A Kingdom Transfer

📜 The Downfall of Saul and the Rise of David: A Royal Transition

Turn to 1 Samuel Ch. 28…

I. Context Recap: The Coming of David

The Rise of Israel's Monarchy

Recent weeks focused on the ESTABLISHMENT of the MONARCHY

SAUL— “LIKE the NATIONS” — LOOKED the PART

QUICK DECLINE: BOTH PARTIAL OBEDIENCE & FLAT OUT OBEDIENCE…

Key Idea: REMEMBER—SAUL WAS NEVER REPENTANT— ALWAYS SHIFTED BLAME.

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Last Time: The Coming of David

DAVID = CHOSEN BY GOD— REJECTED BY MEN

UNINVITED to PARTY—CHOSEN KING

Crux of 1 Samuel: YAHWEH LOOKS UPON the HEART… 💡

ELIAB REJECTED — DAVID ACCEPTED…

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Recap: DAVID & GOLIATH ELEVATED HUMBLE SHEPHERD BOY to PROMINENCE

👉 DAVID’S FAITH = DISTINGUISHING FACTOR…

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Transition: KEEPING “BIG PICTURE” in MIND— GLOSS OVER MUCH of 1 SAM…

GOOD STORIES — READ, SERMON PODCAST

TO CONNECT DOTS BETWEEN DAVID & GOLIATH & CH. 28....

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II. Summary: Saul's Descent and David's Ascent (1 Samuel 18-27)

A Consistent Trend: The rest of 1 Samuel shows:

consistent descent of Saul

and the ascent of David.

DAVID GROWS FAMOUS— SAUL GROWS JEALOUS

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✨Key Point: SAUL = INCREASINGLY DEPRAVED

SEEKING to KILL DAVID

SEEKING to KILL HIS SON, JONATHAN

KILLS the PRIESTS @ NOB

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Takeaway: GOD PROVIDENTIALLY SPARES DAVID’S LIFE— AGAIN & AGAIN. 💡

JONATHAN

MICHAL

SAMUEL

MIRACLES

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2 TIMES,, DAVID GIVEN OPPORTUNITY to KILL SAUL! & REFRAINS!

DAVID CONSISTENTLY TRUSTED GOD WOULD DEAL W/ SAUL…

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Transition: TODAY’S STORY BEGINS— CULMINATION of DAVID’S FLIGHT

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Teaching Texts

III. The Final Downfall of Saul (1 Samuel 28)

(Reader: 1 Samuel 28:1-2)

1 Samuel 28:1–2 (ESV)

1 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.”

2 David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

Background: DAVID = IN LAND of PHILISTINES

**See Map**

ACHISH = KING of GATH (SOUND FAMILIAR??) GOLIATH’S HOMETOWN

DAVID LAPSED in FAITH—LEAVING LAND of COVENANT for PHILISTINE TERRITORY

GOD’S CHOSEN KING = IMPERFECT

Theology Point: EACH BIBLICAL RULER POINTS to NEED FOR JESUS CHRIST📌— ONLY PERFECT ONE.

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David’s Pickle: DAVID W/ PHILISTINES,, EXPECTED to FIGHT W/ THEM!

PHILISTINES = ISRAEL’S ENEMIES

ISRAEL = DAVID’S PEOPLE— HE’S ANOINTED THEIR KING!

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Transition: BEFORE WE FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS W/ DAVID— SCENE SHIFTS…

WHAT’S GOING on in ISRAEL?!

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(Reader: 1 Samuel 28:3-7)

1 Samuel 28:3–7 (ESV)

3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land.

4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.

5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.

7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”

THINGS GOING BAD in ISRAEL

SAMUEL = GONE

PHILISTINES MUSTERED GREAT FORCE

KING = DISTANT from GOD.

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Saul's Terror and Divine Silence

SAUL = TERRIFIED… SEEKS GOD— NO ANSWER.

Ill. LET US BE CAREFUL NOT to SEE the LORD as OUR EMERGENCY BRAKE—RATHER OUR STEERING WHEEL…

SAUL NEVER PROACTIVE in RELATIONSHIP W/ GOD…

DESPERATE TIMES ALONE CAUSED HIM to SEEK GOD…

MODERN BELIEVERS SOMETIMES PASSIVE—UNTIL TRIAL COMES??

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GOD being SILENT. = A GREATER TERROR THAN PHILISTINES.

DREAMS

URIM (PRIESTLY LOTS)

PROPHETS

NO ANSWERS.

Quote: “Divine silence is the fearful prospect of those who despise divine reproof”[1]

Definition of Hell = SEPARATION from GOD💡— SOURCE of ALL THINGS GOOD…

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(Q) WHAT DO DESPERATE TIMES LEAD to FOR SAUL? DESPERATE MEASURES

Recap (Ch. 15): SAMUEL DELAYED/PHILISTINES MUSTERED?? OFFERS SACRIFICE HIMSELF.

✨Conclusion: SAUL NEVER REPENTED/ SOUGHT to MAKE THINGS RIGHT W/ GOD—

— HE HAD NO REAL CARE for GOD.

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Saul Seeks a Medium/Background:

Sad Irony: SAUL HAD SENT MEDIUMS PACKING! 😬

Mediums:

· “the chief function of such practitioners was evidently to communicate with the spirit world, particularly with the dead”[1]

MEDIUMS— PROPHETS to SPIRIT-WORLD

NECROMANCERS—SUMMONING/Conjuring SPIRITS of DEAD

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Biblically Forbidden:

Leviticus 19:31 (ESV)

31 “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 18:9–14 (ESV)

9 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.

10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer

11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead,

12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.

13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God,

14 for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.

Death Penalty: Leviticus 20:27 (ESV)

27 “A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.”

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SAUL = TOLD of MEDIUM @ EN-DOR…

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Transition: WILL HE FOLLOW THROUGH W/ HIS FOLLY?

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(Reader: 1 Samuel 28:8-10)

1 Samuel 28:8–14 (ESV)

8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.”

9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?”

10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”

KNOW THINGS ARE WRONG—WHEN YOU HAVE to HIDE IT.

SAUL GOES BY NIGHT in DISGUISE

Wild: 6 MILE JOURNEY— THROUGH ENEMY TERRITORY…

Challenge: EACH STEP—OPPORTUNITY to TURN AROUND 🤔

SAUL = RESOLUTE in SINFUL PATTERNS

SERIES of CONSISTENT REBELLIOUS STEPS

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Exhort: THIS = DANGER of a CALLOUSED HEART

SIN TAKES FURTHER,

KEEPS LONGER,

COSTS MORE…

NOT SATISFIED UNTIL BRINGING DEATH.

The Decline: From partial obedience to flat out disobedience!

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)

23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

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Sad Irony: SWEARING BY GOD’S NAME SHE’D BE OKAY!

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Transition: HOW WILL THIS GO?

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(Reader: 1 Samuel 28:11-14)

11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.”

13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”

14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

SAUL REQUESTS SAMUEL — ONE SPEAKING GOD’S WORD.

Harsh Reality: SAUL REALLY JUST WANTS OUT of HIS PROBLEMS!😨

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SAMUEL APPEARS— SPIRITUAL BEING “GOD”

SOME DEBATE— REALLY SAMUEL? SCRIPTURE PRESENTS: YES.

Fearful Truth: GOD WARNED ABOUT NECROMANCY, ETC....

.... NOT BECAUSE IT DIDN’T WORK— BUT BECAUSE IT WAS WRONG. 😬

WORLD = MORE SUPERNATURAL THAN WE REALIZE—ESPECIALLY as AMERICANS.

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Transition: WHAT’S SAMUEL GOT to SAY?

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(Reader: 1 Samuel 28:15-19)

1 Samuel 28:15–19 (ESV)

15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.”

16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy?

17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.

18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day.

19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

Saul’s Conclusion: GOD’S TURNED AWAY—DOESN’T ANSWER

👉 FIRST/LARGER PROBLEM = PHILISTINES— GOD = SECONDARY, FIX-IT MEASURE.

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Samuel’s Prophecy:

GOD = FULFILLING WHAT HE SPOKE

KINGDOM = GOING to DAVID

SAUL WILL DIE TOMORROW in BATTLE.

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Transition: SAUL’S RESPONSE?

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(Reader: 1 Samuel 28:20-25)

1 Samuel 28:20–25 (ESV)

20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.

21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me.

22 Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.”

23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.

24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it,

25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

Saul’s Last Supper

SAUL FALLS DOWN— FEARFUL— REFUSES to EAT

CONSEQUENCES OVERFLOWED— SAUL’S TIME = UP...

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Transition: WE’VE BEEN BACK & FORTH on SCENES

DAVID = IN PICKLE

SAUL = EVEN WORSE

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Summary: FOR SAKE of TIME—WE’RE SKIPPING OVER DAVID

DAVID’S SPARED — PHILISTINE LORDS SEND HIM HOME (CH. 29)

DAVID GETS REVENGE on AMALEKITES (CH. 30)

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Transition: WE’LL SEE the END of the STORY for SAUL:

**See Pic**

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IV. The Fulfillment of Judgment (1 Samuel 31)

(Reader: 1 Samuel 31:1-7)

1 Samuel 31:1–7 (ESV)

1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.

3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.

4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.

5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.

6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.

7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.

Saul and His Sons Are Killed

SEE SAUL’S TRAGIC END —SAMUEL’S WORD FULFILLED

SAUL & SONS DEFEATED on MT. GILBOA

SAUL’S LIFE TAKEN BY SUICIDE—AVOIDING CAPTURE & MISTREATMENT

BATTLE LOST

ISRAELITES FLEEING—GIVING CITIES to PHILISTINES

OPPOSITE of CONQUEST W/ JOSHUA!!

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Transition: CLOSE OUT 1 SAM...

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(Reader: 1 Samuel 31:8-13)

1 Samuel 31:8–13 (ESV)

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

9 So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people.

10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.

11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,

12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.

13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

SHAMEFUL END of SAUL BROUGHT SHAME UPON YAHWEH…

IDOL GOD HAD HEAD of YAHWEH’S ANOINTED

BRAVE MEN of JABESH-GILEAD,, RESCUED BODIES of SAUL & SONS—PROPER BURIAL.

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Key Idea: TEMPORARY DEFEAT WASN’T END of the STORY— 👀

FOR GOD WAS RAISING UP HIS CHOSEN KING… WHO WOULD DELIVER the PEOPLE FROM PHILISTINE OPPRESSION

STORY of 2 SAMUEL…

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Transition: TURNING to 2 SAMUEL…

DAVID HEARS of SAD NEWS & GRIEVES...

AFTER GRIEVING is DONE— MISSION RESUMED.

READ: 2:1-4

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V. The Establishment of the Davidic Monarchy (2 Samuel 2 & 5)

(Skip David's mourning over Saul and Jonathan)

(Reader: 2 Samuel 2:1-4)

2 Samuel 2:1–4 (ESV)

1 After this David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.”

2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

3 And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron.

4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

HERE DAVID REIGNS OVER JUDAH 1/12 TRIBES

**See Map**

PUBLICLY ANOINTED as KING.

Problem: REST of ISRAEL DOESN’T ACCEPT DAVID

Background: ABNER—SAUL’S COMMANDER—SETS UP SURVIVING SON ISH-BOSHETH in NORTH

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(**Optional** Reader: 2 Samuel 2:8-11)

Important Idea: DAVID REIGNED in JUDAH for 7.5 YRS BEFORE ALL ISRAEL…

2 Samuel 3:1 (ESV)

1 There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

EVENTUALLY ABNER BETRAYS ISH-BOSHETH for DAVID

ISH-BOSHETH is MURDERED in HOME

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Transition: STORY WILL CLOSE— DAVID as KING:

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(Reader: 2 Sam. 5:1-5)

2 Samuel 5:1–5 (ESV)

1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh.

2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’ ”

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

David Reigns Over All Israel

TRIBES POINT OUT:

YOU LED US

MOST IMPORTANTLY: GOD SAID— YOU’LL BE the SHEPHERD/PRINCE OVER ISRAEL

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VI. Big Picture and Takeaways

Big Picture Connection: The Son of David

DAVID = HUGE CHARACTER…

STEP in ISRAEL’S MONARCHY

Most Importantly: KING of GOD’S CHOOSING—GOD’S ELECT LINE…

DAVIDIC COVENANT = ESSENTIAL BACKGROUND to REST of O.T.

COMING of CHRIST— DESCENDANT of DAVID

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Main Takeaways

1. The greatest judgment is to be separated from God.

SAUL’S DARK NIGHT— RESULT of SEPARATION from GOD...

Good News: IN CHRIST— WE HAVE ASSURANCE WE’LL NEVER BE FORSAKEN

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

CHRIST EXPERIENCED the SEPARATION WE DESERVED UPON the CROSS…

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2. God will fulfill His plans and promises—but they rarely happen according to our timelines.

WE LIKE MICROWAVE THINGS

GOD LIKES CROCK-POTS

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Consider “BUMPY ROAD of PROMISE”

UNDER THREAT from SAUL

THREAT from PHILISTINES

LAPSING in FAITH—EVACUATING ISRAEL

PARTIAL RULERSHIP for 7 YEARS!

SIMILAR to JOSEPH—MANY YEARS of TRIAL BEFORE YEARS of PROMISE CAME…

GOD = FAITHFUL, PROMISE-KEEPING GOD… EVEN IF PROMISE is DELAYED

2 Peter 3:8–9 (ESV)

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Closing: CONSIDER ALL HE’S PROMISED US—

DESPITE DELAY— IT’S SURE to COME. HE’S a PROMISE-KEEPING GOD.

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Closing Questions/Thoughts??

!! Close in Prayer!!