OceanSide church of Christ




Click here to see all of the YouTube videos belonging to OceanSide
(opens in a new browser)

 Previous Return to ISamuel Next 

DAVID SPARES SAUL THE SECOND TIME (2)

I Samuel 26:13-25

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    DAVID’S POSITION (I Sam. 26:13)

ii.                  ABNER’S PLIGHT (I Sam. 26:14-16)

iii.                SAUL’S PROMISE (I Sam. 26:17-25a)

iv.                OPPONENTS PART (I Sam. 26:25b)

 

2.      After David left Saul’s camp, where did he go? (I Sam. 26:13)

 

Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off…

 

A.    On a hill far away from the camp with a great distance between them.

 

3.      T – F    There was only a small distance between David and Saul. (I Sam. 26:13)

 

…a great space being between them.

 

A.    False

 

B.      David knew several things:

1.      The number were lopsided, 2 verses 3000.

2.      To wake out of sleep often provokes panic.

3.      It would not be good for him to be caught by Saul.  There would be no mercy.

 

4.      To whom did David call first? (I Sam. 26:14)

 

And David cried to the people, and unto Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner?

 

A.    He called out to Abner

 

5.      T – F    Abner immediately recognized the voice of David? (I Sam. 26:14)

 

…Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

 

A.    False.  He wondered who this is that is crying out.

 

6.      What three questions did David ask Abner? (I Sam. 26:15)

 

And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man?  And who is like thee in Israel?  Where then hast thou not kept thy lord the king?...

 

A.    Art not thou a valiant man?

1.      BDB defines the words “valiant man” as “great man” or “champion.”

2.      David knew that he was, but on this occasion, a great man had failed in his duty.

 

B.      And who is like thee in Israel?

1.      There was no one in Israel like Abner, except maybe David.

2.      This is why he occupied the position as the captain of the host.

C.     Wherefore then hast not thou kept the king?

1.      This question is the charge against Abner.

2.      This was one of his main responsibilities.

 

7.      Why did David charge Abner with not keeping the king? (I Sam. 26:15)

 

…for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

 

A.    This would have been a charge that would have struck deep into the heart of Abner.  This was his primary duty.  If he failed, his life could be on the line.

 

B.      In our last lesson, we questioned why David would draw near to the camp of Saul.

 

C.     Question:  Does this statement of David give us any insight into this question.  When David heard that Saul was seeking his life again, could David have desired to end this ordeal.  Thus, he positioned himself “to destroy the king.”  However, once he was there he could not because of his convictions about the Lord’s anointed.

 

8.      “This thing is not good that thou hast done” (I Sam. 26:16).

 

A.    Good (2896):  excellent, appropriate, right, valuable

 

B.      Abner had something happen “on his watch.”  His main purpose for being there was upset by the adversary. 

 

C.     LESSON:  It is not good when we fail to fulfill our duties and obligations.  We can make excuses, but we still have not done good.  We can rationalize and justify, but we have not acted appropriately.  If we have an office or position, it is our charge to fulfill the obligations assigned to it.  If we do not, it is not good.

 

9.      Because Abner had not kept the king, what was he worthy of? (I Sam. 26:16)

 

…As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord’s anointed.

 

A.    He was worthy of death.

 

B.      LESSON:  With a high position comes great blessing and rewards.  But, the office carries with it tragic consequences if we do not fulfill the duties laid upon us.

 

10.  To prove someone had been in the camp, what was Abner exhorted to see if they were there? (I Sam. 26:16)

 

…And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

 

A.    Remember, David is a great distance from the camp.  They might not have been able to see the spear or cruse of water at that distance.  Thus, David exhorts Abner to look for the spear and water to see if it was where it was supposed to be.

 

B.      Many could hear this conversation.  Both Saul and the soldiers who were there could see that the spear and cruse of water had been taken.  It would have been embarrassing and convicting at the same time.

 

11.  Who recognized David’s voice? (I Sam. 26:17)

 

And Saul knew David’s voice, saying, Is this thy voice, my son David?  And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

 

A.    Saul recognized that this was the voice of David.

 

12.  What two questions did David ask Saul? (I Sam. 26:18)

 

And he said, Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant?  For what have I done?  Or what evil is in mind hand?

 

A.    Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant?

 

B.      For what have I done?  Or what evil is in min hand?

 

13.  Which two people could have stirred up Saul against David? (I Sam. 26:19)

 

Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant.  If the Lord have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering:  but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord…

 

A.    The Lord

 

B.      The children of men

 

14.  If the Lord had stirred up Saul, what would David give him? (I Sam. 26:19)

 

…If the Lord hath stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering.

 

A.    An offering

 

B.      God can stir up one man against another.  He does this when the one pursued has sinned against God.  Thus, if this were the case, David proposed an offering.  The smell of the offering would satisfy and stay the anger of God (See Gen. 8:20-21).

 

And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.  And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imaginations of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

 

15.  If the children of men had stirred up Saul, what did David speak upon them? (I Sam. 26:19)

 

…but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord…

 

A.    Cursed be they before the Lord

 

16.  What had David been kept from dwelling in? (I Sam. 26:19)

 

…for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go, serve other gods.

 

A.    God could only be properly worshipped in the city wherein the tabernacle dwelled.

 

B.      When he was forced from his homeland, those who did so were basically telling him to go worship other gods.

 

17.  “Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord” (I Sam. 26:20)

 

A.    David did not want to perish in a foreign land. 

 

18.  David said that Saul came out to “seek a flea” (I Sam. 26:20)

 

A.    David had used this same description of himself when he spared Saul the first time (I Sam. 24:14).

 

B.      A flea was a small, insignificant, useless creature.  Why would Saul spend so much time and so many resources on a flea?

 

19.  What kind of a hunt did he compare Saul’s hunt for David to? (I Sam. 26:20)

 

…as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

 

A.    In those days, they did not have guns to kill birds.  What they would do is seek them until they became so tired that they could kill them with a club or capture them with a net. 

 

B.      Saul had been doing this to David.  He just kept seeking David.  He hoped David would grow weary or make a mistake.  When he did, Saul would be there to capture or kill him.

 

20.  T – F    When Saul heard David’s words, he confessed his sins. (I Sam. 26:21)

 

Then said Saul, I have sinned…

 

A.    True

 

B.      The words, “I have sinned,” have been said in mere regret and have been said in sincerity.  With what intent they are said determines the true condition of a person’s soul.

1.      Saul said:  “I have sinned” (I Sam. 15:24).

2.      David said:  “I have sinned” (II Sam. 12:13).

3.      Judas said:  “I have sinned” (Matt. 27:4).

 

21.  T – F    He promised that he would no longer harm David. (I Sam. 26:21)

 

…return, my son David:  for will no more do thee harm…

 

A.    True

 

B.      This is the first time Saul vows to no longer hurt David.  When David spared his life the first time, Saul did not make such a promise.

 

C.     Question:  Could Saul be trusted?

 

 

 

22.  What did Saul say had been precious in David’s eyes? (I Sam. 26:21)

 

…because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day…

 

A.    My soul

 

B.      The word “soul” here stands for Saul’s life, not his eternal soul.

 

23.  “…behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly” (I Sam. 26:21).

 

A.    K&D:  “There is no sinner so hardened, but that God gives him now and then some rays of light, which show him all his error. But, alas! when they are awakened by such divine movings, it is only for a few moments; and such impulses are no sooner past, than they fall back again immediately into their former life, and forget all that they have promised.”

 

24.  What did David want to return to the king? (I Sam. 26:22)

 

And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear!

 

A.    He wanted to return Saul’s spear to him.

 

25.  Who did David want to come and get Saul’s spear? (I Sam. 26:22)

 

... And let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

 

A.    One of the young men, a servant, of Saul.

 

26.  What two things does David say the Lord rewards? (I Sam. 26:23)

 

The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness…

 

A.    His righteousness (I John 3:7)

 

Little children, let no man deceive you:  he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

 

B.      His faithfulness (See Matt. 25:21)

 

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:  thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:  enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 

27.  Since David had spared Saul’s life, what did he ask Saul to do? (I Sam. 26:24)

 

And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

 

A.    Let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

 

B.      David knew that God had seen David’s respect for his king.  He knew God was watching as he spared his life.  He desired God to spare his life in like manner. 

 

C.     It is interesting that he requested God to do this and not Saul.

 

28.  T – F    Before Saul departed, he cursed David one final time. (I Sam. 26:25)

 

Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David…

 

A.    False.  He blessed David

 

29.  What two things did Saul say David would do? (I Sam. 26:25)

 

…thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail…

 

A.    Great things

 

B.      Still prevail

 

C.       The Targum, an Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, translates the verse as follows:  “…also in reigning thou shalt reign, and in prospering thou shalt prosper.” (Clarke, e-sword).

 

30.  Where did David and Saul go after having their conversation? (I Sam. 26:25)

 

So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

 

A.    David:  his way

 

B.      Saul:  his place

 

C.     In verse 21, Saul exhorted David to “return.”  David, however, knew better than to trust Saul who had been inconstant pursuit of his life for years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAVID DECEIVES ACHISH, KING OF GATH

I Samuel 27:1-12

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    I SAMUEL 27:1-4

ii.                  I SAMUEL 27:5-7

iii.                I SAMUEL 27:8-12

 

2.      What did David believe in his heart about Saul? (I Sam. 27:1)

 

 

3.      What plan did David devise? (I Sam. 27:1)

 

 

4.      If David went into the land of the Philistines, what did he believe Saul would do? (I Sam. 27:1)

 

 

5.      How many men went with David into the land of the Philistines? (I Sam. 27:2)

 

 

6.      To which king did David go in the land of the Philistines? (I Sam. 27:2)

 

 

7.      T – F    David’s wives did not dwell with David in Gath. (I Sam. 27:3)

 

8.      T – F    When Saul learned David was in Gath, he and his army sought after David (I Sam. 27:4).

 

9.      What did David want Achish to give him? (I Sam. 27:5)

 

 

10.  What was David’s reason for wanting this town? (I Sam. 27:5)

 

 

11.  What town was given to David? (I Sam. 27:6)

 

12.  T – F    When the book of I Samuel was written, Ziglag still belonged to the kings of Judah.       

(I Sam. 27:6).

 

13.  When David received Ziglag, how long had he been in Philistine territory? (I Sam. 27:7)

 

 

14.  What three nations did David and his men invade? (I Sam. 27:8)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

 

 

15.  “…for these nations were of _____________ inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to __________, even unto the land of ______________” (I Sam. 27:8).

 

16.  When David smote these nations, who did he kill? (I Sam. 27:9)

 

 

17.  What did he take from them? (I Sam. 27:9)

 

 

18.  What question would Achish often ask David? (I Sam. 27:10)

 

 

19.  What three places did David tell Achish he had fought against? (I Sam. 27:10)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

20.  Why Did David refuse to save neither man nor woman alive? (I Sam. 27:11)

 

 

21.  How long did David go against the enemy nations? (I Sam. 27:11)

 

 

22.  T – F    Achish believed the lies that David told him. (I Sam. 27:12)

 

 

23.  Because Achish believed David’s lies, what two things did he also think? (I Sam. 27:12)

 

A.

 

B.