David Takes the High Road

Which of these sentiments is closest to your value system?

· I don’t get mad, I get even

· Revenge is best served cold

· The Best revenge is a life well lived

I found it interesting that my Google search for images under the word “revenge” yielded almost exclusively students and women in their 20’s. You can draw whatever inferences you’d like from that, but I also found that road rage crosses over into men with guns and women that we would presume to be more mature…

Show https://youtu.be/iycMrKJU-H8?si=5jEpTMmTr89NK69Z&t=18

The Big Idea for today’s sermon after reading these 2 chapters is, “It is human to pursue one's enemies, godliness requires we love our enemies (as Christ loved us).”

Transition: Join me in 1 Samuel 23 for examples of avenge, revenge & honor.

David Protects Keilah (23:1-13)

The English words avenge and revenge are very similar in sound and spelling, but very different in meaning. To avenge is to honorably assert justice, to seek revengeis to act out of personal anger.

Today’s text begins with an example of the first, then moves into an example of the second, and finally a choice to seek neither.

Beseeching the Lord (vv.2 & 4)

David slows his roll and seeks wisdom from the Lord, not once, but twice before engaging in conflict.

In contrast we see in vv. 7 & 8 that Saul is getting all his advice from human understanding.

Sometimes God’s advice comes through human agents (v.9). According to Exodus 39, the Ephod was bound with permanent rings to a breastplate containing 14 stones. 12 stones were permanently attached and represented the 12 tribes of Abraham’s descendants. 2 stones, the Urim and Thummim were removable and used similar to rolling dice. The ancients believed God controlled the roll of the dice so that humans could decipher God’s will.

It is wise to consider good advice, but not all advice is equally helpful. Job’s friends repeatedly gave him bad advice under the guise of godly wisdom.

It is always wise for us to check our motives (sometimes repeatedly) before engaging in a tense situation.

Betraying their Deliverer (vv.11-12)

David uses this breastplate attached to the Ephod to ask God 2 questions: 1) Is Saul coming? And 2) Will the Keilahites betray me? The answer to both questions was “yes”.

Proving that no good deed goes unpunished. David did exactly what God wanted him to do, but that did not prevent those he had just helped from stabbing him in his back.

Transition: The 400 men of 22:2 have grown to 600 men (23:13) so we see David’s obedience to the Lord is multiplying his influence, although it is not without opposition.

David Perseveres in the Wilderness (23:14-29)

In 14-18 David is doing the right thing and still experiencing opposition, but a good friend, King Saul’s son, reminds David and those of us reading the story of the main plot of this book—God is at work to establish the one who does things God’s way. Even if it doesn’t look like it.

In 2 Thess 3:13 (one of the last books of the NT that was written to those of us waiting Jesus’ 2nd coming) we read, As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

Saul follows human advice (v.22)

Saul isn’t interested in doing good, he is allowing his emotions to control him like the women in the video clip.

In v.20 the Ziphites pump up the king’s ego by telling him to do whatever he wants, in v.21 he Saul only hears what he wants to hear, so in v.22 he commands humans to enable him to carry out his human revenge plot with ease.

In 23-24 the Ziphites are indulging the King who has stopped hearing from the Lord and carrying out a personal vendetta.

Nobody is taking a breath to ask, “Is this the RIGHT thing for us to be doing?”

Saul chases his own tail aimlessly (v.26)

24-26 describe that David is going where God leads, Saul is acting in human understanding and Saul is “a day late and a dollar short.”

In the infamous words of Agent Smart in the old TV series Get Smart, Saul “missed it by this much”

Saul is easily distracted (v.28)

The frustration of continually come up a few points short of a victory is surely mounting within Saul, if not his men who follow his orders.

27-28 can be seen 2 ways: either 1) Saul was drawn away to something that he humanly thought was more important; Or 2) God was at work even in the actions of an evil king, in order to protect David and ensure that God ends in the end.

Either way of interpreting events show the weakness of Saul to counter the sovereignty of God.

Transition: Chapter 24 reveals the integrity of David and becomes a challenge to us who live with leaders who act reprehensibly.

David Preserves Saul (1 Samuel 24)

Saul is human (v.3)

Vv. 1 & 2 reminds the reader that no matter how mighty Saul thinks he is, he puts on his robe one sleeve at a time.

Your translation may use different words to convey the message at the end of v.2. The words are literally “covered his feet” and are a Hebrew euphemism. While they didn’t wear pants at this time in history, the phrase “covered his feet” means “his britches are around his ankles.”

David men thing this is the opportunity to take advantage of Saul’s humanity and end the struggle once for all.

They think, “this ends here and our side will win.” But David knew there was a more important principle at work.

Remember when the Priestly cohort came to arrest Jesus in the Garden? The Disciples thought “this ends here!” But Jesus knew there was still a greater reality yet to unfold. Malchus’ splitting headache was no substitute for the redemption of mankind that was about to take place in the next 3 days.

5. When we are driven solely by revenge or anger, our rash actions can interfere with a greater work that God is working to accomplish.

6. Some of us allow our “righteous indignation” to win a battle, but the damage done to our enemies spirit means we are robbed of the opportunity to win the war for his or her soul.

7. There are times when we must avenge evil (as in the beginning of chapter 23) and there are also times when we need to roll back on our heels and allow God to accomplish something greater (as demonstrated here in chapter 24).

The Twitterverse and many Christian publications and blogs have drawn up sides over the actions of one church in Alpharetta, Ga pastored by a pretty well-known son of Rev. Charles Stanley. Andy has been accused as wandering from the faith and embracing heresy. Last Sunday morning he silenced their livestream so the gathered body could hear his heart. He affirmed the traditional Biblical understanding, then he basically said [and these are my interpretation of the reports], “we can’t change the other people’s lifestyle until we see them saved and the Holy Spirit works to convict them of sin. If our outrage over their sin robs us of the opportunity to see them born again, our outrage is denying the power of the true gospel to bring lasting transformation.”

8. There will be times when God clearly directs you to avenge evil (as in chapter 23) and there will be times (like in chapter 24) where you will clearly be directed to make room for God’s grace! As people of God, we need to give one another the liberty to act on their understanding of if God is telling them to chapter 23 or to chapter 24.

David chooses honor (vv.6, 10)

David clearly sees that, while Saul is under God’s discipline and deadline, he is still anointed by God to his position.

Both of the last 2 presidential elections have been marred by controversy and questionable legitimacy. In 2016 the candidate who was certified as the winner strategized to accumulate electoral college votes, even if the raw popular vote went to the other candidate. In 2020 the candidate who was certified as the winner strategized to obtain votes outside of traditional in-person balloting during a pandemic. Both of these situations caused people in the defeated party to question legitimacy.

2. I have voted for winning candidates, and I have voted for losing candidates. I have voted on the winning side of ballot questions and I have voted on the losing side of ballot initiatives.

3. Whether your side wins or loses, we must be like David and give honor. Even if we are looking to doing better next time and bringing about different results.

4. Notice the capitalization of the 4 occurrences of the word Lord in v. 6. 3 times the underlying Hebrew word is YHWH- the name of God, Once the word is Adonai (master). David’s honor for Saul is rooted in the fact that his GOD has placed Saul in that role, so out of devotion to his God, he will show honor to his king.

5. V.11 is David’s proof to Saul that he will not prematurely end Saul’s reign.

Saul admits defeat (but can’t leave it alone) (v.20)

V.17-20 is Saul’s concession speech.

V.21 is proof that his human self-preservation is alive and well, which will continue to cause trouble for David.

Transition: We have seen examples of avenge, revenge & honor. I conclude with 3 questions for each of us to consider when we have be marked by these 3 behaviors.

Conclusion:

How many of us have betrayed our deliverer (Jesus)?

David literally preserved the Keilahites their lives, then they betrayed him for their own convenience.

Jesus literally makes our eternal life possible by offering his own life as sacrifice for our sin guilt. Then how often do we allow our silence to betray the one to whom we owe our very existence?

How many of us have witnessed God’s deliverance when we have been oppressed?

Being dead center of God’s will does not mean an absence of challenges. Yet the sovereign God will not permit you to be overcome! (1 Cor 10:13)

How many of us honor our leaders (even if we disagree with them)? Even when they are dishonorable?

I think of one situation that was prophesied, fulfilled & retold. Isaiah 53 prophesied that the suffering servant would open not his mouth. Mark 15:5 describes Jesus before Pilate where Jesus refuses to contradict the Governor. Acts 8:32 describes that is exactly what Jesus did.

If Jesus could choose silence and refuse to avenge himself in that moment, perhaps there may be an example of our own silence to make room for God’s work.

Song of Response #47... “God Will Take Care of You”

Benediction: Eph 1:2 (ESV) - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.