Righteous in the Lord

Introduction

Pride leads to fear. Humility leads to Righteousness.

Pride is a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.

Humility is a modest or low view of one’s own importance.

I might also add humility is a low view when compared to the surpassing greatness of God and how everything we have is from Him.

The dichotomy of Fear and Humility and what role they play in being righteous will be our focus this morning.

1 Samuel 18:6–16 ESV

6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” 8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on. 10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. 11 And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. 15 And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

1 Samuel 18:

Pride and Fear

There is present in this passage a dichotomy that we need to see. Pride and Fear versus humility and righteousness. Pride and fear as we have already shown is present when we value something and are fearful of loss. It comes out in particular when Saul hears the song that is being sung about he and David.

What was Saul’s response to this song? “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day on.”

What did Saul take pride in…being king, being the man, ruling. But fear was overtaking him because of the presence of God being with David and no longer resting with Saul. The fear and hate that was growing in Saul was further compounded by a harmful spirit. We are not given much detail about this spirit but we know it added to the pain and agony Saul was going through. And Saul like Goliath was wielding a spear and tried not just once but twice to pin David to the wall. David was in the room long enough for Saul to retrieve the spear and throw it a second time.

Saul was trying to protect his kingship, because in his mind that is all that mattered to him in life. The result he wanted of securing the source of his pride, the kingship, turned out to bring him what he dreaded most…fear.

Saul became fearful because the Lord was with David. Saul knew that what he most wanted he was not going to have much longer. Saul was so afraid of David that Saul removed him from his presence and put him over a thousand soldiers.

How do we behave like Saul?

First, for those who are in Christ, we have no fear of His Spirit leaving us, but I wander if anyone this morning is deceived into thinking they know Christ when they do not?

Second, what do you take pride in? Or ask it another way…what are you fearful to lose? What if people really knew who you were? See the fear and pride in that self image question. And I guarantee all of us wrestle with these questions.

Sauls fears led him to try and kill a man…what will our pride and fear cause us to do?

I find that if you are fearful of losing something it points to the truth that you are fearful people will find out something. To the untrained eye do you believe Saul looked any different when the Spirit of God left him? Yet he knew because David was hired to play for him during this attacks. But no one else knew.

What is the benefit of hiding behind the pride of position, possessions, or talents?

The sin of pride, of fear and ultimately what scripture this morning is showing us is that they lead to self righteousness. Saul was trying to create his righteousness but justifying himself, but trying to eliminate the threat to his idols of fear and pride.

These behaviors that we all exhibit from time to time, need to be repented of. We need to understand what true righteousness is and what true life is like.

The other side of the dichotomy present in this passage is found in David.

Humility and Righteousness

1 Samuel 24 ESV

1 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. 3 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4 And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’ ” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5 And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7 So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way. 8 Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. 9 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? 10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. 12 May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! 15 May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.” 16 As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18 And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20 And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21 Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” 22 And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

1 Samuel

David proceeded in this story with humility and sensitivity to who God was and who God has placed in authority.

First, David ignored the words of his soldiers about God delivering Saul into his hands.

Second, David was heart struck after cutting the corner of Saul’s robe.

Third, David considered himself inconsequential by referring to himself as a dog or a flea

Finally, David looked to the Lord and the Lord’s timing.

Righteous in the Lord

What was the difference between these two men. It can be summed up in one verse.

1 Samuel 24:

1 Samuel 24:17 ESV

17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.

Why did David repay Saul with good? How would you have responded.

The unsung hero in this story is not the great character of David or the poor character of Saul. Rather we how the Lord is mentioned all throughout this passage. The Lord protected, the Lord delivered, The Lord judged. David was known for being a man after God’s own heart. This means he pursued the heart God had. This means he was striving to be Godly in all he did.

There is a leadership lesson and a gospel lesson for us to learn here.

To quote Jocko Willink, “Take the high ground or the high ground will take you.”

To quote Jesus, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Why are we so focused on self preservation, which leads to pride and fear? why are we not focused on God’s timing and God working all things together?