1 Samuel Series Wk 18 - “Will Walkers”

  There are a lot of movies and T.V. shows that deal with the subject of time travel. There’s the “Terminator” series, which starts off with A.I. becoming self-aware, attacking humanity, and then creating a time machine to kill humanity’s greatest warrior before he’s born. There’s one called “Edge of Tomorrow” where every time the main protagonist dies, he’s sent back in time to learn more so he can defeat the bad guys. There’s “Ground Hogs Day” where the man is stuck in a time loop, living the same day, again, and again. Some of these movies make sense, like Terminator with its closed cause and effect concept, but then there’s others that when you begin to think through them, make you go “What?”

One of these is the “Back to the Future” Series. This type of time travel creates multiple timelines. Where in Terminator, there is only one timeline that may be shifted a bit, but will always have certain inevitable things happen, “Back to the Future” plays fast and loose with what happens. 

In the first movie, Marty goes back, and changes his parent’s future. Where the family was lower middle class, and had lost their love for life, in the new timeline, the family is upper middle class, have really good jobs, romantic prospects, and disposable income. In the second movie, Marty creates a whole new horrible timeline where his dad is dead, Doc is put into an insane asylum, and the antagonist of the series, Biff, is rich and married to Marty’s mom. 

Then once this is fixed, the third movie, adds that Doc had gone back to the old west and was murdered. So Marty goes back, they save a woman who, in the original timeline died by falling into a canyon, but also change that canyon’s name to Eastwood, even though that name wasn’t known until the actor came on the scene in the 1950s. 

This type of time travel makes the timeline malleable. It can be changed, there are not set points in history that can’t be effected. This is the type of idea that leads to the many worlds/universes theory. Where, due to every individual’s choices throughout all of history, there are an infinite number of timelines. This morning, I had a choice between wearing brown shoes or black, I chose brown, but there’s another world where I chose black. It looks identical other than I would be wearing black shoes today. This is the concept of how many comic books deal with time travel. And tt is this many world’s theory that some naturalists argue is real, and that’s why our universe appears designed for life, because there are infinite other universes where life can’t happen, and we just got lucky to live in this one. 

It’s this possible choice universes that brings us back to our study in the book of First Samuel, where we’ll be picking it back up in Chapter 23, verse 1. And as we open up to First Samuel 23:1, let’s look back on where we are in the book.

We were introduced to David as God’s anointed king because David had an eagerness to follow God. This led him to carry God’s peace to people around him, exercise confident faith, and love those that were not loving towards him. We walked away from David’s introduction with the understanding that God calls us to eagerly follow him, carrying his peace, exercising confident faith, and loving everyone.

Following this, we saw in the life of Saul, how easily it is to descend into sin, and so we must recognize when we start to step in the direction of sin, and we need to surround ourselves with people who will help us recognize when were headed into sin.

Finally, last week, we saw how even David can stumble in his faith, and yet, he took reasonability for what he did, even though his part was minimal in the outcome. Because of that, we talked about how God calls us to judge situations rightly, seeing our fault in them, and being humble about it.

Now with the last six week refreshed in our minds, we can now dive into First Samuel 23:1-14. Let’s read it together.

1 Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” 2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” 3 But David's men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” 4 Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” 5 And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand. 7 Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9 David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. 11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.” 13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. 14 And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.

v.1-5

The first five verses of the passage show us David acting in his proper position as king. Though he is yet to be crowned, David acts kingly. First, he hears of a town in that is being attacked by the Philistines, and he wants to go and defend it. However, instead of just heading out, David seeks God, and God tells him to go. 

But when David announces this to the men, the men are scared that they will not be able to overcome the Philistine army and they will be exposed to Saul’s forces. This is understandable, because learn later that there were only about six hundred of them. So the odds were not in their favor. Yet, instead of ordering his men to go and just follow him, David again seeks God on behalf of his men. God then confirms that he will defeat the army through David and those that were with him. So David’s men go and beat the Philistines. 

Contrast this with what we have seen with Saul. Saul should be the one going down to the city to help out, yet he doesn’t. The reason why he doesn’t, is because his focus is fixated on David and not protecting his own people, which we see in verses 7-8. Also, Saul only seeks God when it pleases him and not any other time. Saul has acted brashly without seeking the Lord, and has been defeated because of it. So David is acting kingly, while the king is acting childishly.  

v.6-14

It’s then, after Saul hears of David’s whereabouts, and David knows Saul is out to get him, that we get a deep theological insight about God that the Scriptures do not state explicitly, but rather takes for granted.

Here’s the set up: David asks God about a possible scenario: If Saul comes down to get David and he threatens the city with destruction, will the people of the city turn him over? God’s response to David’s hypothetical scenario, is that the outcome with be that the people of the city will turn David over to Saul if Saul does come down to get David.

David then makes a decision to leave the city. However, since David left, Saul did not go down to the city, and the people were not given the opportunity to turn David over to Saul. So David’s hypothetical scenario never came to pass, because David chose not to stay in the situation.

The theological insight is that God not only sees what will happen, but understands who people are so well that he knows what we would do if we were given different options. God knew that if David stayed in the city, Saul would come down, and the people would turn against David to save their own skins, even though, David just saved them. However, given knew information, David left the city, so Saul did not come down, and therefore the people did not turn over David. 

When we talk about God’s ability to know all things, we use the word omniscient. Which, theologically means: “The attribute that denotes God’s knowing all things … that all events are present to the divine mind; that is, God has direct cognition of everything in creation.” However, when we think of God being all knowing, we tend to think of God knowing things like the future, or the secret things of people’s lives. But God knows all things so well, that he knows us not only in what we will do, but what we would do given different situations. 

This puts into perspective Jesus’ words in Luke 12:6-7, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” God knows all things about us, as our hair grows in, he knows where each strand will pop out of, and he knows when each one will recede.

God’s understanding of all things that will be or could possibly be, is seen in places like the Psalm 44, where the Psalmist recognizes God’s ability to know all things. “If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart. (v.20-21)”

God knows us so well that he knows what we will and won’t do, and possibly what we would have done in any given situation given the opportunity. So the people of Keilah can go on thinking that they were saved by David and would do anything for him, but God, and now David, knows that they would have turned their backs on their rescuer in a heartbeat if it meant to save their own skins. This puts into perspective the old adage, “There but for the grace of God go I.” Because given different circumstances, without the guidance of God, we might end up in situations that would have appalled us otherwise.

However, there’s another theological insight here that follows. God reveals what will possibly happen, so what does David do? Does he resign himself to be given over to Saul by the people he just rescued? No, he leaves. David leaves the city. This event shows us that we have the ability to choose to do things, and yet, at the same time, not affect the overall will of God.

God’s overall will was to install David as king. Through the turmoil of Saul’s life, God has a plan to bring about the Davidic dynasty, which would eventually lead to the coming of Jesus. If David would have stayed in the city, Saul would have come down, and the people would have turned David over. Would God’s plan been thwarted? Wasn’t God the one who sent David down to the city in the first place? Would his capture by Saul end God’s plan to use David to bring about Jesus? Of course not, and yet David’s choice to leave the city, though God foresaw what would happen if he stayed, also did not change God’s plan to bring about Jesus. 

Our choices are important, they can actually effect how events come about, and yet, those choices are not outside the understanding and knowledge of God. 

And this is what we need to see throughout this whole passage. As we seek the Lord, we will be given many insights into how we should make choices in our lives. Seeking God’s will brings about the greatest possible situation for our lives. It is the life that God calls us to, a life where we seek to love him with our whole being, and love others as ourselves. 

So no matter the situation we find ourselves in, if we are following the will of God to love him and people, our path will be directed in the best possible way, God’s way. Yes, we might experience horrible situations. Sometimes those situations lead to death. The great story of Jim Elliott and his colleges is one where they felt God’s call to reach out to a hostel tribe in the Amazon. Their deaths led the wives of the men to continue reaching out. Not only was that tribe saved, but now they reach out to other unreached tribes. 

God is calling us to a place where no matter the pressures that surround us, we are to follow him. The reason why is, because God knows what will and won’t happen, and he knows all possible outcomes we could possibly choose. There is nothing that God doesn’t perceive and so we can trust that when we follow him, he will work things out for our good and his glory.

My challenge then is this, first seek the Lord in making your decisions. Don’t be like Saul who just does whatever he wants, be like David seeking the Lord for yourself and on the behalf of others. As you do, recognize that as you walk in obedience to his will, he will provide the best outcomes that will bring him glory and you fulfillment. So everyday should be opened with, “God I trust that you know what today will bring, help me walk in your will.”

Let us be a people who are will walkers, that God may be glorified in our lives. Amen.

1 Samuel Series Wk 17 - “Accepting Our Culpability”

  In August of 1995, Jimmy Steele was found dead in his garage. Due to his injuries, the police initially thought a dog had mauled the man. However, after an autopsy, stab wounds were found. This led police to realize he was murdered. Steele’s wife and boyfriend, Bryce, were soon convicted of the murder. Jimmy’s story reentered the public sphere because of a news article that was published in 2016. The article tells the story of Jimmy’s mother meeting the killer in 2014. In the prison, the two talked. Jimmy’s mother walked away in a better place than when she entered, and Bryce has since taken responsibility for his crime.

Some say that there isn’t anything in the prison system that challenges criminals to take responsibility for their crimes. In fact, the separation allows them to detach themselves from the acts. However in some states, victims can reach out to criminals to confront them. This challenges the criminals to face what they did. Some find that the experience changes their perspective and sets them on a more honest path.

It’s this idea of taking responsibility for ourselves that brings us back to our study in the book of First Samuel, where we’ll be looking at two chapters, starting with First Samuel 21:1. As we open up to First Samuel Chapter 21, let’s take a brief look at where we are in the book. 

In the last five weeks we have been introduced to David, the long awaited figure that the book of Ruth first discloses. In David we have seen a person that has a deep desire to follow and trust God, and due that he is a carrier of peace to king Saul, he then exercises a confident faith when he slays Goliath, and he loves the unlovable Saul even when the king tries to kill him. David has shown himself to be the seemingly perfect candidate for God’s chosen king.

Yet, last week we ended with David on the run for his life, and Saul descending deeper into sin. It was then that we talked about how we need recognize and avoid those things that cause us to sin, and we need to surround ourselves with people who will help us see our own descent into sin, that we might avoid it. Saul didn’t, and enters his downward spiral and as we’ll see, David isn’t immune either. 

With that in our mind, we can begin to read chapters 21-22. However, what we see in these two chapters are a casual event, where something happens, and an effect event follows, where the cause works itself out. And in between, we get some minor information that is important to the overall story of David. 

So let’s jump into the casual event in First Samuel 21:1-11.

v.21:1-9

1 Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” 2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” 4 And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” 5 And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?” 6 So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen.

8 Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.” 9 And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.”

Here we see that David is on the run and he goes to the city of priests, Nob, to get supplies. There he meets the grandson of Eli, Ahimelech, who is now the leader of the priests.

It’s in this interaction that we see the first crack in David’s faith. Instead of telling Ahimelech the truth, David lies to the priest on why he is there. Telling him that he’s about the king’s business.

David then requests food and a sword. Ahimelech informs David that he only has the holy bread and Goliath’s sword. But after the priest inquires of the Lord, he gives David both and sends him on his way. The giving of bread was an act of mercy and showed that the Law of Moses with its “do’s and don’ts” is based on this law, which all of God’s laws are founded on. It’s why Jesus would later point to this event in Matthew 12:3 as reason why it is okay to eat on the Sabbath. Jesus’ reasoning was, if David ate the holy bread because of mercy, then why couldn’t the Law Giver himself, Jesus, extend mercy to allow for picking food for nourishment to those who are hungry. 

Going back to the event, David is then sent away with the food and the sword. 

However, while all this is going on, there is a king’s man there who is watching. We’re told that Doeg, the Edomite is there and that he is, “detained before the Lord. (v.7)” Doeg is most likely a convert to Judaism, he came to the town of the priests but hadn’t left because it was the Sabbath and he wasn’t going to travel on the holy day as was the custom. But it is understood in the passage, that it is only a matter of time before Doeg relays the message of David’s whereabout to Saul. 

v.10-15

Dropping down to verses 10-15 we read, “ 10 And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ’Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”

12 And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? 15 Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”

It is here that we are given two back-to-back situations of David’s travels. First in verses 10-15 we’re told that David goes to the Philistine city of Gath where Achish is king. However, David hear’s people talk about his reputation and becomes fearful (v.12). So to hide who he is, David starts acting like a madman. He does this my marking up the gates with symbols, and allowing his spit to run down his beard. 

Because of this, we see the second crack in David’s faith. First he lied to the priests, then he coward in front of his enemies. The man who once had unmoving faith to overcome a giant, now, sees his faith waning as he leads a life on the run. This shows us how the grind of life’s difficulties can take their toll on our ability to walk faithfully with God. As the conflicts and catastrophes happen around us, it’s easy to have our faith whittled away at. So this isn’t uprising to see with David. It’s understandable, though not where God desire us to be.

 

v.22:1-5

Dropping down to Chapter 21:1-5, we see that from Gath, David escapes to a cave about ten miles outside of Jerusalem. The news that Saul is out to kill David must be spreading, because David’s family finds him to flee for their safety. 

But David does something unexpected. He takes his family down to a strong hold along the Dead Sea called Mizpeh. This place is a home to a Moabite king. David does this because his family has connections to the Moabites through Ruth. And so, due to the familial connection, David is able to find a safe place for his family. 

Yet, David cannot stay. He is told by a prophet of God named Gad, that he has to move on. So he does, and David heads off to a new place. 

It is in Chapter 22, verse 6 that we get the effect part of the event that we saw at the beginning of Chapter 21. Let’s pick up reading in 21:6.

v.22:6-23

6 Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. 7 And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, 8 that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.” 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, 10 and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. 12 And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.” 13 And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house? 15 Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.” 16 And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house.” 17 And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord. 18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword.

20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. 23 Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.”

There are several things to notice about this passage. First, we can see Saul’s further descent into sin and madness. First, he tries to turn the tribe of Benjamin against David (v.6-7). We saw something similar in the days of the Judges, where it was the tribe of Benjamin against all of the Israel (See Jdgs 20). History is repeating itself. But then Saul accuses his servants of not telling him about his son’s treachery (v.8). So he tries to bring others into his fight against David, and then tries to sniff out those who are not going to be loyal to him. Finally, after one does come forward with information about the whereabouts of David, Saul sends for the priests and accuses them of conspiracy (v.11-13). Saul is looking for those who are with him and are willing to kill all others who are not. Yet not once, do we see Saul seek God to correct his actions. 

However, God is in Ahimelch’s pleading which is similar to Jonathan’s back in Chapter 19. The priest uses similar reasoning as to why the king should not be after David, and because of all the good things about David, there was no reason to doubt David was anything but loyal to the king.

Yet unlike when Jonathan pleaded his case, this time Saul would not listen to any reasoning and has the priests, their family, and their assets destroyed.

But notice that it is not a Hebrew who gives up David, (v.9-10) nor is it a Hebrew who dares strike the Lord’s priests. Doeg the Edomite, might be a convert, but his allegiance is more with the king than with God (v.18-19). This shows us how far Saul is from both God and the people. That the Hebrews will not give up David, nor will they carry out the king’s order to kill God’s priests. 

But also notice that Saul did not fulfill God’s order of total destruction of the Amalekites in Chapter 15, but he does act on his own order of total destruction of what is God’s. Saul shows that he has fallen completely away from the Lord, he is truly like the worthless men of the Judges era, and God has given him fully over to that worthless mindset. 

The chapter ends with one survivor getting the message of Nob’s destruction back to David. And it is here that we see the reason why David was chosen by God. We have seen the cracks in David’s faith in two instances in these two chapters. First, David lied to the priests, which got them killed. Secondly, he was afraid of the Philistine king and so acted like a madman to avoid being caught. In both instances, David did not rely on the Lord for his help. His circumstances chipped away at the confident faith he showed when facing Goliath. And yet, he takes responsibility for his sin.

David states, “I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. (v.22)” He recognizes that it was his actions that led the destruction of men, women, children, and their assets. This a monumental act of humility. Someone who stays on course to settle down in sin will never admit they are wrong in a situation. They will justify their reasons because of the circumstances they find themselves in. 

David could have easily pointed to Saul as to why he was justified in lying and that it was Saul who ordered the killing, so David had no reason to feel guilty. Yet, David shows what true faith rests on: a realization that we do, do wrong, and must be honest about it. 

And this is what God is calling us to today. It is very easy to justify our own actions in situations. We say things like, “They hurt me, so that’s why I did this” or “They deserved what happened, because I had to do this.” Now, what I’m not saying is that there are not real justifications for why we cannot be around certain people, or why certain actions have to be taken. But if we’re not able to see anything wrong with anything we do, there is a barrier of sin that is between us and God that needs to be knocked down. 

David did nothing wrong and yet Saul was out to kill him. David only told one lie, nothing that warranted the deaths of so many. It was Saul, not David, that ordered the destruction of Nob. It was Doeg, not David, who carried out Saul’s order. And yet, David took responsibility for his own role in the whole thing. The word, “occasioned” means that David bordered the situation. In others words, he recognized that his lie created the spark that lit the flame. He wasn’t responsible for how he got there, or the aftermath, but he took responsibility for his part in the whole thing. 

God is calling us to assess situations rightly to see where, if any, fault is with us. If we are unwilling to take a hard look at ourselves, we have already take a step in the direction of sin. If we see ourselves as always right, then we will be found more wrong than all others.

So my challenge for you this week is to take something that you have been harboring. It might have been something recent, or it might be something that you’ve carried around for years. Take it and go before the Lord and really wrestle with it. There is a reason it still plagues you. It could be that there needs to be active forgiveness, or it could be that there was un-repented sin. Either way, taking it before the Lord and dealing with it is the only way for that burden to be laid on Jesus and off of you.

Let us be a people who are honest with ourselves, because it is better to be humble and deal with the sin we participate in, then to have God call us out on it. Let us be the humble people God is calling us to be. Amen.

1 Samuel Series Wk 16 - “Glued to God”

  Do you know the difference between a glue and an adhesive? Basically glue is from organic compounds, while adhesives are chemicals. What’s interesting about glue is that humans have been using it since our earliest days. References and still stuck together materials can be found all around the world. The first materials that we made glue out of came from plants, then humans started to make glue out of animal parts, by separating out the collagen. In medieval times, Monks used egg whites to bind books together.

It is interesting that we as a species understand the need to bind things together, and it’s the idea of being bound together which brings us back to our study in the books of Samuel, where we’ll be picking it back up in First Samuel chapter 19, verse 1, and we'll be going through chapter 20. As we open up to First Samuel 19:1, let’s refresh our memories of the past four weeks.

Four weeks ago we saw the calling and anointing of David. There we saw how God seeks people who eagerly desire to follow him. Because its the inner desire to follow God, and not the outward appearance that is important. David had this desire, and we should as well.

Three weeks ago we saw as God’s Spirit left Saul and fell on David, there was judgment upon Saul and mercy as David’s playing calmed him. There we saw how God calls us to be his carriers of peace as we go into the world. David carried God’s peace to Saul, and we should carry God’s peace to the world around us.

Two weeks ago, we saw how David stood before the giant Goliath with a sling, some stones, and a staff, but the most important thing he had was his confident trust in the Lord. In this we saw how God calls all of his people to exercise confident faith in what he has done, so that we can trust in him in what he is doing. David had this type of faith, and we should as well.

Finally last week, we saw how the harmful spirit returned to Saul, and though tried to kill David a couple of times, but David continued in his duties for the king, because David cared for him. In this we saw how God calls us to love the unlovable around us, even those who have been the worst to us. The reason for this is because the deeper we understand what God has done for us, the more we can empathize with the plight of others.

With the last four weeks refreshed in our minds, we can now cover the next two chapters of First Samuel, starting in chapter 19, verse 1. Let’s read.

1 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. 2 And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.” 4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. 5 For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” 6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.” 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.

8 And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow, so that they fled before him. 9 Then a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre. 10 And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

11 Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, “If you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” 12 So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped. 13 Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats' hair at its head and covered it with the clothes. 14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.” 15 Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.” 16 And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with the pillow of goats' hair at its head. 17 Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” And Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go. Why should I kill you?’”

v.19:1-17

We left off last week, reading that David was winning great victories over the Philistines any time he would go out to battle them. This leads into Saul’s desire to kill him. Before it was just something Saul was acting out of an inward hatred towards David, but now he is bringing in others to help him carry out his murderous intent. Yet, Jonathan reasons with his father and convinces him not to indulge those ideas. And for a time, Saul agrees. 

However, another battle happens and David overcomes the enemies yet again. Here, for the third time, the harmful spirit returns. And again, Saul tires to kill David. This seems to be the last straw for David, because he has woken up to the fact that there is more behind the attacks than just the harmful spirit. Saul is actively trying to kill David, and now, David realizes it. 

It’s here that David escapes to his home, where his wife Michal devises a plan to protect here husband. But it doesn’t go the way she intended. Though she informs the messengers that David is sick in bed, Saul wants David no matter how sick he is. When they find out that she was lying, she turns on David and accuses him of saying he would kill her. Next, we see that David flees and goes to Samuel, as we drop down to verse 18.

18 Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and lived at Naioth. 19 And it was told Saul, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.” 20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21 When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Then he himself went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Secu. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And one said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.” 23 And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

v.18-24

David has fled to get counsel from Samuel. His fleeing leads Saul to begin to track him down. Samuel takes David to the city of the prophets and hides him there. Saul eventually finds out and sends three sets of messengers to bring David back. But each time the sets of messengers go out, the Spirit of the Lord descends on them and they begin to prophesied. Finally Saul comes to retrieve David himself and see what is going on. 

The chapter ends with the Spirit of the Lord falling on Saul for the last time. This leads him to prophesied as well, but he also strips himself down to nothing. Here we see a bookend to God’s work in Saul. Saul started his kingly duties by prophesying and he ends his kingly duties with prophesying. The stripping of the clothes shows that God has stripped him of his kingdom and will officially leave him to his own destruction. This will be the last time that God allows his Spirit on to Saul, but it won’t be the last time God extends mercy to him through his servant David. However this time in which Saul is in the middle of prophesying gives David a chance to escape, which we pick back up in Chapter 20 verse 1. 

1 Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” 2 And he said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so.” 3 But David vowed again, saying, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.” 4 Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

v.20:1-25

With all pretenses gone, David fully understands that Saul is out to kill him, so David shares this with Jonathan. But Jonathan doesn’t believe it, even though Jonathan had to literally talk his father down from making plans to kill David. But this is usually the case, we try to make excuses for people because we do not want to see the reality that is staring us in the face. Yet, Jonathan agrees to see into the matter. The two agree on how they will meet next so Jonathan can relay his findings about his father. And it is here that we see the treasonous pact that is mentioned in chapter 18, when David and Jonathan make a covenant with each other against Saul. We pick up Jonathan returning to his father in verse 20. 

24 So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. 25 The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.

26 Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean.” 27 But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?” 28 Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, ‘Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king's table.”

30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” 32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. 34 And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.

v.26-34

Jonathan goes and has his official meal with his father on the new moon, but David doesn’t show, and nothing is said. Then on the second day, David’s absence is questioned, and Jonathan takes responsibility for sending David away. Notice how Jonathan is taking responsibly but his sister Michal didn’t. This shows the honor of Jonathan compared to others in his family.

At hearing the reason for why David isn’t there, Saul flies into a rage. It’s in that rage that Saul calls Jonathan “… son of a perverse, rebellious woman …” Now, Saul isn’t calling his wife, Jonathan’s mother a bad word here, but rather because Jonathan has chosen David over his own family, Saul sees that he is rebelling against his father. Jonathan has chosen his friend over Saul. Jonathan has chosen to be a servant instead of a king. And this is the heart of the matter: Saul is trying all he can to keep his kingdom, but the tighter he tries to grip it, the more it slips through his fingers. 

It’s here that Jonathan finally realizes that David is right and that his father is actually trying to kill his friend. A harmful spirit isn’t just plaguing Saul, Saul has embraced it. This then leads into the two friends meeting and parting ways. This will be the second to the last time the two meet, and it’s a sorrowful goodbye.

As we walk away from David and Jonathan’s realization of Saul’s murderous intent, what is God calling us to? There are two things: First, we need to recognize decent into sin. That could be our own sin, or the sin of a loved one. See God is not one to force us to follow him. God will pursue us, as we saw he did with Saul. God will even send us grace though we don’t deserve, but there will come a time, when our pursuit of our own way in sin will separate us from him. Paul said it like this in Romans 1:28, “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.” That debased mind is the word worthless and is the same type of word that we have seen throughout the book of Judges and First Samuel. It means a desire for the things of Satan rather than the things of God. 

Jesus gave a parable of how God gives us over to this type of debased mind. In what we call the parable of the Prodigal Son, the Father gives the youngest son over to the world and the son purses his sin coming to a point where his life becomes worthless. Yet there is still hope, there is still grace, and if we would repent and turn back to God, he would embrace us and forgive us.

But wouldn’t it be better not to get into that situation in the first place? This is why we must be on guard that we do not fall into the trappings of sin. Its removing that app from our phones, or limiting the time we spend on our devices. It’s not going to that place, or letting our mind wander to those thoughts. It’s pursuing the things of God, and not of the world. 

This leads us into the second thing that God is calling us to: Having people around us that will push us into God and not away. We need those who will help us realize that we’re falling into sin. They’ll be the ones calling us to what God says. They’ll be the ones that it hurts to listen to because they keep encouraging us to go back to what God wants. The hard part is to actually taking their advice into account. Not to say people who tell us we’re doing wrong are always right, but we should surround ourselves with people who want more of God in our lives, because even if they are wrong from time to time, they will be the ones who help us from stumbling into sin and going through seasons of wandering from God. 

Just like the hymn “Come Though Fount of Every Blessing says:

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!

Let They goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.

Daily we need to glue ourselves to Jesus, this is done by seeking the work of the Holy Spirit when we wake up, when we go about our activities, and when we lay down to sleep. So my challenge for you this week is to make this hymn your prayer, that you would be connected to God, fettered, which means tied, to him. That there would be no wondering from him into worthless things. And that you would be a person who both listens to and encourages others in their walks to get back to God.

Let us be a people who glue themselves to the Lord Jesus, that we may be found in him always. Amen.