SERMON NOTES:
1ST SKIRMISH - DEATH BY SPEAR1 Samuel 18:6-12 - When David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments. 7 As they celebrated, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands. 8 Saul was furious and resented this song. “They credited tens of thousands to David,” he complained, “but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward. 10 The next day an evil spirit sent from God took control of Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual, but Saul was holding a spear, 11 and he threw it, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David got away from him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.
2ND SKIRMISH – PHILISTINES & FORESKINS1 Samuel 18:20,21,23, 25,28,29 - Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when it was reported to Saul, it pleased him. 21 “I’ll give her to him,” Saul thought. “She’ll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You can now be my son-in-law.” 23 Saul’s servants reported these words directly to David, but he replied, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor man who is common.” 25 Then Saul replied, “Say this to David: ‘The king desires no other bride-price except 100 Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’” Actually, Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines. 27 David and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as full payment to the king to become his son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David as his wife. 28 - Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, 29 and he became even more afraid of David. As a result, Saul was David’s enemy from then on.
3RD SKIRMISH- DEATH BY BEST FRIEND1 Samuel 19:1 - Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David.
1 Samuel 19:4-5 -Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him: “The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn’t sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you. 5 He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”
4TH SKIRMISH- DEATH BY SPEAR…AGAIN.1 Samuel 19:9-11 - Now an evil spirit sent from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his palace holding a spear. David was playing the lyre, 10 and Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear. As the spear struck the wall, David eluded Saul, ran away, and escaped that night.
5TH SKIRMISH - DEATH BY WIFE1 Samuel 19:11-17 - Saul sent agents to David’s house to watch for him and kill him in the morning. But his wife Michal warned David, “If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead tomorrow!” 12 So she lowered David from the window, and he fled and escaped. 13 Then Michal took the household idol and put it on the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. 14 When Saul sent agents to seize David, Michal said, “He’s sick.” Saul sent the agents back to see David and said, “Bring him on his bed so I can kill him.” 16 When the messengers arrived, to their surprise, the household idol was on the bed with some goat hair on its head. 17 Saul asked Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!”
6TH SKIRMISH - DEATH BY WAR1 Samuel 23:7-8 When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates.” 8 Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
7TH SKIRMISH – CAVE OF RELIEF1 Samuel 24:1-4 - When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness near En-gedi.” 2 So Saul took 3,000 of Israel’s choice men and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were staying in the back of the cave, 4 so they said to him, “Look, this is the day the Lord told you about: ‘I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.’” Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 5 Afterward, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “I swear before the Lord: I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed. I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7 With these words David persuaded his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. 8 After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed to the ground in homage. 9 David said to Saul, “Why do you liste to the words of people who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? 10 You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave. Someone advised me to kill you, but I took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed. 11 See, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Look and recognize that there is no evil or rebellion in me. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
1 Samuel 24:12 - May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you. 13 As the old proverb says, Wickedness comes from wicked people.
Romans 12:14,17-21 - 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
1 Samuel 24:16-20 - When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, “Is that your voice, David my son?” 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? 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 be established in your hand.
TO HANDLE SKIRMISHES BORN OUT OF JEALOUSY & INSECURITY
-KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
-DON'T BAD MOUTH
-DON’T MOCK THEIR MISFORTUNE
-PRAY FOR THEM
A POSTURE OF FORGIVENESS IS A KEY TO SURVIVING OUR SKIRMISH.
Matthew 6:14-15 -“For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Today's sermon focused on the tumultuous relationship between King Saul and David. Despite starting as an ally, Saul's jealousy and insecurity towards David led him to repeatedly attempt to kill David. The skirmishes between them showcased how unchecked negative emotions can lead to destructive behavior. The sermon emphasized the importance of dealing with authority figures respectfully, showing grace, seeking peace, and offering forgiveness even in the face of unjust treatment. David’s honorable responses to Saul's aggression provided a model for handling conflicts with humility and integrity.
Discussion Questions for Group Reflection:
○ What stood out to you the most from today’s sermon about David and Saul? How did it make you reflect on your own experiences?
Saul's Jealousy:
○ Read 1 Samuel 18:6-12. What triggered Saul’s jealousy towards David? How did this jealousy manifest in Saul’s actions?
David's Response:
○ Despite Saul's attempts on his life, David consistently showed respect and did not retaliate. Read 1 Samuel 24:2-11. How did David's actions reflect his trust in God's authority and his commitment to doing what was right?
Dealing with Authority:
○ Have you ever had to deal with a difficult authority figure in your life (e.g., a boss, teacher, parent)? How did you handle the situation? What could you learn from David’s example?
Jealousy and Insecurity in Our Lives:
○ Saul’s jealousy led to destructive behavior. How do jealousy and insecurity affect our actions and relationships today? Can you share a personal experience where jealousy or insecurity played a role?
Seeking Peace:
○ Romans 12:14-21 emphasizes living at peace with everyone and not seeking revenge. How can we practically apply these principles in our daily lives, especially when dealing with conflict?
Forgiveness:
○ David forgave Saul multiple times despite being wronged. Read Matthew 18:21-22. Why is forgiveness important in resolving conflicts? What challenges do you face when trying to forgive someone who has wronged you?
Transformative Power of Grace:
○ Saul’s reaction to David’s grace was one of remorse. Read 1 Samuel 24:16-20. How can showing grace and kindness to those who wrong us potentially transform the situation?
Practical Steps:
○ Pastor Shared 4 Steps to Handle these Skirmishes: -Keep Your Distance -Don't Bad Mouth -Don't Mock their Misfortune -Pray for Them
What are some practical ways we can apply these to current and future skirmishes with others?
Reflecting on Personal Experiences:
○ Reflect on a time when you were either in Saul’s position (jealous/insecure) or David’s position (wronged). How did you handle it? What would you do differently now after learning from David’s example?
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, recognizing that we often struggle with jealousy, insecurity, and our attitudes towards those in authority over us. We thank You for the example of David, who showed us how to respond with grace, respect, and forgiveness even in the face of unjust treatment.
Lord, help us to identify any jealousy or insecurity in our hearts and give us the strength to overcome these feelings. Teach us to trust in Your authority and to respect those You have placed in positions over us. Guide us in our interactions so that we may always reflect Your love and grace. We ask for Your forgiveness for any times we have failed to show honor or have harbored bitterness. Help us to seek reconciliation and to extend forgiveness to those who have wronged us, just as You have forgiven us. Father, we pray for those who may feel threatened or insecure around us. Bless them and help them find their worth and security in You. May our actions always point others to Your goodness and mercy.
As we leave this discussion, fill us with Your peace and empower us to live out these principles in our daily lives. We trust in Your sovereignty and commit to showing grace, seeking peace, and offering forgiveness in all our relationships. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
