Big Idea: Whether by divine providence or direct intervention, God is capable of protecting his chosen servants from those who seek to destroy them.

Understanding the Text

In chapter 18 Saul used different methods to try to kill David on three separate occasions (18:10–11, 17, 25). The pattern continues in chapter 19: (1) Saul orders Jonathan to kill David (19:1), (2) he again throws a spear at David (19:10; cf. 18:10–11), (3) he orders his henchmen to arrest David and bring him to the royal palace for execution (19:11–15), (4) he sends three separate companies of soldiers to Ramah to capture David (19:20–21), and (5) he himself goes to Ramah to arrest David (19:22–24). Saul’s efforts to kill David continue in chapter 20, forcing David to flee for his life.

In this chapter (as well as c…