I Would Do Anything For Love: 1 Samuel 18:20-30

If God calls us to certain action and we are obedient to Him, we can expect God to fight alongside us and bring us into His vision.  He desires His will be done.  While He does give us freedom to do our own thing, when we fall in line with His ways, we know He will fight with and for us.

Michal, another of Saul’s daughters, falls in love with David.  Love makes this story a bit different than the story with Merab.  The prior story was about Saul using one of his daughters to lure David into battle hoping David would die.  While that is still all true in this story, the initiating factor is different.  Merab’s is all about a power struggle between Saul and David.  Michal’s story is premised on love.

This is fundamentally a significant difference from a certain point of view.  From Saul’s point of view, there is absolutely no difference.  Saul is still manipulating a daughter to harm David.  From David’s perspective, this story is about Michal’s love.  David doesn’t fear going to battle for just reasons.  David won’t go into battle to struggle against Saul; David is absolutely willing to battle for the love of a woman.

There are certainly differing opinions regarding the just nature of this passage.  Is it right for two hundred Philistines to die for David to meet a bride price?  Is it right for Saul to ask for such a thing?  On the other hand, the Philistines placed themselves in opposition to God and denounced Him.  Are we on solid ground when we judge the actions God takes against those who make themselves His enemies? 

This is precarious ground to stand upon.  It is far to easy to take passages like this and justify all sorts of evil in God’s name.  On the other hand, if it is God’s will and God is just, then there is no problem.

David sees an opportunity to respond to love.  He does not act to prove himself to Saul.  David initially takes a position of humbleness upon hearing about Michal’s love and Saul’s approval.  David claims to not have the correct social status for a son-in-law of the king.  He’s a shepherd.  He knows nothing about being a king.  Yet, when he hears about the opportunity to kill Philistines, who have set themselves as enemies of God, he acts.

David is successful.  Saul asked for one hundred Philistines to die; he killed two hundred.  God blessed David in his pursuit.  Each time the Philistines come out against the Hebrew people, David finds success.

Those who walk with God find success at God’s hand.  When we make our will God’s will – which is entirely different than making God’s will our will – why wouldn’t God lead us to victory?  If God calls us to certain action and we are obedient to Him, we can expect God to fight alongside us and bring us into His vision for our lives.