Sermon Tone Analysis

David’s Deliverance - 1 Samuel 19

PRAY

Intro: My big sister was quite the kicker.

Let me explain: When I was a little guy growing up, I learned that my older sister was (and still is) just the sweetest—her name is even Candy.

But I also learned, mostly from observation, that she’s also a fiery redhead who is not to be trifled with.

She and my oldest brother, Mike (only one year her younger), would razz one another and they’d get into it, and then she’d do something like punch him in the arm (something she excelled at bc my dad for some reason had decided that it was a good idea to teach her to punch correctly).

In his defense, he boxed as a young man.

That may answer some questions you have about him now, ha ha.

Love you, Dad.

Anyway, after Candy had given Mike a little extra something to think about, she’d undoubtedly have to fear retaliation, but she had a brilliant tactic.

She’d flee to a spot where, such as being seated on her bed with her back against the wall, she could readily and successfully defend herself with her legs from any attempts her pursuer might make at retaliation.

It worked like a charm.

If her punches hurt, her kicks would lay you out.

She was a defensive stronghold.

My sister was quite the kicker.

In our section of 1 Samuel today, Saul pursues David, and David does not kick back at Saul; he keeps running.

It is the Lord who repeatedly delivers David.

That’s because God has a plan and David has a role in it.

The person kicking back is Saul, as he’s trying to fight against God’s revealed will.

This first sentence of verse 1 provides the backdrop for the entire saga, and it is certainly pertinent to us in considering our relationship to God.

So let’s pause right here to look at Saul’s heart condition.

Saul Kicks Against the Goads (Battles God’s Will)

Where we left off, Saul had already shown his extreme jealousy of David and tried to use the Philistines to make an end of David.

With that unsuccessful, Saul now moves on from a cloak and dagger approach to openly seeking and commanding that David be killed.

- If Saul spent as much time and energy fighting the Lord’s enemies as he did fighting his friends, he likely would have been highly successful in battle and a decent king.

But alas, as we saw last time, instead of submitting to God and ruling over his passions, he is ruled by his jealousy and continues grasping to maintain power.

(All due to his own lack of submission to God, so God told him, through Samuel, that He would be giving the kingdom to another.)

So it goes that Saul knows full well that God is with David and that David’s continued success in battle and growing popularity is the writing on the wall.

And Saul is not pleased.

(see 18:28-30)

Saul, ruled by his sin and selfishness, refuses to submit to God and continues to battle frantically against God’s will.

The title above I’ve actually taken from a concept that actually arises in the NT with another man by the name of Saul.

[Context: Paul testifies before Agrippa concerning his ministry]

To kick against the goads means that one can’t ultimately resist God’s will.

The more we fight, the more the one in control must use the sharp sticks more severely to gain our attention.

- God would rather get your attention and use you as an ambassador to accomplish his will, like this Saul who would become known as the Apostle Paul.

But God will also go right over you or around you to do his will if you stubbornly refuse to submit.

Don’t fight God; it’s a losing battle.

To fight against God is to ensure your defeat and destruction.

- When God’s will has been revealed for certain, it is perfectly unreasonable by one’s own will to try to alter or overcome God’s will.

And the truth is, it is truly best that we submit and not resist.

Our highest good and greatest joy both in this life and the one to come is to submit ourselves to God and align ourselves to His will.

God wants to give you victory as he defines it and rich blessing in seeking and serving him, but that can’t happen while you try to maintain control and fight against his will.

No matter how hard Saul tries, he will not succeed.

If only he chose at any point along this journey to repent and genuinely submit to God.

But unfortunately, that isn’t what he does.

[Let’s press ahead.]

Even as King Saul fights God's will and seeks David's life, God providentially rescues David 4 times in 4 different ways in chapter 19.

God Rescues David Through…

List four ways

Jonathan’s Mediation (19:1-7)

In God’s providential care for David, he has a man on the inside—in Saul’s innermost circle.

(20:2)

More than just being a spy, Jonathan is a true advocate for David… for a couple of reasons.

One, he delights in David (We covered this in depth last week).

Two, Jonathan is on the side of what’s right.

(not his own self-interest, but what’s right)

Take note of Jonathan’s great example of advocacy on David’s behalf here:

He first warns David to take precaution.

(until now, Saul wasn’t overtly seeking David’s life) - What a benefit to be warned of an impending danger by someone who cares for your well-being!

He appears to provides proof of his good intentions by speaking to Saul in a location where David can observe/overhear.

He willingly risks his own fellowship (and safety!) with his father in advocating for David.

- This is the true sign of brotherhood in the faith: John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

He addresses his father, the king, with respect.

- A lesson to be learned about making headway in dealing with our elders, to treat them with respect, as we would (or should) our own fathers (1 Tim.

5:1).

But he also doesn’t hem-and-haw around without getting to the point.

He respectfully but pointedly addresses the king.

In the way he approaches the issue, he reminds Saul of his duty (as king) and is careful to pinpoint the real problem with Saul’s behavior toward David.

- It is a sin to treat David this way.

He has never sought to do you harm.

Instead, he has only brought good to you!

He risked his life to face the Philistine, and God used him to work a great salvation for Israel (note: David is good for you and the people!).

Even you yourself rejoiced greatly at what God did through David.

He appeals to the king’s responsibility before God to work justice and not seek David’s death without cause.

- And this is the crux of the matter in addressing one another, especially for correction: My desire is for your good, and your highest good is to honor God.

Jonathan’s righteous appeal has its intended affect.

It must have worked some conviction in Saul, because Saul makes a solemn promise with God as witness that David should not be put to death.

- Unfortunately, Saul’s disposition time and time again proves to be one that is easily swayed.

For now, Saul’s moral sanity is temporarily restored.

But it won’t last.

[The Lord rescues David through…]

Saul’s Bad Aim and David’s Watchfulness (19:8-10)

Just as Saul was easily swayed by Jonathan, his reason is quickly and easily overruled by his passion, his jealousy.

- I am inclined to believe that it is this weakness (lack of willing and confident submission to God) that makes Saul an easy target for the harmful spirit to come upon him and have mastery over him.

Since Saul had already thrown his spear at David twice on another occasion, David is pretty alert while playing the lyre for Saul.

(David has seen this episode!

It’s a rerun.)

And the music does not work like a charm, and why not? ...because David himself is the target of Saul’s anger!

Providentially, Saul strikes out on spear throwing and wounds only the wall.

Pause for a moment: With all his recent prowess as a warrior, we know that David’s skill in battle has only increased.

I should think that David certainly could have taken the opportunity to put an end to this entire thing by putting an end to Saul.

But he doesn’t.

Saul’s demise is in God’s hands, not David’s.

- These tests from the Lord continue to prove David’s character.

And so David’s second escape comes in the form of God providentially making Saul miss.

But Saul is far from finished.

He’s seething, and he’s determined.

Michal’s Loyalty and Prudence (19:11-17)

Saul’s design was to make Michal a snare to David, but that clearly backfires.

And as Michal knows Saul better than David does, she insists that David escape tonight!

Perhaps David thought that by going home Saul would have time to cool down and things might be fine again, but Michal is prudent here, knowing Saul’s intentions and persistence.