1 Samuel 26:1-25 CSB
David Again Spares Saul
1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah saying, “David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon.” 2 So Saul, accompanied by three thousand of the fit young men of Israel, went immediately to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.
What happened the last time that Saul & David spoke with one another?
1 Samuel 24:16-20 CSB
16…Then Saul wept aloud 17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you. 18 You yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when the LORD handed me over to you, you didn’t kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed?[i] May the LORD repay you with good for what you’ve done for me today.
20 “Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will [flourish] in your hand.
How can Saul continue his pursuit to kill David?
How can Saul so quickly forget the mercy that David extended to him?
Luke 8:4-8 CSB
The Parable of the Sower
4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.”
Luke 8:11-15 CSB
The Parable of the Sower Explained
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.
Don’t allow the devil any opportunity to rob you
Don’t allow the seasons of testing & trial & pain & darkness…
Let the gospel sink in
Philippians 4:8 ESV
8…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. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Continue to pull out the weeds & cut away thornbushes.
Corporate worship gatherings
DGs
CGs
Hosea 10:12 CSB
12 Sow righteousness for yourselves
and reap faithful love;
break up your unplowed ground.
It is time to seek the LORD
until he comes and sends righteousness
on you like the rain.
3 Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon. David was living in the wilderness and discovered Saul had come there after him. 4 So David sent out spies and knew for certain that Saul had come.
What must David be thinking?
‘Is Saul really coming to kill me…AGAIN?!!’
5 Immediately, David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were lying down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp with the troops camped around him.
Compare / contrast
In chapter 24, Saul was alone
6 Then David asked Ahimelech the Hethite [Hittite] and Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, “Who will go with me into the camp to Saul?”
“I’ll go with you,” answered Abishai.
This is the only time that Ahimelech is mentioned in the entire Bible
Abishai will pop up 20 times
Joab will be mentioned 100+ times
7 That night, David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head.
Did David recognize the spear?
Abner and the troops were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice!”
Abishai is saying, ‘It’s God’s will for you to kill your enemy today.’
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be innocent?” 10 David added, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will certainly strike him down: either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 However, as the LORD is my witness, I will never lift my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.”
David learned his lesson
David CANNOT take matters into his own hands
Romans 12:19 ESV
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
12 So David took the spear and the water jug by Saul’s head, and they went their way. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up; they all remained asleep because a deep sleep from the LORD came over them.
Hebrew – ‘dead sleep from Yahweh’ (tardēmâ yhwh)
Genesis 2:21 – removal of Adam’s rib to create Woman
Genesis 15:12-21 – covenant with Abraham
13 David crossed to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance; there was a considerable space between them. 14 Then David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer, Abner?”
“Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner asked.
David is clearly calling out directly to Abner
So why does Abner say, “Who are you who calls to the king?”
15 David called to Abner, “You’re a man, aren’t you? Who in Israel is your equal? So why didn’t you protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? 16 What you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die since you didn’t protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around; where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”
David understands who is responsible
17 Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?”
“It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said. 18 Then he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What crime have I committed? 19 Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant: If it is the LORD who has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. But if it is people, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD, for today they have banished me from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go and worship other gods.’ 20 So don’t let my blood fall to the ground far from the LORD’s presence, for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, like one who pursues a partridge in the mountains.”
Fleas & partridges are difficult to catch
21 Saul responded, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.”
Saul cannot to be trusted
22 David answered, “Here is the king’s spear; have one of the young men come over and get it. 23 The LORD will repay every man for his righteousness and his loyalty. I wasn’t willing to lift my hand against the LORD’s anointed, even though the LORD handed you over to me today. 24 Just as I considered your life valuable today, so may the LORD consider my life valuable and rescue me from all trouble.”
Saul apologizes.
Saul promises that he will never again harm David.
The spear is a physical, visible, tangible reminder of who Saul is, what he’s done.
25 Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.” Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
Again, David’s mercy has affected Saul…at least on the surface.
But will it last?
David calls himself Saul’s servant.
Saul has made himself David’s enemy.
Romans 5:8-10 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
David has every right to kill Saul.
But he spares Saul
John 5:22-24 ESV
22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
John 5:26-27 ESV
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
Gospel-centered
Gospel-saturated
Gospel-sourced
Gospel-rooted
Gospel-driven
Gospel-motivated
Gospel-permeating
Acts 17:30-31 CSB
30 “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
John 19:34 CSB
34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.
John 13:4-5 CSB
4 So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. 5 Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.
Isaiah 53:3-12 CSB
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of suffering who knew what sickness was.
He was like someone people turned away from;[b]
he was despised, and we didn’t value him.
4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,
and he carried our pains;
but we in turn regarded him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on him,
and we are healed by his wounds.
6 We all went astray like sheep;
we all have turned to our own way;
and the Lord has punished him
for[c] the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth.
Like a lamb led to the slaughter
and like a sheep silent before her shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
8 He was taken away because of oppression and judgment,
and who considered his fate?[d]
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
he was struck because of my people’s rebellion.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
but he was with a rich man at his death,
because he had done no violence
and had not spoken deceitfully.
10 Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely.[e]
When[f] you make him a guilt offering,
he will see his seed, he will prolong his days,
and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished.
11 After his anguish,
he will see light[g] and be satisfied.
By his knowledge,
my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will carry their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him[h] the many as a portion,
and he will receive[i] the mighty as spoil,
because he willingly submitted to death,
and was counted among the rebels;
yet he bore the sin of many
and interceded for the rebels.
Zechariah 12:10 CSB
Mourning for the Pierced One
10 “Then I will pour out a spirit[a] of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at[b] me whom they pierced. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for him as one weeps for a firstborn.