STUDY THEME: THE GOD FACTOR. 1-25-04.
“GOD WORKS IN TIME.” 1 SAMUEL 26: 7-25
1 SAMUEL 26: 7-8, 9-11, 17-18, 19-20, 21-25.
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO 1 SAMUEL 26.
As we continue our study of the life of David we find it had four main stages: rise to prominence (1 Samuel 16-20), the wilderness years (1 Samuel 21-31), David as king before his sins related to Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 1-10), and David’s reign after his sins related to Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 11-24). The first two lessons in January were from stage 1, and last Sunday’s lesson (designated for the Sanctity of Human Life Sunday) was from stage four. Today’s lesson moves back to an earlier stage—the wilderness years.
The wilderness years were years of testing for David. King Saul became jealous of David and determined to destroy him. David was forced from the royal court and had to flee for his life. He spent some time in Philistia, but he spent most of his time moving from place to place trying to evade Saul’s attempts to capture him. A band of friends and disaffected people gathered about him. Twice he had an opportunity to kill his relentless pursuer, and each time he refused. Today’s lesson is based on the second time David spared Saul’s life.
Long before Jesus admonished us to love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us, David demonstrated this attitude in his life in response to Saul’s hatred.
PLEASE READ 1 SAMUEL 26: 7-8.
First Samuel 18-25 reports many of King Saul’s attempts to kill David. The shepherd’s defeat of Goliath had led to a great victory over the Philistine army; but the king’s jealousy was sparked by hearing people praise David more than the king. That jealousy quickly grew into a consuming animosity. Twice in the palace, Saul tried to spear David. The king ordered his men to ambush David, but he escaped and began the life of a fugitive. Saul continued to pursue him, but the Lord protected the future king of Israel. Eventually, 600 men joined David.
Back in 1 Sam. 22 because the priests and people of Nob had helped David, Saul had them all killed. This struck fear into many people. Thus, the Ziphites (ZIF-ights) reported to Saul where David was, but, (in 1 Sam. 26: 1-4) David’s spies warned him of Saul’s approach.
David got close enough to Saul’s camp to tell that all were asleep. He asked who would go with him into Saul’s camp, and Abishai (uh-BIGH-shigh) went with David. He was David’s nephew, and brother to Joab. Abishai, who proved to be a brave man and a loyal supporter of David, volunteered to accompany David on a dangerous mission into the enemy camp.
They went at night. They found Saul and Abner, his general, and all their army sleeping. “ Vs. 12 says, “They were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.” Saul not only was asleep, but his spear was stuck in the ground at his head. Abner slept near the king.
A powerful temptation was here set before David. Had their positions been reversed, would Saul hesitate to slay him? Moreover, did it not look as though God had arranged things to this very end? The previous opportunity was not nearly so strongly marked as this one: Before Saul had, as it were, accidentally wandered into the cave, but here was something extraordinary—the entire camp was wrapped in a supernatural slumber.
In vs. 8 Abishai recognized an opportunity when he saw one. Because the king was asleep and helpless, he concluded that the Lord had handed David’s enemy into his hands. From his human point of view, Abishai believed God had arranged everything perfectly so they could do away with their enemy. He begged David’s permission to pin Saul to the ground with a spear, perhaps Saul’s own spear.
Circumstances may give us an indication of what the Lord wants us to do. In themselves, however, circumstances are not enough. They have to line up with God’s revealed truth. We should pass by any advantageous opportunity that can be seized only by violating God’s Word or by disobeying a previous instruction from Him. God never arranges circumstances to enable us to do wrong. Do you think Jonah thought the Lord had arranged to have a ship ready to take him in a direction opposite to the Lord’s will in Jonah 1:3? Did the people who questioned Jesus about divorce in Matt 19:1-12 actually think He would contradict His Father’s original intent of marriage? Even when circumstances look appealing, we must obey God’s Word; we “walk by faith, not by sight.”
David’s attendant urged upon him that it was the will of God to now take things into his own hand. If David had nothing to consider except the dissatisfaction with the present details of his own life, killing Saul would have been to his advantage. Perhaps part of David was impatient to become the king Samuel had anointed him to be. If he had desired, Abishai would have killed Saul for him. Outwardly, the situation was extremely favorable. But David was not to be moved from his loyalty to the throne.
First, in Vs. 10, he told Abishai that it would be sinful to lay violent hands upon one whose person was sacred, for Saul had been appointed by God and anointed for his office. Second, he declared it was unnecessary; God would, sooner or latter, cut Saul off. Remembering how in 1 Sam. 25:38 the Lord had just before smitten Nabal, he left it to God to avenge his cause.
“So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s head, and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.”
PLEASE READ 1 SAMUEL 16: 9-11.
How easily David could have concluded that divine Providence had set him up for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How else could he explain (1) their easy entrance into camp, (2) the whole army’s being in a supernatural slumber, and (3) Saul’s lying helpless before them? Was it not God’s will for David to end the life of a fugitive and take the throne for which Samuel at the Lord’s instruction had anointed him? Things being reversed, what would his enemy have done? All of these human considerations were swept away by David’s loyalty to the Lord.
David told Abishai, Don’t destroy him. The reason: Saul was the Lord’s anointed, and whoever would lift a hand against him would not be blameless. By mentioning the Lord’s anointed, David was not referring to Saul’s character, but to his God-ordained position as king. Saul was king because the Lord had chosen him and had instructed Samuel to anoint him. David was convinced that to act against the one God had anointed as king would be to sin against God. The Lord would hold such a man guilty and would punish him.
David did not deny that the Lord had delivered Saul into his hands; however, he saw this not as a call to kill Saul but as a test of his own patience and trust in God’s purposes. David no doubt wanted to be king, but he did not allow his personal ambitions to preempt the purposes of God. David was convinced that killing the Lord’s anointed would have been a gross sin. Therefore, he told Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless. The Bible does not tell us the origin of David’s consistent conviction against harming the anointed king, but he was clear and emphatic about it.
When it was the Lord’s will for Saul to die and David to reign, God would do it in His own way and time. In Vs. 10 David listed three ways in which Saul might die: “As surely as the Lord lives, the Lord will kill Saul, or Saul will die a natural death, or be killed in battle.” David didn’t know how Saul would die; but he knew it would not be by his hand.
However, to let Saul know that he had been there and could have killed him, David told Abishai to take Saul’s spear and water jug that were at Saul’s head and bring them back to David’s hideout. That spear might have been the one Saul had hurled at David twice. He wanted Saul to know he could have killed him with it.
This proved to be the last meeting between Saul and David. David resisted all of the temptations to kill or even harm God’s anointed. However many opportunities David might have, he would not kill Saul. God was training David as Israel’s next king to trust Him and follow Him. Saul had failed by disobeying the Lord and taking matters into his own hands. David was proving that he would wait on the Lord and obey the Lord’s leading, not his own desires.
He did the opposite of Macbeth and his wife in Shakespeare’s play. This evil couple was ambitious for Macbeth to be king. Their unrestrained ambition led them to plot and carry out the murder of the reigning king. They in turn reaped what they had sown.
I hope we may remember the lasting lessons learned from 1 Samuel 26: 7-ll:
1. An opportunity to do something desirable is not a sure sign that it is of God.
2.Well-meaning friends my give what appears to be good advice but actually it is not.
Our actions should be based on moral and spiritual convictions.
Believers must have deep respect for those anointed of God for special service.
Personal ambitions should not cause us to forget our convictions.
Leave vengeance in God’s hands.
God’s timing is not always our timing.
In faith, believers must embrace God’s timing.
Trust God to fulfill His promises in His own time and way.
What an admirable spirit of self-restraint and patience David showed in being willing to bear all the risk and pain of a most distressing position, until it should please God to bring to him the hour of deliverance. The grace we especially commend is that of waiting for God’s time.
3. PLEASE READ 1 SAMUEL 26: 17-18.
In Ch. 24, the first time David could have killed Saul, David took part of Saul’s clothing as proof. In Ch. 15 David called out to Saul. In Ch. 16 he addressed Abner, Saul’s military commander, who is not mentioned in Ch. 24. David chided Abner for not guarding Saul. David asked in Vs. 12-16 where was Saul’s spear and water jug. Both Saul’s and Abner’s blood must have run cold at the thought of how vulnerable they had been.
Saul had awakened and heard this long-distance conversation between Abner and David. Saul recognized David’s voice and said, ‘is that your voice, David my son?” Calling him son implied tender and positive feelings toward him at that time, probably because David had spared his life. David was Saul’s son-in-law because of his marriage to Michal, and he was the best friend to Jonathan, the king’s son.
In the early days Saul had treated David with the honor and affection generally reserved for sons, but jealousy turned affection into suspicion, fear, and hatred. Therefore, David probably did not know whether Saul had any real affection left for him. Even if Saul spoke in a moment of affection, he was notorious for his shifting moods.
David knew from experience not to trust Saul’s expressions of affection, however, sincere they were at the time. In spite of Saul’s frequent duplicity, David continued to use expressions of respect. Therefore, he confirmed that it was his voice and addressed Saul as my lord and king. David’s address revealed his continued submission to Saul and his awareness that Saul was still his king. David submitted to Saul because he first submitted to God and His will. For the moment, God chose to leave Saul on Israel’s throne though He had rejected Him. Saul was David’s king and would remain so until God removed him.
Having captured Saul’s attention, David asked Saul why he was pursuing him: What have I done? Or what evil is in mine hand? David hoped that Saul would have a moment of truth. He wanted Saul to evaluate his actions. Why was he so determined to destroy David that he brought three thousand soldiers into the wilderness just to capture David? The fugitive knew that only Saul’s determination to retain the throne led him to seek to kill David. When someone’s ambition causes the person to hurt others, something is wrong with the ambition. Saul had become paranoid.
Saul never did admit directly to David the reason he was trying to kill him. The true motive is recorded in 1 Samuel 20: 3-31. Saul wanted his son to rule after him. He feared that if David were allowed to live, the son of Jesse rather than the son of Saul would become the king.
4. PLEASE READ 1 SAMUEL 16: 19-20.
In Vs. 19 David tried to give Saul the benefit of the doubt. He knew that he had done nothing to cause the Lord to turn Saul against David, but for a moment he dealt with such a situation: “If the Lord has turned you against me, maybe a sacrifice will make Him change His mind.” David was willing to do anything to seek reconciliation with Saul.
But David knew that the Lord had not turned Saul against him. People who claimed to be
Saul’s friends were encouraging Saul’s paranoia. The king was suspicious by nature. It was easy to slander David to him. Around every person in power are many people who consider their welfare dependent on the continuing power of their patron. David was thinking of those who had so much at stake in Saul continuing to reign. They poisoned the already suspicious mind of Saul. In their earlier encounter, David asked Saul in 1 Sam. 24: 9, “Why do you listen when men say, “David is bent on harming you?”
On this second occasion David said, “If some people have turned you against me, I hope the Lord will punish them.” Slander is a serious sin. The 9th Commandment in Ex. 20:16 condemns it. At least three of the seven things the Lord hates in Prov. 6: 16-19 are forms of this sin: “a lying tongue…a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
David challenged Saul to consider the consequences of his actions. Saul and his cohorts were driving David out of the promised land of their fathers. David was forced at times to live among the Philistines with their false gods. In this sense, their actions were saying in essence; Go, serve other gods.
Not only was David being forced to forfeit the blessings of family and homeland, but also he was being robbed of the opportunity to worship the Lord at the place He had appointed. No sanctuaries to the true God existed outside Israelite territory. In effect, his enemies were saying to him, “Go and worship other gods.”
If Saul eventually trapped and killed David, he would be guilty of doing that which David had refused to do---slaying the Lord’s anointed. So David pleaded with Saul, “Let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord.” David tried to convince Saul that he would not harm him. The king and his large force were an example of overkill. David believed that he was too insignificant for the King of Israel to go searching for him. David said he was as small as a flea and as harmless as a partridge in the mountains.
Each of us should be constantly evaluating our actions in light of God’s Word. We should help one another ask ourselves the hard questions about what we are doing and why we are doing it.
Let’s try to remember that:
Our terms of affection should express genuine, lasting affection.
We need to evaluate what we do and why.
We are to seek reconciliation, regardless of who is to blame.
We are to avoid slander and gossip.
We should not act in ways that can hurt other people.
PLEASE READ 1 SAMUEL 26: 21-25.
In Vs. 21 Saul evaluated his previous actions toward David and came to the right conclusion in light of God’s purposes. He confessed, “I have sinned.” Saul admitted his sin to David just as David would admit his sin to Nathan and to God after he committed adultery with Bathsheba. Saul was pursuing David because he was jealous of him, and saw him as a threat to his own popularity and position. Saul believed he had to protect his throne instead of trusting and obeying God as his means of protection.
When do the words I have sinned represent real repentance? When there is a godly sorrow for one’s sins. When there is accepting responsibility for one’s sins. When there is a turning away from sin. When there is trust that God will forgive sins. Was Saul truly repentant?
In Vs. 21 the king also confessed that he had acted foolishly or had played the fool. Saul had acted out of harmony with God’s purposes. Also, he said that he had committed a very grave error in seeking to kill David. His actions revealed that he did not submit to God’s authority and leadership.
Saul urged David to come back, promising not to hurt him again. Saul had shown signs of changing his attitude toward David before, but did not follow though. However, this time Saul did not pursue David again. This is the last encounter between Saul and David. Because David considered Saul’s life precious and did not kill him, Saul promised that he would do the same and not try to kill David.
In 1 Sam. 24:17-21 Saul made an even longer statement in which he asked David not to kill all Saul’s family when David came into power. This was usually customary when there was a transfer of power in order to protect the position of the new king.
These words sound like repentance, but unfortunately Saul continued to seek to kill David. David had heard Saul make empty promises before. Before David was forced to flee into the wilderness, Jonathan made an impassioned plea for David to his father Saul: “Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath in 1 Sam. 19:6: ‘As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.” Shortly after this vow, Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear. This had happened more than once. David knew that Saul’s suspicious nature and survival instinct would never change.
In Vs. 22 David responded to Saul’s admissions by giving him back his spear. Saul carried his spear with him as a symbol of his position and his power. When David took it from him, that action suggested that David had more power than Saul. But David did not want to take Saul’s position or power away from him. Giving him back his spear was a way of submitting to God’s authority and purposes which included submitting to Saul as king as long as God let him remain in office.
David then spoke what might have been a prayer. Three times, he prayed, “may the Lord or may He do something.” The first request was for the Lord to repay everyone for acts of righteousness and loyalty or faithfulness. David had acted in a right manner and had shown loyalty to God’s purposes and Saul’s position as king by not raising his hand against God’s anointed. David prayed that God would repay him for his godly actions. Robert Bergen called this verse a “brief discourse on the ‘law of spiritual sowing and reaping,’ the last recorded words spoken by David to his royal father-in-law. David had sown mercy toward Saul: he prayed he would reap mercy from Saul.
The second request in David’s prayer was that the Lord would consider his life valuable just as he had considered Saul’s life valuable. One translation of Vs. 24 is, “I saved your life today, and I pray that the LORD will protect me and keep me safe.” David would lead in the killing of many people as Israel’s king. But he would do so in the belief that he was fighting the Lord’s battles in defending His people from their enemies. But he considered Saul’s life valuable because God had considered it valuable in anointing him as king. David revealed that he had submitted to God’s attitude, toward Saul’s life and therefore had spared him.
David’s third request was for God to deliver him from all trouble. He had been running from Saul and Israel’s army who were trying to kill him. Even if Saul did keep his word and seek his death no longer, David still faced various troubles as he lived in exile. However, as later events showed, David did not believe Saul would keep his promise. So he went to the land of the Philistines with his 600 men and lived there. When Saul heard that, in 1 Sam. 24:1-4 he stopped looking for him.
When believers submit to God’s authority, they learn that they must distinguish between God’s truth and other messages that are in conflict with His truth. Abishai tried to persuade David to kill Saul, even to the point of saying that God had given the opportunity. David did not view the circumstances that way. Also, David did not listen to Saul and go home. Rather, he continued in exile until Saul’s death.
Today, when we submit to God’s authority, we also submit to the authority of God’s Word, the Bible. We believe the Bible is absolutely true and can be relied on completely to lead us in doing God’s will. God’s kings were supposed to have a copy of God’s law and to follow it in their reigns. Similarly, Christians today must accept the Bible as the absolute standard for their faith and practice and follow God’s Word daily.
In Vs. 25 Saul’s final words to David were words of blessings and promise. He told David, “You are blessed, my son David.” Saul’s words were spoken from a temporary state of repentance and reconciliation. What he said proved to be prophetic. God’s blessings were upon David because David submitted to God’s authority and sought to obey Him. Saul declared that David would certainly do great things. David became Israel’s greatest king and the standard by which all other kings were measured. The Messiah Himself was called in Matt. 1:1 the Son of David.
Saul’s last blessing and promise was that David would certainly be victorious. One version translated the last part of Vs. 25 as: “You will do many things and will succeed in them.” Saul had already admitted to David in 1 Sam. 24:20 that he knew David would become king. He said, “I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.”
At that time Saul asked for mercy from David upon his descendants and pleaded that David would not wipe out his name from his father’s family. This time Saul blessed his son-in-law and predicted that he would become a great person in Israel.
The conversation ended. David lived away from home during the remaining days of Saul’s life. At Saul’s death, Judah called on David to become their king. When Israel asked him to be their king also, David became the king of the united monarchy. Saul returned home and ruled the remaining time of his reign without the blessings or leadership of the Lord. He eventually, in 1 Sam. 31:1-4, committed suicide during a battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa.
Some truths from these verses 21-25 are:
When Christians do not submit to God’s authority, they sin, act the fool, and commit grave errors.
God calls all people to submit to His authority and follow Him
God will bless those who submit to Him. He will do great things through them, and they will be victorious.
NEXT SUNDAY WE BEGIN A FOUR LESSON STUDY “DARE TO LIVE WITH DISCIPLINE.” IN THIS ST UDY WE WILL CONSIDER FIVE SEPARATE DISCIPLINES: WORSHIP, PRAYER, BIBLE STUDY, GIVING, AND SERVICE.
WE BEGIN FEB. 1, 2004 WITH A FOCUS ON THE DISCIPLINE OF WORSHIP AS IT HELPS BELIEVERS TO BECOME MORE CHRISTLIKE. GOD EXPECTS HIS PEOPLE TO WORSHIP REGULARLY. A.V. DAUGHERTY 1-25-04