David Plays a Dangerous Game

Sometimes decision can be difficult because of all the variables.

—Our move to Wisconsin

That is where we pick up the text today in . With David making a big decision. That doesn’t just effect him but the people with him.

1 Samuel 27–28:2 ESV

1 Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” 2 So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow. 4 And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him. 5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6 So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months. 8 Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9 And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. 10 When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” 11 And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’ ” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12 And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.” 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.”

1 Samuel 27-

Do you feel the weight of this decisions?

David just snuck up on Saul and His army while he was sleeping and took his spear and jar of water and then yelled from far away that he could have killed him and didn’t because Saul was anointed by the Lord

David has his two wives with him and 600 men.

He has been running from Saul for a long time. Had 2 close encounters with him and could have taken his life. Chap 24, 26

English Standard Version Chapter 26

Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. 24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.”

Do you feel the weight of these big decisions that continually come up in David’s live?

In Chapter 24, and 26 David could have taken Saul’s life

Rock of escape in Chapter 23 where Saul was on David and his mens tail. They escaped because a message came to Saul and said the philistines are attacking.

This is high energy narrative here. There is more action in this than most movies. But you have to imagine this taking a toll on David’s life. His blood pressure is probably through the roof.

Recap on some time frames here:

1050 Saul was anointed King

1025 B.C David is anointed as king 1 sam 16

1022 David defeated Goliath

1011 will start reigning in Isreal/ Saul Death

I know i am going to be king, I was anointed to be king....when is that going to happen.

Do you ever feel like God’s promises take forever?

I can image David felt that. He running from his life and not quiet sure how he can be king when Saul is in pursuit of his death. To go a step further, David is not going to be king by taking matters into his own hands...

In our first couple verses we see David making decision and the text doesn’t tell us if it was the right or wrong decision. In fact, God’s isn’t even mentioned in this Chapter we are covering today. It doesn’t even say what God’s perspective is in these events are taking place or offerer any insight to God’s thoughts on everything. So here we are....

God still uses David’s decisions and His plan to accomplish what he has planned. That is why even today we know that God’s sovereignty and our decisions are harmonized and fully lived out. The extreme mindset that can happen with this is that we don’t do anything because God is sovereign. We do everything because God is sovereign.

A word of caution...

Watch what you tell your self

v. 1 then David said in his heart.... Guess who talks to you more than anyone else… without it being crazy. You talk to yourself in your heart all day long. We see that here with David, Then David said in his heart.

So don’t you think it is important what you are telling yourself?

Are you telling yourself God’s truths or worldly opinions. Are you reminded of the promises that God has for you? Are the things you tell yourself based on biblical hope or worldly worry?

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

This problem of counseling yourself goes back to the beginning of time with Adam and Eve.

Genesis 2:16 ESV

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,

Genesis 2:16–17 ESV

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 3:3–5 ESV

3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Gen 3:

v. 1 Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul.....

David don’t forget your anointed King, God used you to defeat Saul. You are in good standings with God.

Our circumstances can allow us to questions promises of God. David isn’t thinking about being King, he is thinking about Saul killing him one of these days.

It is true, we will all die, just like King david eventually did. But we have to see that our death doesn’t nullify our promises that God has for us. And our circumstances shouldn’t blind us to them either.

We all perish, so it is true that one day King David did die, and we too will die, but he says at the hand of Saul!! WHAT???

How often can we tell ourselves something in our minds that is not true. Then we get all worked up and the thoughts get worse and worse. Let us be honest here. No one wants me to use their thoughts as an example on the screen. Like Tuesday this is what

But it is also some of these difficult circumstances and thoughts that cause us to experience God’s guidance and protection.

Look where David is going, Gath…w

Don’t forget your promises

Promises for believers

These are for believers so if you are not a believer these are not for you

David had some promises to hold onto and so do we

Your thinking influences your Actions

v.1 is David’s thinking and v.2 is the actions that came from it

Philippians 4:8 ESV

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

I am not saying David was totally wrong in his thinking, I am reminding us to be mindful about what we think and how that fits into God’s plan.

WE don’t use God for our plan, God uses us for His plan

Look where David is going, Gath…w

V.2 Going back to Achish

1 Samuel 21:10–15 ESV

10 And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” 12 And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? 15 Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”

you can see how the first time went, and here we are back again. The first time David was feared by Achish and barely escaped with his life. Now things are a little different. Now it is clear to all the people in that area that David was Saul’s mortal enemy and now maybe David can be used by the Philistines in their ongoing struggle with Isreal.

V. 4 Saul no longer sough him

pursuit of David is fruitless because it works against God’s plan for David to be king. God will always achieve his commitments.

That was a lot of work on Saul’s part to try and kill David all while the whole time

God’s Judgement is real v. 8

Joshua 13:1–2 ESV

1 Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess. 2 This is the land that yet remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all those of the Geshurites

Joshua 13:1 ESV

1 Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess.

David is still faithful to Israel v. 8

Taking out the

He tells Achish that he wiped out the southern part of the region

There are no witnesses to contradict what David is saying. v11

1 Samuel 15 ESV

1 And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ” 4 So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. 6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction. 10 The word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” 13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” 14 And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” 15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” And he said to him, “Speak.” 17 And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. 18 And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” 22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.” 24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” 26 And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28 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. 29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord. 32 Then Samuel said, “Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” 33 And Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. 34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

This territory belonged to Judah

1 Samuel 15

Both David and Saul have now dealt with the Amalekites

Chapter 28 v. 1-2 David joins forces with the Philistines to make a massive assault on Israel. We are left with the question.

Who is David’s loyalty to?

David finds himself in a compromising position. He is now being called to demonstrate his loyalty to his new lord by fighting against his own people.