When the Spears Start Flying
What David’s Story Teaches Us About Favor, Opposition, and Staying Faithful
“Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall.”
— 1 Samuel 19:10
You Can Feel It Before You Understand It
Have you ever walked into a room and just… felt it?
Not said out loud.
Not written anywhere.
But something shifted.
You’re doing your best.
You’re showing up.
You’re serving, loving, growing…
—and somehow, something changes.
The atmosphere tightens.
The tone shifts.
The looks feel different.
And before you can make sense of it…
the spears start flying.
This Isn’t Just Biblical—It’s Personal
I’m not talking about something distant or theoretical.
I’m talking about this week.
Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, knowing I was about to walk into a conversation I didn’t ask for… with tension I didn’t create… carrying weight I didn’t deserve.
And in that moment, my heart went straight to David.
Because David knew this place well.
David Was Doing Everything Right
David wasn’t careless.
He wasn’t rebellious.
He wasn’t out of alignment.
He was faithful.
A warrior and a worshiper.
Anointed. Gifted. Called.
The kind of person people celebrate…
until something in them gets triggered.
When Favor Turns Into Friction
In 1 Samuel 18, everything looks like blessing:
He’s trusted
He’s promoted
He’s celebrated
The Lord is with him
But then a song shifts everything:
“Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
Admiration becomes comparison.
Comparison becomes jealousy.
Jealousy becomes hostility.
And eventually?
A spear.
Serving While Under Attack
Here’s what’s wild:
David keeps showing up.
He continues to serve Saul—
while Saul is trying to kill him.
He’s playing worship…
for a man holding a weapon.
Let that sink in.
What’s Really Going On?
Was David doing anything wrong?
No.
Was Saul’s reaction justified?
Not even close.
So what was really happening?
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood…”
— Ephesians 6:12
Sometimes the person throwing the spear…
isn’t the true source of the attack.
When It’s Not About You
That tension you feel.
That resistance you can’t explain.
That sudden shift in how people treat you…
It may not be about you.
It may be about:
What you carry
What God is doing in you
Who you are becoming
David didn’t just carry talent.
He carried God’s presence.
And what was tormenting Saul recognized it.
The Truth About Biblical Favor
This is the part we don’t always talk about.
We love the language of blessing:
Favor
Open doors
Increase
But biblical favor often looks very different.
It looks like:
Jesus—misunderstood, falsely accused, and crucified
Job—faithful, yet tested beyond comprehension
David—anointed, yet dodging spears
A Hard but Holy Truth
Biblical favor looks like a cross—
not a front-row parking spot.
Following God doesn’t shield you from hardship.
Sometimes, it exposes you to it.
But not to break you—
to refine you.
To strengthen your faith.
To grow the fruit in your life.
To make you a living testimony.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good.” — Psalm 34:8
When the Spears Come
So what do you do when you find yourself there?
When the tension is thick…
When the hits feel personal…
When the spears are flying…
You don’t panic.
You don’t quit.
You don’t assume you missed God.
Sometimes…
it’s confirmation you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
One Simple Response
When the spear comes?
Duck.
Not in fear—
but in wisdom.
God didn’t call you to absorb every attack.
He called you to endure, grow, and keep moving.
You’re in Good Company
David wasn’t alone.
Jesus wasn’t alone.
And neither are you.
Reflection
Have you experienced a “spear” season recently?
Could the resistance you’re feeling be connected to your growth?
What would it look like to respond with wisdom instead of discouragement?
Closing Thought
The next time you find yourself on the wrong end of a spear…
Remember:
You’re not underqualified.
You’re not out of place.
You might just be walking in real, biblical favor.