1. Introduction

a. Picture 1

b. Picture 2

c. “Your actions, reactions, behavior, responses, and words are more shaped by what's inside of you than what's outside of you.” Paul Tripp

2. The Fall of Saul (Chapter 31)

a. The Battle Rages On (vs 1-3)                                                             

b. Saul Gives Up (vs 4-7)

i. Paul Tripp says “That's unbelief. By giving in

c. The Philistines Disgrace Saul (vs 8-10)

d. Valiant Men Respect the king (vs 11-13)

i. Hebrews 3:12-13, “Take care, brothers, lest

3. The Rise of David (2 Samuel 1)

a. David Defeats the Amalekites (vs 1)

b. An Amalekite Seeks Advantage (vs 2-10)

i. “his clothes torn and dirt on his head” (vs 2)

ii. “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear…he said to me ‘stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ So I stood beside him and killed him And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.” (vs 6-10)

iii. Do you tell stories to make you more of a hero than you are? Do you stretch the truth to promote your success? Are you tempted to grow your stories to impress people? Do you treat others differently because that person may bring more reward to you?

c. David Mourns (vs 11-16)

i. READ vs 11-16

d. David Shows God’s Heart (vs 17-27)

e. The Power Within

i.  The power within Saul was of his own dependence,

ii. The power within David was the heart of God and

iii. Gatorade 3 picture

iv. Micah 3:8 says “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD.”

v. Ephesians 3:16 says, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being”

vi. We do not lose heart, because, even “though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” 2 Corinthians 4:16

1. David lost his way (Chapter 27)

a. He knew God’s way was right                                                           

b. He lost sight and chose the way of deception.                                                           

2. Saul chose the wrong way. (Chapter 28)

a. He knew what way was right                                                              

b. His heart was set on his own way                                                          

c. He pursues a forbidden way                                                          

d. Saul is shown God’s way                                                            

3. The Philistines push David away. (Chapter 29)

a. “As the LORD lives, you have been honest…I have found nothing wrong in you…you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God Nevertheless…depart as soon as you have light.” 29:6-10

4. David changes his way. (Chapter 30)

a. David sees the way of destruction.                                                              

b. David turns back to God as his way.                                                             

5. Mankind isn’t the way.

a. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

b. “None is righteous, no, not one. No one understands; no one seeks for God.” Romans 3:10-11

c. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

6.  Jesus is the The Way.

a. “So what we encounter in this Gospel is the living God, the Creator of the world, present among us humans, in our world in his Son — the infinitely loved, eternal, image and radiance of his essence — and through faith — through believing and receiving him for all that he is — we are connected to this One and through him to the Father, and so share in eternal, supernatural life, even now.” -John Piper

b. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” John 14:6

c. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

d. God is my refuge. God is my Goodness. God is my portion and cup. God is my counsel. God is always before me. God is my joy. God is my security. God is with me. God is my guide. God is my fullness. God is my

e.  Colossians 1:15-20

A Reminder of God’s Providence

1 Samuel 25-26 

1)  David’s Reasonable Request (25:1-9)

a)  Nabal “was very rich…harsh and badly behaved.” vs 2-3

b) Abigail was “discerning and beautiful” vs 2-3

c) It’s sheep shearing season and David makes a reasonable request.

i) “Let my young men find favor in your eyes” and treat them as your own servants in this celebration.” vs 4

2) Nabal’s Disrespect and David’s Response (25:10-13)

a) Nabal Responds to David’s Request

i)  “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?” vs 10-11

b) David Responds to the Disrespect

i) “Every man strap on your sword!” vs 13

3) God’s Providence through Abigail’s Intervention (25:14-35)

a) As David reacts, God intervenes. Abigail gets word about David’s plan and proceeds to rush to David.

i) “Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs.” vs 18

b) She greets David quickly and respectfully (vs 23-31)

c) She reminds David of God’s Providence

d) David listens to God’s reminder and doesn’t pursue Nabal.

i) Verses 32-35, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discretion…For as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.”

e) God used Abigail’s Intervention to Remind David of His Providence and Faithfulness.

4) Nabal’s Death and God’s Glory (25:36-44)

a) Abigail tells Nabal of the events after “the wine had gone out of him” verse 37

b) The news causes Nabal a heart attack of some sort

i) “his heart died within him” vs 37

ii) “ten days later the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.” vs 38

iii) “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

iv) “Blessed be the Lord who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal…The LORD has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head.” verse 39

c)  After Nabal’s death, David takes Abigail to be his wife. (vs 39-42)

5) The Continued Tension between Saul and David (26:1-8)

a) “So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 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.” vs 7-8

b) “Just because the circumstances make it possible for me to do a certain thing, doesn’t mean it’s God’s direct leading for me to do it.” -Pastor Derek

6)  David’s Mature Response (26:9-16)

a) “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his

i)   “Do not speak evil against one another.” James 4:11

ii)   “Do not grumble against one another” James 5:9

iii)  “Encourage one another and build one another up.” 1 Thess 5:11

7)      Saul’s Humility (26:17-25)

Lessons from Chapters 25-26

a) TRUST IN GOD’S PROCESS

b) TRUST IN GOD’S PROVIDENCE

c) TRUST IN GOD’S

1 Samuel 24

Psalms 57 & 142

Psalm 56

What do I do when I’m overwhelmed, feel hopeless, attacked, or troubled?

1. David Recognizes the Reality of Man and the Reality of God (Psalm 56:1-4)

a. Man’s Ways are Wrong while God’s Ways are Right (vs 1a)

b. Mankind is vulnerable, God is not. (1b-4)

2. David Recognizes Man’s injustice, but God’s Justice (vs 5-7)

3. David Recognizes God’s Intimate Care (vs 8-11)

4. David’s Confidence is in God’s Eternity (vs 12-13)

a. Trust the Lord

b. Obey the Lord

c. Study His Word

d. Give Thanks

e. Remember your Salvation

f. Focus on Eternity

Reminders from God 1 Samuel 21-23

1.       David Responds to Fear _______ _________
a.       Reminder: God Loves You

2.       David Responds to Fear _______ __________
a.       Reminder: God Helps You
i.      Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble.”
ii.      Hebrews 13:6, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

3.       David Responds to Fear ________ _________
a.       Reminder: God Has A Plan For You
i.      Ephesians 2:10, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
ii.      Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

4.       David Responds to Fear by ____________ _______
a.       Reminder: God Guides You
i.      Psalm 37:23-24, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”

Psalm 59

1 Samuel 18-20

1 Samuel 17