1 Samuel 18:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him.

NIV: In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him.

NASB: David was successful in all his ways, for the Lord was with him.

CSB: and continued to be successful in all his activities because the Lord was with him.

NLT: David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him.

KJV: And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.

NKJV: And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.

In one sense, David is living a storybook life. Jesse's youngest son was the keeper of a flock of sheep in Bethlehem one day and the hero of Israel the next. In almost a single moment, he went from being the kid brother of seven more important men to the giant-killer known throughout Israel for his military leadership, bravery, boldness, and trust in the living God.

Saul fears David because of David's great success. Yet even Saul knows that David's success comes from the Lord, rather than just an overflow of skill, courage, and wisdom. Saul is afraid because the Lord has left him and is with the shepherd boy (1 Samuel 18:12).

David understands his reliance on God, as well. Many of the psalms David wrote proclaimed the truth that his success in all matters came from the Lord. Psalm 18:1–3 is a good example:

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

First Samuel 18:6–16 reveals the hastening story of King Saul's demise and David's rise. When the army returns from battle, David's victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17) is celebrated more than the king's win over the Philistine army. The harmful spirit returns to Saul (1 Samuel 16:14–23). His jealousy of David turns to violence. Before long, Saul will use his own daughters as bait in traps to destroy his greatest warrior (1 Samuel 18:17–30).

Saul's son Jonathan becomes David's best friend. David succeeds in every military mission Saul sends him on. The people praise David as being even mightier than Saul. The king is furious and terrified that David will take his throne. After Saul's direct attempts to kill David fail, the king sends David to battle the Philistines using marriage to his daughter as bait. David not only survives, but he continues to prove himself to be a mightier warrior and leader than Saul. Saul knows the Lord is with David and not with him and cements himself as David's permanent enemy.

First Samuel 18 begins the story of how the changed work of the Holy Spirit on both Saul and David (1 Samuel 16:13–14) leads to the king's destruction and David's rise. David faithfully serves both Saul (1 Samuel 16:14–23) and Saul's kingdom (1 Samuel 17—18). But David wins the hearts of Saul's people and his children. Saul can't handle the competition (1 Samuel 19—20). Finally, David flees the royal court and raises his own army. He spends years fighting Israel's enemies from afar, patiently waiting until Saul dies in battle and the shepherd boy can take his rightful crown (1 Samuel 21—31).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 10/14/2025 2:47:43 PM