From the very beginning, King Saul was very jealous of this young lad -David. His ego was easily hurt. The main problem was that people, especially women, looked at David with admiration. When Saul was depressed, David would constantly play the harp for him. That was how Saul would come out of his depression. Yet Saul threw a spear at David twice to thrust him to the wall. David dodged both times.
David won all the battles he took on. First, he made David a captain. Then he made him a commander of a thousand men. In general, even when he placed him, he tried to eliminate David by any means possible because the people were growing in admiration of him.
How many times did Saul try to kill David! He promised to give his daughter to him in marriage, but then perhaps to dishonor him he gave her to someone else. When he saw that the second daughter loveed David, he made a move with her. He said he would give her to David in marriage, but as a dowry he needed proof that he had killed a hundred Philistines (their foreskins as proof). He calculated that the powerful Philistines who already had grudge against David would finish him off. But instead of a hundred, David returned with proof that he had killed two hundred. So he gave his daughter Michal to him in marriage.
He didn't need much reason to feel that his power and authority were being challenged. Even after becoming his son-in-law, Saul sent several soldiers to the house where they were staying to secretly kill David. It was Michal who saved her husband. Saul's jealousy grew into hatred for him. Hatred would give way to vengeance. Surely vengeance needs a reason. He made up a story for himself that David was plotting to kill him. Then he set out in search of him with a huge army. David was in hiding and on the run with a few loyal men. While out in the desert, Saul felt the call of nature. The king left the army and went into a cave to relieve himself. David and his friends were in the inmost part of the cave. God had brought Saul, your enemy, here, and he would not be found alone like this - his companions said that they should kill him now. For a moment, David hesitated whether to kill his enemy or not. He was God's chosen one; he was also the anointed. David refused. Instead, David cut off the hem of his robe that he had taken off. After relieving himself, Saul came out of the cave and went on his way. When he was at a distance, David called out to him- Am I not just a flea or a dead dog? Saul my king, why are you coming after me? If I wanted to, I could have killed you now. I did not do it. Because you are my king. You are like a father to me. Here is the hem of your robe in my hand. Saul realizes, at least for a moment, that he is in the wrong.
“You are more in the right than I am. You have treated me graciously, while I have treated you badly. You have declared today how you treated me graciously, even though the Lord delivered me into your hand. Who would let his enemy go? ... I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand,” he says, and returned to the palace.
When Saul learns that his daughter loves David more than she loves him, again jealousy and hatred flare up in him. He again sets out to kill David. This time, while the king and his army are sleeping in their tents, David and a friend quietly sneak in, approach the sleeping king and take the spear and the pitcher of water that were at his head. Then, making themselves safe on a opposite hill, he called out as before. He then tells David to send someone there to fetch his spear and jar. This time too, Saul repents, realizes his mistake, and returns to the palace.
There are many positive things that we see in David. His deep faith and trust in the Lord is certainly commendable
We can see that he describes himself as a beggar, a boy, a dead dog, and a flea to show that he is not an enemy but a servant of the king. He was certainly a very humble man.
He pursued and attacked the Amalekites who raided his camp, ransacked all possessions and took his and all others wives and children as captives, freed his people, and plundered the attackers. Then he divided the spoils not only among those who were with him in the battle but also with the two hundred men who did not go with him to battle. I believe that he was not very attached to wealth. He was righteous.
Even though he knew that God had chosen him and that Samuel, the prophet and priest who had anointed Saul, had also anointed him, it took extraordinary patience for him to remain in hiding and exile until King Saul, who tried to kill him, had moved from the scene- without ever harming him.
The fact that David mourned and wept for Saul, rather than rejoicing at the news that Saul and his son had been killed in battle- I believe shows his greatness.
David was a warrior - King of armies. He won all the battles he entered into. Yet we do not see any arrogant actions of him!
David married many women on many occasions. His first wife was Saul's daughter Michal. Later, David divorced her. After becoming king, he forcibly took her back from her second husband. That approach of him to her would certainly is not acceptable to us. His taking Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, and then killing Uriah were certainly serious offenses. But he lived with remorse for the rest of his life. He composed many psalms that are in the book of Psalms. We see in them only reliance on God, repentance, and the regretting cry of his soul.
Although he was not perfect, he kept his heart for God. Giving in to the people or his own men, he would not do things that were not pleasing to God. That was the reason why God's favor remained in him.
