The Faithful Shepherd vs. The Desperate King

Intro and Recap

Good morning, Church. My name is Stefan Lorde, and I am one of the Deacons here at Greenhouse. It is indeed a pleasure to bring the word of God to you again. Today, my sermon is entitled “The Faithful Shepherd vs The Desperate King”. In this sermon, my task is to continue the narrative from this passage, and draw some ideas/lessons from it for us.

*Prayer* Father, I pray this morning that as we gather expectantly, that we listen attentively, respond properly, and at the end of it all, leave joyfully. Amen!

In these verses this morning, it is easy to see the stark contrasts between David and Saul. David is seen to be humble, acting in wisdom; and living in dependence on God. In previous sermons, we saw that even when David is scared, he remains cognizant that God is able to get him out of trouble, and trusts Him. Even when trusting in God gets his friends killed, David remains steadfast.

While David is only acting insane in chapter 21, Saul is full-on mad. He’s becoming like many a dictator that we know from history. When you think of mad, paranoid dictators, it’s hard to think that you could find examples in the Bible, but Saul lines up as number one, so far. If I were to say, “*ahem* There’s a man that’s in charge of a nation of people, and he’s enacting rules and using the military to exercise oppressive control over the people he was meant to rule.” I’m sure that each of you will have a different answer to the person sitting beside you. And while all your answers may have merit, we are wrong if we think that this only started happening with our generation. From presidents that attempt to assassinate political rivals to emperors who kill prophets that predict misfortune, history is replete with examples of people who were elected, chosen, thrust or born into power, and used that power to oppress their people.

Very few leaders in history are like Cincinnatus. Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus (circa 519–430 BC) was a statesman that the Senate called upon to lead Rome in a very serious time with lots of external threats. The senate made him a dictator and told the people to obey his every word. He defeated the external threat in 16 days and then retired. He relinquished his power and went back on his farm! Wow, no wonder the people wanted him to be their leader again.

However, this is the exact opposite to Saul in our text. When Saul is told in 1 Samuel 15:28,

1 Samuel 15:28 (ESV)

And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.

he makes sure to do everything in his power to keep the kingdom. He even kills fellow Israelites, accusing them of conspiracy. 1 Samuel 22:17.

1 Samuel 22:17 (ESV)

And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I heard sister Esther read these words before Elder JB’s sermon two weeks ago, I could not believe that someone would actually do this. I sat there in horror as the scene came before my mind of all those innocent priests of the Lord being brutally murdered. It didn’t make me any more comfortable to hear that this is what the Lord had prophesied to Eli, back in 1 Samuel 2:27–28 (and onward). Though this is what God said would happen, and though He showed mercy to the one descendant of Eli who escaped, it was still a tragic scene.

Anyways, that’s it for the recap.

After the Edomite Massacre

After that tragic Edomite massacre at the end of chapter 22, one person left from Eli’s family escapes, and runs away with David— Abiathar. He comes running and tells David of the scene that unfolded. This breaks David’s heart, and he responds in 1 Samuel 22:22

1 Samuel 22:22 (ESV)

[...] “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father’s house.

Now, though this is quite the serious note, I must try to lighten the mood a little with a short Hebrew language lesson. אֶבְיָתָ֗ר is the name of the man who came running to David after Saul killed all his family. The word אָב (av) means father, from which we get Abraham, Abner, Abimelech, etc. יתר (ytr) can mean…to be left over. Therefore, it’s interesting and perhaps a little ironic to me that the one man who is left over from the Edomite Massacre is called Abiathar: father of leftovers.

Now, as we begin Chapter 23, we’re told that the Philistines are still a problem. The scenes in 1 Samuel seem to continually shift from Saul’s constant pursuit of David as a desperate King, and David’s constant protection of the people of God as a Faithful shepherd. Notice who is told about the Philistines in Keilah. Why would people come to David, and not to Saul? They know the focus of the two men. They know that David is a man after God’s own heart, and that Saul is a man after his own throne...

1 Samuel 23:1 ESV

Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.”

David takes his inferior militia and inquires of the Lord twice. When God promises victory with confirmation, David goes down and rids Keilah of the Philistines.

Next, 1 Samuel 23:7

1 Samuel 23:7 ESV

Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.”

You see the difference here? Two men can scroll through the social media of the day, and based on their algorithm, get two different sets of news about the same event. Both men hear about Keilah, but one of them hears about something that affects God’s people (verse 1); and the other one hears something that affects himself (verse 7). So, Saul’s “algorithm” prevents him from hearing about a threat to God’s people in Keilah— namely the Philistines, but the entire army is sent at once, when he hears about… a threat to his throne in Keilah— namely David...

How is your “algorithm” affecting how you see the things of the world? What can you do in the new year to change your algorithm and get “better” news?

After David delivers the people of Keilah, he stays there for a while, and his men enjoy a moment of peace from a battle against all odds with the Philistines. But then, Saul shows up and in 1 Samuel 23:8

1 Samuel 23:8 (ESV)

[…] Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

Oh, how quickly the rulers of this world use their resources for personal gain and neglect the people who need them the most. Now, here is something else that is rather disturbing. 1 Samuel 23:10-12

1 Samuel 23:10–12 ESV

Then David said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.”

Now, when I first was preparing this sermon, and read this part, it reminded me of when the people of my country voted out the man that had just given them independence. The question that I’m sure many of you are asking of both my people and the Israelites at this point is, “why would you do something like that to the man that just saved you?” While I have no idea what was going through the minds of my people back in the 70s, I can hazard a guess as to why the people of Keilah would give up David. Let’s not forget what happened to the last individuals who defended David and refused to give him up. Remember? They were dead by the end of the day! 1 Samuel 22:18-19

1 Samuel 22:18–19 ESV

Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword.

So, based on this logic, and that news travels fast, it is no surprise to me that the people of Keilah wasted no time in surrendering David to Saul. They couldn’t defend themselves from the Philistines; they definitely wouldn’t be able to defend themselves against Saul.

Just when you’re thinking that things couldn’t get worse for David, the Lord comes through for him. Jonathan shows up, his best friend, and the two of them enjoy each other’s company for a short while.

Application

In an educational setting, you may encounter fellow students or peers who are ridiculed for adhering to their beliefs. You yourself might be feeling chased down or taken advantage of because your peers/supervisor may know that you are a believer in Christ. Use this as an application. Find your brothers and encourage them. Take part in small groups and share your experiences and struggles with your brothers and sisters, and if you don’t have any struggles now, Praise God and help those who do! We are never meant to go through life alone. If we are the body of Christ, the back cannot scratch itself. The eye cannot rub itself, neither can the neck massage itself. Be the hands that apply that healing Balm of Gilead to the other members of the body of Christ.

David needed a friend…how much more do you!

Amen!

Then, Jonathan went home and before long, the people at Ziph were all too happy to report David’s location to Saul.

Notice the progression here:

The people at Nob refuse to give up David

The people at Keilah reluctantly give up David

The people at Ziph deliberately give up David

The people of Israel, when it relates to the treatment of the true King that God has chosen, seem to be getting worse and worse. It is little wonder to me, therefore that by the time Christ Himself comes as the King of Kings, He came unto his own, and his own received him not. John 1:11

They did like the people at Ziph, Matthew 27:2 “And […] bound him and led him away and [gave] him [up] to Pilate the governor.”

They did like the people at Keilah and in Matthew 26:15 “and said, “What will you give me if I [give] him [up] to you?”.

Finally, whenever someone stood up for Him like the people at Nob, Acts 7:57-58 “...they cried out with a loud voice […]and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him...” *somber tone* Notice here that the very first time someone is killed for Christ, it was also with the approval of a man named Saul.

Nothing seems to have changed!

Saul continues to pursue David, and by now, we know that Saul is down the wrong path. He is no longer the anointed one that hunts down the Lord’s enemies as we saw from the beginning of this sermon series. Saul starts out fine, but we see a little unrepentant sin in his life. This little sin continues to grow. At first, when the Scriptures mention him taking glory for Jonathan’s victory, maybe we weren’t so sure that he was losing his way. Now, there’s no doubt. When we read about him killing the priests, we know for sure that Saul is gone! Where there’s a little sin, if left unchecked, it will grow and fester and eventually bring down the stoutest of men.

David, on the other hand is trusting God more and more every day. He’s in danger, he’s scared, and his resources are few. His enemies are powerful and his friends are weak, yet… as he himself would write Psalm 56:3-4

Psalm 56:3–4 (ESV)

When I am afraid,

I put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

What can flesh do to me?

David is of the firm belief that when his situation looks dire, God will hold him. He knows of Saul that

Psalm 10:8 ESV

He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;

and prays:

Psalm 10:12 ESV

Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.

Saul talks to the people at Ziph that come to him, and how he responds to them is rather interesting. He talks about David as though he is the snake that is to be crushed. He says in 1 Samuel 23:22-23

1 Samuel 23:22–23 (ESV)

Go, make yet more sure. Know and see the place where his foot is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he is very cunning. See therefore and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you. And if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”

See, he refers to David as very “cunning” עָרֹם (arum), the same word, mind you, that Genesis 3 uses to refer to the serpent. The serpent, if you remember, is described as being more “עָרֹם” than all the other animals. He also mentions the “lurking places where he hides”. Saul is practically talking about David as if he’s a snake, and himself as the snake crusher.

Conversely, when David is told that Saul is coming to get him, he was in the wilderness of Maon. As Saul approached, David left and went down to “the rock”. 1 Samuel 23:25

1 Samuel 23:25 ESV

And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

From the time I heard “went down to the rock”, I remembered that song that we sing, taken from Psalm 61:1-2

Psalm 61:1–2 ESV

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,

Okay, one more Hebrew word and then we wrap up. David went down to the rock. What’s this “rock” that he’s talking about. The passage didn’t say “a rock”, because then there would be no ambiguity. The passage said “the rock”. It used הַ the definite article. And so, being a linguist and a language teacher, I had to look it up! What’s the word used in the Hebrew for “rock” in this particular verse? סֶ֫לַע (Sela)

Those of you who read the Psalms for any length of time will come across that word at the end of most verses. סֶ֫לָה (Selah). In the Psalms, when you see Selah, what do you know it to mean? It means to stop and rest. It means to pause and reflect on what has just been happening. So, with that in mind, we see that Saul comes pursuing David, chasing him into the wilderness of Ma’on. Why do I see this rock in the same way I see the command to rest in the Psalms? Look what happens next.

1 Samuel 23:26–28 (ESV)

Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.

Saul comes pursuing David…and just when it looks like they will get him…he turns back. When David receives the news that the man who is out to kill him turns back and hurries away, what do you think is his reaction?

Right! *mops brow* WHEW!!! With his enemy gone, David can now do what? REST 休息！

You see where I am going here? Where does David find rest?

The Rock! Not just any rock, the Rock that was with him in the wilderness.

The Rock that gave him rest from all his enemies.

The סֶ֫לַע at which David could סֶ֫לַע. Stop, rest and reflect on all the God has done for him.

Why is the Rock important? Ask Paul,

“Paul, my fellow servant in the Lord, who is the Rock in the wilderness?”

1 Corinthians 10:1–4 ESV

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

The Rock is Christ!

The Rock is Christ!

The Rock is Christ!

Christ is the solid Rock on which we stand! Christ is the Rock, that firm Foundation that we build upon! Christ is the cornerstone on which the Church is built and no kingdom, country, ideology or power has ever nor will ever topple it!

Is Christ your Rock today?

Will you build your new year on your degree? Friend, you’re one scholarship rejection away from disaster.

Will you build your life upon your relationships? Friend, you’re one breakup away from calamity.

Will you build your life on your money? You’re one economic downturn away from catastrophe. Build your life on Christ! Make him your cornerstone today! Start the year next week on a firm foundation. Be like David, and trust in the Lord your Rock and he will give you rest.

Selah!