The Three Tests of Gibeah

Tyler Everett
Aug 17
3 min read

From 1 Samuel 18:1–14

There’s something powerful about how we posture ourselves before God’s Word. When I read Scripture, I’m reminded—this isn’t just another book. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). When we open the Bible, we are standing before the King.

In 1 Samuel 18:1–14, David steps into a new season. He’s fresh off his victory over Goliath, and everything is about to change. The text tells us:

Jonathan’s soul was knit to David’s, and he loved him as his own soul (vv.1–3).
Jonathan gave David his robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt—a covenant act affirming God’s call on David’s life (v.4).
David was successful wherever Saul sent him, and the people celebrated him (v.5–7).
Saul grew jealous and hurled spears at him, because “the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul” (v.12).

In just a few verses, we see David face what I’ll call the three great tests of Gibeah—the Promotion Test, the Praise Test, and the People Test. Each of these is still deeply relevant to us today.

1. The Promotion Test

“David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him.” (1 Samuel 18:14)

Promotion always comes after victory, but it requires discernment. Psalm 75:6–7 says, “No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.”

David could have stayed with the sheep, but that would have been false humility. When God promotes you, it’s not pride to step into it—it’s obedience. Promotion will stretch you, it will demand deeper dependence on God’s presence, but it’s also the place where He equips you for the next assignment.

Passing the promotion test means:

Stay dependent on His presence. Don’t coast on autopilot. Every new season demands fresh intimacy with God.
Hold the door open for others. Promotion gives you a platform, not just for yourself, but to pull others closer to God.
Expect both praise and persecution. With promotion comes celebration, but also opposition. God will sustain you through both.

2. The Praise Test

“As they danced, they sang: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.’” (1 Samuel 18:7)

The women’s song brought David national fame—but it stirred jealousy in Saul. Praise is not sinful, but it’s always a test. Proverbs 27:21 reminds us, “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.”

Here’s the danger: If you live for the applause of people, you’ll die by their rejection. But if you learn to let praise pass through you back to God, you can stay steady.

David models humility in three ways:

He kept serving where God placed him. Anointed or not, he continued faithfully in his assignments.
He refused to use influence for self-promotion. David never leveraged the crowd’s chants to undermine Saul.
He gave glory back to God. Facing Goliath, David declared, “The whole world will know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:46).

The praise test isn’t about whether people notice you—it’s about whether their praise redirects your heart back to God.

3. The People Test

“Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul.” (1 Samuel 18:3)

Relationships shape your calling. David learned this firsthand: he rejected Saul’s armor, but embraced Jonathan’s covenant. Saul’s relationship was toxic, manipulative, and self-serving. Jonathan’s was life-giving, loyal, and God-ordained.

The Hebrew word used to describe Jonathan’s love is “ahav”—a love of loyalty, commitment, and sacrificial care. Jonathan literally stripped himself of his princely robe and weapons—the symbols of his right to the throne—and gave them to David. He was saying, “I see who God has called you to be, and I’m with you.”

The people test asks: Who is shaping your walk with God?

Some relationships will weigh you down with armor that doesn’t fit.
Others will help you step into your God-given calling.

The kingdom of God is more about relationship than theology. You can study everything there is to know about God and still miss Him if you never walk with Him or with His people. Choose Jonathan-like friends who strengthen your calling and draw you nearer to Christ.

Final Thoughts

David’s journey in Gibeah shows us that success in God’s kingdom doesn’t hinge on talent, but on trust. You will face the promotion test, the praise test, and the people test—but through it all, you can pass with confidence when, like David, “the Lord is with you.” So the question is: Which test are you in right now? And will you let God use it to forge a heart that belongs fully to Him?