1 Samuel 18:5
ESV
And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul 's servants.
NIV
Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.
NASB
And David went into battle wherever Saul sent him, and always achieved success; so Saul put him in charge of the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
CSB
David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the fighting men, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well.
NLT
Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike.
KJV
And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
NKJV
So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
What does 1 Samuel 18:5 mean?
David is bold, brave, good-looking, young, a skilled fighter, a talented musician, and a natural leader. As much as all those are true, he has such success in all areas of his life because the Lord is with him. To say, "The Lord is with David" seems simple enough. Yet those words are powerful beyond our understanding. They go deeper than what other people could easily see.In a literal sense, God was always "with" David, even before David was born (Psalm 139:13). But His overt work through David began at a specific moment. The Lord chose David and sent the prophet Samuel to anoint David as Israel's next king. After this, the Holy Spirit of God "rushed" onto the youth (1 Samuel 16:13). From that day on, the Lord empowered David to be successful in all he did.
David participates in God's work in two specific ways: He believes God, and he obeys God. The results are described in this verse: success, growing responsibility, and then more success. The young man becomes the leader of men of war, and they don't resent him for it. It's unclear if this is a summary statement of the next few years, starting in 1 Samuel 18:13, or if David commands a smaller force between the time he kills Goliath and returns home with Saul (1 Samuel 18:6). Either way, everyone is glad to see David in charge and to serve under and alongside him. Everyone loves and respects David.
Everyone except the king.
