The narrator leaves off the arc of Saul and David’s story to explain the underlying spiritual principles of the drama. In partial explanation of why God does not simply replace Saul quickly with David, the narrator points out that God is interested in shaping David into a certain sort of person, broken through suffering and thus capable of growth: “God has a university. It’s a small school. Few enroll; even fewer graduate. Very, very few indeed. God has this school because he does not have broken men and women” (15). The narrator points out not only that David’s destiny is one of suffering but also that Saul himself was the instrument by which God would accomplish his goals for David’s growth: “David was once a student in this school, and Saul was God’s chosen way to crush David” (15). As such, the authority with which Saul functioned remained a God-given authority, anointed for the purposes for which God was using him.

This chapter returns to David’s perspective on the circumstances of his life in Saul’s palace. When Saul hurls spears at him,