1 Samuel

1st SAMUEL Introduction 1.
1SA records the transition from the time of the judges to the monarchy (ACT 13:19-23). a. Ruth is 8th book of the Bible and suggests a new beginning. Ruth introduces the new era of the Davidic monarchy leading up to the reign of Christ, the son of David. b. Compare the introduction of this new era with the introduction of the kingdom of heaven in the time of Christ. i. The Davidic monarchy was introduced with two women destitute of offspring: the barren Hannah and the widow Ruth. ii. The kingdom of heaven was introduced with two women destitute of offspring: the barren Elizabeth and the virgin Mary. iii. God used lowly instruments to accomplish His great purposes. 1. Ruth was a poor widow. 2. Hannah was barren and persecuted. 3. Elizabeth was old and barren. 4. Mary was poor. 2. Principle characters: Hannah, Eli, Samuel, Saul, Jonathan, and David. Chapter 1:1-2:11: Hannahs Prayer and Vow 1. Note problems in having more than one wife. 2. The family partook of the sacrifice (DEU 12:4-14; 14:22-27; LEV 7:11-21). 3. The adversary provoked when Hannah went to Gods house to worship. 4. What did it gain Peninnah to provoke Hannah? 5. Fret- To distress oneself with constant thoughts of regret or discontent. 6. Hannah handled stress by fervent prayer to God. 7. In seeking something from God, seek it for His glory and service. 8. Belial worthlessness. 9. What she loaned to God He richly recompensed. 10. Praise is our rent, our tribute. We are unjust if we do not pay it. Matthew Henry 11. She glories in the Giver rather than the gift. 12. Hannahs horn was exalted. a. Fame of her name: Hannah, Anna, Anne.
b. Fame of her son. What do we know of Peninnahs children? 13. Considering the changes Hannah referenced, talk proudly no more (JER 9:23-24; 1CO 4:7). 14. Weakness, hunger, barrenness, death, poverty, and lowliness are no hindrances for God. Hannah experienced this firsthand. 15. Hannah was first to use the expression his anointed, i.e. his Christ. 16. Hannah prophesies of the Lords Christ at the house of God. Cp. LUK 2:36-38: same name, same place, same theme! 17. Cp. Hannahs praise with Marys in LUK 1:46-55. 18. This is the threshold of the inauguration of Gods kingdom in the hand of the sons of David culminating in the reign of Christ (1CH 28:5; 2CH 13:8; LUK 1:31-33; EPH 1:2023). 19. The grand scheme of the reign of Christ over all things to His church began with a woman who went to the house of God and prayed! 20. Samuel commences the service to which he was dedicated. Chapter 2:12-36: The Sin and Judgment of the House of Eli 1. The faithful house of Elkanah is put in contrast to the unfaithful house of Eli. 2. Elis sons were priests that did not know the Lord, which explains their evil practices. 3. The priests custom was in direct conflict with the word of God. 4. The priests were practicing extortion, which is the action or practice of wresting anything, esp. money, from a person by force or by undue exercise of authority or power. This compares with the religious leaders of our Lords time (MAT 23:25). 5. But Samuel ministered before the Lord. Samuel was not corrupted by their evil influence. 6. Ephod A Jewish priestly vestment, without sleeves, slit at the sides below the armpits, fastened with buckles at the shoulders, and by a girdle at the waist. 7. Hannah received quite a return on her loan. 8. Elis sons used their position of power to exploit the women. 9. Elis sons sinned against God in the very things used to make reconciliation. 10. Grace withheld from the sons of Eli was granted to Samuel. 11. Eli is singled out by the 2nd person singular verb honourest and charged. 12. Eli failed to restrain his sons when they made themselves vile (1SA 3:13). 13. The plural pronoun ye shows that Eli had been participating in the sin of his sons. a. Eli had an eating problem that put him in a compromised position and eventually contributed to his death (1SA 4:18).
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b. Deal with your problem or it will deal with you. 14. Cp. the principle of government announced in v. 30 with PSA 18:20-26; GAL 6:7-9. 15. Honour contrasts with lightly esteemed. 16. See how this answered to the sin. Elis sons must have the best pieces of flesh, but their sons will be glad of a morsel of bread. Matthew Henry Chapter 3:1-21: God Reveals Himself to Samuel 1. The opening word and connects this narrative with the foregoing further showing the contrast. a. Unlike Elis sons, Samuel faithfully ministered unto the Lord before Eli. b. In this chapter God will honour Samuel who honoured Him. 2. In those days there was no revelation of God to the public. 3. Elis failing vision corresponds to the darkness of the times (cp. ISA 29:9-14). This compares to the times of our Lord (LUK 1:78-79). 4. Compare this setting with the prophecy of Malachi and the advent of our Lord. a. The corrupted priesthood of Samuels childhood resembles the corrupted priesthood of Malachis time. Neither was offering God the best of the sacrifices. b. Over against the dark background of a corrupt priesthood, Samuel is introduced, the forerunner of David. Over against the dark background of a corrupt priesthood, Malachi introduces John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ. c. There was no open vision at this time. After Malachi, we have no more vision and hear no more prophets until the coming of Christ (LUK 1:67, 76; 2:36). d. As the word of the Lord came to Samuel, so also did it come to John the Baptist (LUK 3:2). 5. Three times when the Lord called Samuel, Samuel thought it was Eli calling. 6. Samuel did not yet have a personal knowledge of God through His word. a. One can know about God without personally interacting with Him in His word. b. Hence, Samuel did not recognize Gods voice. c. Yet Samuel was already an object of Gods grace (1SA 2:26). The Lord knew him by name before He knew the Lord (EXO 33:12). d. Many, when hearing the word of God, do not discern it as such and thus hear only a man speaking. i. Such was the case with the Jews (JOH 8:43-47). ii. It was otherwise with the Thessalonian believers (1TH 2:13).
7. Per Elis advice, Samuel took the place of a servant and thus received the word of God as the word of God (JOH 7:17). 8. If we would learn, we like Samuel must set ourselves to hear (PSA 85:8; HAB 2:1; ACT 10:33; PRO 8:32-34). 9. Meekly taking that place of a servant, more was revealed to Samuel (MAT 11:29; ACT 9:6; PSA 25:9; PRO 11:2; JAM 1:21). 10. Samuels first prophetic message was one of judgment upon the house of Eli, a message which Samuel feared to shew him. a. tingle Said of the ears: to be affected with a ringing or thrilling sensation at the hearing of anything. b. This would try Samuel and prove whether he would be faithful to deliver the word that God gave him or not. c. Men of God do not take delight in bearing evil tidings (2CO 2:1-4). 11. It speaks well of Eli that he wanted to hear the word from God regardless of its message. 12. Elis adjuration indicates that ministers who fail to proclaim the word of judgment bring judgment upon themselves (EZE 33:7-9). 13. Samuel proved himself a faithful minister of the word in that he did not shun declaring all the counsel of God (ACT 20:26-27). 14. It further speaks well of Eli that he acquiesced to the Lord in this matter. a. There was a silver lining in the black cloud of judgment that came over Elis house: i. God had not extinguished the light of revelation. There was a prophet in Israel. ii. As surely as God judged the house of Eli as He said, so surely would He raise up a faithful priest as He said. b. This is one should humbly submit to Gods word of judgment. Just as surely as His word of judgment stands, so surely stands His word of blessing. 15. How blessed to grow with the presence of God. 16. Cp. Samuel all Israel acknowledging Samuel as Gods prophet with all people acknowledging John the Baptist as a prophet (MAT 14:5; 21:26). 17. Having been faithful with the revelation that he had received, God revealed yet more to Samuel (MAT 25:28-29). Chapter 4:1-22: The Ark of God Taken By the Philistines 1. The sign that God gave to Eli came to pass in this chapter (1SA 2:34). 2. Consider the importance of the ark to Israel.
a. The ark was the place of the Divine Presence where God met and communed with man (EXO 25:21-22). b. It was the ark of testimony because God's testimony, His law, was in it. c. The ark contained the tables of the covenant, Aarons rod that budded, and golden pot that had manna representing Gods government, Gods man, and Gods provision (HEB 9:4). i. The relationship that God sustained with His people as their Shepherd was represented in that ark (PSA 80:1) ii. When Israel rebelled against Gods law, they were plagued (EXO 32:1-6, 35). iii. When Israel rebelled against Gods men, they were plagued (NUM 16:1-3, 46-50). iv. When Israel rebelled against Gods provision, they were plagued (NUM 11:4-6, 33). d. The ark was called God's strength and glory (PSA 78:61). i. God's manifests His strength and glory in and with His word (PSA 80:12). ii. Therefore, when the ark was removed Elis daughter-in-law said: The glory is departed from Israel. 3. Israel depended upon the ark, the piece of furniture, rather than upon the God of the ark to save them. Hence, it was removed. a. The Philistines called the ark God. Israels thinking was like the thinking of the heathen. b. Scripture repeatedly warns against trusting creatures (PSA 146:3; 1TI 6:17). c. This compares with those who trust the church or its ordinances or its ministers to save them. d. Trust only in God for salvation (PSA 62:5-8). 4. Israel thought the mere possession of the ark would save them. a. But the ark would avail them nothing without obeying the law that it contained. b. Merely having and hearing the law does not secure the blessing (JER 8:8; ROM 2:23; JAM 1:22, 25). 5. The Philistines converted the fear they had of the ark into hostility and resolved to act like men and fight to avoid servitude. 6. PSA 78:58-64 is a commentary on this event. a. God forsook His tabernacle in Shiloh. The ark of His presence never returned there.
b. The nation of Judah made the same mistake with the temple of the Lord, trusting to it while they disobeyed the law (JER 7:1-16). 7. To his credit Eli, whose heart trembled for the ark, died at the news of the loss of the ark rather than the loss of his sons. 8. The times were so evil that Elis daughter-in-law derived no joy from the birth of her son. The Saviour spoke of such times to come in Israel when the glory departed from them (MAT 23:38; 24:19; LUK 23:29). 9. Consider the typology of the ark of the covenant. a. The ark is a type of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. i. Christ is the place of the divine presence (COL 2:9). ii. The ark was made of gold and shittim wood (EXO 25:10-11). 1. Christ consists of two natures, divine and human. 2. The shittim wood comes from a tree that grows in the arid desert and points to the humanity of Christ, which was as a root out of a dry ground (ISA 53:2). 3. The gold, the very substance of the heavenly city (REV 21:18), suggests Christs deity. iii. The ark had a crown of gold round about pointing to Christ as King, crowned with glory and honour (EXO 25:11; 1TI 6:15; HEB 2:9). iv. As God met man at the ark so God and man meet in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ (1TI 2:5). v. The unbroken tablets of stone within the ark point to Christ, Who kept all the law (MAT 5:17). 1. As the law was within the ark, so was the law within the heart of Christ (PSA 40:8). 2. Christ is the righteousness of God for His people (ROM 10:4). vi. Aarons rod that budded points to Christ Who rose from the dead just as Aarons lifeless rod brought forth the fruit of life (NUM 17). 1. The budding rod vindicated Gods chosen priest who had been rejected by the people. 2. The resurrection vindicated Gods rejected Son. vii. The golden pot that had manna portrays Christ, The Bread of God, Who came down from heaven into this earth and reentered heaven with an immortal humanity (EXO 16; JOH 6:32-33; ACT 13:34-37; REV 1:18). 1. Any unused manna held over to the next day became corrupt. 2. The manna stored in the golden pot in the ark in the holiest of all, a type of heaven, did not become corrupt.
viii. In Christ Gods children have righteousness, life, and immortality (ROM 5:20-21). ix. The mercy seat upon the ark was sprinkled with blood to make atonement for all the sins of the children of Israel (LEV 16:14-16). 1. Christs body was bathed in His own blood to atone for all the sins of Gods elect (HEB 9:12). 2. Hence, upon the ark is the mercy seat (cp. HEB 4:16). b. The ark is a type of the gospel of Christ, which reveals Christs person and work. i. The ark was borne by Gods chosen servants, the Levites, as the gospel is proclaimed by Gods chosen ministers (2TI 2:3-4). ii. God's presence and power are with the preaching of the glorious gospel, the testimony of Jesus Christ (MAT 28:18-20; ACT 1:8; 2CO 4:4; 1PE 1:12). iii. The ark was flanked by the golden cherubims in the mercy seat, the vail, and the ceiling curtains. 1. This pointed to Gods throne, where we find the cherubims (EZE 1; 10; REV 4). 2. The cherubims are associated with the divine revelation since they are found connected with Gods testimony. 3. The cherubims have four faces, which correspond to the four gospels or the testimony of Jesus Christ. a. The face of the lion corresponds to the gospel of Matthew presenting Christ as the King (cp. JER 23:5). b. The face of the ox corresponds to the gospel of Mark presenting Christ as the Servant (cp. ZEC 3:8). c. The face of the man corresponds to the gospel of Luke presenting Christ as the Man (cp. ZEC 6:12). d. The face of the eagle corresponds to the gospel of John present Christ as God (cp. ISA 4:2). 10. Bearing in mind the significance and typology of the ark we can relate this event to the church of the New Testament. a. When the sacred text of Gods word written by God is removed from a church, the glory is departed. b. When Christ withdraws from a church, the glory is departed (REV 2:5; 3:16-17, 20). c. When the gospel of Christ and His grace is gone from a church, the glory is departed.
d. A church without the word of God, or Christ, or His gospel may well be named Ichabod! Chapter 5:1-12: The Ark of God Among the Philistines 1. In this chapter we see God awaking to defend His ark (PSA 78:65). a. The Philistines might defeat Israel, but they will not defeat Israels God. b. When the interests of religion seem to be run down and ready to sink, yet even then we may be confident that the day of their triumph will come. M. Henry 2. God judged Dagon, the god of the Philistines, when they put the ark by it. a. Dagon was represented as a merman having the upper body of a man and the lower body of a fish. b. Dagon falling before the ark of God demonstrates the words of ISA 42:8: I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. c. So shall the kingdom of Satan fall before the kingdom of Christ. 3. The Philistines hallowed the threshold where Dagons head and hands were cut off. a. Indeed, idolaters are without understanding (ISA 44:18-20). b. PSA 115:8 They that make them (idols) are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. 4. The places to which the ark was sent were smitten with deadly destruction and those who died not were smitten with emerods in their secret, hinder parts (PSA 78:66). 5. The same ark that was a blessing to Israel was an occasion of death to the Philistines. This compares with gospel preachers (2CO 2:15-16). 6. When a city where the ark was, felt Gods heavy hand of judgment, the men of the place wanted it sent away. a. When impenitent hearts feel Gods judgment, they want God removed from them rather than seeking His favour (cp MAR 5:16-17). b. Compare this with the Egyptians (EXO 12:33). Chapter 6:1-21: The Ark of God Returned to Israel 1. The priests and diviners of the Philistines advised returning the ark with a trespass offering of five golden emerods and five golden mice according to the number of their lords. a. It appears from v. 18 that more than five mice ended up being sent. b. This reveals their confusion regarding Gods means of atonement.
i. They seemed to have some conception that the trespass offering should reflect the curse. ii. But without shedding of blood is no remission (HEB 9:22). 2. Returning the ark by the means they devised they would prove whether it was the Lord that had smitten them or a chance that happened to them. a. The cows would have no one to lead them. b. The natural tendency of the cows would be to return to their homes and calves. c. If at all possible, the natural man wants to believe that God has no hand in the judgments that befall him. 3. The cows took the way to Beth-shemesh lowing (mooing) as they went. a. Beth-shemesh was a city assigned to the priests out of the tribe of Judah (JOS 21:9, 13-16). b. Thus the ark was removed from Shiloh in the tribe of Ephraim and directed to the tribe of Judah, where it would abide (PSA 78:67-68). 4. Thus the ark returned with the coffer of golden images, which were trophies of Gods victory over the Philistines and tokens of their perpetual shame. a. The Philistines gained nothing and lost much by stealing the ark. b. The lords of the Philistines had followed the ark to verify its return. c. Seeing the ark returned they returned to Ekron. d. This fits the pattern of Gods enemies being turned back and put to shame (2CH 32:21; PSA 6:10; 70:2-3; ISA 42:17). 5. God Himself through His judgments and guiding hand brought the ark out of its captivity. a. God preserved the text of His word, even though it had been in the hands of enemies, and restored it to His people. b. What an example of the divine preservation and transmission of the sacred text! 6. The ark was received with rejoicing and service to God. a. The men of Beth-shemesh found a joy greater than the joy of harvest. b. This was the case even though it was set upon a great stone rather than in a beautiful sanctuary. i. It was the ark of God regardless of the outward surroundings and as such was to be treated with reverence. ii. The intrinsic grandeur of instituted ordinances ought not to be diminished in our eyes by the meanness and poverty of the place where they are administered. M. Henry. 7. The severe judgment of the people of Beth-shemesh for looking into the ark dramatically emphasizes the inviolable holiness of God and His law.
8. The men of Beth-shemesh swung from the extreme of being too familiar with the ark to not wanting it among them at all. How this exemplifies human nature! Chapter 7:1-17: Israels Victory Over the Philistines 1. The ark was moved to Kirjath-jearim, which means city of forests or woods (PSA 132:6). 2. It was when Israel lamented after the Lord that Samuel presented to them the message of repentance. a. Lament To express (also, simply, to feel) profound grief; to mourn passionately. b. 2CO 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of. c. Samuel, the forerunner of David, proclaims the message of repentance just as John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Son of David. 3. Samuels message confirms the words of Moses law in DEU 6:13-15. Their failure to obey this commandment was the cause of their defeat (PSA 78:58-62). 4. The repentance Samuel taught consisted of turning from their sins and turning unto the Lord. This compares with the gospel call to repentance (ACT 14:15; 1TH 1:9). 5. Ashtaroth is the plural of Ashtoreth and Baalim is the plural of Baal. Ashtoreth was the female consort of Baal. 6. Note that serving the Lord calls for preparation of the heart. Samuel was making ready a people prepared for the Lord as John the Baptist would do (LUK 1:17). 7. As the people turned to God it is said that Samuel judged them. a. Being repentant with a godly sorrow, they submitted to the government of the man of God. b. People who get right with God get right with the man of God (2CO 7:6-16). 8. It was when Samuel gathered the people together for prayer that the Philistines attacked. Satan resists any attempt on our part to get right with God. 9. Israel now placed their trust in God to deliver them. 10. As Samuel sacrificed a lamb and interceded for Israel God delivered Israel. This points to salvation through the sacrifice and intercession of Jesus Christ (ROM 8:32-34; HEB 7:25; 9:24-28). 11. The great thunder would throw the Philistines in consternation giving Israel the advantage against them. God shall also thunder against the enemies of His church (REV 16:17-21). 12. Israels experience in this chapter is an illustration of pathway to victory for the believer. a. Having been given repentance unto the acknowledging of the truth, Israel recovered themselves from the captivity of the enemy (2TI 2:24-26).
b. PRO 28:13: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. c. Compare this experience with the formula of JAM 4:6-10. d. The essence of Christianity is that God is able to give us victory in the place of our former defeat. Always a Winner by Cyril Barber & John Carter 13. Under Samuels government Israel found peace, restoration, justice, and religion. 14. This was revival as PSA 85 describes revival. Chapter 8:1-22: Israel Asks for a King 1. Samuels age and the perversion of judgment by Samuels sons gave rise to the request for a king. a. His sons had their sights set on money rather than justice. b. ISA 59 vividly describes the state of society in the absence of justice. c. When the system becomes corrupted, people tend to look for a knight in shining armour to cure all the ills and in so doing they court tyranny as was the case here. 2. A poor prophet in a mantle, though conversant in the visions of the Almighty, looked mean in the eyes of those who judged by outward appearance; but a king in a purple robe, with his guards and officers of state, would look great: and such a one they must have. M. Henry 3. Israels greatness lay in the fact that they were distinct from all the nations (DEU 4:5-8). Yet they would be like the nations. 4. God had anticipated this moment and eventually wielded it to the placing of His man upon the throne, who would be a king but unlike those of the nations (DEU 17:14; GEN 49:10). 5. This request hurt Samuel, but he handled it as he should have by taking it to God rather than taking it out on others. a. Thus the problem became the Lords rather than Samuels. b. Samuels prayer did not change the situation, but it provided him with the emotional stability to deal with it. 6. God assured Samuel that the issue ran deeper than the rejection of Samuel. a. This request revealed their rejection of God and His government. b. Israel had been a Theocracy. i. God had provided them with a constitution in His law, priests and Levites to teach them, and judges to deliver them. ii. Consider how well they had fared under the administration of Samuel. c. This was yet another manifestation of a sad history of rebellion.
7. Those that want what the world has ought to consider the price (1TI 6:9-10). 8. This choice would cost them their freedom. 9. They understood that the function of a king was to command the military to save them from oppression without and to execute justice to save them from oppression within. 10. God gave them what they wanted, but in so doing He was judging them (HOS 13:9-11). a. God sometimes denies us in love and sometimes gratifies us in wrath. b. Israel would be forced to learn the hard way (2CH 12:8). c. Cp. PSA 78:26-31; 81:11-16; EZE 20:23-26; ROM 1:24; 2TH 2:10-11. 11. Most governments begin in the ambition of the prince to rule, but Israels in the ambition of the people to be ruled. M. Henry Chapter 9:1-27: Gods Providence in Providing Israel with a King 1. We approach this chapter and all the others from the premise of ROM 15:4 & 2TI 3:1617. a. There is something in these chapters applicable to us today. b. The Bible is a history book covering 4000 years of history and prophesying the course of the remainder. c. The Bible reveals the working of God in history. 2. Trace in this chapter how God works through very ordinary events. The search for Israels king begins with lost asses. a. Do not despair if the course of your life appears very ordinary. b. God is at work in ordinary events as much as in extraordinary displays of His power. c. The book of Esther, in which the name of God never appears, is an excellent example of this fact. d. God hereby reveals how He works in the affairs of this world. 3. Compare this account of the making of a king with the believers position as a king and priest serving in the church of God (REV 1:5; 1PE 2:9, 5; 1CO 4:8). 4. Sauls servant, not Saul, knew the whereabouts of the man of God. And it was the servant, not Saul, who suggested inquiring of the man of God. 5. Going to the prophet was going to inquire of God, for he spoke the word of God. 6. Samuel had spoken in Gods ears (1SA 8:21), and now God spoke in Samuels ear. 7. The one that would save was the one that would rule (cp. 2PE 1:11). 8. Saul asked Samuel the way to the Seers house.
a. He did not know Samuel. b. Sauls family had apparently not been very attentive to public worship. c. Samuel obviously appeared very ordinary. 9. God sent Saul to Samuel. This is an example of God directing men by imposing boundaries upon the free actions of men (PRO 21:1 w/ JOB 26:10). 10. Samuel told Saul where his fathers asses were before Saul said anything about them. 11. The desire of Israel was for a king (1SA 12:13). Since Saul was the man God had chosen for that position, the desire of Israel was upon him. 12. Samuel began to advance Saul by assigning him the best place and the best portion at the meal. Samuel did this despite the fact that it meant an eclipsing of his position of leadership. Chapter 10:1-27: Saul Is Made King 1. Saul was anointed king by the prophet of God, who acted by the word of God. Hence, it was the Lord that anointed Saul. 2. Samuel kissed the king (cp. PSA 2:6-7, 12). 3. Samuel gives Saul several signs to watch for so that when they come to pass he may know that the Lord is with him. 4. As Saul went forward he met with worshippers of God. The monarchy begins well. 5. God turned Saul into another man and gave him another heart. a. This was spoken in connection with the Spirit of God coming upon him. b. This compares with EZE 36:26-27 and EPH 4:22-24. 6. Samuel told Saul to do as occasion served him, that is, as he had opportunity. 7. Samuel ordered Saul to go before him to Gilgal and tarry for seven days until Samuel came to offer sacrifices. a. Saul was still subject to the word of God and the man of God. b. The worship of God played a significant part in the setting up of the monarchy. 8. The fact that Israels new ruler prophesied compares with the seventy judges set over Israel that also prophesied when the Spirit came upon them (NUM 11:16-17, 25). a. The manifested the Spirit of God upon him. b. Christ is a prophet and king. 9. Proverb - A short pithy saying in common and recognized use; a concise sentence, often metaphorical or alliterative in form, which his held to express some truth ascertained by experience or observation and familiar to all.
10. Samuel called a solemn assembly of all the tribes before the Lord to present to Israel their king. There would be a public witness as to whom God had chosen. 11. Saul had hidden himself among the stuff. a. He was apparently afraid to take on this responsibility that God had placed upon him. b. Saul will have a continual problem with fear. c. So little fond was he now of that power which yet, when he was in possession of, he could not without the utmost indignation think of parting with. M. Henry d. People who are insecure and fearful will either run from challenging positions or if in such a position, will resort to ruthless means to secure it. 12. Honour, like the shadow, follows those that flee from it, but flees from those that pursue it. M. Henry 13. Compare the varied responses to Sauls kingship with the various responses to Christ. a. They were with Saul whose hearts God had touched (ct. MAT 12:40). b. Sons of Belial will not acknowledge Gods king. c. To bring presents to a king is an act of submission to him (1KI 4:21; PSA 72:1011; MAT 2:2, 11). Have we presented to King Jesus anything (ROM 12:1-2)? Chapter 11:1-15: Saul Delivers Jabesh-Gilead and His Kingdom Is Renewed 1. The opposition of the Ammonites was the reason that Israel demanded a king (1SA 12:12). 2. The condition that Nahash placed upon the men of Jabesh in order to make a covenant with them illustrates the words of PRO 12:10: The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. 3. The fact the Nahash gave them a reprieve of seven days indicates his confidence in his advantage against them. 4. Without one to save us we are at the mercy of cruel lords. 5. Not yet having any business as a king, Saul tended the herd in the field. 6. Saul was moved to lead Israel against the Ammonites when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him (cp. JDG 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6). a. Gods Spirit stirred in Saul a righteous indignation b. Gods Spirit raises a standard against the enemy of Gods people (ISA 59:19). c. We also must have Gods Spirit to overcome our enemies (ACT 1:8; EPH 3:16; 6:10-12; ROM 8:13; 1JO 4:4). 7. Saul called the people to come after himself and after Samuel.
a. The king and the prophet both led in this battle. b. Empowered by the Spirit of God Saul would have Samuel accompany him, Samuel being the source for the word of God. c. Spiritually empowered people walk according to the word of God. 8. The command to come after Saul and Samuel was enforced with the penalty of having ones oxen hewn to pieces. a. This was milder than the penalty leveled in JDG 21:5. b. Cp. JDG 5:23 & JER 48:10. 9. The fear of God moved the people to come out with one consent. a. The people perceived more at stake here than merely the ambition of Saul. This was a holy cause. b. The fear of God makes for a good army. 10. The men of Jabesh led the Ammonites to believe they would comply with their terms. a. This was an appearance of surrender, that would throw the Ammonites off guard. b. All warfare is based on deception. A skilled general must be master of the complementary arts of simulation and dissimulation; while creating shapes to confuse and delude the enemy he conceals his true dispositions and ultimate intent. When capable he feigns incapacity; when near he makes it appear that he is far away; when far away, that he is near. Introduction to The Art of War by Sun Tzu 11. Saul divided his forces into three groups. a. Saul was a good military strategist. b. "Lay on many deceptive operations. Be seen in the west and march out of the east; lure him in the north and strike in the south. Drive him crazy and bewilder him so that he disperses his forces in confusion." Meng. c. "Now, in all such conditions you must employ elite troops to burst into the enemy's ranks; then divide your troops to follow up." Wu Ch'I 12. Saul gave God the credit for the victory. 13. The day the Lord wrought salvation was not a day to put a man to death. a. There is a time to kill, and a time to heal (ECC 3:3). b. Saul had the upper hand. He had proven himself. Therefore, there was no need to take vengeance on those who doubted him. c. The possibility of greatness in Saul is manifested in that he refused thus to mar the days of Gods victory. When we contrast this attitude of the man with that of the days when, the evil spirit being upon him, he sought by every means in his power to destroy David, we realize how great was his fall. G. Campbell Morgan
14. This was an inauguration with the worship of God and rejoicing. Chapter 12:1-25: Samuels Sermon at the Renewal of the Kingdom 1. The change in government was complete. The new king was fully instated and walking before them. 2. Samuel calls God and Israel to bear witness of his integrity and manner of governing. a. Samuel was about to reprove the nation for their sin in asking for a king. b. He that will, with confidence, tell another of his sin, must see to it that he himself be clear. M. Henry. c. Unlike the government that Saul would execute, Samuels government had not been oppressive. d. How could he reprove a government that was like his own? e. The testimony of a good conscience is a great support and gives one a position of strength from which to speak (1TH 2:5, 10; 2CO 1:12; 1TI 1:19). 3. Samuel began his sermon affirming that God set up men in authority over His people and God delivered His people. It was this God that Israel had rejected for a king like the nations. 4. In his sermon Samuel reasoned with Israel. a. "Reason" means to think in a connected, sensible, or logical manner; to employ the faculty of reason in forming conclusions (in general, or in a particular instance). The faculty of reason is that intellectual power which is ordinarily employed in adapting thought or action to some end. b. Samuels reasoning aimed at bringing the people to the conclusion of vs. 13-15, which would bear on their behaviour from henceforth. 5. Samuel reasoned before the Lord. a. The presence of God was acknowledged in this sermon. b. Cp. 2CO 12:19; 2TI 2:14; 4:1. 6. Samuel reasoned of all the Lords righteous acts, which He did to them and to their fathers. a. These righteous acts included His deliverances and His judgments throughout their history. b. God would deal with them as He had dealt with their fathers. i. He would punish them for rebellion. ii. He would deliver them, if they turned from their sins and served Him. c. Therefore, reason would dictate that it was to their advantage to obey God and not rebel against His commandment.
7. If they would fear, serve, and obey the Lord, then they would continue following the Lord. a. Obedience leads to more obedience (ROM 6:19). b. Being enabled to continue following God is a sure sign of His favour toward us. c. Let us so live that we may meet for our Masters use rather than being a castaway (2TI 2:20-21; 1CO 9:27; JOH 15:2, 6). 8. We mistake if we think that we can evade Gods justice by shaking off his dominion. M. Henry 9. By means of a sign of thunder and rain the Lord confirmed Samuels word that Israel had committed great wickedness in desiring a king. a. This occurred in answer to Samuels prayer (cp. JAM 5:16-18). b. Rain at the time of harvest would threaten the nations economy. c. God showed Israel how He could fight against them if they provoked Him (1SA 2:10; 7:10; ISA 63:9-10). 10. Convinced of their sin the people sought the prayers of Samuel. They had just seen how effectual his prayers were. 11. Their choice of a king would not be undone. But Samuel taught them how to make the best of the situation. 12. Anything we turn aside to from the wholehearted service of God is a vain thing that cannot profit nor deliver. 13. To allay their fear Samuel points them to Gods faithfulness to act for His names sake and according to His pleasure, which was to make them His people. 14. This chapter demonstrates the truth of PSA 99:8. 15. To cease to pray for the people of God is a sin unless God specifically instructs one not to do so (JER 7:16). 16. Samuel would continue his ministry of prayer and teaching. a. A change in the form of government did not change His calling as a man of God. b. In fact, Samuel became renowned as a man of effectual prayer (PSA 99:6; JER 15:1). 17. This instruction of this sermon delivered by Samuel as an old man greatly resembles Joshuas sermon of JOS 24 delivered when he was an old man. a. Both sermons urged the people to serve the Lord in sincerity and truth considering what great things Gods had done for them. b. Joshuas sermon was just before the time of the judges and Samuels sermon was at the end of the time of the judges.
c. The lesson is this: Although forms of government and administrations change, God is still the Supreme Governor and His principles of government remain the same (PSA 119:142). Chapter 13:1-14:52: Sauls Rash Behaviour in Israels War With the Philistines 1. We are told Sauls specific purpose in choosing this band of 3000 men. 2. Jonathans attack of a garrison (a military post) of the Philistines in Geba ignited a massive offensive on the part of the Philistines against Israel. 3. In face of such a massive threat, the men of Israel began to desert. a. strait fig. A narrow or tight place, a time of sore need or of awkward or straitened circumstances (inadequate means), a difficulty or fix. b. Distressed In sore straits. c. How this describes those who feel overwhelmed by circumstances. d. How many desert the cause of Christ in such a frame of mind. e. Contrast this state of mind with that expressed in PSA 3. 4. Tarrying seven days at Gilgal until Samuel came to offer the sacrifices was a standing rule. It would be then that Samuel would show Saul what to do. 5. When Samuel did not show up on time, Saul proceeded to do what Samuel said he would do in offering sacrifices. a. This was in violation of Samuels express instructions as the man of God speaking the commandment of the Lord God. b. He should have given the benefit of the doubt to the tried and proven man of God. c. When Saul saw the people being scattered from him, he forced himself and offered a burnt offering. i. That he forced himself indicates he was aware that he was venturing out against Samuels instructions. ii. Saul was motivated by fear. He will continue to have a problem with this. iii. Jonathan turned the tide of the battle to victory with but himself and his armourbearer. This was an act of faith. iv. The fearful lack faith (MAR 4:40). d. Religious exercises are not a substitute for obedience. Saul twice fails on this point. 6. Considering when Samuel showed up, Saul did not have that much longer to wait. a. Saul acted in haste without patience. .
i. Patience - The suffering or enduring (of pain, trouble, or evil) with calmness and composure; the quality or capacity of so suffering or enduring. The calm abiding of the issue of time, processes, etc.; quiet and self-possessed waiting for something. See LAM 3:26; ROM 8:25. ii. Haste Such quickness of action as excludes due consideration or reflection; hurry, precipitancy, want of deliberation, rashness. b. It is difficult for fearful people to be patient. They cant wait because they are afraid of what will happen. c. Being hasty in spirit Saul acted foolishly and sinned (PRO 14:29; 19:2; EPH 5:15). d. At the root of the problem with haste is a lack of faith (ISA 28:16). 7. For this sin Sauls kingdom was condemned to be only temporary. It would not continue. a. Saul lost his kingdom for want of two or three hours patience. M. Henry b. Beware! A few moments of folly can have long term damaging consequences. 8. Saul is an example of one who started out well, but did not continue in well doing (GAL 5:7). a. The many admonitions of Scripture to continue stedfast in our faith indicate the danger of letting it slip under pressure (GAL 6:9; COL 2:6-7; 2TH 2:15; HEB 4:14; 10:23; 1PE 5:9; 2PE 3:17; REV 3:11). b. Saul ceased acting by faith and acted rather upon his emotions. c. Putting away faith Saul will make shipwreck (1TI 1:19). 9. Saul mounted no offensive, but remained at Gibeah with his meager army of 600 men. 10. As this time Israel was plundered and disarmed. a. The Philistines understood that to keep a people in subjection it was necessary to disarm them. b. All Israel had for battle was their agricultural implements. i. Share The iron blade in a plough which cuts the ground at the bottom of the furrow. ii. Coulter The iron blade fixed in front of the share in a plough; it makes a vertical cut in the soil, which is then sifted horizontally by the share. iii. Mattock A single-headed pickaxe with a point on one side and a broad edge on the other for digging and cutting. iv. Goad A rod or stick, pointed at one end or fitted with a sharp spike and employed for driving cattle, esp. oxen used in ploughing. 11. God restrained the Philistines with their vast forces from falling upon Sauls little band and destroying them (PSA 124).
12. Jonathans resolve to go over to the Philistines with his armourbearer is encouraged by two facts: a. The Philistines were uncircumcised, that is, they were not Gods covenant people. b. The Lord is not restrained by numbers is saving. i. His faith had a basis in the word and works of the Lord. ii. Hence, he was not tempting God by so acting. 13. By means of a sign Jonathan would know whether the Lord would work for them or not. a. If the Philistines were presumptuous enough to bid them come to them, then Jonathan would take that as a sign of Gods salvation and would mount the offensive. i. Compare this challenge with the later challenge of Goliath. ii. Who were these uncircumcised Philistines to defy the armies of the living God? iii. David would similarly be encouraged to go and fight with Goliath. b. Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack. One defends when his strength is inadequate; he attacks when it is abundant. Sun Tzu. c. Offence is the preferred form of combat because it pursues a positive aim. 14. This first slaughter of twenty men ignited trembling among the Philistines, which together with the earthquake resulted in a very great trembling. This gave Israel the psychological advantage against the enemy. 15. The enemy melted away (became gradually smaller) and trampled on one another trying to get away. 16. Saul did not take the time to find out what happened to Jonathan and his armourbearer. He chose rather to capitalize on the confusion of the Philistines. 17. Discomfiture Complete defeat in battle, overthrow, rout. 18. The deserters rejoined the ranks when circumstances were favourable. How like fickle human nature that is! 19. In his haste to subdue the enemy Saul made an unwise move is placing anyone under a curse who ate any food until Saul was avenged upon the Philistines. 20. Sauls rash oath had three bad results: a. It hindered the pursuit of the Philistines by weakening the people. b. It involved Jonathan in a transgression of ignorance when he tasted the honey. c. It occasioned the sin of the people in eating blood. 21. When the Lord does not answer prayer, there is sin (PSA 66:18; ISA 59:1-2).
22. Saul backed up his intent to kill Jonathan with a curse upon himself, which curse came (PSA 64:8). 23. The people rescuing Jonathan is an excellent example of a people resisting the abuse of power by a government. 24. Jonathan, the man of faith, had been Gods instrument is working salvation in Israel (HEB 11:33-34). 25. Time taken out for the trial suspended the pursuit of the Philistines so that the victory was incomplete. a. Saul had war with the Philistines all his days. b. This could all be traced back to Sauls problem with haste. 26. Sauls military conquests are recounted. a. He was an excellent warrior (2SA 1:22-25). b. But he failed to conquer himself (PRO 16:32). 27. Sauls taking unto him any strong or valiant man that he saw hearkens back to 1SA 8:11, 16. Chapter 15:1-35: Sauls Disobedience and Rejection from Being King 1. God having sent Samuel to anoint Saul king over Israel was advanced by Samuel as the reason for Saul to hearken to the voice of the words of the Lord (LUK 12:48). 2. Saul was being commissioned to avenge a longstanding quarrel that God had with Amalek in fulfillment of the Law of Moses. a. Saul was to execute Gods wrath (1SA 28:18). b. He traded off this honour because he feared man rather than God (PRO 22:4). c. God will execute vengeance on those that attack His church (DEU 32:43; 2TH 1:6). 3. A distinction was drawn between the Amalekites and the Kenites based on their treatment of Israel (NUM 24:9). 4. The Kenites must depart from among the Amalekites if they would not receive of their judgment (REV 18:4). 5. Compare what God commanded in His words with what Saul actually did and it will be seen that he did not hearken unto the voice of the words of the Lord. 6. Not performing Gods commandments, Saul turned back from following the Lord. He failed in exactly the point stressed by Samuel in 1SA 12:14. 7. Samuels grief over Sauls downfall reminds us of others of Gods servants and of our Lord (PSA 119:136; JER 13:15-17; 2CO 2:4; LUK 19:41-44).
8. Saul was celebrating his victory with a monument (he set him up a place) and a parade (heis gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal). 9. Upon meeting Samuel Saul was very forward to proclaim his obedience. a. PRO 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? b. Those that boast most of their religion may justly be suspected of partiality and hypocrisy in it. M. Henry 10. Saul defended himself saying that the people spared of the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord. a. However, v. 9 states that Saul and the people spared them. b. This was covering his sin as Adam (JOB 31:33; GEN 3:12). c. It is the sorry subterfuge of an impenitent heart, that will not confess its guilt, to lay the blame on those that were tempters, or partners, or only followers in it. M. Henry 11. Samuel brings a hard message to Saul, but it was the one he received from the Lord. a. Samuel was not having fun doing this. He had wept all night before. b. Saul had abused the power God had given him and used it to serve his own interests. c. To fly upon to spring with violence upon, attack with fury, rush upon. 12. Having been straightly charged of his sin in no uncertain terms, Saul persisted in his claim that he had obeyed the Lord. a. In his defense Saul admitted that these sheep and oxen should have been utterly destroyed. b. Sauls supposed obedience was on his terms rather than Gods terms. a. Sauls actions imply that If its good for me, itll be good for God, too. Always a Winner by Cyril Barber & John Carter c. Good intentions do not compensate for disobedience. d. Shall we say that this was Sauls interpretation of the Bible? 13. What most delights God should be the aim of all we do (EPH 5:5-10). 14. Obedience is a weightier matter of the law than sacrifices. a. It is not that God has no delight in sacrifices or that it is not good to sacrifice. It is rather that God has more delight in obedience and obedience is better than sacrifice. b. The hypocrite who feigns great devotion to God majors in the minors and overlooks the weightier matters of the law (MAT 23:23).
c. Sacrifice was to be a means to continue obeying the Lord rather than a substitute for obedience. d. Religious observances should be a true expression of our spiritual and moral condition rather than a cover for wickedness (PRO 21:27). e. This was Sauls second failure on this point. 15. Saul was guilty of rebellion and stubbornness. a. This is said of a man who openly professed to be obedient. b. His sins were equal to witchcraft and idolatry. i. Witchcraft - The practice of a witch or witches; the exercise of supernatural power supposed to be possessed by persons in league with the devil or evil spirits. 1. The practitioner of witchcraft seeks Godlike power. 2. Rebellion, like witchcraft, is a grab for power. ii. Stubbornness is as idolatry in that the self claims sovereignty and thus tries to usurp His place. iii. Saul was acting under the influence of Satan when he rebelled against the word of God just as a practitioner of witchcraft and idolatry is doing. 16. Saul finally admitted that he had transgressed because he feared the people. a. Again we see Sauls continual problem with fear. b. Saul admitted obeying the voice of the people rather than the voice of God. c. Saul had been lured into Satans trap by the temptation to put his self-interest before his duty to God. i. Self-interest was at the heart of the temptations Satan presented to Christ in the wilderness (LUK 4:1-13). ii. Self-denial is the path that leads to freedom from Satans bondage (LUK 9:23-25; 14:26-27; JOH 8:31-32; REV 12:11). 17. This sin cost Saul the kingdom (PRO 16:12). a. In 1SA 13:14 God had said Sauls kingdom would not continue. Here the kingdom was rent from him that very day. b. After this, David will be advanced and Saul will wane. c. Rejecting the word of God for other words can cost one the kingdom (EPH 5:5-6). 18. God would not repent and turn from this judgment. a. God made no provision to repent of this as in JER 18:7-8. b. If God ever says Thats it. Then thats it! He will not go back on it as a man might.
c. He removed his mercy from Saul (2SA 7:15). d. Beware of passing the space of repentance beyond which there is no remedy (REV 2:21; 2CH 36:15-16). 19. Saul was still concerned about being honoured before the people. 20. Agags behaviour illustrates that the cruelest of people can become ever so gentle when it is they that that are in jeopardy. Chapter 16:1-23: David Anointed to be King and an Evil Spirit Comes Upon Saul 1. The first 13 verses of this chapter treat of the manifestation of the Lords anointed to Samuel, the Nazarite son of a barren woman. The story compares with the manifestation of the Lords Christ (Anointed) to John the Baptist, the Nazarite son of a barren woman. 2. It was time for Samuel to accept the verdict of his Lord and cease mourning. 3. The rejection of Saul did not mean the end of Gods kingdom. Gods resources are never exhausted. 4. God told Samuel how to conceal his mission from Saul. a. If Saul would have killed his own son, he would have killed Samuel. b. It is obvious that one is not required to tell everything in order to tell the truth. c. Not telling all was the wise thing to do in this case if Samuel wanted to live (PRO 13:3; PRO 29:11). 5. In following the Lords instructions Samuel would be shown what to do (PRO 4:18). 6. God provided a king for Israel in Bethlehem. Jesus Christ, the king of the Jews was born in Bethlehem (LUK 2:4-11; MAT 2:1-2). 7. The preacher showing up unexpectedly caused the people to fear. As it was, so it is! 8. Sanctification of oneself is required to approach God (GEN 35:2-3; EXO 19:10-11; JOS 3:5; PSA 26:4-7; 1CO 11:28-31; 2TI 2:20-21; JAM 4:8). 9. Not acting per divine revelation, Samuel drew a wrong conclusion in identifying the Lords anointed. 10. Unlike man, the Lord sees the heart, knows a person for what he really is, and deals with him accordingly (HEB 4:12-13; JER 17:10; 1CH 28:9). 11. David was out keeping the sheep. a. Being with the sheep David learned valuable principles for leading men who are like sheep. He got the same training as Moses. b. Being a shepherd David knew whereof he wrote in PSA 23. c. The seed of Gods Messiah, the Saviour of mankind, was in the loins of that youth (ACT 13:22-23).
d. Our Saviour came from the only son of Jesse that was missing at the table, the one that Jesse overlooked. 12. Samuels anointing of David compares with Johns baptizing of Jesus Christ. a. Compare this is he with JOH 1:30, 33-34. b. As Samuels did what he was sent to do, David was manifested to him. c. As John the Baptist did what he was sent to do, Christ was manifested to him. d. The Spirit of God came upon David at his anointing. e. The Spirit of God came upon Christ at His baptism (MAT 3:16). f. It was David that was Gods choice and David means beloved. g. Jesus Christ, Gods chosen, is Gods Beloved, His David (MAT 3:17). 13. After David is anointed, Samuel fades out of the picture to be scarcely mentioned again. In this he compares with John the Baptist (JOH 3:30). 14. God turned Saul over to Satan. a. In the absence of Gods presence, Satan took over (ct. 1SA 10:7). b. The evil spirit would trouble Saul and make him ill. 15. David was talented in music, strong, courageous, a warrior, intelligent, handsome, and spiritual. Some folks just have it all. 16. In the providence of God David, who was destined to be king, was able to learn firsthand the ways of court. 17. It is obvious from this account that some music hinders and resists satanic activity. a. There is music that inclines the mind toward God and His truth (2KI 3:15; 1CH 25:1-3; EPH 5:17-20). b. There is music that shuts God out and inclines the mind toward Satan (EXO 32:16, 17-18, 25; ISA 5:11-12; AMO 6:1, 3-6). c. Musicmay shut up the passages by which he (the devil) has access to the mind. M. Henry d. David, the man after Gods own heart, obviously played godly music. e. The following passages show the role of Gods music in the defeat of Satans kingdom (2CH 20:1-28; MAT 26:30; REV 5:6-9; ACT 16:25-34; PSA 149; ISA 35:10). f. Indeed the powrs of darkness fear, When this sweet chant they hear; May Jesus Christ be praised!
Chapter 17:1-58: Davids Victory Over Goliath 1. We read in the foregoing chapter how, after he (David) was anointed, Providence made him famous in the court; we read in this chapter how Providence made him much more famous in the camp, and, by both, not only marked him for a great man, but fitted him for the throne for which he was designed. M. Henry 2. Israel was faced with a challenge. Nothing worthwhile in life goes unchallenged (1CO 16:9). 3. There were several skirmishes between Israel and the Philistines. a. There would be no victory until the giant was conquered. b. When faced with an adversary, concentrate on the major point of contention. 4. Coat of mail A piece of defensive armour covering the upper part of the body, composed of a linen or leathern jacket, quilted with interlaced rings or overlapping plates of steel (brass). 5. Greave Armour for the leg below the knee. 6. Target - A light round shield or buckler. 7. Goliath was big! a. He was about 9 3/4 feet tall. b. His coat of mail weighed about 125 lbs. c. His spear's head weighed about 15 lbs. d. Satan tries to intimidate us with the big and the imposing. 8. David was faithful wherever his lot was cast. a. David had learned obedience before he became a commander. b. Having been a favourite at court, he could return and feed his fathers sheep. c. None more fit for honour than he, nor that deserved it better, and yet none more dead to it. M. Henry 9. David's brother sought to discourage him by attacking his motives. a. Those who lack faith and courage are quick to criticize. b. Character assassination is an ancient ploy (PSA 35:11). 10. Rather than become entangled in a foolish argument with his brother, David turns from him and continues to speak as he had spoken. b. Fear blinds the eye and debilitates the will. Cyril Barber & John Carter a. You cannot reason with a man who is full of dread. Shakespeare in Richard III. 11. David brings a message of encouragement to Israels soldiers. 12. David was encouraged by past deliverances that God had granted him.
13. David would not be discouraged even when Saul sought to discourage him. a. Sauls assessment of Davids odds left God out. b. David was the one most in touch with reality and, therefore, the one with the correct take on the situation. 14. Saul and Israel could not defeat the giant Goliath because they feared him. a. Lacking courage Saul failed to lead the people to victory as he had before. b. Sauls fear was an effect of the Spirit of the Lord departing from him. Gods Spirit is not a spirit of fear (2TI 1:7). c. They focused on Goliaths words and size. d. By contrast, David trusted God and defeated Goliath (HEB 11:32-34). i. He focused on God's power rather than on the giant or his threats. ii. David believed and loved his God. iii. Faith and love breed toughness (1TH 5:8). iv. We must focus on God's power rather than on the bigness of the obstacle (EPH 1:15-23; 3:20-21; 6:10; PHI 4:13; DAN 11:32). v. David put his theology to practical use. e. It doesnt matter, really, how great the pressure it, it only matters where the pressure lies. Hudson Taylor f. How one reacts to stress depends upon how he mentally interprets the situation. i. This explains why some people thrive under tribulation while others collapse under it. ii. The mind can respond either by trusting God for the victory or by seeing oneself as a helpless victim of circumstances. iii. It is the difference between the way Israel and David reacted to Goliath. iv. It all came down to a battle for the mind. 15. David did not use Saul's armour since he had not proved it. Use what you have proved (1TH 5:21). 16. David chose five smooth stones. There were five giants of Gath (2SA 21:18-22). 17. In one's name, in the name of one: In phrases expressing invocation of, reliance upon, or devotion to, the persons of the Godhead. Denoting the use of another's name to give authority or countenance to one's acts; or implying that the action is done on account or on behalf of some other person or persons. Hence, by contrast to this, "in one's own name." 18. David hasted toward the Philistine (2SA 22:38). a. One conquers fears by meeting them head on.
b. Those who are of a good courage will have their heart strengthened (PSA 27:14). 19. David's victory came when he put his life in his hand (1SA 19:5). a. Christ conquered Satan through death (HEB 2:14). b. David's service to God involved death to himself. c. So, too, is it with the Christian (LUK 9:23; REV 12:11). 20. From this victory all the earth would know that there is a God in Israel. Indeed, this story has gained worldwide fame. 21. The battle was really between God and the devil. 22. David prevailed over the giant by a wound in the head. Compare this with Christ's victory over Satan (GEN 3:15). 23. David's enemy was put under his feet. Compare this with 1CO 15:25. 24. Compare v. 46 with REV 19:11-21: Christ will give his enemies to the fowls of the air. 25. When Goliath was killed, the Philistines were not true to the terms of the duel. Rather than become Israels servants, they fled. 26. David's victory over Goliath paved the way for Israel to defeat the rest of the Philistines. Christ's victory over evil makes our victory possible (1CO 15:57-58; ROM 6:6-13; 8:37; REV 12:10-11). 27. David's victory influenced Israel to do combat. a. Confident, committed, enthusiastic people influence others to take on challenges. b. Doubtful, discouraging, fearful people destroy initiative in others (NUM 13:3114:3; DEU 20:8). 28. David victory over Goliath wrought a great salvation for all Israel (1SA 19:5). Christ hath wrought for His people a great salvation (HEB 2:3). Chapter 18:1-30: Saul Fears David and Becomes His Enemy 1. In this chapter we see conflict following upon the heels of Davids great victory. Let a man be mightily used of God and the adversary will assault him (1CO 16:9). 2. Jonathan loved David. a. He loved David even though David would be advanced above him (1SA 20:3031; 23:17). i. Love does not envy (1CO 13:4). ii. Jonathan being submissive to the will of God accepted second place. Saul did not. iii. Jonathan did not envy because Jonathan did not desire vainglory (GAL 5:26).
iv. No man can stand before envy (PRO 27:4). 1. Recall that Saul formerly loved David greatly (1SA 16:21). Envy destroyed that. 2. Envy prompted the chief priests to deliver up Christ, who like David had done nothing amiss (MAR 15:10). b. Jonathan's soul was knit to David's. i. He was firmly attached to David. ii. This kind of love provides comfort for those who share it (COL 2:2). c. Jonathan loved David as his own soul (DEU 13:6). Aristotle said, Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies. d. Because Jonathan so loved David, they made a covenant thus pledging themselves to one another. i. He that bears an honest mind startles not at assurances. True love desires to be constant. M. Henry ii. If one loves Christ, he will be willing to be bound to Christ. e. Jonathan gave the clothes and weapons he had on to this poor shepherd. Talk about someone giving another the shirt off his back. f. Jonathan and David had a lot in common. i. Both were valiant men who acted upon their faith in God. ii. Neither one tried to assert himself in a self-serving way. g. The relationship of Jonathan and David provides an excellent example of true friendship. 3. David faithfully served Saul and behaved himself wisely. a. If you want to know what it is to behave wisely, study Davids behaviour. b. As he had obeyed his father, so he obeyed Saul. c. He who later reigned first served faithfully (1SA 19:4; 22:14). d. Davids faithful service is connected with his wise behaviour. Wise people respect and submit to authority (PRO 10:8). e. David gave Saul no cause to hate him (PSA 35:7, 19). David compares with Christ, the Son of David, who was hated without a cause (JOH 15:15). 4. Saul envied David because the Lord advanced David over him. a. Saul obviously was not accepting Gods discipline in rejecting him from being king. b. Therefore, Sauls enmity against David was really an enmity against God. c. A humble soul accepts the punishment of his iniquity (LEV 26:41).
i. Therefore, Saul has a problem with pride. ii. Sauls pride will bring him low, so very low (PRO 29:23). d. Learn from this to despise not the chastening of the Lord (PRO 3:11). 5. Saul kept a close eye on David. He would have welcomed the discovery of a fault so as to have something with which to attack David (PSA 64:6). 6. Sauls enmity against David was aggravated by an evil spirit. a. The envy in Sauls heart gave Satan the advantage against him and stands in marked contrast to the wisdom David displayed (JAM 3:14-17). b. Saul declined so far that Davids godly music did not refresh him as before. c. Behind the scene was the attack of Satan upon the Messianic seed line (GEN 3:15). 7. Saul removed David from him because the Lord was with David. Saul's problem was with God. 8. Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with David and David behaved himself wisely. a. Wise and good people are powerful people. Learn from this how to really make people fear you. b. Davids behaviour was a continual conviction of Saul, who had not behaved wisely. c. Saul was very insecure in himself and this fed his fear of David. i. Saul did not have the security that comes from a right relationship with God. ii. Lacking love, Saul was tormented by fear (1JO 4:18). d. Saul was like Cain (1JO 3:11-12). e. It disturbed Saul that he couldnt get anything on David. 9. Saul sought to set David up. He pretended to be doing David a favour (PSA 55:20-21; PRO 26:24-26). 10. When David slew Goliath and when he fought the Philistines, Saul did not give David his daughter to wife as he promised. 11. Being humble, David did not think himself worthy to be the kings son-in-law. a. It says much for Davids character that his victories, advancements, and fame did not go to his head (PRO 27:21). b. Not aspiring to attain a position of prestige, David could handle the disappointment of Sauls broken promise. 12. As Saul's fear and enmity increased, so Davids wise behaviour increased.
13. As in this chapter, Sauls attempts against Davids life will fail because David is divinely protected (2SA 22:1-3). a. In his high tower David was beyond the reach of Saul. b. Saul was assaulting God Himself when He attacked Gods man. Chapter 19:1-24: The Foiling of Four Attempts by Saul to Kill David 1. The first attempt came when Saul ordered Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. a. Jonathan foiled this attempt by reasoning with Saul. b. However, because the root issues of pride, not accepting Gods punishment, and envy were not corrected, this temporary reprieve will not last, even though Saul backed it up with an oath. c. This is the pattern of someone who lacks the godly sorrow that works true repentance (2CO 7:10). 2. The second attempt came when Saul sought to smite David to the wall with his javelin. a. Javelin A light spear thrown as a weapon of war or in hunting. b. This attempt was made under the influence of the evil spirit. c. This attempt followed Davids successful campaign against the Philistines. i. Perhaps Davids success on the battlefield had rekindled Sauls envy. ii. Again, one used of God can expect to be assaulted by the devil. d. This was Davids second time in escaping Sauls javelin. 3. The third attempt came when Saul sent messengers to Davids house to slay him. a. This attempt was foiled by Michal, whom Saul had given David to be a snare to him (1SA 18:21). i. However, in this case Michal became Davids protector. ii. Often is the devil out-shot with his own bow. M. Henry b. David wrote PSA 59 on this occasion, which reveals that Davids faith and communion with God were uninterrupted by Sauls malicious scheme. c. Sauls intent was that David would be slain in the morning, yet in PSA 59:16 David says he will sing aloud of Gods mercy in the morning. 4. The fourth attempt came when Saul sent messengers to Ramah to take David. That being unsuccessful, Saul came himself to Ramah. a. This attempt was foiled by the Spirit of God causing Davids pursuers to prophesy. b. God can cause any creature, even an enemy of His cause, to speak His truth (cp. NUM 22:28-30; 24:14-16; JOH 11:49-52).
c. Sauls lying down naked all that day and night shows how God can put someone to shame who dares defy His will. Chapter 20:1-42: Davids Departure After Jonathan Discovers Sauls Mind Toward David 1. Over against Jonathans objection David expressed with an oath his certainty that Saul was determined to kill him. 2. Jonathan, the true friend, will do whatever David wants. a. Jonathan could be so free in his offer because he knew David was an honest man who would not take undue advantage of the offer. b. This compares with Christs friendship to us (JOH 14:13). c. This should be the expression of our friendship to Christ (JOH 15:14). 3. Jonathan lied to protect David. This was not bearing false witness against his neighbour. Lying to protect an innocent life is permitted in Scripture. 4. David urged Jonathan to perform this kindness for him because of the covenant of the Lord between them. a. God was a party in this covenant. b. This covenant secured mutual kindness between David and Jonathan. 5. Jonathan confirmed with an oath his promise to David to inform him of Sauls intentions. God makes like use of an oath in His promises to us (HEB 6:17-18). 6. Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David on behalf of his posterity. a. This covenant would be binding on Davids descendants. b. This was a covenant for David to show the kindness of the Lord to Jonathan and his house. c. We can learn something of the kindness of God to us by studying Davids kindness to the house of Jonathan because of this covenant (2SA 9). 7. Jonathan made this binding covenant with David because he loved him. a. It will be a kindness to ourselves and ours to secure an interest in those whom God favours and to make his friends ours. M. Henry b. Imagine going to such lengths to secure the friendship of an outlaw! 1. Jonathan, believing God, saw in this outlaw the anointed of the Lord. 2. The thief on the cross also sought the favour of an Outlaw, Who had done nothing amiss, which he recognized as a King (LUK 23:39-43). 8. The sign Jonathan devised whereby David would know Sauls intentions would serve should it not be expedient for Jonathan to communicate to David by word of mouth. 9. Jonathan was grieved for the shame Saul had done to David rather than the reproach that Saul had heaped upon him.
10. Jonathan and David could separate in peace for they had the sworn covenant that would bind them and their houses together forever. a. Their loyalty to one another would remain intact despite the separation. b. While absent from the Lord, we have His sworn covenant for our consolation. Chapter 21:1-15: David Before Abimelech the Priest and Before Achish the King of Gath 1. These narratives of Davids troubles are written to set forth David, who was one of the prophets, as an example of suffering affliction, and of patience (JAM 5:10). 2. As David began his exile, he first went to the house of God to inquire of the Lord. 3. David left the house of God nourished and armed for conflict. 4. The man destined to wear the crown over Israel now flees his country for his life. a. This is not the last chapter of Davids life! b. The present is not always an accurate gauge of the future. 5. In this chapter David lied to Abimelech the priest; he and his men ate the shewbread, which was lawful only for the priests; and David feigned himself mad before Achish the king of Gath. a. It was to protect Abimilech that David did not tell him the truth. i. Therefore, Abilmilech could honestly say he knew nothing of Davids intentions if he were interrogated, as indeed he was (1SA 22:13-15). ii. This was a lie to protect an innocent life from a murderer. b. Since David and his men needed food and since there was no other bread to give, the shewbread could be given them. i. This was an act to sustain life. ii. Having been kept from women about three days, the men were considered sanctified as was the case in EXO 19:14-15 and JOE 2:16. iii. The bread was also in a manner common in that it was no longer on the table before the Lord. iv. Therefore, caution was observed in stepping over this restriction of the use of the shewbread. v. This was not an act of defiance! c. David feigning himself mad before the enemy was a means to save his own life. 6. The events of this chapter exemplify the hierarchy of Gods laws. a. Some laws of God outweigh others (MAT 5:19; 23:23). b. When two laws come into conflict in a situation, one should obey the weightier law.
c. Saving an innocent life from a murderer outweighs the obligation to tell the truth. d. Feeding the hungry outweighs ceremonial restrictions. e. Lying to protect an innocent life from a murderer is not the same as lying to cover one's own sin or to lead others into sin! f. Giving hallowed bread to hungry men because that is all that is at hand is not the same as presuming upon holy things just to prove one can do it. g. Deception in warfare is not the same as deception to obstruct justice. 7. Davids flight for fear of Saul and his reception by the Philistines at Gath occasioned the composition of PSA 56. a. This Psalm reveals how David managed his fear. b. There is a fear that is necessary for our safety. The problem arises when fear crowds out faith, becomes the controlling principle of life, and leads one to neglect duty. 8. Davids being driven away from the Philistines when he changed his behaviour occasioned the penning of PSA 34. a. David used means to his deliverance, but he gave God the credit for it. b. This Psalm makes it clear that David did not sin in deceiving the Philistines. Chapter 22:1-23: Davids Escape to the Cave of Adullam and Sauls Paranoia 1. PSA 57 was written at this time and shows David looking above the situation to God and being determined to praise God. 2. The unfortunate men came to David. a. PSA 142, written upon this occasion, expresses the hope that the righteous would compass him about. These were good men. b. Three of Davids mightiest men came to him in this cave (1CH 11:15-19). c. Compare the kind of men that came to David to be ruled by him with those who come to Christ to be ruled by Him (MAT 11:28-30; LUK 7:40-47; ISA 55:1-3). d. Christ receives the lowly and makes them mighty (PRO 3:34; 2CO 12:9). 3. The attraction to David was not because of where he was but because of Who he was. 4. Better to be in a cave with David than in a palace without him. So it is with Christ. 5. David providing for the care of his parents in his rejection reminds us of the Son of David providing for his mother while he was upon the cross (JOH 19:27). 6. David waited for the Lord to know what He would do with him (PSA 37:5-7). 7. Sauls fear so overwhelmed him that he became paranoid and suspected innocent men of conspiring against him.
a. David subdued his fear by faith whereas Saul was controlled by his fear. b. Sauls fear drove him to become a merciless tyrant under whose government no one was safe. 8. Saul accused David of lying in wait against him when it was Saul that lay in wait against David. a. Sauls suspicions were imagined and totally without reason (ZEC 9:17; 1TI 6:4). b. Guilty men often accuse others of what they themselves are guilty of (ROM 2:1). 9. Doeg told Saul the truth as to what Ahimelech had done, but he told it in such a context that Saul would put the wrong construction upon it. PSA 52 was penned on this occasion. a. Although Doeg told the truth, his words in this context were mischievous, cutting, deceitful, and devouring. b. Doeg strengthened himself in his wickedness in that he went from slandering the priests to actually murdering them. c. People who trust in wealth rather than God are liable to do abominable things. 10. Abimelech did not begin to inquire of the Lord for David when he came to him at Nob. He had done so before. So why should this make him suspect? 11. Saul, who spared Agag and the best of the sheep and oxen of the Amalekites, spared nothing of the priests, their families, or their livestock. a. This fulfilled the word of judgment spoken to Eli in 1SA 2:31 & 3:11-12. b. Though Saul was unrighteous in doing this, yet God was righteous in permitting it. M. Henry 12. Abiathar escaped and fled after David. a. Abiding with David he would be in safeguard and would have no need to fear. b. This compares with our relationship to Christ to Whom we have fled for refuge (PSA 9:7-9 with ACT 17:31; HEB 6:18-20; JOH 14:1-3). 13. From the Psalms written during this time of his life, it may be seen that David maintained communion with God throughout these distresses. 14. This time in Davids life fits the pattern of the cross before the crown, of suffering before glory (LUK 24:25-27; 2TI 2:12; 1PE 4:12-13). Chapter 23:1-29: David Defends Keilah and Is Betrayed by the Ziphites 1. David was directed by the prophet Gad, his seer, back to the land of Judah. a. According to this chapter he was used of God in Judah to defend Keilah. b. David would also be given the opportunity to render good for evil according to teaching of the Son of David.
2. Note in this chapter how careful David is to proceed according to the word of the Lord. a. God provided David with the priest and the ephod to guide him (NUM 27:21). b. God guides the humble soul that trusts in Him (PRO 3:5-6; PSA 25:9). 3. When Saul heard that David was in Keilah he assumed that God had delivered him into his hand. Saul misread the will of God from circumstances seemingly favourable to his desires. 4. The Lord knew the men of Keilah would betray David and his men and deliver them to Saul, when he came down to destroy Keilah. a. Although Saul did not actually come to Keilah and the men of Keilah did not actually betray David, God knew they would if occasion served. b. David knew what it was like to be rewarded evil for good (PSA 35:12). In this he was like Christ (JOH 10:32). c. God knowing all things, knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and how to render to every man according to his works. (JOH 2:23-25; 2PE 2:9; REV 2:23). i. God often delivers us from what might have been. ii. God knows how strong our gratitude and loyalty really are. 5. Davids adversary sought him every day. Sound familiar? 6. To be in the will of God among men who disobey that will, is inevitably to be persecuted. G. Campbell Morgan 7. God did not deliver David into Sauls hand. a. Had He done so, Saul would have prevailed. b. So, too, is it with us. If God delivered us to our lusts, which are our enemies, they would overcome us (ROM 7:23-25; PSA 81:11-12; ROM 1:24-26). c. By this David knew that God favoured him (PSA 41:11). 8. When we see David in hiding it reminds us of PRO 28:12: When the wicked rise, a man is hidden. 9. Jonathan strengthened Davids hand in God. a. He did this by instructing David with words of the truth of God. b. The hands and knees are strengthened to withstand and perform when the heart is assured by instruction (JOB 4:3-4). c. Isaiah recommends the very method Jonathan employed (ISA 35:3-4). 10. For the third time Jonathan and David made a covenant. a. True love takes delight in repeating it engagements, giving and receiving fresh assurances of the firmness of the friendship. M. Henry
b. We should renew our commitment to God, our Friend. 11. The Ziphites betrayed David to Saul. a. PSA 54 was composed on the occasion b. Indeed, God was Davids Helper on this occasion and provided a diversion for Saul when he was about to close in on David. c. David could well have had this incident in mind when he composed PSA 124, for he had indeed escaped out of the snare of the fowler. 12. This place became a symbol of the great divide between Saul and David, a divide that Saul could not get over. Chapter 24:1-22: David Spares Saul 1. David composed PSA 63 whilst he was in the wilderness of Judah. 2. Because Saul was in a position to be easily destroyed by David, Davids men assumed this to be the will of God. 3. Unlike Davids men and unlike Saul, David did not misread the will of God from seemingly advantageous circumstances. 4. When David cut off the skirt of Sauls robe his heart smote him. a. David is grieving over this when he could have done far worse! b. It is a good thing to have a heart within us smiting us for sins that seem little; it is a sign that conscience is awake and tender, and will be the means of preventing greater sins. M. Henry 5. David dealt with Saul as the Lords anointed rather than his enemy. 6. If Saul was heeding slanderers, then that said something about his character (PRO 17:4). 7. In not killing Saul when he could have, David returned good for evil to a man who had rendered him evil for good (1TH 5:15). a. David delivered him that without cause was his enemy (PSA 7:4). b. And has not our Lord Jesus spared us who were His enemies? c. David practiced the very teaching of his Son and our Lord (MAT 5:44). d. David did not treat Saul as Saul had treated him but as he would have had Saul to treat him (MAT 7:12). e. Satans aim is to provoke us to stoop to the behaviour of our enemy. f. Rather than being overcome of evil, David overcame evil with good (ROM 12:2021). 8. David left the vengeance with God to Whom it belongs (ROM 12:19).
9. In justifying himself, David referred to a proverb of the ancients. According to this proverb, if David had been wicked, he would have killed Saul. 10. What glory is it to hunt down and vanquish a dead dog or a flea? 11. Sauls tearful admissions did not yield a true repentance, for he will pursue David again. 12. Saul admitted what God had said in 1SA 15:28. 13. Acknowledging David would be king, Saul appealed to him to protect his seed after him. 14. David rose above personal revenge and swore to protect the posterity of his enemy. 15. Davids greatest deliverance in all his afflictions was the deliverance from stepping ahead of God, taking matters into his own hands, and avenging himself (2SA 22:1, 20-27). 16. PSA 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. Chapter 25:1-44: David Abused by Nabal and Saved from Avenging Himself 1. Samuel died and David went down to the wilderness of Paran. Where did that leave Israel for counsel and leadership? 2. A churlish man is rude and stingy (ISA 32:5-8). 3. How many times has a wise woman been married to a fool? 4. This chapter clearly illustrates the difference between a wise person and a fool and shows the end of them both. 5. Mark the contrast! The righteous David suffers need and the wicked Nabal abounds. Possessions do not make the man. 6. Nabal treated David like a nobody and like a runaway slave. 7. Rail To utter abusive language. 8. One of Nabals servants appealed to Abigail, the woman of understanding, for help. 9. A son of Belial, such as Nabal was, cannot be reasoned with (PRO 23:9; 2SA 23:6-7). 10. David could expect Saul to requite him evil for good, but he did not expect that from Nabal. a. This unexpected affront caused David to lose it for a while. i. Because of Nabals ingratitude David considered that his kindness to Nabal had been in vain. Yet God is kind to the unthankful and the evil (LUK 6:35). ii. David resolved with an oath to avenge himself rather than leaving vengeance to God to Whom it belongs (DEU 32:35). b. Be always watching against the unexpected assault for that is the one that will often cause you the most problems (MAT 26:41; EPH 6:18; 1PE 5:8).
11. Abigail, the woman of understanding, took the exact opposite measures with David, than her foolish husband took: she gave him provisions and addressed him respectfully. 12. Abigail pleads with David not to regard Nabal but to consider the source. a. Nabal was a son of Belial (worthlessness) and a fool. Why would David set so much by what a man like that said? b. Consider that we often reason the same way today in dealing with difficult people. 13. Abigail charged the whole matter to her oversight and begged to be forgiven. How quickly we could resolve conflicts if we looked for ways to take responsibility for them rather that blaming others. 14. She wished that Davids enemies might be as powerless to do him hurt as Nabal. 15. Let us concentrate on fighting the Lords battles and keeping ourselves pure and God will surely make us what He wants us to be. 16. Being bound in a bundle is the opposite of being slung out. 17. Not having shed blood causelessly and not having avenged himself, this would be no grief of mind nor offence of heart to David in the future. a. Note how a person of understanding reasons about sin. b. When tempted we should always consider how something is going to affect us when we look back on it. How will I feel about it the morning after? 18. David blessed the woman who rebuked his rage, which tells us that David was a wise and obedient man (PRO 9:8; 25:12). 19. David acknowledged that it was the Lord that had sent Abigail to keep him back from this evil. a. God is to be acknowledged in all the kindnesses that our friends do us either for soul or body. Whoever meets us with counsel, direction, comfort, caution, or seasonable reproof, we must see God sending them. M. Henry b. Because David was a humble and good man who was open to Gods direction even if it rebuked him, God restrained David from sinning. c. If we become lifted up with pride and refuse Gods direction, the restraint will be removed (PSA 81:11-12; JAM 4:6-7). d. David could well have had this event in mind when he penned PSA 141:1-5. 20. David did not follow through with his evil resolve even though he had confirmed it with an oath. a. Oaths do not bind us to sin. b. But sinful oaths should be repented of and avoided. 21. Nabal, who was so stingy toward David and his men, was very liberal toward himself. 22. Nabals merriment ended in deep, debilitating depression (ECC 7:6).
23. The Lord avenged David of Nabal. As Abigail said, let those that seek evil to my lord (David), be as Nabal. 24. This woman of understanding responded to Davids proposal of marriage with remarkable humility like that of Christ Himself Who washed His servants feet. 25. And has not our David sent and communed with the children of wisdom concerning His good will for them? And ought not they also to respond thus humbly and hasten after Him? 26. Abigail became the wife of Israels future king. a. She married David in faith believing He would be king as God had said though now he was a poor fugitive. b. Abigail, the liberal, devised liberal things and by liberal things she stood (ISA 32:8). 27. Saul took another shot at David in giving his wife Michal to another. Chapter 26:1-25: David Spares Saul Again 1. The Ziphites betrayed David again (cp. 1SA 23:19). 2. The sleep that fell upon Saul and his men was so deep that David and Abishai could walk and talk among them without awakening them. a. In this condition Saul and his men were vulnerable to danger. b. Sleep comes from God upon men (PSA 127:2). c. God sometimes withholds sleep (PSA 77:4). d. Beware lest God in judgment pour out upon you the spirit of a deep sleep so that you cannot understand His word and are thus in danger of error (ISA 29:10-14). 3. Abishai, like Saul in 1SA 23:7 and like Davids men in 1SA 24:4, misread the will of God from seemingly advantageous circumstances. This is a common error. 4. In Nabals case David had been sufficiently shown that God would vindicate him without his taking vengeance. 5. The conjunction or, which sets forth alternatives, clearly shows that Saul could perish one of three ways: a. The Lord could smite him as He did Nabal. b. His day could come to die (JOB 7:1 w/ PSA 90:10). i. This is the day when the body breaks down and can no longer contain life (ECC 12:6-7). ii. This day can be sooner or later depending on ones personal constitution and behaviour (PRO 9:11; 10:27).
iii. That this is an alternative to the other two means of dying shows that one does not have an unalterably fixed moment to die. c. He would die in battle. 6. The thing he (David) feared was guilt and his concern respected his innocence more than his safety. M. Henry. 7. When David removed himself a great space from Saul and his men, Davids voice crying out awakened them. The divine sedative had worn off. 8. If the Lord had stirred up Saul against David, that enmity could be settled with a sacrifice. Being reconciled to God leads to being reconciled to others (PRO 16:7; COL 3:12-15). 9. Driving David out of the Lords inheritance was tantamount to saying, Go, serve other gods. a. If David had not himself been so faithful to God, the ill treatment he received from Gods people might have prompted him to seek another religion. b. David knew where the right church was even if its members did not always do right. 10. To reject one that God has received is to court the curse of God (3JO 1:9-10). 11. David was no more a threat to Saul than a flea. 12. Saul admitted that he had sinned, that he had played the fool and erred exceedingly. a. To sin is to play the fool. Hence, all sinners are foolish (TIT 3:3). b. G. Campbell Morgan wrote: In these words we have a perfect autobiography. 13. The words of PSA 7:4 were fulfilled again in this incident. 14. David would have God deal with him as he had dealt with Saul. 15. Saul acknowledged that David would still prevail. Sauls attempts against David had not thwarted that expectation at all. Chapter 27:1-12: David Flees to the Philistines 1. David did not believe Saul when he told him he would do him no more harm. David had heard this before. 2. When David fled to Achish king of Gath before, he was a lone refugee. This time he had at his command an efficient fighting force of 600 men. 3. David thus escaping obvious danger was not necessarily a lapse in faith as some have supposed. a. PRO 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. b. Jesus eluded those who would have killed Him before His time (JOH 7:1; 11:54).
c. If David was out of the will of God at this time in his life, why did the Spirit of God move Amasai to pronounce peace unto him (1CH 12:18)? 4. Upon hearing that David was fled to Gath Saul pursued David no more again. a. This indicates that he might have sought David had he still been in the land. b. Thus many seem to leave their sins, but really their sins leave them; they would persist in them if they could. M. Henry 5. David was given Ziklag to dwell in, a city that properly belonged to Judah (JOS 15: 20,31). 6. During the time that David dwelled in Ziklag a great host came to him (1CH 12:1-22). 7. While stationed at Ziklag David did exploits for Israel against their enemies. 8. The nations David attacked were indeed south of Judah, the Jerahmeelites, and the Kenites; but he let Achish think he had attacked these places instead of the ones he actually attacked. a. He utterly destroyed those he attacked so as to allow no report to Achish. b. Thus in a brilliant stroke of military strategy David secured a place for himself and his men. Chapter 28:1-25: Saul Consults the Witch at Endor 1. This is one of the most terrifying chapters in the Bible in that it graphically demonstrates how low one call fall when he is out of the will of God. 2. When Achish told David he would go out with him to battle against Israel, David made an evasive reply that Achish mistook. 3. Saul, who had set at nought all Gods counsel, now called upon God in the day of his distress only to find that the Lord would not be inquired of by him (PRO 1:24-30). a. Saul had before now forfeited the means of inquiry. i. He had not heeded Samuel the prophet. ii. He had killed the Lords priests and forced the surviving priest with the Urim to flee. iii. The Spirit of God communicated through dreams and he had so grieved the Spirit that He had departed from him. b. 1CH 10:14 says that Saul inquired not of the Lord. i. That he inquired of one with a familiar spirit shows the inconstancy of his inquiry to God, which is no inquiry God will hear (JAM 1:5-8). ii. He had so provoked God that God would not be inquired of him (EZE 20:3).
iii. If God will not be inquired of, then there is no inquiry of God no matter how much a man may attempt it. c. PRO 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. d. When the Lord is not communicating to you through His word that indicates that you have grieved His Spirit and are out of the will of God. 4. Saul, who had put away out of the land those with familiar spirits, now sought after a woman with a familiar spirit. a. A person with a familiar spirit is someone in league with a devil. b. He went to this woman at night in a disguise. This was indeed a work of darkness. c. It is common for men to inveigh (protest) severely against those sins which they are in no temptation to, but afterwards to be themselves overcome by them. M. Henry d. It had been better for Saul to humbly confess the justice of God in not answering him than to seek counsel from a witch in defiance of the law of God. e. Remembering Sauls problem with pride in not accepting Gods discipline let this be a warning as to how low a mans pride will bring him (PRO 29:23). 5. At the very time Saul was inquiring of a witch, he was reminded of his edict against them. But he forged ahead in his sin and that with an oath. 6. We are not told what incantation or spell or charm the witch used. a. It is not for us to know the depths of Satan (REV 2:24). b. ROM 16:19 yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 7. When Samuel appeared the witch was shocked. She was accustomed to dealing with devils that impersonated men. 8. Saul lamented Gods departure from him when he was in great distress. 9. What help can a man of God be to one, when God has departed from him and become his enemy? 10. Saul sought to be informed of what he should do but was rather told what he had done and what would be done unto him. 11. Saul lost his appetite. He was fulfilling the judgment of a fool (PSA 107:17-18). 12. Compelling him to eat was much as Sauls friends could do for him now. Small comfort! Chapter 29:1-11: David Disallowed From Fighting with the Philistines Against Israel 1. David was in a great strait.
a. To refuse to fight with Achish, who had greatly favoured David, would have been treachery against Achish. b. To fight against Israel, the nation over which he was destined to reign, would have been treachery against Israel. 2. The princes were wroth against Achish for allowing David to come to the battle. a. Their reasoning on this point was sound. b. It is dangerous to put confidence in a reconciled enemy. M. Henry 3. Achish never did find out what David did against the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites (1SA 27:8-12). a. David had him hoodwinked. b. In Achishs opinion David was as good as an angel of God. 4. Do you think David was really that disappointed that he could not fight with Achish against Israel? His disappointment was more likely feigned or perhaps he was disappointed that he could not do what the princes of the Philistines feared he would do in battle. 5. Thus God made the wrath of man to praise Him (PSA 76:10). a. God thereby delivered David from his great strait. b. And, as the next chapter reveals, David was thereby sent back to Ziklag not a moment too soon. Chapter 30:1-31: The Amalekites Spoil Ziklag; David Pursues Them and Recovers All 1. Sauls failure to utterly destroy the Amalekites only left them to cause more problems. 2. The Amalekites slew not any, but carried them away captive. a. On the other hand, when David invaded the Amalekites, he saved neither man nor woman alive (1SA 27:8-9). b. In this case God restrained the wrath of the Amalekites (PSA 76:10). 3. Imagine the horror and grief that seized these men when they found their city burned and all their families taken away by an enemy. No wonder they wept until they couldnt. 4. David was a refugee from his own country; he was unwanted by the Philistines on the field of battle; his city was burned; his wives were taken captive; and now his own men turned against him. When it says David was greatly distressed, he was indeed greatly distressed. 5. In all this great distress, David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. a. Encourage To inspire with courage, animate, inspirit. b. David was his own therapist.
c. David drew encouragement from his relationship with God as his God (PSA 3:13; 23:1-6; 27:1-3; ISA 43:10). d. When he was at his wits end he was not at his faiths end. M. Henry 6. Being thus encouraged, David took the next step: He prayed for guidance applying himself to the revelation of Gods will. a. In a time of great distress, pray and read your Bible! b. This is one thing that you surely can and ought to do about the situation. 7. It was during this time when things were at such a low ebb for David, that Saul fell. a. Thus the way was cleared for Davids accession to the throne. b. The darkest hour of the night is just before day. 8. Though likely unknown to them, the figs and raisins served to spike the faint Egyptians blood sugar and thus to give him energy. 9. David did not push the two hundred faint men beyond their ability. 10. David recovered all that was lost and more. 11. If David had some wicked men of Belial in his group, let us not be surprised to find them among us. 12. David made it an ordinance to divide the spoil with the two hundred men who were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor. a. God having given them this spoil, it was not right that they should be selfish with it. b. The two hundred had done as much as they could do. 1. They had done their utmost. Those who went all the way had done no more. G. Campbell Morgan. 2. 2CO 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. c. The two hundred were still serviceable to the congregation. 1. People are needed to abide by the stuff as much as to go forth to battle. 2. 1CO 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary. Chapter 31:1-13: The Death of Saul 1. That Israel fled before their enemies said something about their spiritual condition (DEU 28:15, 25; 1SA 12:25).
2. The very same day, perhaps, that David was triumphing over the Amalekites, were the Philistines triumphing over Saul. One is set over against the other, that men may see what comes of trusting in God and what comes of forsaking him. M. Henry 3. Where was that king that Israel wanted to deliver them now? God had given Saul in His anger. Now He took him away in His wrath (HOS 13:10-11). 4. Fearing what the enemy would do to him, Saul killed himself. a. God had departed from Saul. Hence, he was powerless before the enemy. b. Saul had nothing left but fear of what the enemy would do to him. 5. The enemy that finally destroyed Saul was himself. a. A man who has not repented opposes himself (2TI 2:24; ACT 18:6; PRO 8:36). b. True repentance means siding with God against ourselves (PSA 51:4). Only then are we truly prepared for the comfort of the gospel. c. Self is our most dangerous enemy. i. Saul never recovered from his failures because he failed to recognize that fact. ii. We will not grow as long as we blame others and circumstances for our sins. iii. To become a true follower of Christ, one must deny himself (MAT 16:24). 6. Sauls head was fastened in the temple of Dagon (1CH 10:10). 7. So Saul died (1CH 10:13). His mind and emotions were shattered and his body was mutilated. 8. The men of Jabesh-gilead, whom Saul had helped against the Ammonites, requited his kindness by bravely recovering the bodies of Saul and his sons and burying them. 9. In the preceding chapter David lost something and recovered it. In this chapter David lost Jonathan, his best friend, never to recover him in this life. a. This great loss occurred just before Davids times of greatest usefulness. b. Such losses teach us that our all is in the Lord (PSA 16:5; 73:25). 10. This book began with the birth of Samuel, but now it ends with the burial of Saul, the comparing of which two together will teach us to prefer the honour that comes from God before any of the honours which this world pretends to have the disposal of. M. Henry 11. In the final analysis, each man chose his own destiny. Throughout his life Saul abused what God gave him and, in the end, with nowhere to turn, he destroyed himself. But David, after many trials and misfortunes, was ready emotionally and experientially to become Israels king. Always a Winner by Cyril Barber & John Carter

1 Samuel

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1 Samuel

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