Lesson 9: David's Time on The Run- Part 3

David’s Time on the Run Part 3

Today we are going to finish this section, and we have to move through a couple of areas and disregard a few things for this study because we do not want to get bogged down in the life of David only and especially during his time on the run, but nonetheless, these things are important that we will quickly look at tonight. Each of these sections are a study in themselves.

V. David and Nabal

1 Samuel 25

The story of Nabal and Abigail "Beauty and the Beast." She was a beauty because the Bible says she was, but more than that, she was very wise, and that was a great combination.

A. A generous proposition vv.2-9

For defense and safety to their fields, which David was already providing, David requested some victuals, some food for them, whatever they could spare.

It seemed like a generous and respectful

B. A grave refusal vv.10-12

Nabal, the fool, does know a good deal when he sees one and definitely is not walking in the spirit and does not receive a godly man to help him.

He is more worried about what the king will do than to do right.

C. A glaring rage v.13

Proverbs 16:32 AV

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Anger often destroys lives. At times, produces desired effects under strict control. Anger, for ourselves, never works for God’s righteousness

James 1:19 (AV)

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

D. A gracious woman vv.14-29

vv.18-21; 23-24, 28

Abigail does something that every wife ought to do for their husbands and every husband should try to do for their wives. Abigail tries to clean up the mess that her husband had made.

E. A grateful warrior vv.32-34

vv.32-33

F. A gloomy repercussion vv.35-38

Oh what bitterness will do to a person’s life. When Abigail told Nabal what she had done, he became as silent like a stone, never spoke again and died in 10 days.

G. A grand redemption vv. 39-44

VI. David’s last interaction with Saul vv.1-25

1 Samuel 26

A. Worldly sorrow is evident with Saul vv.1-3

Saul quickly shows us that his repentance was of the worldly sort. Last week we saw how that he cried and that he was sorrowful and knew that David was good and that he himself was far from God. He knew that David was better than him.

He was sorrowful with tears, but he was not repentant. He did not make a change of mind that resulted in a change of action.

The same people are involved here as in the last chapter, the Ziphites, what a sad testament of character or lack thereof for all of history because of these Ziphites turning on righteous David now twice.

It is interesting that David’s repentance is exemplified in David’s life, but it is non-existent in Saul’s.

B. David conducts himself wisely vv.4-7

David takes time to send out some spies and finds where Saul and his forces were and then goes there by night, he never indicates what his plan was – but as David often would do, he confronted the problem head on.

It was here that he surveyed the situation and saw that God had protected him again.

Psalm 20:7 AV

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Proverbs 21:31 AV

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

C. David does not get in a hurry vv.8-12

D. David’s wise words of humility vv.13-20

E. Saul sees his sin vv.21-26

Take note of verse 25:

VII. David’s second sojourn in Philistia

1 Samuel 27-28

A. David backslides again

27:1-6

It is certainly ironic that David keeps having great victories and then he has these lapses of faith. It is certainly true that after great victory we all need to be especially on guard of Satan’s advances and attacks.

There are many Bible instances of backsliding after victories

Abraham, Genesis 12:10-13; Elijah 1 Kings 19:9; Jonah; Peter; even John the Baptist struggled with his faith for short time in Luke 7:19-22

• There are others, but you see the temptation that is there for us if it was also for these great men of the Bible.

B. Don’t make decisions when discouraged coupled with doubt 27:1

This can be a dangerous thing. I know we all have times when we analyze things and search our heart as the Bible says, but be careful when we are discouraged and we make a decision like that, it can cause to dig ourselves deeper.

C. David’s backslidden ways vv.8-12

David herein is back to lying and deceiving Achish

D. David is promoted quickly 28:1-2

The world will always promote you when you run with them. They are proud, you become a trophy to them as did David.

E. Saul’s final downfall vv.3-25

Saul tries to summon up the spirit of Samuel to answer his questions with the which of Endor. He gets exactly what he asked and didn’t like the answer.

When you have backslidden so far, that you are going to witches for help, you have hit bottom.

F. God’s hand protects David yet again

1 Samuel 29:1-11

Despite David’s backsliding and deceiving Achish, God still works things in or to hinder him from going into battle.

It was accomplished by the Lord’s of the Philistines questions David’s loyalty. This worked certainly to David and his men’s benefit, because they were not going to attack Israel and Saul.

VIII. David loses and recovers Ziklag

1 Samuel 30

I believe that this is one of the great passages on how to deal with depression.

A. The Bible teaches that their will be grievous times

B. David encourages himself in the Lord v.6

C. David takes action

vv.7-20

Christians today need to action

D. David starts a new policy for the troops 30:20-25

IX. The Mourning of David

2 Samuel 1:11-27

A. His first reaction was grief 1:11-12

When something happens to one of our own, that should be our first reaction as well. Negative news should grieve us.

Ecclesiastes 1:18 AV

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

B. His second reaction was retribution vv.13-16

When one of his own were wronged and treated wickedly, David was not going to sit idly by, he did something about it.

C. His third reaction was lamentation vv.17-27

When he had time to think it over, he could really spend time pouring out his heart before the Lord.

D. His great statement to us: Publish It Not v.20

Saul had wronged him, Saul had tried to kill him, yet David did not have a bad thing to say about king Saul.

That is not how David was before, but he had matured in the Lord and now he wasn’t complaining about Saul, instead he was praising him, honoring and lamenting his lost and commanding others not to talk bad about the king.

He didn’t want the name of one of his people nor the name of his God to be dragged through the mud.

Quite applicable in our day, lets not publish it, lets keep it to ourselves, lets honor God.