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Facing Peril

1 Samuel 19:1-24

In chapter 19 the stakes are heating up for David. He has answered the call of God to be anointed king of Israel, but he really has no idea what that means. He is about to find out the price of serving God and the risks he must take to remain true to that calling. The chapter also continues David?s training as a leader. One of the most important lessons for a leader to learn is who to trust. We also learn some qualities of a good leader both from David and from Jonathan.

 

1

 

I guess we shouldn?t be that surprised that Saul would say this. The kings of the nations would think nothing of ordering a rival killed, and Saul doesn?t seem to be interested in being anything other than a king like the nations. But the sheer statement is pretty amazing. Saul is totally open about his feelings and intentions towards David. It?s born of jealously, as we saw last week. Saul becomes consumed with jealousy and it leads him to attempt murder. But not before Jonathan steps up to show some leadership of his own. It comes from his ?deep affection? for David.

 

2 ? 7

 

Jealousy is wanting something someone else has. You don?t want it too, you want it only. Saul wanted the glory of others exclusively. When David had success Saul was threatened. When people said good things about David Saul wanted good things only to be said about him. You sustain jealousy through a process of self justification: ?I am worth what I want, you are not worth it and furthermore I justify my feelings by finding fault with you.? In order to keep his jealously going Saul must feel like David has done some awful sin worthy of death.

 

Jonathan really takes a leadership role here in trying to be the peacemaker. This is one of the key elements of a good leader, to bring sanity to an otherwise out of control situation. What does Jonathan do?

 

1.????? He warns David of danger (alert to conflict and potential risk)

2.????? He gives David the opportunity to gain more information to make a decision

3.????? Brings an honest assessment of the situation to Saul

4.????? He reminds Saul that David?s actions have actually helped the king

5.????? It would be in Saul?s best interest to not hurt David

6.????? It would avoid more problems for Saul if he relented from his intention

 

Saul agreed with Jonathan and makes an oath not to harm David, an oath he quickly forgets. Sometimes diplomacy serves as a way to encourage good things but does not guarantee them.

 

8 ? 10

 

David is successful, Saul is jealous and this time the intentions of Saul?s heart are magnified by an ?evil? (Hebrew: rah) spirit and so gives actions to his intentions. Saul must have run at him with the spear, which young agile David avoids, but he still gets the point ;-)

 

11 ? 17

 

This section is thought to be the source for Psalm 59. It talks about David being innocent, evil and bloodthirsty men are lying in wait for him but that the Lord laughs at them and is David?s fortress. While Saul schemed, David prayed.

 

Michal, who loved David (at least at this point) finds out about the plot and helps David slip out through a window then uses a household idol dressed up like a man to fool the servants of Saul into thinking David is sick. They believe her but Saul does not and says for them to bring him bed and all! Michal basically lies to make David out to be some kind of violent criminal. She may be more like her father than she wishes to let on.

 

18 ? 24

 

David goes back to the man who got him into all of this: Samuel. Samuel takes him in at Ramah at the place where the school of prophets was housed. Saul found out and sent three different groups of soldiers to arrest him but when they arrived they ?prophesied? which can mean to ?sing songs and praise God?. Basically they came up and started a spontaneous worship service! God turned warriors into worshipers. Reminds me of 2 Chronicles 20 where the worshippers go in front of the army and the battle is won by the Lord!

 

So Saul himself comes and like when he was first anointed king the Spirit of God comes upon him and he starts praising too. In one chapter we see both an evil spirit and the Spirit of God come upon Saul, yet neither changed him. You can experience God but unless you repent and believe you will not be saved.

 

It reminds me of Hebrews 6:4-6 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. NIV

 

So Saul removed his royal clothing and was overcome by the power of God. The people then revived the saying the coined in chapter 10.

 

Lessons

 

Being called does not exempt you from trouble

David?s life was anything but simple and peaceful. But great trouble engendered great faith, as it can with us.

 

Being threatened does not mean you automatically start a fight

David was fully capable of defending himself and killing Saul and he probably would have been spared and made king. But God has some things to work into David?s character, one of which is a respect for leadership, no matter how bad. (see Chapter 24).

 

Reminds me of: 1 Peter 2:18-21

?Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ESV

 

Being attacked does not mean you just ?take it?

There comes a point where you need to get out of the way knowing that the situation will result in your inability to serve God.

 

Being chased does not mean you are without help

David had Jonathan as a diplomat and Michal as a schemer, but what he really had was God. David prayed and trusted in the Lord and He brought about a very creative and God glorifying solution.