“大卫对扫罗说：‘我是谁？我是什么出身，我父家在以色列中是何等的家，岂敢作王的女婿呢？’” - 撒上 18:18

我记得观看1991年那次美国职业篮球联赛决赛时，我支持的芝加哥公牛队出战洛杉矶湖人队。这是迈克尔乔丹第一次率公牛队进入决赛，至于湖人队，魔术师约翰逊曾数次蝉联冠军，他懂得怎样取胜。第一场赛事从湖人队半场发球，他们侥幸打败了公牛队。然而，到了第二场，乔丹突破了湖人队的后防，乔丹的出色球技使芝加哥在六连冠比赛中第一次摘冠，约翰逊承认，他自己的光芒已经从此变得暗淡了，他知道他辉煌的日子已经一去不返了。

扫罗王却不肯承认他的国已开始没落了，他妒忌大卫、但又惧怕他，因为主一次又一次使大卫得胜 － 而且百姓都爱戴他。为了在将来的战事上赢得大卫的忠心，扫罗把他的女儿米拉赐给大卫为妻，但同时扫罗心里也说：“要藉非利士人的手害他。”然而大卫却礼貌地婉拒了，他表示他不配做扫罗的女婿。

后来，大卫娶了扫罗的另一个女儿米甲为妻 － 他为此付了苛刻的聘礼。当扫罗发觉米甲爱大卫，而神又继续与大卫同在时，他便变得更加害怕、嫉妒、和愤怒了。扫罗实在不肯放手，他一直都在视大卫为敌。

祷告

主啊，求你塑造我，叫我遵行你的道，而不是按己意行事。奉耶稣祈求，阿们。

撒母耳记上 18:12-30

12扫罗惧怕大卫，因为耶和华离开自己，与大卫同在。
13所以扫罗使大卫离开自己，立他为千夫长，他就领兵出入。
14大卫做事无不精明，耶和华也与他同在。
15扫罗见大卫做事精明，就甚怕他。
16但以色列和犹大众人都爱大卫，因为他领他们出入。
17扫罗对大卫说：“我将大女儿米拉给你为妻，只要你为我奋勇，为耶和华争战。”扫罗心里说：“我不好亲手害他，要藉非利士人的手害他。”
18大卫对扫罗说：“我是谁，我是什么出身，我父家在以色列中是何等的家，岂敢做王的女婿呢？”
19扫罗的女儿米拉到了当给大卫的时候，扫罗却给了米何拉人亚得列为妻。
20扫罗的次女米甲爱大卫。有人告诉扫罗，扫罗就喜悦。
21扫罗心里说：“我将这女儿给大卫，做他的网罗，好藉非利士人的手害他。”所以扫罗对大卫说：“你今日可以第二次做我的女婿。”
22扫罗吩咐臣仆说：“你们暗中对大卫说：‘王喜悦你，王的臣仆也都喜爱你，所以你当做王的女婿。’”
23扫罗的臣仆就照这话说给大卫听。大卫说：“你们以为做王的女婿是一件小事吗？我是贫穷卑微的人。”
24扫罗的臣仆回奏说：“大卫所说的如此如此。”
25扫罗说：“你们要对大卫这样说：‘王不要什么聘礼，只要一百非利士人的阳皮，好在王的仇敌身上报仇。’”扫罗的意思要使大卫丧在非利士人的手里。
26扫罗的臣仆将这话告诉大卫，大卫就欢喜做王的女婿。日期还没有到，
27大卫和跟随他的人起身前往，杀了二百非利士人，将阳皮满数交给王，为要做王的女婿。于是扫罗将女儿米甲给大卫为妻。
28扫罗见耶和华与大卫同在，又知道女儿米甲爱大卫，
29就更怕大卫，常做大卫的仇敌。
30每逢非利士军长出来打仗，大卫比扫罗的臣仆做事精明，因此他的名被人尊重。

Reality Check

"David said to Saul, 'Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?'" - 1 Samuel 18:18

I remember watching my Chicago Bulls play the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals. It was the first Finals series for Michael Jordan as he led the Bulls. For the Lakers, Magic Johnson had topped the championship mountain a few times and knew how to win. The Lakers managed to steal the first game from the Bulls on their home floor. But in the second game, Jordan tore through the Lakers’ defense. Johnson admitted his light was dimming as Jordan’s skill led Chicago to its first of six championships. Johnson knew his better days were behind him, not in front of him.

King Saul refused to admit that his kingdom was sinking. He was jealous and afraid of David, because the Lord gave David victory after victory—and the people loved him. To try to buy David’s loyalty in future warfare, Saul offered his daughter Merab to him. And at the same time Saul thought, “Let the Philistines kill him!” But David politely refused, saying that he was not worthy to be Saul’s son-in-law. David might also have sensed that he should not be in debt to Saul. He couldn’t trust Saul.

Later on, David did accept Saul’s offer of another daughter, Michal—for a price. And when Saul saw that Michal loved David and the Lord continued to be with David, Saul grew even more afraid, jealous, and angry. Saul just couldn’t let go, and he remained David’s enemy.

Prayer

Lord, mold me to live your way, not mine. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.