“But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. ‘The LORD knows I shouldn’t have done that to my lord the king,’ he said to his men. ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the LORD’s anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him.’ So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.” v.5-7
David had great respect for Saul, in spite of the fact that Saul was trying to kill him. Although Saul was sinning and rebelling against God, David still respected the position he held as God’s anointed king. David knew he would one day be king, and he also knew it was not right to strike down the man God had placed on the throne. If he assassinated Saul, he would be setting a precedent for his own opponents to remove him some day.

Romans 13:1-7 teaches that God has placed the government and it’s leaders in power. We may not know why, but, like David we are to respect the positions and roles of those to whom God has given authority. There is one exception, however. Because God is our highest authority, we should not allow a leader to pressure us to violate God’s law.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. ‘You stupid son of a whore!’ he swore at him. ‘Do you think I don’t know that you want him to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother? As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you’ll never be king. Now go and get him so I can kill him!’
‘But why should he be put to death?’ Jonathan asked his father. ‘What has he done?’ Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. So at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.” v.30-33
Saul was still trying to secure his throne for future generations even though he had already been told his dynasty would end with him. Even worse, he was trying to do this by sinful human means because he knew he would get no help from God. Jonathan could have made a move to become the next king by killing his rival, his best friend, but he bypassed this opportunity because of his love for both God and David.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond of love between them, and they became the best of friends.” v.1
When David and Jonathan met, they became close friends at once. Their friendship is one of the deepest and closest recorded in the Bible. Here is why:

1.) They based their friendship on a commitment to God, not just each other.
2.) They let nothing come between them, not a career or even family problems.
3.) They grew closer together when their friendship was tested.
4.) They remained friends to the end.

Jonathan, the prince of Israel, later realized that David, and not he, would be the next King. But that didn’t weaken his love for David. Jonathan would much rather lose the throne of Israel than lose his closest friend.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“‘Don’t worry about this Philistine,’ David told Saul. ‘I’ll go fight him!’
‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ Saul replied. ‘There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.’
But David persisted. ‘I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,’ he said. ‘When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!’
Saul finally consented. ‘All right, go ahead,’ he said. ‘And may the LORD be with you!’” v.32-37
Criticism couldn’t stop David. While the rest of the army stood around, he knew the importance of taking action. With God to fight for him, there was no reason to wait. People may try to discourage you with negative comments or mockery, but continue to do what you know is right. By doing what is right, you will be pleasing God, whose opinion matters most.

To fight like David we need David’s kind of fearlessness. David had grown strong in his confidence by trusting God when he had encountered wild animals while guarding his father’s sheep. When you face towering problems, recall how God has helped you in the past. Take heart because God gives you strength. Use the skills God has already given you and move forward.

Taken from the NLT LIfe Application Study Bible

“David asked the soldiers standing nearby, ‘What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?’” v.26
What a difference perspective can make. Most of the onlookers saw only a giant. David, however, saw a mortal man defying almighty God. Goliath was a target too big to miss. He knew he would not be alone when he faced Goliath; God would fight with him. He looked at his situation from God’s point of view. Who or what are the “giants” you are facing? Viewing impossible situations from God’s point of view helps us put giant problems in perspective. Once we see clearly, we can fight more effectively.

Taken from the NLT LIfe Application Study Bible

“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” v.7
Saul was tall and handsome: he was an impressive looking man. Samuel may have been trying to find someone who looked like Saul to be Israel’s next king, but God warned him against judging by appearance alone. When people judge by outward appearance, they may overlook quality individuals who lack the particular physical qualities society currently admires. Appearance doesn’t reveal what people are really like or what their true value is.

Fortunately, God judges by faith and character, not by appearance. And because only God can see the inside, only He can accurately judge people. Most people spend hours each week maintaining their outward appearance: they should do even more to develop their inner character. While everyone can see your face, only you and God know what your heart really looks like. What steps am I taking to improve your heart’s attitude?

Taken from the NLT LIfe Application Study Bible

“‘Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,’ Jonathan said to his armor bearer. ‘Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!’” v.6
Jonathan and his armor bearer weren’t much of a force to attack the huge Phillistine army. But while everyone else was afraid, they trusted God, knowing that the size of the enemy army would not restrict God’s ability to help them. God honored the faith and brave action of these two men with tremendous victory.

Have you ever felt surround by the “enemy” or faced overwhelming odds? God is never intimidated by the size of the enemy or the complexity of a problem. With him, there are always enough resources to resist the pressures and win the battle. If God has called you to action, then bravely commit what resources you have to God, and rely upon him to lead you to victory.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the LORD at Mizpah. And he said, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by tribes and clans.’” v.17-19
Israel’s true king was God, but the nation demanded another. Imagine wanting a human being instead of God as a guide and leader! Throughout history, men and women have rejected God, and they continue to do it today. Are you rejecting God by pushing him aside and acknowledging someone or something as your “king” or top priority? Learn from these stories of Israel’s kings, and don’t push God aside.

Taken for the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“Saul replied, ‘But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?’” v.21
“Why are you talking to me like this?” Saul’s outburst reveals a problem he would face repeatedly – feeling inferior. Like a leaf tossed about by the wind. Saul vacillated between his feelings and his convictions. Everything he said and did was selfish. For example, Saul said his clan was “the least important” in the smallest tribe in Israel. But in v. 1 it says his father was “a wealthy, influential man.”

Although Saul had been called by God and had a mission in life, he struggled constantly with jealousy, insecurity, arrogance, impulsiveness, and deceit. He did not decide to be wholeheartedly committed to God. Because Saul would not let God’s love give rest to his heart, he never became God’s man.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible