1 Samuel 19
Lutheran reading notes
In 1 Samuel chapter 19, the account continues the story of the transition of Israel from judges to monarchy. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
1 Samuel 19:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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:
1 Samuel 19:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
1 Samuel 19:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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:
1 Samuel 19:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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?
1 Samuel 19:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, {As} the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
1 Samuel 19:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {in times...: Heb. yesterday, third day}
1 Samuel 19:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {him: Heb. his face}
1 Samuel 19:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
1 Samuel 19:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
1 Samuel 19:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
1 Samuel 19:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
1 Samuel 19:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {image: Heb. teraphim}
1 Samuel 19:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He {is} sick.
1 Samuel 19:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
And Saul sent the messengers {again} to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
1 Samuel 19:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
1 Samuel 19:16 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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?
1 Samuel 19:17 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
1 Samuel 19:18 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David {is} at Naioth in Ramah.
1 Samuel 19:19 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
1 Samuel 19:20 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
1 Samuel 19:21 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
1 Samuel 19:22 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
1 Samuel 19:23 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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? {lay: Heb. fell}
1 Samuel 19:24 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.