concrete reality for me, if to me He is the existing God.
1 Samuel 27:8
Saul Asks Who David Is
Saul’s question to Abner, whose son David is, suggests that Saul does not know David, even though David has been at Saul’s court several times already. Also Abner does not know (anymore) who David is and cannot answer the question. Probably because they only know David as a harp player (1 Samuel 16:23).
Now the young man comes in a special way for Saul’s attention. He looks at him in a new way. If a young man can achieve such a victory, he must be a special person. The question of his father is more than just getting to know his father’s name. It is more about the character of the man who has a son like David with a courage that is special. Then the question arises as to which family he belongs to, what his descendancy is. In this way people can also come under the impression of Who the Lord Jesus is, as we read in the Gospels.
Abner brings David to Saul and Saul asks him the question himself whose son David is. The question shows what is in Saul. Saul has no insight into the thoughts of God. His thoughts do not rise above the earth. He has no eye for David as God sees him. For Saul he must come from a family of violent men, a generation of gods. It is like with the Lord Jesus about Whom the question was asked: “How has this man become learned, having never been educated” (John 7:15)?
David answers in humility. His answer is beautiful: “The son of your servant Jesse.” Jesse means, as already said, ‘Yahweh exists’ and of Him he is the servant. This makes me think of the question whether God is a concrete reality for me, if to me He is the existing God.
1 Samuel 27:9
Saul Asks Who David Is
Saul’s question to Abner, whose son David is, suggests that Saul does not know David, even though David has been at Saul’s court several times already. Also Abner does not know (anymore) who David is and cannot answer the question. Probably because they only know David as a harp player (1 Samuel 16:23).
Now the young man comes in a special way for Saul’s attention. He looks at him in a new way. If a young man can achieve such a victory, he must be a special person. The question of his father is more than just getting to know his father’s name. It is more about the character of the man who has a son like David with a courage that is special. Then the question arises as to which family he belongs to, what his descendancy is. In this way people can also come under the impression of Who the Lord Jesus is, as we read in the Gospels.
Abner brings David to Saul and Saul asks him the question himself whose son David is. The question shows what is in Saul. Saul has no insight into the thoughts of God. His thoughts do not rise above the earth. He has no eye for David as God sees him. For Saul he must come from a family of violent men, a generation of gods. It is like with the Lord Jesus about Whom the question was asked: “How has this man become learned, having never been educated” (John 7:15)?
David answers in humility. His answer is beautiful: “The son of your servant Jesse.” Jesse means, as already said, ‘Yahweh exists’ and of Him he is the servant. This makes me think of the question whether God is a concrete reality for me, if to me He is the existing God.
1 Samuel 27:10
Saul Asks Who David Is
Saul’s question to Abner, whose son David is, suggests that Saul does not know David, even though David has been at Saul’s court several times already. Also Abner does not know (anymore) who David is and cannot answer the question. Probably because they only know David as a harp player (1 Samuel 16:23).
Now the young man comes in a special way for Saul’s attention. He looks at him in a new way. If a young man can achieve such a victory, he must be a special person. The question of his father is more than just getting to know his father’s name. It is more about the character of the man who has a son like David with a courage that is special. Then the question arises as to which family he belongs to, what his descendancy is. In this way people can also come under the impression of Who the Lord Jesus is, as we read in the Gospels.
Abner brings David to Saul and Saul asks him the question himself whose son David is. The question shows what is in Saul. Saul has no insight into the thoughts of God. His thoughts do not rise above the earth. He has no eye for David as God sees him. For Saul he must come from a family of violent men, a generation of gods. It is like with the Lord Jesus about Whom the question was asked: “How has this man become learned, having never been educated” (John 7:15)?
David answers in humility. His answer is beautiful: “The son of your servant Jesse.” Jesse means, as already said, ‘Yahweh exists’ and of Him he is the servant. This makes me think of the question whether God is a concrete reality for me, if to me He is the existing God.
1 Samuel 27:12
Jonathan Loves David
David means ‘beloved’, meaning that he is loved. In this chapter much is said about love for David. You love David or you hate him. Neutrality is not possible. There are five people or groups of people who love him.
We have already read about the first one: Saul, who loves him greatly (1 Samuel 16:21). However, it is a love that turns into hatred. This is because David is no longer his servant, but his superior, not in position, but in prosperity and spiritually. As long as David is his servant, he loves him greatly, but if Saul must go aside to give David priority, he does not want to do this.
Thus, the Lord Jesus not only wants to be the One Who has defeated the enemy – i.e. satan, of whom Goliath is a picture – but He wants to be everything in our life. He wants to be not only Savior, but also Lord. Especially children of believing parents should learn this. The Lord wants to be number one. We should not remain king of our own life.
The second of whom we read that he loves David is Jonathan. He connects himself with heart and soul and all that he has with David. Perhaps David’s answer in the previous verse (1 Samuel 17:58) is so attractive to Jonathan that he connects himself with David. As soon as Jonathan connects with David, he sees himself as nothing. Jonathan is crown prince, but nonetheless he sees his superior in David. There is no jealousy or wounded pride.
Between the description of Jonathan’s love for David in 1 Samuel 18:1 and 1 Samuel 18:3, there is something about Saul’s relationship to David in 1 Samuel 18:2. Saul’s love for David is a selfish love. He sees in David mainly someone from whom he can benefit. Therefore David must remain fully in the service of Saul after his victory. Saul claims him for himself.
In 1 Samuel 18:3 we read for the second time that Jonathan loves David as himself. We will read it again later (1 Samuel 20:17). We do not read here that David loves Jonathan. We read this in his song about Jonathan when Jonathan has died in the battle with the Philistines (2 Samuel 1:26). David’s appreciation of Jonathan’s love for him shows that David’s love is more than a human love. It indicates the love of the Lord Jesus for those who serve and follow Him out of love. It is great to hear such an expression of His love from His mouth. A father loves all his children, but he has a special relationship with those who appreciate his love.
Jonathan’s love is the love of friendship. It is a selfless love. He knows David will be king and he gives him that place by giving him everything. His love for David also starts from the victory over Goliath, but he has seen deeper than just the result. He loves David for who David himself is and not just for what he has done. The same must be true of our love for the Lord Jesus. We see this with Paul for whom Christ is everything because he is laid hold of by Him (Philippians 3:12).
Jonathan gives everything to David out of love for him. Everything that gives him dignity as king and warrior, he puts at the feet of David. It is not just outward tribute, but the expression of what is in his heart for David. Anything he can boast of is nothing compared to David. In this way we also want to give everything to the Lord Jesus out of love for Him. Jonathan, however, does not give him his shoes, which symbolically points to the fact that he does not follow David in his wanderings.