Articles
“For the LORD was with Him” – 1 Sam. 18:14
“For the LORD was with Him” – 1 Sam. 18:14
14 David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him. 1 Samuel 18:14
There is a bit of history that goes with this statement. Back in chapter 16 we read: “13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah” (1 Samuel 16:13). A few verses later: “18 Then one of the young men said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him” (1 Samuel 16:18).
Here in chapter 18, Saul tried to kill David with his spear/javelin, but David escaped unharmed. Thus, “12 Now Saul was afraid of David, for the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul” (1 Samuel 18:12). Again: “28 When Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him…” (1 Samuel 18:28).
Prospering in all your ways was the promise to the godly in the Torah: “9 "So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do” (Deuteronomy 29:9). A second time: “9 "Then the Lord your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the Lord will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers” (Deuteronomy 30:9).
Later, the promise was declared unto Joshua: “7 "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success” (Joshua 1:7-8).
David at this point is remarkably a godly man. Yet, when he later sins in all that he did concerning the affair with Bathsheba, he was right in fearing that the Spirit of the LORD would be withdrawn from him as it was from Saul. (cp. Psa. 51: ).
It is instructive to see how much trouble came into David’s life following the episode with Bathsheba. While the Lord did not take away the Spirit as He did with Saul, yet David no long ‘prospered in all he did’ after that sin.
We have a similar promise in the NT: “9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9). May God go with you as you go with God.
Hugh DeLong
