1 Samuel 19 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

1 Samuel 19 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Israel’s first king, Saul, was appointed in approximately 1050 B.C.

• The events documented in 1 Samuel 19 took place around 1020 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• David – He was selected by God to eventually become the second king of Israel.  

• Saul – God selected Saul to be the first king of Israel. He was from the tribe of Benjamin.

• Jonathan – The son of Saul and the best friend of David.

• Michal – Saul’s daughter who married David. 

• Samuel – A prophet of God and a judge over Israel.

WHERE:

• David defeated the Philistines in battle. The Philistines lived in cities towards the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (Ekron, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, and Gath).

• Saul’s house was in Gibeah (1 Sam 15:34).

• David fled from Saul and went to Ramah, the home of Samuel.

OUTLINE:

• JONATHAN CONVINCES SAUL NOT TO KILL DAVID (19:1-7):

  • Saul commanded all his servants to kill David if they found him.

  • Jonathan, being David’s best friend, told him about his father’s command and instructed him to hide while he tried to convince his father to change his mind.

  • Jonathan went to Saul and spoke highly about David. He reminded the king of David’s loyalty in the past, and asked Saul not to sin against a man who had never sinned against him.  

  • Saul listened to his son and withdrew his order to kill David.

• MICHAL HELPS DAVID ESCAPE FROM SAUL (19:8-17):

  • Some time later, a harmful spirit from the Lord afflicted Saul and he tried to kill David again by throwing a spear at him.

  • David managed to escape and fled back to his house.

  • Saul sent men to David’s house to kill him, but Michal, David’s wife, helped him escape out of a window.

  • Michal took an image and put it in David’s bed, with a goat hair pillow near the top. The image made it appear as if David was sleeping in the bed.

  • When Saul’s messengers came to arrest David, she told them he was sick and in bed.

  • Saul’s men eventually figured out the image in the bed wasn’t actually David, but by that time, David was long gone.

• THE SPIRIT OF GOD PROTECTS DAVID AT RAMAH (19:18-24):

  • David fled to Ramah where Samuel lived with a group of prophets.  

  • When Saul discovered David’s whereabouts, he sent men to arrest him.

  • When Saul’s men reached Ramah, the Spirit of God came on them and they started prophesying.

  • Saul sent another group of men, but the same thing happened to them.

  • Saul sent a third group of men, but the outcome was the same.

  • Finally, Saul decided to go to Ramah himself. On his way to Naioth in Ramah, God’s Spirit came upon him, and he also prophesied.

  • God’s Spirit prevented Saul and his men from achieving their evil purpose.

APPLICATION:

• Jealousy can rot your soul and turn your heart to wickedness.

• Saul’s pursuit of David is reminiscent of those who pursued Jesus.

• Saul was jealous of David, which resulted in attempted murder, even after David had been loyal to him and helped him achieve victory over his enemies.

• Jesus came to earth to give us victory. Victory over sin and Satan. But the Jewish leaders killed Him out of jealousy.

• If we let jealousy fester in our hearts, there is no telling what we might do.

• Jealous people aren’t rational people.