Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Last week, we saw that David is now on the run.
We saw him hiding in the caves of Adullam.
His family came to find him.
Everyone that was in distress or in debt or discontented came to him, and he became their commander.
The total number was about 400 men.
David took his parents to Mizpah in Moab for protection from king Saul.
Finally, we saw the prophet Gad telling David to go to the land of Judah to the forest of Hereth.
If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do, turn with me to 1 Samuel 22 and we’ll begin reading with verse 6.
Our passage today turns from David’s movements, to looking at the craziness of king Saul.
Let’s begin our time today looking at verse 6.
A Paranoid King Saul
Saul hears that David has gone to Judah.
He gets the message while he is seated under a tamarisk tree.
WITH A SPEAR in his hand!
Someone ought to keep the spears away from Saul.
Now He is on the hill at Gibeah (his home) and his officials are all standing at his side.
Saul wants to know what David offered to them.
Notice that Saul doesn’t call him “David,” but rather calls him the “son of Jesse.”
It’s like he can’t bear to say his name.
The longer he rants and raves the more we get the picture of a man that is paranoid.
He is complaining that no one eve bothered to tell him—the king—when his son, Jonathan made a covenant (or agreement) with Saul’s arch enemy—David.
Then he accuses David of trying to kill him.
The problem is that David never did try to kill Saul, nor David do anything against Saul.
David had done nothing to Saul, yet, Saul is paranoid that David is out to get him.
Doeg the Edomite to the Rescue
Enter Saul’s servant Doeg.
You may remember him from chapter 21 when David went to visit Ahimelek the priest at Nob.
Doeg tells Saul that he saw the Son of Jesse—David, talking with Ahimelek.
Ahimelek inquired of the Lord for David.
Ahimelek gave David provisions.
And Ahimelek gave David the sword of Goliath.
This was equal to treason!
Ahimelek Before Saul
The king sends to Ahimelek and his family to come stand before him.
Saul wants to know:
Why did you conspire with the son of Jesse?
Why did you give him bread (food)?
Why did you give him a sword?
Why did you inquire of God for him?
Why did you help him rebel against me so he lies in wait to kill me?
Ahimelek’s Answer?
First of all, who of your servants is more faithful than David?
(answer, “None!”).
—He is your son-in-law.
—He is the captain of your body guard.
—He is highly respected among your entire household.
Was this the first time I inquired of God for him?
Absolutely not!
You really shouldn’t accuse me of any wrong doing!
And you shouldn’t accuse any of my family of any wrong doing.
Because I know NOTHING about this!
Saul’s Response
Ahimelek—you are going to die!
You and your entire family!
The king ordered the guards at his side to kill the priests of the Lord.
He did this because he believed they knew David was running from the king and they did not tell the king!
But the king’s guards were unwilling to raise a hand and strike the priests of Yahweh!
Doeg to the Rescue, Again!
Then Saul ordered Doeg to kill Ahimelek the priest and his family.
And Doeg killed 85 men who were serving as priests—wore the linen ephod.
Then Doeg went to the town of Nob and killed the rest of the priests, along with the women, children, infants, and livestock—cattle, donkeys, and sheep.
Only One Escaped!
Only one man escaped.
It was Abiathar the son of Ahimelek.
And he ran for his life and joined David.
Abiathar reported to David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord!
David told Abiathar that when he saw Doeg the Edomite there in Nob, he knew he would report back to Saul.
And David tells Abiathar that he was the one responsible for Abiathar’s family being killed.
So David invites Abiathar to stay with him.
Look at verse 23.
Don’t be afraid.
The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me.
So Abiathar will be safe with David.
SO WHAT?
King Saul continues to try to accomplish his plan—he wants his reign to continue through his son Jonathan.
Remember back in 1 Samuel 15:28-29 God rejected Saul as king.
Now, Saul is continuing to try to push his agenda, so that his reign as king will continue and be passed on to his sons.
But in chapter 16 we read:
Think about that.
God removed His Spirit from Saul, and it was replaced with torment!
Sometimes, when I try to work my agenda apart from God, I end up with torment.
So what was it that God wanted from Saul more than anything?
One word! “Obedience!” Samuel told Saul,
Jesus told His disciples how important obedience is to God.
Look at John 15:9-10.
Did you see the condition?
We remain in the love of Jesus when we keep His commands!
That’s obedience!
We need to stop thinking that that we can be loved by God while we do whatever we want.
Jesus taught that God’s love and favor is connected to you and I keeping His commands.
Obedience is how we remain in the love of Jesus!
Saul did not remain in the love of God because he refused to do what God commanded him to do.
Because of his disobedience God gave the kingship to another person.
As we study the book of 1 Samuel, we will see that both King Saul and King David sinned.
But there was on major difference between the two of them.
Saul failed to “repent,” where David did.
So what happens when we sin?
What do we need to do?
Well, that’s where 1 John comes into play.
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