Answers Bible Curriculum 2nd Edition Unit 8 Lesson 79
This week in Sunday school, we continue to investigate the long period in which David was on the run from King Saul. What are the different ways God rescued David from Saul? How did David demonstrate righteous faith by refusing to kill Saul when David had the chance? And what can we learn for our lives about looking for God’s will or approval in our circumstances?
Our main texts for this lesson are 1 Samuel 24:1-22 and 1 Samuel 26:1-25.
Auto Transcript
Note: This rough transcript was automatically generated by YouTube’s AI algorithm. We provide it here for your convenience, but know it will surely contain errors as it has not been proofread or edited by a human.
all right well it’s 9:30 so let’s get started good morning and welcome to the Calgary community church Sunday School class I’m David Fisher we’ve been moving chronologically through the Bible studying the Bible and we’re currently following the life of David in the books of Samuel 1st Samuel in particular last week we saw how God raised up a special friend for David in Jonathan to serve as a critical help and encouragement to David as David’s life became much more difficult and fraught with danger and temptation this week we’ll look at how God continues to provide for David as king Saul ramps up his efforts to hunt down and destroy David we’re gonna find out what it is that God does for David in the midst of his ongoing difficulties we’re gonna see how God actually provides David with multiple chances to kill Saul will see what David does in response I will also learn we’ll learn more how it is that we are to handle the trials and even temptations that come up in our lives and are all around us so let’s ask the Lord to bless this time Bible study because we need his spirit to instruct us let’s pray Heavenly Father we thank you for your word and Lord it’s a joy to go into it and study it with your people but God we need you to open our eyes we need you to reveal it to us you need it we needed to also soften our hearts to be able to take it in because sin and worldly wisdom and the flesh even the devil Lord they they get in the way they can make it so that when we hear your word taught or preached it it doesn’t penetrate it doesn’t do anything to us because we are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin lord I pray that you would shatter that that your word would encourage convict and instruct powerfully supernaturally because it is your living inactive word I pray that you’d use me to do it help me to speak clearly and helpfully accurately in Jesus name Amen well please take your Bibles and open to the book of 1st Samuel we’re going to be in 1st Samuel 24 but you can glance at First Samuel chapter 21 for a moment last time together we were at First Samuel 20 and we just saw how David and Jonathan said goodbye to one another because David is gonna have to really be on the run from saw now he can’t even stay around the the Royal Court we don’t have time to cover chapters 21 to 23 but we see in those chapters a number of episodes where God delivers David in various amazing ways I’ll just mention them briefly a couple of them David receives help for instance from certain priests in the line of Li but unfortunately when salt finds out about it he not only kills the priests who help David but he kills all the priests and their families in the town that they lived in this was a wicked act from saul david also flees to Philistia for a time to get away from saul but he’s recognized there as a commander of Israel and so he pretends to be insane and he’s able to escape without being apprehended David also begins to gather for himself a small warrior band and they hide out in the wilderness and caves of Judah while hiding out they see that there’s an Israelite city under attack by the Philistines some Philistine Raiders and they rescue that city but then that city is about to give David and his companions over to salt but God warns David and he’s able to escape now the last instance for God’s deliverance in these chapters I all mentioned to you more specifically in first samuel 23 verses 24 to 29 david is nearly captured it’s an extremely close call because saul finds where david is it closes in on david’s position he’s got David surrounded he’s just on the other side of the mountain it looks like it’s all over for David but then a messenger arrives to Saul and says oh the Philistines they’ve attacked you need to come back and defend against them and so Saul has to call off his pursuit and David is saved so the Bible is not entirely clear how much time has taken place since chapter 22 chapter 24 but you can see it’s just crisis after crisis after crisis for David people solve servants various people inside and outside of Israel trying to deliver David over to Saul but he narrowly escapes and why because God is with him what happens next let’s look at first email 24 where a truly remarkable event takes place a truly a markable example of God’s deliverance of David I want to read this whole chapter with you like at first a meal 24 we’re reading to the end of the chapter how long as I read now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines he was told saying behold David is in the wilderness of Engedi and Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the rocks of the wild goats it came to the sheepfolds on the way where there was a cave and saul went in to relieve himself now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave the men of David said to him behold this is the day which the Lord that is yahweh said to you behold i am about to give your enemy into your hand and you shall do to him as it seems good to you then david arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly it came about afterward that David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s rope so he said to his men far be it from me because of Yahweh that I should do this thing to my lord he always anointed to stretch out my hand against him since he is he always anointed David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul this all arose left the cave and went on his way now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul saying my lord the King my saul looked behind him David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself David said to Saul why do you listen to the words of men saying behold David seeks to harm you behold this day your eyes have seen that Yahweh had given you today into my hand in the cave and some said to kill you and my I had pity on you and I said I will not stretch out my hand against my Lord for he is he always anointed now my father see indeed see the edge of your robe in my hand during that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you no one perceived if there is no evil or rebellion in my hands and I have not sinned against you though you are lying and wait for my life to take it may Yahweh judge between you and me and may Yahweh avenge me on you but my hand shall not be against you as the proverb of the ancient says out of the wicked comes forth wickedness but my hand shall not be against you after whom as the king of Israel come out whom are you pursuing a dead dog a single flee Yahweh therefore be judge and decide between you and me and may he see and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand what David had finished speaking these words to Saul Saul said is this your voice my son David then Saul lifted up his voice and wept he said to David you are more righteous than I for you have dealt well with me well I don’t wig idli with you you have declared today that you have done good to me that you already had yet you did not kill me but if a man finds his enemy will he let him go away safely may Yahweh therefore reward you with good and return for what you have done to me this day now behold I know that you will surely be king and that the Kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand so now swear to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household David’s voice of Saul and Saul went to his home but David and his men went up to the stronghold all right well let’s start our analysis of this passage as we do with basic observations of the details of the text notice in verse 1 Saul finds out where David is again he finds that David is in the wilderness of Engedi Allen Getty is a springfed oasis in the Judean wilderness on the western side of the Dead Sea this area has many caves which David could use to hide out in but it also has that central spring at Central Oasis where he could David could find water now these caves were an advantage for David it would mean that if Saul came down he would have to take time and care to find David in by searching the caves but Saul does come down he comes down notice with what verse 2 says 3,000 chosen men no doubt these are some of Saul’s best warriors now how many troops does David have you just back up a little bit First Samuel 23 13 last time we got we receive a number about the number of men with David it’s 600 David has 600 soldiers and we don’t know their quality could be a ragtag group but if it comes to battle 3,000 verse six hundred three thousand chosen men versus David’s band well David is clearly outmatched notice though in verse 3 a Saul begins his search of the caves of the area he goes into a certain cave to relieve himself literally in Hebrew Saul goes in to cover his feet that’s a phrase which indicates what kind of relief saw needed but while Saul’s trying to use the cave as his private bathroom David and his men are hiding in that same cave this must have been a large cave and saw must not have gone very far into it so consider how quickly the tables have turned on Saul despite Saul’s mighty group brought specifically to corner and kill David Saul has inadvertently detached himself from his whole guard and put himself in an extremely vulnerable position David and his men can see this great strategic blunder that Saul has committed so notice what David’s men tell David to do in verse 4 basically kill Saul and you can notice their argument God promised to give your enemy into your hand and then to let you do whatever seems good to you at the time and look here is that promise fulfilled this is your chance to kill Saul I mean come on remove this headache from your life and our lives get rid of this guy now it’s fair to ask did God make this specific promise to David actually if we search through first Samuel we don’t see it it doesn’t appear earlier in the text so our David’s men making this up could be that God gave a promise that’s not recorded in the scripture but our David’s meant faithfully reciting that process have they altered it in some way whether this these words are based on a real promise of God or not the argument from David’s men is pretty clear God has made this amazing situation happen clearly he’s put your enemy into your hands so isn’t this a sign that you are free to dispatch saul notice the end of verse 4 david is emboldened by the words of his men and he creeps close to Saul and cuts off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly but verse 5 what happens to David when he does this he feels guilt it feels a pang in his conscience he’s bothered and so he returns to his men in verse 6 and tells them that under no circumstances will he harm or strike down Saul and notice the reason that David gives that basically comes down to the phrase at the end of that verse since he saw is Yahweh’s anointed now remember the Hebrew term for anointed or Anointed One is Meshach that’s the term Messiah he said Saul is God’s Messiah he’s the chosen ruler of Israel Saul has been anointed with the holy oil the same way the priests and the holy implements of the tabernacle were anointed and set apart by God and if God treats a person or an object as special then shouldn’t we also to treat what God has specially anointed with contempt or worse to destroy it well what would that be would I not be sin of the highest order would that not be a great offense against God himself so David will not do it and he persuades his men not to either now notice how David then interacts with Saul in verse eight David calls after Saul my lord the King though he’s probably some distance from Saul shouting to saw a David also boughs with his face to the ground prostrating himself before Saul even at a distance and of course what does that mean when you bow before someone it’s a sign of humility and reverence of another this is what David is doing for Saul and let’s not forget Saul was out here to murder David notice what David then says to Saul in verses 9 to 15 it says a number of things it tells Saul first of all that Saul has no reason to believe the people who are saying that David is out to harm or kill Saul he says why because look Yahweh gave you into my hand saw and I didn’t kill you this corner of your robe is proof David affirms that David is no threat to Saul I’m just like a dead dog a single flea you don’t have to worry about a dead dog biting you it’s dead a little flea what can a flea do to you David reproved saw for seeking David’s life without any just cause and David states his trust in Yahweh to deliver David from Saul and to bring vengeance on Saul for Saul’s wicked actions wicked actions against David I’ll notice all his reaction to David’s words in verses 16 and 21 Saul first asks rhetorically is this indeed your voice David now Saul must have been far enough away that he couldn’t see the face of the one speaking to him at the entrance of the cave but he recognized the voice he said I know that voice that’s David my one-time servant and when David when Saul says that he recognizes David’s voice and then says that he weeps and he weeps loudly he raises up about his voice and weeps and then Saul expresses wondered to David that David did not kill Saul when Yahweh had given Saul into David’s hand because that’s not what people do to their enemies you don’t just let your enemy get away like that Saul confirms that David has repaid Saul’s evil with good Saul prays that God would reward David for the kindness shown to saw saw even confesses that he knows David will be king Saul then asked David to swear that when David is king he will show kindness to Saul into Saul’s descendants and not blot them out or blot out their name verse 22 David so swears and so the two men part in peace though David does not return to Saul’s Court all right down between made these observations let’s go to step two of inductive Bible study and let’s consider questions of interpretation was it by chance that Saul went into David’s cave to relieve himself of course not this is the sovereign hand of God directing Saul and consider how profound this is Saul has brought this whole troop of highly trained soldiers but what good is it if God removes those soldiers from you God separates you from those soldiers God can nullify all saw strength and security in an instant and that’s exactly what he does here by leading us all right into David’s case but why why did Yahweh give Saul into David’s hand the interpretation of David’s men is that this is God telling David you’re free to kill Saul but that actually wasn’t what God intended why actually did God deliver Saul into David’s hand was it on a test it was an opportunity for David to display righteous faith in God by refusing to kill Saul even when David had the perfect opportunity it was also an opportunity for the Lord to reprove saws wickedness through David so if we just looked at the circumstances as David’s men did we would have actually come to the opposite conclusion of what God really had in mind this was an opportunity for David to display faith and foresaw to be reproved of his wickedness brothers and sisters we need to learn a very important lesson from this and it’s something I mentioned the Sunday School classes before but it’s again a were three emphasizing just because circumstances align perfectly for you to pursue particular action does not mean that you should or that God approves of it it may just be a test as it was for David opposite is also true just because circumstances seem to be working against your pursuing an action does not necessarily mean that you should give up again this may be a test it may be a trial as to whether you will endure and persevere through difficulty even much difficulty now you may ask but but how will I know how do I know what God wants me to do regardless of whether the circumstances make it easy or make it difficult I mean isn’t it going to be hard to tell well there’s only one way what’s that way the revealed Word of God the Scriptures the Bible you have to pay attention to the commands of God and follow the principles given in God’s Word that’s how you will know what God’s will is for you whether it’s situation is hard or whether the situation is easy every other method of trying to discern what God wants me to do God’s will is ultimately subjective or unverifiable feelings popular opinion signs dreams visions prophecies impressions these things cannot be verified they cannot be relied on today God’s will for his people is expressed solely in his word it alone is the lamp to our feet and a light to our paths we cannot use circumstances as a sign of what God wants us to do yes we do want to consider our opportunities that’s just simple wisdom but if we want to know what God wants us to do we have to go to the word that’s why he gave it to us consider that if David acted simply by interpreting the signs and circumstances he encountered he would have killed saw in sinned against God we must learn I must learn from David’s situation another question why did David’s conscience bother him was it really wrong for him to cut off a corner of Saul’s row you could argue that it wasn’t but the fact that David’s conscience bothered him actually shows just how exemplary David’s righteous righteousness and faith is because David felt like he had crossed the line that he shouldn’t have crossed all right I didn’t harm Saul but I I got really close to doing it I mean I cut off part of his clothes what if I had slipped and I had actually cut him or I mean his clothes that’s really close to his person it’s almost like I violated the man himself and so his conscience bothered it again that may not actually have been wrong but it is exemplary that his conscience felt that it was wrong because he wanted to stay far away from sin far away from violating God’s command to honor his anointed ruler and again we can learn something from that can’t we our consciousness should be bothered too when we get close to sin here’s another question how was David able to respond to Saul’s evil with good I can just imagine text didn’t say anything about this but I could just imagine when David says no we cannot touch God’s anointed his men could have responded by saying but look he’s a rotten guy why are you gonna be good to him when he hasn’t been good to you what’s the answer ultimately it comes down to faith faith in God David overcame evil Saul’s evil with good by faith and isn’t this exactly what David says David says I will not harm Saul because he is he always anointed in other words I fear God more than I fear Saul after all kind of man sinned against God and get away with it and if God is for you if God has poured out its gonna passionate love on you and promised to protect you guide you deliver you provide for you what need do you have to fear man David understood these things and David also understood clearly displays his trust that Yahweh will deliver and avenge his people and this was not just true for David this is true for all believers even today the New Testament says as much consider second Timothy 4:18 second Timothy 4:18 Paul writes the Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom to him be the glory forever and ever amen now if you know the context of that statement Paul is about to die he’s about to be martyred but he said that two will be little Lord’s deliverance he’s delivered me all the way up until now and even when I die that will be God’s deliverance for me I can trust God and Romans Paul also writes in Romans 12 Romans 12 29 we’ll come back to this verse later never take your own revenge beloved but leave room for the wrath of God for it is written vengeance is mine I will repay says the Lord David understood these things now for David was glad to honor God obey God and do good to Saul he knew he could trust God I don’t have to worry about myself in doing what’s right David could have said I know that God is able to take care of me as for the evil anyone does against me I know that God sees it and he will bring about justice one day for me though now I can trust God and obey his commands brothers and sisters can we say the same by faith we have the same covenant keeping God if we’re in Jesus Christ but can we embrace that same perspective I don’t have to seek vengeance I can trust God I don’t have to fear man because I fear God there’s another question why does all weep he weeps loudly why part of the answer assuredly is that saul was overwhelmed by the realization that he’s just escaped certain death by the mercy of david i think any of us would be emotional at the discovery of surviving some kind of mortal danger but remember Saul is someone who has been ruled by his fear of David fear of men fear of losing the kingdom and God brought upon saw what Saul feared most saul was delivered into David’s hand to die yes Saul survived Saul didn’t die you can understand Saul would be a little emotional at that discovery but I think a more important part of the answer of why Saul weeps is because Saul feels guilt and conviction over his sin because he saw the righteousness of David by contrast and isn’t this exactly what Saul says to David you’ve dealt well with me though I’ve dealt with idli with you Saul breaks down when he sees how clearly how sinful he’s been and acting toward David and even toward God he’s ashamed of himself and momentarily seems to hate his sin and desire to turn away from it such sorrow is often associated with repentance it’s an element of repentance and repentance of course means turning from sin but what Saul repentant what Saul truly repented of the wicked actions that he had been committing towards David to answer that question we need to ask what’s the clearest mark of repentance how do you know repentance is true it’s not by confession confession of sin that’s an element of repentance but you can confess without truly repenting it’s not even by displaying sorrow or feeling sorrow you can be sorrowful over Sina but that doesn’t mean that you’re actually repentant necessarily it’s not even expressing a commitment to change you can say I repent I’m gonna change that itself does not mean that your repentance is true how do you know what’s the clearest mark it’s actually turning from your sin it’s actually changing James writes in his book of the New Testament that we can say that we have faith but if we don’t live lives that are different because of that faith our faith is not true so it is with repentance we can say that we have true repentance and repentance is really the flipside of faith but if we don’t actually turn from our sins if we don’t actually change and there’s no evidence that our minds or our hearts have changed there’s no evidence of true repentance at all you know that there are plenty of people those who call themselves Christians who express a form of repentance today but it is not real repentance and how do you know that because they’re not there’s no lasting change it’s only temporary but true repentance and true faith when God actually saves a person it results in that person in being brought into union with God through Jesus Christ and a person cannot help but act differently he turns from his sin so what about you do you display true repentance in your life or just a form of repentance we can ask of course the same about Saul is he truly repented over his wickedness of David or is it just going through the motions well to know we have to see what happens in Saul’s life next and so let’s continue on in 1st Samuel we’re gonna just summarize 1st Samuel 25 in the first Samuel 25 the first verse we learned that Samuel the last judge of Israel has died and all Israel mourns him and then in the rest of the chapter we hear about David’s interactions with two people named in a ball and Abigail I’ll let you read that read about that on your owns later we don’t have time to cover it right now at the end of chapter 25 though you may notice verse 44 it says that Saul takes his daughter Michael who was David’s wife and he marries her off to another man hmm that doesn’t seem like a right thing to do that doesn’t seem like a mark of repentance and now it’s like a first name at 26 you’re say about 26 and we’ll read it again the whole chapter together this is what God’s Word says then the ZIF fights came to Saul at Gibeah saying it’s not David hiding on the hill of hakalo which is before Jesse lot so if Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziff having with him three thousand chosen men a vigil to search for David in the wilderness as if Saul camped in the hill of hakalo which is before Josh Amman beside the road and David was staying in the wilderness when he saw this Saul came after him into the wilderness David sent out spies and he knew that Saul was definitely coming David then arose and came to the place where Saul had camped and David saw the place where Saul a and Abner the son of nerd the commander of his army and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp and the people were camped around him then David said to him elect the hittite and to have a Shai the son of zeruiah Jobs brother saying who will go down with me to saw in the camp a knavish I said I will go down with you so David knavish I came to the people by night and behold Saul a saul lay sleeping inside the circle at the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head and Abner and the people who are lying around him the knavish I said to David today God has delivered your enemy into your hand now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the ground but one stroke I will not strike in the second time but David said Avishai do not destroy him for who can stretch out his hand against you always anointed and be without guilt David also said as Yahweh lives surely Yahweh will strike him or his day will come that he dies or he will go down into battle and perish he alway forbid that I should stretch out my hand against Yahweh’s anointed but now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water and let us go so David took the spear in the jug of water from a side Saul’s head and they went away but no one saw or knew it nor did any awake for they were all sleep because a sound sleep from Yahweh had fallen on them then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them David called to the people and to Abner the son of nurse saying what are you not answer a banner then Abner replied who are you who calls to the king so David said to Abner are you not a man and who is like you in Israel why then have you not guarded your Lord the king but one of the people came to destroy the king your Lord this thing that you have done is not good as Yahweh lives all of you must surely die because you did not guard your Lord you always anoints it and now see whether Kings spirits and a jug of water that was at his head and saw recognized David’s voice and said is this your voice my son David and David said it is my voice my lord the king he also said why then is my Lord pursuing his servant for what have I done or what evil is in my hand now therefore please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant if your way has stirred you up against me let him accept an offering but if it is men cursed are they before Yahweh for they have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of Yahweh saying go serve other gods now then do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of Yahweh the king of Israel’s come out to search for a single flee just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains and Saul said I have sinned returned my son David fry will not harm you again because your life was precious hurt my life was precious in your sight this day behold I played the fool and I’ve committed a serious error David replied behold the spear of the king now that one of the young men come over and take it Yahweh will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness for Yahweh delivered you into my hand today but I refuse to stretch out my hand against you always anointed now behold as your life was highly valued in my sight this day so may my life be highly valued in the sight of Yahweh and may he deliver me from all distress and Saul said to David blessed are you my son David you will both accomplish much and surely prevail so David went on his way and Saul returned to his place sorry for the shouting I’m just trying to imitate speaking a long distance hopefully that wasn’t too loud for you Irina through this passage probably gave you some major deja vu right this sounds pretty familiar but let’s observe a few items well Saul is at it again unjustly pursuing David to kill him this time at Ziff in the Negev of Judah so that’s the southern desert area this is southeast of Hebron so what Saul repentant I don’t think so he’s back at it again again though this hunt for David is quickly turned on its head notice in verse 5 Saul is apparently very secure I mean he is going to sleep and sleep normally makes you quite vulnerable to somebody but Saul is sleeping next to his mighty commander Abner and many other soldiers he’s actually in the middle of the camp he’s surrounded by protection so Saul should be totally safe from anybody who might want to kill him right well in verse 6 David gets the idea of infiltrating Saul’s camp at night and it takes along his nephew Abba shy he is David’s nephew it’s not entirely clear in our new American Standard translation of this verse this is because of the way it’s written in the original Hebrew it sounds like zeruiah is Joe ABS brother but actually zero aya is David’s sister Abba sighs Joe Epps brother Abba shy then and Joab are nephews of David and we hear that Zara is David’s sister in first chronicles 2:16 anyways David goes down with his nephew they’re able to get in it into the camp and notice the suggestion that Abba shot gives to David in verse 8 does it sound familiar Hey God’s clearly delivered Saul into your hand now let me kill him for you look at David’s response verses 9 to 11 it’s similar to what we’ve heard before but it’s also expanded David affirms under no circumstances will he harm you always anointed because such an action would bring guilt David also expresses confidence that God will take care of Saul God will and Saul’s life in God’s own way and God’s timing but David will not kill Saul David instead tells a Vachon to take Saul spear and take the water jar at Saul’s head and that they’re gonna leave now how is it though how is it that David and a Bashar able to get into the middle of Saul’s camp ride up to his person with nobody noticing he’s surrounded by 3,000 soldiers how did they get in first 12 says everyone in the camp was asleep because a sound sleep from Yahweh had fallen on them all God put the whole camp to sleep so that David could go through when David gets a secure enough distance away verses 13 to 16 he exchanges words with Abner Saul’s commander basically says hey look you didn’t guard your commit or you didn’t guard your king like you should have you and everybody around you should be put to death and then in verse 17 to 20 David speaks to saw by the way this is probably later in the morning not tonight because David needs to be able to show the spear and show the jug people be able to see it David speaks to Psalm verses 17 to 20 and notice David says a lot of the same things as he said before but there are a couple of different items notice that this time David condemns those who are inciting Saul against David he says this is God doing it to you making you come after me because I’ve sinned then let me go off for sacrifice but if it’s men left him be cursed and he calls out these people instigating Saul against David because of a specific evil that they are committing they are forcing David David says to flee from the place of God’s presence and to flee from Israel’s blessed inheritance in the land isn’t that a great crime to force the people of Israel out of the land of Israel in the place of God’s presence in response look at what Saul says verse 21 he says I’ve sinned I admit it I’ve sinned I’ve been foolish and I’ve committed a serious answer a serious error David my son there’s an interesting charm you can return you’re safe David affirms again his trust in Yahweh verses 23 to 24 and even goes so far to claim that because David righteously spared Saul’s life and preserved it that Yahweh will bless and preserve David’s life Saul responds to David notice of verse 25 by actually a blessing David and telling David that David will prevail that’s an interesting thing for your enemy to say and then the two part in peace well let’s consider interpretation of this passage also let’s ask a few questions why does Saul keep coming after David at this point it’s been a long hunt a long manhunt for David who knows this is probably taking place over years it just keeps coming back why part of the answer has got to be this all truly this all hasn’t truly repented he feels momentary conviction or sin to be sure but then he goes back to his old ways it’s not true repentance even here Saul expresses repentance again but is it true I’ll just look at the next chapter just glance first few verses and what do you see Saul is again pursuing David this is amazing why does he keep on doing it it’s because his heart hasn’t been changed he’s still serving those idols those things that he worships in his own heart and in his own mind the kingship oh I’ve got to preserve the kingship oh I need the approval of men I need the security of men I need to get my own way established these are the things that Saul worships instead of the true God and that’s why he keeps going back to his sins amendment is truth my brothers and sisters you can remove bad fruit from a tree but if the tree itself has not changed that bad fruit will return sooner or later this is why sin must always be dealt with at the heart level even in our lives this is true when it comes to salvation fundamentally you must have a changed heart you must have true repentance in faith but it’s also true as we grow in sanctification you see a sin in your life the only way that sin will be put to death as if you put to death the idols that are motivating that sin there was ungodly treasures in your heart there’s things that you love more than God if you don’t do that there won’t be lasting change so David Saul keeps coming after David because he hasn’t truly repented but there is something else and we should note it another reason why Saul keeps coming after David is because people in Israel keep inciting saw to pursue David did you notice how this actually appeared in both passages in 1st Samuel 24 and in First Samuel 26 mmm David says there are people telling you that I’m out to get you but I’m not Saul stop listening to them and let those men be condemned undoubtedly there were nobles commanders servants of Saul who are egging Saul on and Saltz pursuit of David and we don’t know why probably for their own selfish reasons for their own evil purposes David says that what these men are doing is evil but Saul you are foolish and evil for listening to them the Bible speaks truly when it comments on the influence that companions have on a person those that you choose to surround yourself with they will affect you either for good or for evil in Saul’s companions are leading him astray now here’s a bigger question what is the significance of this repeated type of deliverance why did it why did it happen and why did the author First Samuel choose to tell us about it I think there are multiple answers to this question we do know fundamentally repetition is all about emphasis you see something repeated the author or God or both is trying to emphasize something what is being emphasized to us here certainly something’s being emphasized to us about Saul and David by having these two events so similar but taking place pretty close together it emphasizes the folly and death fits in of salt I mean even after experience that profound reversal and gety you think Saul would have got the memo he would have changed but no Saul comes after David again and he experiences the same outcome all his security is taken away is put into the hands of David and David’s Pearson now you’d think after two times that song really would have gotten it you’d say man I really had been foolish I got to stop doing this but no back in top of 27 he goes right back to it how sad how foolish SAW is and yet this is what sin does this is what idols do it makes you act in a foolish and wicked way and this has been emphasized for us by just the repetition of the text we see this in Saul but by contrast we also see emphasize the vibrant faith and consistent righteousness of David you know that there is that phrase you fool me once shame on you you fool me twice shame on me David could have said all right I spared Saul before but he’s still coming after me all right I gave you a chance Saul but that’s it I’m killing you now but he doesn’t do that David is not one who’s just righteous once or he can be righteous for a little while and then that’s it he just goes into sin continually after that no he’s someone who fundamentally and continually pursues the Lord and so he’s willing to continue to be righteous and normally that buddy he seems to progress in righteousness now don’t misunderstand David is not perfect and if you go back and read first samuel 21 to 23 and also for Samuel 25 you’ll see that David does slip into sin at different times and even in 1st Samuel 27 right after this amazing deliverance David kind of strangely says oh I think it’s all is gonna kill me I better get out of Israel and he leaves which is the opposite of what he said he should do if Israel’s the place of God’s presence in a place of blessing so he’s not a perfect man but he is a true man of faith characteristically righteous and even growing in his sanctification notice that in this second instance we don’t have any actor action from David in which he feels guilty or he violates his conscience and in fact when he answers a be shy as to why he will not kill saw his answer is even more resolved and more explained he said look under no circumstances will I kill Saul because I can trust God this is even more than before so the author first Samuel and really God this that have orchestrated this repetition to highlight the great contrast once again between David and Saul Saul is a man who’s consistently unrighteous though he has moments of apparent righteousness and conviction whereas David is a man who’s consistently righteous but does have times where he sins that’s not characteristic of David but it does happen they’re opposite each other they’re brothers and sisters what we see in Saul and David is really the contrast between those who are slaves of sin and those who are slaves and righteousness or in other words between unbelievers and believers now am i saying that Saul is an unbeliever none of us can say for sure we can’t see in a Saul’s part certainly acts like an unbeliever and that’s what believers do when they’ve been caught in the bondage of sin they act like unbelievers and they experience the curse of sin like unbelievers do maybe that’s what’s going on with Saul here but whatever Saul is spiritually he is a a profound warning of what it is like to live as a slave to sin someone even who claims to follow God but is actually following idols they are confounded by God they are cursed by God disciplined by God but in contrast a man who truly knows God he’s continually pursuing God and he’s characterized by righteousness and that’s what we see in David give David multiple opportunities to commit a great sin by killing saw removed some terrible headache and trial from his life and he won’t do it why because he knows God because he loves God so again broaching application a little bit we should ask which person are you more like you read first Samuel 24 you read first samuel 26 are you more like Saul you expressed sorrow over sin you express a desire to change but you never do are you more like David characterized by consistent righteousness not perfect but your direction is to follow the Lord more and more is that evident in your life remember what Jesus says Jesus our Lord says in John 14:15 John 14:15 if you love me you will keep my Commandments it’s just what people do when they when they love Jesus they do what do you ask them to do now of course the author First Samuel is not just showing us truths about Saul and David or even about life before God but there’s also emphasis here about God himself what does the repetition of these amazing deliverance show us about God a number of things but again just to highlight a little bit we see first of all that God is totally sovereign he is the powerful ruler of the universe God overturned the strength and security advantages of Saul twice in an instant he made it so that Saul would surely die if David chose to kill Saul so its actions display that God is in control and that it does a person no good to try and oppose God but God’s sovereignty wasn’t just working against Saul it was also working on David’s behalf so we see this repeated deliverance it emphasizes God’s compassionate faithfulness to his people you know David expresses confidence in these two passages that God would deliver David from the hand of Saul and that’s exactly what we see God doing here for a saml 24 for a symbol 26 actually all the tatters in between it’s just God delivering David again and again and again and again so David says that’s why I can trust God he delivers salt pursues David unjustly God delivers David from Saul even in very maduk fashion this is because God is faithful God truly loves he is a God of love and when he’s covenant with a person to love him which he does for all those who are in Christ that love was unstoppable it will manifest in the faithful provision and deliverance of God for his people and even the Vengeance of God on behalf of his people God had these events orchestrated and written down for us so that we would not be like Saul and itself destructively foolishly in futility oppose God but that we would be like David that we would learn to trust in the compassionate faithfulness of God and the provision of God really every account in the Bible is ultimately about God he is the sovereign and powerful one but how do we regard him how do we actually regard him in our hearts not just what do we say about him yeah he saw her yeah he’s loving I really I think that’s true but how do we actually live to you is God the hindrance to be opposed or ignored or is God the rock that you can find rest in and the one that you love and trust he deserves that you regard him in the ladder is that what you do you can see that I’ve been broaching application a lot in our interpretation steps that’s because the trepidation should lead to application as we close our study today I want to sum up some of the main applications that we see from these two texts I’ve been mentioning these already but I want to bring them to your attention again now remember the Spirit of God wrote these things down and he brought us into this time to study it that’s so that we can be transformed how are we to be transformed by the Spirit as we behold the Word of God here are four ways everyone realize the futility of fighting against this is what Saul was doing this is what Seoul does all his life he’s clinging to his treasures he says I got a hang on to the kingdom I’m gonna go against what God says if I have to and what’s the result God just shows Saul again again it does you know good song I’m still in control David’s still gonna be the king why are you doing this and so it is with us if you have some sin you cherish in your life some Idol have you say no I still want to live my way I don’t want to do what God wants me to do do you see how foolish that is you’re being just like Saul you’re not gonna win in the end what does what happens to Saul in the end he loses the kingdom he loses the blessing of God the whole time and perhaps if he didn’t truly know the Lord he lost eternal salvation not that he had it and lost it but he never had it he never gained it he gave up God to obtain the things in the world and he lost those things in the world anyways so it is with any of us who stubbornly oppose God to cling to some earthly Idol this is why the Scriptures call us again and again don’t be stubborn don’t be proud don’t be foolish what does James st. James chapter 4 humble yourself before the Lord and he will exalt you number 1 brothers and sisters we must realize the futility of fighting against God if you have a sin or if you have some some Idol in your life that you’re clinging to you maybe it’s a relationship maybe it’s an earthly treasure maybe it’s some maybe it’s the opinion of men give it up turn from it it won’t save you in the end but it may condemn you because you love it more than God turn from your futile way and turn to God and this flows right in to the second point of application from our text we do need to realize the futility of finding against God but at the same time we need to trust God to deliver and to avenge but in his way and in his timing this is what David is emphasizing the text himself directly right it keeps saying I know I can trust God I know God will take care of this situation and that’s exactly what God does for David in these two chapters and in the chapters in between it’s still true for God’s people today God will deliver and God will and she’s people of course this is true in the gospel there is only one deliverer from sin and from God’s wrath and that is the Lord Jesus Christ son of God come into the world to save sinners lived a perfectly righteous life died a substitutionary death bearing the wrath of God on behalf of his people so that we could be saved and made acceptable to God by a foreign righteousness trust God to deliver you from sin trust God to give you eternal life don’t trust in some ritual don’t trust in your good works don’t trust in a form of repentance that’s not true trust in Jesus Christ and that comes by repentance and faith turning from your old way turn from your sin turn from what you want and say God I want what you want instead Jesus I’m yours Jesus you are God you are the only Savior save me and Lord I want to follow you for the rest of my life if you turn to the Lord repentance and faith he will deliver you from eternal judgment but also in this life he will deliver you through every trial that you encounter and you will encounter trials Jesus said this himself to his disciples he said in the world you will have trials and tribulations but be of good cheer he says I have overcome the world I’m more powerful than the world and I will help you I will sustain you I will provide for you that’s what God does for David here and that’s what God will do for us I remember it must be the Lord’s way it must be the Lord’s timing what we’re going to encounter the temptation we always encounter is that when we face trials we want God to deliver in our way and our timing oh god this situation is really hard he knows is really painful I trust that you will deliver but please let it be this way and at this time usually right away and in a way that’s comfortable for us but God’s ways are better than ours sometimes mysterious but better good they are ultimately designed we’re assured by the scriptures for God’s ultimate glory and our ultimate good so even as we ask God to deliver us in a particular way which we’re totally allowed to do member mcpaul asked for the throne the flesh to be taken away that was not wrong for him to ask but it has to be but you all will be done God not mine if you say God deliver in this way and if you don’t know I’m not gonna like it I’m not gonna be content anymore well then God’s gonna work on you he’s gonna say you haven’t humbled yourself yet you haven’t learned to trust me yet I’m your father I love you I love you with a love greater than you can ever understand you’ve got to trust me I see that you’re not trusting me yet so it would be bad for me to deliver you from the situation and vindicate your lack of faith you know that’s what God does so many times sometimes he delivers us anyways and we feel even more convictive or like oh why did I not trust God but sometimes he says I’m not letting you out not letting you out from this difficult situation until you will trust me because I know that’s what you need more than just a comfortable situation let God have his way let God have his good way trust the Lord he will deliver and he will even avenge and we think Oh inge isn’t that kind of like wrong I’m never justice is not a bad thing God is a God of justice and the desire that we have to see justice done for evils committed against us is not evil that actually reflects the heart of God but the thing is we cannot seek justice or vengeance in a way that violates what God’s called us to do that’s why God says don’t seek vengeance leave the room for the wrath of God because if you seek your own vengeance usually that means you will sin you will kill people when you have no justification for doing so he will hurt people that says no let me take care of it this goes into our third point third point of application that we clearly see from this passage and that is that we as believers are to overcome evil with good and how does that happen only by faith Romans 12 Romans 12 verses 14 to 21 says the same thing and I want to read I read some of those verses to you revelation 12 14 to 21 and says bless those who persecute you and do not curse rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep be of the same mind toward one another do not be haughty in mind but associate with a lowly do not be wise in your own estimation never pay back evil for evil to anyone respect what is right inside of all men if possible so far as it depends on you be at peace with all men never take your own revenge beloved but leave room for the wrath of God for it is written vengeance is mine I will repay says the Lord but if your enemy is hungry and still quoting the scripture here feed him and if he is thirsty give him a drink for instilling you will heap burning coals on his head do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good that’s our calling as Christians brothers and sisters and do you realize how opposite that is from the people of the world isn’t this exactly what we’re seeing in our society right now I’ve suffered evil therefore I’m justified in doing evil in response in fact I’m gonna keep on doing evil until you stop your evil that’s not the wisdom of God that’s not the way of God and you know what that usually produces it usually doesn’t produce anything good it just produces more evil yeah that’s what we’re so tempted to do even in our familial relationships you children who may be getting conflict with your parents or parents you’re getting conflict with your children or husbands you’re getting conflict with your wives and wives and their husbands what you’re so tempted to do is you see the evil of the other person especially if he claims to be a Christian and you say that’s evil and because you’re doing evil to me I’m gonna do evil to you but it produces the same thing that it produces in the world it doesn’t actually result in usually change that’s positive it just results in more evil that’s because it is the wisdom of Satan it is the wisdom of the flesh it is the wisdom of the world but the wisdom of God says do good to those who hurt you overcome evil with good isn’t that what Jesus did he suffered the greatest injustice and evil and you know what did he do he died for sinners president sisters were called to do the same and you know what’s amazing that actually responding to evil with good is often the means that God uses to convict a person of his sin and bring about change we saw something like that was already taking place between David and Saul when David did what was right a convicted Saul and God gives the same comfort this is somewhat specific in the New Testament in the book of first Peter chapter 3 when he’s talking about wives who live with unbelieving husbands and he says look I know your husband’s this is not said explicitly in Scripture but certainly to be understood look I know your husbands are doing evil they probably treat you in a way that is not right but you know what you respond to them in a godly way you even submit and honor them and you know what it will do you will win them you will win them to Christ you will cause them to be obedient to the word without a word that’s powerful because it’s the wisdom of God on display that’s what God uses to change people you want to see your your family change you want to see people around you change who are doing evil that means that God has ordained as you’re doing good to them now sometimes they still don’t change but you know what when you do what’s right you experience the blessing of God you will experience what David said God’s people experience which is the deliverance and vindication of God God sees and God will bless and you’ll have the joy of the Lord knowing that you were doing what was right brother and sister is the only way we can do this is by faith we have to believe God has already shown me love I don’t deserve and God will take care of me therefore I can do what’s right I don’t have to say well if I don’t punish them for this and they’re just gonna keep on walking all over me maybe they will but God will take care of you now this doesn’t mean you can’t confront sin Louise yeah we see David does this he calls out Saul and he calls out the wicked men around so I says you’re not doing right by me may God avenge me on you but he says I’m not gonna do it I’m not gonna sin against you I’ll let God take care of it well then sisters we got to have that same brush active I have to say I really can’t trust God I really can’t trust God to take care of this and even bring justice in his proper way in proper time one last application and again this fall is right from what I just said overcoming evil what good by faith is gonna apply to God ordained authorities that God has put in our lives we ought to revere those authorities for God’s sake doesn’t David do this david says he’s he’s god’s anointed i’m not going to dishonor him or harm him not because he deserves it he clearly doesn’t he’s wicked but because the lord deserves it this is out of honor to god i just read to you a passage from Romans 12 about overcoming evil with good you know what’s interesting do you know what comes next and Romans 13 submission the government submission of god-ordained authorities that’s going to be one of the most obvious applications that we have to overcome evil with good because our governments evil frequently yes sometimes they’re more evil than at other times but they’re they’re filled with sinners and they’re filled with sinful sinful rules and laws but God says honor them for my sake you can point out their sin you can call for change but do not harm them and honor them for my sake and it’s the same with the other God ordained authorities that God has put in our lives the bosses that we work for wives your husband’s who are the leaders of your families children your parents and you may look at him you say but he doesn’t deserve it look at the way he’s treating me he’s not honoring me he’s not treating me the way God has called him to or that that ruler that person has hasn’t treated me the right way if God has called him to God says for my sake overcome evil with good I’ll take care of you even as you endure under this authority that is abusing its responsibility before me I see it I’ll take care of it but you overcome evil with good you do that I will bless you take care of you I will teamily deliver you and even bring vengeance for you because I’m a good God brothers and sisters do we believe that do we believe that we really can do what’s right because God will take care of it this is what the scripture calls us to do today that’s all that we have time for today now we’re coming actually to the end of unit 8 next week is a special lesson we’re going to be doing something a little different but related to what we’ve been looking at recently more details about that coming up we have any other questions or comments based on what you heard today please post it in the chat here on the YouTube page and I’d love to interact with you or you can send me an email at Dave Coppola at gmail.com well let me close our time with a word of Prayer let’s pray Heavenly Father we thank you for your word and Lord we’re so comforted by the fact that we can trust you even in the midst of difficulties and persecution to provide for us to deliver us and to even to avenge us because you are a God of love and justice thank you Lord that we can arrest in you but help us to walk by faith we need your help God we can’t do it on our own but in you we can be more than conquerors although what I pray at your word would have its effect today in any who are stubbornly resisting you like Saul would humble themselves and instead trust in you seek refuge in you and be exalted by you at the proper time in Jesus name Amen well thank you all again for being part of this steady again please post something in the chat comment or a question I hope you’ll come back for our live stream service at 11:00 o’clock you’re on the YouTube page otherwise I’ll see you next week