The women’s response – Preaching
Preaching Outline on 1 Samuel 18:7-8 – “And the women answered one another, and said, Saul smote his thousands, but David his ten thousands.”
Introduction to 1 Samuel 18:7-8
The Lord’s work is sustained by what is spiritual. Unlike human structures, which depend on man’s strength and ability, the Lord’s church moves forward through the movement of the Holy Spirit. Everything that happens in the life of the church is within the divine purpose, being revealed day by day to those who have communion with God.
The joy of the church does not lie in events and external activity, but in the incessant search for the Lord’s presence. Whether in moments of intimacy with God, ladies’ meetings, daily temple services, home services or visits to the needy, the real goal will always be to discern the Lord’s will for that moment.
When God manifests himself, there is always a shout of victory! There is glorification of His name! And this spontaneous manifestation of the Lord’s joy has always accompanied His people, just as it did in the days of David, when the women responded with joy to the Lord’s deeds.
The women’s response
David was returning from a great battle, where he had faced and defeated the giant Goliath. David did what no one in Israel had dared to do – not even King Saul and his soldiers – by trusting in the Lord. This victory became known to all the people.
When the women sang the song: “Saul smote his thousands, but David his ten thousands”, they were not just exalting a man, but glorifying God for the great deeds accomplished through David. They perceived the Lord’s hand on that young man and recognized that it was He who was leading His people to victory.
The women’s response represents recognition of God’s work in the lives of those who are willing to be used by Him. In the church, the Holy Spirit empowers servants who make themselves available to pray, evangelize, visit the needy and seek spiritual gifts. And, inevitably, those who are faithful and dedicated in the work generate testimonies that strengthen the church’s faith.
However, along with this recognition, there will always be the stares of those who don’t understand God’s work and therefore resist or are even indignant at those who are being used by the Lord.
Then Saul became very angry
Saul’s reaction to the women’s celebration reveals the difference between those who live in the Spirit and those who look at things with carnal eyes. Instead of glorifying God for David’s deeds, Saul saw the exaltation of David as a threat to his own reign.
Saul’s indignation was the fruit of jealousy and insecurity, characteristics of someone who has lost communion with God. When a person moves away from the Lord, carnal feelings take the place of the Spirit’s guidance. In Saul’s case, jealousy gave way to hatred, to the point where he tried to kill David. Scripture tells us that Saul threw a spear at David, but the young man dodged it twice (1 Samuel 18:11).
On the other hand, David didn’t fight back. He remained prudent and confident in God’s sovereignty. This teaches us that, even when we are persecuted or misunderstood, we must act wisely and trust that God is the one who justifies us.
In church life, we often see situations in which jealousy and envy try to create divisions and murmurings among the brethren. When carnal feelings take the place of spiritual care, the Holy Spirit grieves and withdraws. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no love, no edification, no spiritual growth and no genuine work of the Lord.
What does he lack if not the kingdom?
From that moment on, Saul began to realize that the kingdom was slipping out of his hands. He saw that God was with David and feared that he would take his place. But the issue wasn’t David taking Saul’s place; it was God taking away from Saul what he was no longer able to manage.
When a servant of the Lord loses communion with God, he can continue to hold office, he can maintain his position, but God’s presence is no longer with him. This happened to Saul: he was still king, but the Spirit of the Lord was no longer upon him.
The war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on for many years, but in the end, the house of Saul was consumed and the house of David was strengthened (2 Samuel 3:1). This teaches us that a church, a family or any ministry cannot be sustained by offenses, disputes and divisions. The building up of God’s work happens when there is love, communion and submission to the will of the Holy Spirit.
God’s presence in our lives is what confirms us in the kingdom. The more we seek the presence of the Holy Spirit, the more we are strengthened, the more we experience miracles and the more we are used to do the Lord’s will. The true power of the church does not lie in human strength, but in the operation of the Holy Spirit in the midst of His people.
Conclusion of I Samuel 18:7-8
The response of the women in David’s day was a spontaneous song of gratitude and recognition of the Lord’s deeds. But this response generated two distinct reactions:
- For those who were in the Spirit, like David, it was a reason to rejoice and praise God.
- For those in the flesh, like Saul, it was a cause for jealousy, indignation and envy.
Today is no different. When the Holy Spirit works in the life of the church, those who have communion with God rejoice, glorify and participate in God’s movement. But those who are caught up in the works of the flesh feel threatened, uncomfortable and often become instruments of division.
May we be like David: faithful to the Lord, prudent in our attitudes and totally confident in God’s sovereignty. May we be like the women who sang that song: attentive to perceiving and proclaiming the wonders that God has performed in the midst of his people.
And above all, may we live and work in God’s work always guided by the Holy Spirit, for only in this way will we be strengthened and confirmed in the Kingdom of God.
Amen!
Preaching Outline on 1 Samuel 18:7-8 – “And the women answered one another, and said, Saul smote his thousands, but David his ten thousands.”
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