Dealing with the Lord’s Anointed — Respect

Text: 1 Samuel 24:1-22 & 26:1-25

Theme: As David’s character is being formed, he learns how to deal with leaders who are anointed by God. You give them respect even when they have not deserved it.

Date: 07/18/21 File name: King_David_05 ID Number: OT09-24

So much of what we’ve been look at in David’s life is the development of his character. How God is bringing events and people into his life to mold and shape him into the godly man that he becomes. In chapters 24-27 David deals with a series of events that are going to continues to shape the young man’s life.

David dealing with the Lord’s Anointed - David has respect Chpts. 24 & 26

David dealing with a fool - David has mercy Chpt. 25:1-17

David dealing with the needy - David has compassion Chpt. 25:18-43

David dealing with the enemy - David has wisdom Chpt. 27

Tonight we’re going to look at just the first since it’s the main part of the narrative in these chapters. Approximately 1,000 years after King David lived, the Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Christians at Rome. “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” (Romans 13:1–2, NIV84). David is living out this principle.

I. DAVID DEALING WITH GOD’S ANOINTED — Respect

1. as come to the closing chapters of 1 Samuel we are well into the story of David

a. he has been anointed by God to be the next king over Israel

1) Saul, however, is still king, but it has become increasingly clear to him that God has rejected him and withdrawn His Holy Spirit from him

2) Jonathan, his son, will not sit on the throne — Saul’s dynasty will die before it hardly gets started

3) and Jonathan is fine with this

b. Saul is not fine with this

1) he is envious

ILLUS. In his mind he still hears the song of the Israeli women singing, “Saul has killed his thousands, but DAVID has killed his ten thousands. And it galls him and it’s eating him up from the inside out.

2) he becomes bitter, and his bitterness leads to outbursts of wrath against David, his palace staff, and even his son, Jonathan

c. Sual has been relentlessly pursuing David, but has two temporarily suspend that pursuit when the Philistines seize the opportunity to invade Judah’s western frontier

2. David takes the opportunity to move his followers, and is now hiding in the Wilderness of En Gedi

“After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”” (1 Samuel 24:1, NIV84)

a. it is important to remember that David is, more-than-likely, still a teenager

1) and yet he has attracted a following of other disaffected Israelites

“David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.” (1 Samuel 22:1–2, NIV84)

2) when you include wives and children, David — maybe 18-19 years old now — is responsible for up 1500-2000 people

b. he, and his followers, are fleeing from place-to-place, sometimes just one step ahead of Saul and his troops

c. chapter 24 finds David and his followers at the desert oasis of En Gedi

1) this is an emerald jewel in the middle of the Judean desert a dozen miles west of the Dead Sea

2) there are a series of fresh-water springs that feed to streams that support lush vegetation and all kinds of wildlife

3) today, it is a nature preserve and the most visited national park in Israel

A. SAUL RENEWS HIS VENDETTA

1. Saul has returned from battling the Philistines, and is informed of David’s whereabouts

a. he leads a force of 3,000 hand-picked soldiers to find and annihilate David and his force

b. faced with overwhelming odds David and his men take refuge in the caves in and around En Gedi

2. Saul and his troops are on the outskirts of the region when — as they say — nature calls

“He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.” (1 Samuel 24:3, NIV84)

a. now, what are the odds of David and some of his warriors sitting in the innermost part of the cave when Saul comes in to relieve himself?

b. well ... when God is in charge of orchestrating events, the odds are pretty good!

B. DAVID RENEWS HIS VOICE OF RECONCILIATION

1. David’s men are convinced that God has delivered Saul into David’s hands to kill him and take the throne of Israel

a. they even use God’s own words to encourage David to do the deed

“The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” ... .” (1 Samuel 24:4, NIV84)

2. David decides on a different course — he will instead embarrass Saul in front of his troops

a. we’re told in vs. 24, Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe

1) it’s brave, it’s audacious, and even brazen

b. after Saul left the cave and got come distance away, David regretted that he had committed even that harmless, but humiliating symbolic gesture

1) this tells us a lot about David’ character

3. regardless of Saul’s animus, David retains a Godly respect for Saul because he is God’s anointed

a. David called to Saul, admitted what he had done, and promised that he would never lift his hand against the king since he was God’s anointed

1) the conversation is found in 1 Samuel 24:5-22

b. it’s an unprecedented dialogue

1) David calls Saul my Lord and king and then bows low and prostrates himself

a) it’s an act of humility and an expression of loyalty to the king

b) David even refers to Saul as my father (vs. 11) (remember, he is Saul’s son-in-law) and announces that his heart is pure toward the king — there is no wrong or treason in my hands, I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life

2) Saul actually responds in contrition

a) he calls David my son (vs. 16), he weeps and confesses that David is a righteous man whom Saul has only repaid evil for good

b) he even acknowledges David’s ascension to the throne

c) all Saul asks is that David not kill his family when he becomes king

3) Psalm 57 is the result of this event

4. Saul’s act of clemency is short-lived

C. ACT TWO ... DAJA VU

ILLUS. As we turn over to chapter 26, to quote NY Yankees most famous catcher, Yogi Berra “It's deja vu all over again.”

1. in chapter 26 we read that David and his followers are fleeing from place-to-place

a. the head first to the Wilderness of Paran

1) this is southwest of Judah and is on the boarder with Egypt

a) it’s barren and rugged — a good place to hide, but not a good place to feed a bunch of people and supply his troops

b. next, they head northeast to the Wilderness of Ziph — a rugged, and heavily forested area in the Judean mountains

1) for several months after the incident in 1 Samuel chapter 24, Saul allowed David to live peacefully in southern Judah

2) David had remarried, (more about that next week) and his men had found work as guards there

3) it seemed as if Saul had forgotten his anger towards David

2. it is here that we pick up the story of Saul’s pursuit of David

“The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived. 5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.” (1 Samuel 26:1–5, NIV84)

a. again, we’re going to witness David’s daring and his stealth

1) Saul’ troops have a strong defensive position, and Saul is situated at the center of the camp — soldiers on every side

3. after Saul’s camp has settled into sleep, David and Abishai sneak into Saul’s encampment right up to were the king, himself, and his top officers are sleeping

a. now it’s Abishai who is convinced that it is God’s will to strike down the king, and offers to administer the fatal blow

1) this may be so that David can technically say, “It wasn’t me who killed Saul”

2) Abishai even gets a little cocky about it

“Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won’t strike him twice.”” (1 Samuel 26:8, NIV84)

ILLUS. Abishai is bragging, “I’m a consummate professional in this killing business. I won’t need but one blow, and he’ll never cry out.”

4. and again, David resists the opportunity saying, “ ... “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” (1 Samuel 26:9, NIV84)

a. David will wait on the Lord’s timing to take care of Saul

“As surely as the LORD lives,” he said, “the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.” (1 Samuel 26:10, NIV84)

b. but David, once again, wants Saul to know that he had the opportunity to kill him and didn’t take it

c. and again, when David is at a safe distance, he call out to Saul and his army

1) David chides them for not being more vigilant in protecting the king’s life

2) he’s especially harsh on Abner — the king’s body guard and primary commander — saying that he deserves to die for his neglect of duty

3) he then asks “Where is the king’s spear and the jug of water that was by his head?”

4) oops!

5. again, there is this fascinating dialogue between Saul and David

1 Samuel 26:17-25

a. Saul confesses ... I have sinned ... I have acted foolishly ... I have made a great mistake ... I will no more do you harm

b. the chapter ends with an amenable parting

“Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David; you will do great things and surely triumph.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.” (1 Samuel 26:25, NIV84)

c. this will end the cat-and-mouse game between Saul and David

1) the next time we hear of Saul, he dies in battle against the Philistines

II. LESSONS FROM 1 SAMUEL 24; 26

A. DO GOOD UNTO OTHERS — WITHOUT EXCEPTION

“ “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,” (Luke 6:27, ESV)

“And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” (Luke 6:33, ESV)

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” (Luke 6:35, ESV)

1. anyone who thinks that Christianity is “easy” has never read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount

a. as God molds young David’s character, David is learning very quickly that loving God, and serving God is not easy

2. it means treating people around us lovingly, when they don’t deserve to be treated lovingly

ILLUS. John CalvinThe 16th century theologian, pastor and protestant reformer wrote: The Lord commands us to do good to all without exception, yet the greatest part of humanity are most unworthy if they be judged on their own merits. But Scripture teaches we are not to consider what they merit of themselves but to look upon the image of God in all of them, to which we owe all honor and love. You say, ‘He has deserved something far different from me.’ Yes, but what has the Lord deserved from you? We remember to look upon the image of God in them which effaces their transgressions and with its beauty and dignity allures us to love and embrace them.”

a. in the last sentence of this quote Calvin is reminding us that it’s only through God’s grace at work in us that we can deal with some people

1) not all people are as loving as we are

2) some people will, for reasons beyond our comprehension, not like us — and maybe will even hate us

ILLUS. Saul took a dislike for David because of a silly song sung by the women of Israel.

b. Calvin is perceptive here about human nature — he is saying that when you think about that person you don’t like or who doesn’t like you, maybe they are mean-spirited and spiteful toward you — he says that, as a Christian, we don’t consider what that person deserves from us, but what the Lord deserves from us

1) in other words, we treat that person as we would treat the Lord if he were standing before us

c. why?

1) because that person, even though he or she may be mean and spiteful as Saul was, is created in the imago Dei

2) well, golly, God ... that’s a cheap shot

3. here is one of the great themes of the Bible — we don’t treat others as they deserve to be treated, because God does not treat us as we deserve

a. this is one of the lessons God is teaching David

B. HOW DO WE DO GOOD UNTO OTHERS?

1. how do we do this, you ask?

a. it’s hard!

2. 1 Samuel 24 and 26 give us some insights into this through the decisions David make while Saul is after him

3. 1st, David Was Acquainted with What the Scriptures Said

a. let’s face it ... it’s hard to act godly when we don’t know what God says about our actions

b. between chapters 24 & 26 David refers to Saul as the Lord’s anointed five times

1) that word anointed is the Hebrew ma-si-h

2) does it sound a little familiar? ... it’s messiah

c. David is recognizing Saul as Israel’s God-ordained anointed on and deliverer

1) if it is God’s will the Saul be king, it is not in David’s prerogative to resist it

2) Thou shall not murder — even kings who are out to get you

4. 2nd, David Refused to Listen to Others Who Misread God’s Will

a. you will always find those people who are convinced that they know God’s will for your life

b. in both chapters there are those who see the same set of circumstance as David does, and interpret them as God’s ‘permission’ to take the king’s life

“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.’ ” ... ” (1 Samuel 24:4, ESV)

“Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.”” (1 Samuel 26:8, ESV)

c. you might say that David kept his own council

1) when friends tell you, “You have every right to ... “ or “If I were you, I’d ... “ or “I think this is what God is telling you ... “ you need to search your own heart and be discerning of the advise of other

2) it’s often wrong!

5. 3rd, David Was Sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s Leadership

a. after David sneaks up behind Saul and cuts off a patch of his robe the Spirit will prick his conscience

“And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.” (1 Samuel 24:5, ESV)

b. Jesus tells us in John’s gospel that the role of the Spirit is to convict our minds concerning sin, judgment, and righteousness (John 16:8)

1) this is not something the Spirit does not only at our conversion, but throughout the Christian life

c. Jesus also tells us that the work of the Spirit is to guide us into knowing truth because he is the Spirit of truth

1) this is not just a New Testament truth

6. 4th, David Trusted in God’s Providence to Work Things out According to His Timetable

“But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” 10 And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.” (1 Samuel 26:9–10, ESV)

a. by forgiving Saul, and not seeking vengeance David has made sure he’s not going to become Saul

b. if David had killed Saul, if David had given in to a spirit of bitterness and vengeance, he would have just put another Saul on the throne

c. if you stay angry at someone, it makes you feel sorry for yourself, and in the end, makes you self-righteous

1) and when you become self-righteous you’re able to justify self-indulgent behavior, and even cruel behavior

7. 5th, David Was Willing to Act Righteously Even When He Knew it Would Cost Him

8. 6th, David Was Willing to Confront His Antagonist about the Injustice of His Bad Behavior

a. David is realistically and aggressively loving toward Saul

1) forgiveness does not mean rolling over and being passive in the face of regular aggression

2) David is going after Saul, but he is not doing it vindictively — he is not trying to make Saul pay for his aggression

b. David is going after Saul’s hardness of heart

1) he is encouraging Saul to repent

Few of us here tonight have to worry about really important people trying to kill us. But all of us run into people who are jerks. Sometimes their even in the family. What you might want to remember is that God just might have brought that person into your life to help you develop Godly character.