Is deception in your toolkit?

 1 Samuel 18:17-30

One of the greatest tools is deception, and it leads to perception, and yet if what one perceives is not based on truth then is it false; that is the world of 2017.  Is deception a new thing, no, the one Jesus refers to as the thief has been doing it since the Garden of Eden?  And King Saul, who God has allowed Satan to control, teaches his followers how to master this tool.  Many businessmen and politicians have mastered the art of deception, and as Jesus said to the Pharisees you are not of God your father is the devil.  So we should not be shocked to see Saul asking David to earn the right to be his son-in-law by becoming his warrior against the Philistines, in the hope that they would kill him. 

We also see the heart of David being reluctant to marry into the King’s family in that he was a poor man of little social standing.  So the first offer is turned down, and it seems that Merab had no real feeling for David, but baby sister loved David and it was reported to King Saul that Michal loved David.  One thing I’ve learned about deception is it leads to a life of lies, and often the deceiver is caught in their web of deceit.  This is going to happen to Saul with the second offer to become the son-in-law of the King, with Michal as the bride. 

This is reported: “Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.” And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delighted in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king's son-in-law.’” And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.’” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired, David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy continually.”

A wise man would come to understand that he was fighting against God’s plan and change his course of action, but Saul is like many a person I have encountered, they keep coming up with plans doomed to fail.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice