Tag Archive | David

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 135

May14

    Day 135—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? Have you identified with any Bible characters?  Share in the comments section.

    Day 135 – 2 Samuel 13 – 15 – (The “sword” begins in David’s house)

Amnon, King David’s firstborn son, took after him in one aspect. He lusted after a woman. It happens that Tamar was his half-sister and Absalom was their brother.  Both Absalom and Tamar are said to be very beautiful (handsome). 

Amnon had a wicked friend who hatched a plan to get Tamar into Amnon’s bedroom.  It worked, and he raped Tamar. Afterward, he hated her and cast her away. (If he’d have asked his father, David would have given Tamar to him, but this was not love just pure lust.  So Tamar went to live with her brother Absalom as a defiled, unmarriable woman.

King David is clueless.

Absalom waits two years, then plots to murder his brother.  News is taken to the King that ALL his sons are dead, and he almost has a heart attack. But then it’s said only his firstborn has been killed. Perhaps this is done to make Absalom’s offense seem less horrible. David does not respond with discipline, but merely sends his now oldest son away.

Absalom waits another two years without speaking to his father, and then Joab sends a “wise woman” to trick David into bringing him back from exile.  The king suspects Joab is behind it but calls Absalom back to Jerusalem.  However, he refuses to speak to his son.  

Absalom waits another two years, then gets Joab’s attention by burning his field.  “I want to talk to my father,” he demands, and Joab arranges it.  The King welcomes him with a kiss this time, and it seems all is reconciled.  But Absalom schemes to take the kingdom for himself without waiting for David to die. Gradually, he begins winning the people’s hearts away from David.

After FOUR years of this, Absalom puts another plan into action.  On the pretense of fulfilling a vow he made while in exile, the scheming son goes throughout all of Israel, calling people away from his father and to himself. “As soon as you hear a trumpet sound, proclaim, ‘ABSALON IS KING AT HEBRON.'”  He even entices David’s top counselor to his side. 

A messenger tells David of the coming coup, and (nope, he doesn’t fight for his kingdom against his favorite son), but instead flees the City of David (which may have been on its way to be named the City of Absalom.) 

What is touching to me is that the priests and Levites remain faithful to David. They get the Ark of the Covenant and follow him.  This time, however, David is NOT dancing and rejoicing before the Ark, but he is “weeping as he went up the Mount of Olives, barefoot and with his head covered.”

He hears that his top counselor has turned against him, and David prays, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

He also tells the priests to take the Ark back into the city. He enlists Hushai, a faithful servant and friend, to be his spy in Absalom’s court and to try to mess with Ahithophel’s advice. David tells him that Zadok and Abiathar are loyal, so if he wants to get word to him, he should tell these priests, and they will send a message to the exiled king.

So Hushai enters the city gate just as Absalom arrives and enters. And the scene is set.

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#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 133 & 134

May13

    Day 133 & 134—We have begun our FIFTH month of Bible reading.  Are you learning and loving God more each day?

(Note: SUNDAY’s and MONDAY’s readings are combined.)

    Day 133 – 2 Samuel 11 – 12, 1 Chronicles 20 (the king’s sin, confession, downfall, and the consequences).

Since David is my favorite character in the Old Testament, this is the hardest section for me to read. But God knows how much I sin, too, and it gives me hope for his forgiveness and generosity and also reminds me of the sad consequences that sin brings.

King David – in the springtime when kings went to war – stayed home. Restless, he looked out his palace windows and saw a beautiful woman bathing on a rooftop. And he lusted after her.

Bathsheba, the woman, was ceremonially purifying herself after her monthly period, and the rooftop was where rainwater was collected and stored.  David – not only sinning with his eyes – took it a step further and inquired about her. EVEN when he was told that she was the wife of one of his valiant men, he called for her to be brought to him. And he committed adultery with her. Then sent her home.

Now, this particular time in the month is when a woman is most fertile and Bathsheba conceived. A month or two after the fact, she sent word to the King. (After all, she would be considered a prostitute and sinner because everyone knew her husband was away at war.) “Now what, your Majesty?”

David’s first cover-up plan was to call Uriah back from the field and let him sleep with his wife.  That way, the king’s son would be considered Uriah’s offspring.  But it turns out that Uriah was more noble than his Commander-in-chief and stayed in the barracks with the men.

David next gets him drunk and sends him home. But Uriah staggers to the barracks again.

This was not working, so the King added murder to adultery (both carrying the death penalty).  He sends Uriah back to the front carrying a message to Commander Joab to put him on the front line… and then draw back, so this righteous man is killed.  Joab obeys and then sends back a “disguised” message that the king’s wishes have been met.

King David sends for Bathsheba again and takes her as his umpteenth wife.  All of Jerusalem sees what he has been doing. There is no fooling them. But he is king. The shrug.

David breathes a sigh…. until the prophet Nathan comes and tells him a story.  The king is furious with the evil man who stole a poor man’s ONLY ewe lamb and requires quadruple punishment for that evil guy.

Nathan, “YOU are the man.”

And then Nathan speaks for God the saddest epitaph, “I anointed you king over Israel, and delivered you out of the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.  Why have you despised the word of the LORD to do what is evil in His sight? Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house.”

David – “a man after God’s heart” – immediately recognizes his sin and mourns his wicked deeds. “I have sinned against the LORD!” he cries.

Nathan, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.  Nevertheless, because by this deed, you have UTTERLY SCORNED THE LORD, the child who is born to you will die.”

David fasts and prays for the baby for seven days, but the baby dies.  (James 1:14-15)

David then gets up, washes himself, puts on fresh clothes, and goes into the house of the LORD. There, he worships the LORD.

Then, he comforts Bathsheba (the innocent victim of all this deceit).  In time, he sleeps with her, she conceives again, and gives birth to Solomon. But the LORD, through Nathan, names him “Jedidiah,” which means ‘beloved of the LORD.’

Commander Joab sends a message to the king that he is about to take Rabbah and end the war. He tells the king that he’d better come and lead the charge, or else it will be called “Joab’s victory.”   The king goes, and Israel wins. The Ammonite king’s golden crown is set on David’s head and all cheer.

And life goes on…. until it doesn’t.  The next chapters in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles begin the story of “the sword never leaving” David’s own house.

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Day 134 – Psalms, 32, 51, 86, 122. (the king laments his sin and pleads with God)

Psalm 32: “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.”

Psalm 51: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from sin!  For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against YOU, YOU ONLY have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.”

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”  “Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”    “Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation..”

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Psalm 86: “Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.”    “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for to you do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. For You, O LORD, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.  Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.”    “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.”

“But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me;”  

Psalm 122: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD!’ 

True repentance and broken-heartedness when we sin reach God’s heart. He is merciful and gracious. He forgives and restores our relationship with Him, but we must still bear the consequences of sin.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 130

May9

    Day 130—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? Are you reciting, praying, and singing the Psalms we’ve been reading?  Share in the comments section.

    Day 130 – Psalms 50, 53, 60, 75. – (Psalms of Asaph and David)

In Psalm 50, Asaph writes about “The Mighty One, God, the LORD, as an all-sufficient judge. 

Around our God is “a devouring fire and a mighty tempest.”   He does not NEED  offerings and sacrifices because “every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.”  God says of Himself, “I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.”

So what does God desire of His people?  “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High.”  IF his people will praise and obey Him, He says to them, “call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalm 53 is almost a repeat of Psalm 14 except verse 5, in which David celebrates a battle won.

In Psalm 60 David praises God for victory over Edom “in the Valley of Salt” which we read about yesterday in 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Chronicles 18.  David closes his song with, “Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God , we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down out foes.”

Again in Psalm 75, Asaph sings about God judging with equity. “At the set time that I appoint, I will judge with equity.” Asaph warns, “I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, “Do not lift up your horn; do not lift up your horn or high or speak with haughty neck.”

“But I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.”

NOTE: A “horn” symbolizes an animal’s or human’s strength and majesty. Lifting up the horn describes a stubborn animal who kept itself from entering a yoke by holding its head up as high as possible. Here, it portrays insolence or rebellion.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 108

Apr17

    Day 108 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for almost a third of the year. What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 108 – Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63. (More psalms by David when being persecuted by Saul)

In Psalm 17, David petitions the LORD as many as SEVENTEEN times for protection. It’s a harrowing time for him, with Saul and his army always after him, and spies tattle-telling where he is hiding. 

“He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush. Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him!” Verse 12-13a 

“Keep me as the apple of your eye, hid me in the shadow of your wings.”  Verse 8

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Psalm 35 calls for justice against David’s enemy and alludes to other foreign powers and even to all of God’s enemies.

Verse 17-18: “How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng, I will praise you. “

Verse 19: “Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those “wink the eye” who hate me without a cause.”

Verse 17: “Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, ‘Great is the LORD who delights in the welfare of his servant!'” 

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In Psalm 54, again, the Ziphites went to Saul and told him of David’s whereabouts.  “O God, save me by your name and vindicate me by our might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Behold, God is my helper, the Lord is the upholder of my life.” Verses 1-4.

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Psalm 64 is wonderful. Be sure to read all the verses. It’s almost entirely praise God.

See him in the wilderness – “O God, you are my God earnestly I seek you, MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR YOU; AS IN A DRY AND WEARY LAND WHERE THERE IS NO WATER.” Verse 1

“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name, I will lift up my hands.” Verses 3-4

“…and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when i remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” Verses 5b-8

 

 

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 107

Apr16

    Day 107 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for almost a third of the year. What have you learned about God? About yourself?

Day 107 – 1 Samuel 25 – 27 (Samuel dies, Nabal/Abigail, David/Saul, David/Philistines)

Away from those lovely Psalms and back to history.

The first thing we read in Chapter 25, is that the prophet, Samuel dies and is mourned.  It’s another end of an era, where Israel will have kings alone to lead them. (Yes, there will be prophets, but not a prophet/priest like Samuel.)

David is still running from Saul, hiding wherever he and his 600 men can find. In this story, they protect a very wealthy man’s livestock for a season. No animal or human predator had harmed a single one of them. So when the thousand sheep are brought in to be sheered, David sends men to Nabal to collect food for his men as payment for their service.

But the “foolish” Nabal, holds tight to his pennies and refuses to give a single fig. Angered by his refusal to compensate, David gathers 400 of his men to pay back the ingrate. (Kill every last one of them.) But Abigail, Nabal’s wise wife, hears and immediately remedies the situation by loading multiple donkeys with enough food to feed David and his army. Plus, she runs ahead and bows before the kingly commander and begs his forgiveness.  David admires her for her peacemaking, accepts the loot, and praises God for using her to keep him from sin.  And… after her husband, the fool, dies, David takes Abigail as his wife. Whoa! Fairy tale story!

A short note at the end of the chapter tells us that David took a third wife, Ahinoam.  and that his first wife, Saul’s daughter, Michal, had been taken from him (while he was on the run) and given to another man.

Chapter 26 shows David again running from the mad King Saul (and 3,000 of his men) after the people of Ziph tattle about his whereabouts. David again spares Saul’s life when he could easily have taken it. While the king and his soldiers slept a “deep sleep from the LORD,” David crept down to within a foot of where Saul snored.  He took his spear and water bottle and left.

Then, on a hill with a “great deal of space” between him and Saul, David calls out and chides Abner, his captain for not protecting his lord. When Abner and the groggy king see David waving the spear and water bottle, they recognize that God kept David from killing him. Saul apologizes, packs up, and goes home, with even a blessing for David.

Chapter 27 shows that Saul’s change of heart doesn’t last and that he soon pursues David again. And David AGAIN escapes to the land of the Philistines. Achish, the king of Gath, allows him to stay, believing wrongly that David and his men are warring against their own people. In reality, David is attacking smaller Gershurites, Girzites, and Amalekites towns, killing all so there are no witnesses, and bringing the loot back to Achish.

While God commanded Israel to do this when they first conquered the land, David’s deception was wrong.  However, the king of Gath was happy and even gave David and his men the town of Ziklag, which became David’s official “fort.”

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 105 & 106

Apr15

    Day 105 & 106 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for almost a third of the year. What have you learned about God? About yourself? (Note: SUNDAY’s and MONDAY’s readings are combined.)

Day 105 – Psalms 7, 27, 31, 34, & 52 (Psalms of David as he flees and hides from Saul)

These are wonderful Psalms in themselves, but they are even more understandable in the context of David’s life. As you read these portions, think of yesterday’s reading of King Saul relentlessly pursuing David, David hiding in caves and strongholds, and David sinning but confessing.

Psalm 7:1, 3-5: “O, LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me…” “O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it…”

Psalm 27:1-3 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yea I will be confident.”

Psalm 31:3-4, 14-15, 21 “For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; and you take me out of the net they have hidden for me; for you are my refuge.” “But I trust in you, O LORD; I say,’ You are my God.’ My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors?” “Blessed be the LORD, for He has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city.”

Psalm 34 (Read all of it!) This psalm is about when David changed his behavior (acted insane) before the Philistine king, Abimelech, so he drove David off and he went away.

Psalm 52:2-5 This Psalm is about Doeg, the Edomite when he told Saul about David & the priest Ahimelech. (bread and the sword) “Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But God will break you down forever, He will snatch and tear you from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living.”

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Day 106 – Psalms 56, 120, 140-142 (Psalms of David as he )

Psalm 56 is written after David is seized by the Philistines in Gath. He laments, then affirms his faith in God with these words in verses 9a-11. “This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God, I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

In Psalm 120:2, David again calls to the LORD in his distress. “Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.”

Psalm 140:4 says, “Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip my feet.

Psalm 141: 3-5 shows David also praying for himself. “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds;” And he ends with a very practical prayer — “Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.” Vs. 9.

Psalm 142 was written when David was hiding in a cave. In verses 6-7, he pleads: “Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! Bring me out of (this) prison, that I may give thanks to your name.”

In these lamenting prayers, it’s good to remember that David is God’s next chosen King. He is the ancestor of the Messiah, Jesus. He is a “man after God’s own heart.” Severe trials and testing do NOT prove that God has forgotten or is angry with us. Often, they are training grounds for what He has planned for us.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 104

Apr13

    Day 104 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for over a quarter of the year. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 104 – 1 Samuel 21 – 24 (Saul, David, hunt & flee)

These chapters give the accounts of David on the run from Saul, and how Saul’s actions are thwarted again and again while David miraculously escapes. Some incidents are grin-worthy, while others are deadly serious.

In Chapter 21, David and his rag-tag group of men, on the run from Saul, are hungry. They approach Nob where evidently the Tabernacle resides now. Ahimelech, the priest meets David and wonders what he’s doing away from Saul’s army. David LIES and says he’s on a special mission for the king, but he and his men are hungry and out of weapons. Ahimelech hesitantly gives David the five loaves on the Table of Shewbread in the Tent, asking first if David and his men are “clean.” David also asks for and receives Goliath’s sword which has been kept there.

Nearby was a man who overheard David and the priest’s conversation and saw the exchange. He was Saul’s chief herdsman, an Edomite named Doeg, and he kept this scene “in his pocket” for later.

Meanwhile, David flees to Philistine territory. What?? The people there remind the king that it was David who killed so many of them. Afraid of what would happen to him in this vulnerable time, David pretends to be out of his mind, drawing weird things on the gate and drooling into his beard. They shoo him away.

Chapter 22 tells of David in the cave of Adullam, his refuge in the foothills of Judah. David’s parents and brothers leave Bethlehem and join him there.  Also, about 400 destitute, disillusioned, distressed men. He becomes their captain. With this motley group, he journeys across the Jordan River and asks the king of Moab to look after his father and mother. (Remember, David’s great-grandmother was Ruth, the Moabite.) David then heads south to “the stronghold” which might have been Masada. However, the prophet Gad told him NOT to stay there, so David and his 400 go into the forest of Hereth.

Meanwhile, Saul comes to Benjamin and “boo hoos” his problems. “My own son and this son of Jesse conspire against me.” “None of you is sorry for me.” “My own son has stirred him up kill me.”  And while Saul is talking, Doeg sees his moment and tells Saul what happened when David came to Ahimelech the priest.  Saul is insanely angry and orders his men to kill ALL the priests, but they rightly refuse out of fear, so Doeg does the deed. Then Saul orders that all the people and animals of a nearby town of Nob be killed.

However…. one priest, the son of Ahimelech escapes to David and tells him all. David immediately recognizes that it is HIS fault and is distraught. He tells the young priest, Abiathar, to stay safely with him.

In Chapter 24, David hears of the Philistines raiding the town of Keilah. He inquires of the LORD (Abiathar had brought the Ephod with the Urim and Thummim), and God tells him to go. He saves the town and takes the livestock (no doubt for food). But Saul is told that David has come close and musters an army to attack the town. David again inquires of the LORD and escapes before Saul can arrive.

And “Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.” Jonathan comes to David and encourages him, telling David that both he and his father KNOW that God will make David the king.

While in the wilderness, the people of Ziph tell Saul that David is hiding there, and Saul rushes to kill him. But David stays one step ahead of Saul, moving from place to place, all the time the king gets closer. Then God sends a message to Saul that the Philistines are attacking, so he has to take his army back to fight them. David lives in the strongholds of Engedi.

Chapter 25 tells a humorous account of when Saul is again chasing David through Engedi. David and his men hide in a deep cave when Saul’s army comes near and camps just below.  Saul needs to “have a bowel movement,” so he enters the mouth of the cave for privacy. David’s men urge him to take advantage and kill his arch-enemy while he has a chance, but David refuses, sneaks up, and cuts a corner of Saul’s robe off while he is “doing his business.”

Afterward, David is remorseful, having done this to “the LORD’s anointed leader.”  But when he later waves the piece of robe before Saul, the king recognizes David’s mercy and retreats. It’s possible that it was also brought to Saul’s mind when HE ripped a piece of Samuel’s robe and was told the kingdom would be torn from his hands.

So Saul went home, and David, with his men, lived in the strongholds and caves of Engedi.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 103

Apr12

    Day 103 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for over a quarter of the year. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 103 – 1 Samuel 18 – 20, Psalms 11 & 59 (Saul, David & Jonathan)

In Chapter 18, David meets Saul’s son, Prince Jonathan, and they immediately feel a strong and godly kindship and love. Perhaps Jonathan recognized the man who would be Israel’s future king instead of himself, giving David his royal robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt. 

David was successful in every campaign and task Saul sent him on, garnering the praises of all the women. Saul’s jealousy was enflamed when he heard them sing “Saul has struck down thousands, and David ten thousands.” And when the harmful spirit came on him, they called David with his lyre. Saul sat with his spear in his hand, brooding, but when he threw it at David, the future king evaded it…twice!

Then Saul promised David his first daughter if he was valiant enough to fight the Philistines, but later reneged and gave her to another man. Saul’s second daughter, Michal, loved David, so Saul thought she was a perfect incentive for David to go to battle… and perhaps die. Saul promised him Michal if he would kill 100 Philistines. David killed 200, and Saul was forced to give his daughter. But he became even more afraid of David. “So Saul was David’s enemy continually.”

In Chapters 19 and 20, Saul repeatedly tries to kill David, who always miraculously escapes out of his hand.  Jonathan doesn’t want to believe his father wants to kill his BFF, but it’s finally revealed and Jonathan sees for himself.  He sadly bids David to leave. They pledge their total support and allegiance to each other and David begins his flight from the mad king. 

Psalm 11 beautifully tells David’s song of fleeing from the one who desires his life and trusting in his God as the refuge for all the righteous. 

Psalm 59 is a prayer of David for God to deliver him from his enemies who try to kill him, specifically Saul and the men he sends to hunt for David. But David trusts in God, and sings His praises, brave enough to fight the Philistines, but later reneged and gave her to another man. Saul’s second daughter, Michal, loved David, so Saul thought she was a perfect incentive for David to go to battle… and perhaps die. Saul promised him Michal if he would kill 100 Philistines. David killed 200,

But I will sing of your strength; 
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been a fortress and refuge to me in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, 
For You, O God, are my fortress, 
the God who shows me steadfast love.