1 Samuel 27:1-12

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 27

David Among the Philistines

¹ But David thought to himself, "One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand."

² So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maoch king of Gath. ³ David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. ⁴ When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.

⁵ Then David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?"

⁶ So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since. ⁷ David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months.

⁸ Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) ⁹ Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish.

¹⁰ When Achish asked, "Where did you go raiding today?" David would say, "Against the Negev of Judah" or "Against the Negev of Jerahmeel" or "Against the Negev of the Kenites." ¹¹ He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, "They might inform on us and say, 'This is what David did.' " And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. ¹² Achish trusted David and said to himself, "He has become so odious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant forever."

This is a very difficult and often ignored part of the story of David. After his second sparing of Saul, David knows he must leave the country. He goes to the king of Gath and becomes his vassal, or servant. You may of heard of Gath before, this was the home of Goliath. Yes, David is working for the Philistines.

David picks up the Philistine way of making a living. He and his band of 600 men raid other nations. David raids and plunders, and kills all he plunders against so they can't talk. The king of Gath, Achlish, likes what David does and thinks he has the Israelites right where he needs them.

Questions:

1. Was David a traitor by working for the Philistines? Or just a deceiver?

2.Why would David feel he must destroy what he raided?

3. What is God's hand in this?

1 Samuel 26:13-25

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

¹³ Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. ¹⁴ He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Aren't you going to answer me, Abner?"
Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?"

¹⁵ David said, "You're a man, aren't you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. ¹⁶ What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the LORD's anointed. Look around you. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were near his head?"

¹⁷ Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, David my son?"
David replied, "Yes it is, my lord the king." ¹⁸ And he added, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? ¹⁹ Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the LORD has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! They have now driven me from my share in the LORD's inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.' ²⁰ Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

²¹ Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly."

²² "Here is the king's spear," David answered. "Let one of your young men come over and get it. ²³ The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. ²⁴ As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble."

²⁵ Then Saul said to David, "May you be blessed, my son David; you will do great things and surely triumph."
So David went on his way, and Saul returned home

David goes to another hill far away and starts to call out to Saul's camp. This may seem odd today, people yelling at each other from great distances. People still do this today. With few trees and other obstructions, sound waves can travel. David was not a human bull horn as you might believe, but he could project.

David talks to Abner, Saul's right hand man. David asks him where the king's spear and water jar are. When Saul see's these items are gone, he realizes David could have killed him again. He tells David "opps, my bad", and David gives him his stuff back. David then leaves the country.

Questions:

1. What do the spear and water jug really represent?

2. Why would it be important that David start the conversation with Abner?

3. Why would David forgive Saul-again! and gives his stuff back to him?

1 Samuel 26:1-12

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 26

David Again Spares Saul's Life

¹ The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?"

² So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search there for David. ³ Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, ⁴ he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived. ^a]'>[a]

⁵ Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

⁶ David then asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, "Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?"
"I'll go with you," said Abishai.

⁷ So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

⁸ Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice."

⁹ But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? ¹⁰ As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹ But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go."

¹² So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep

David is on the run, (as usual.) Some of the other inhabitants of the promised land, the Ziphites, tell Saul where he is hiding. Saul collects an army and goes on the chase. David takes some of his trusted commandos and pays a visit.

Saul and his army are in a deep sleep, and David's friend Abishai wants to take advantage of this by killing Saul. Once again, David spares Saul's life, but takes Saul's spear and water jug.

This story brings other characters into the David story. Abner, Joab and Abishai play prominent roles in the future-remember those names.

Questions:

1. Why doesn't David leave the country, or even better use his popularity with the people to start a revolt?

2. How many times will he let Saul off the hook?

3. Why was it important that David took Saul's spear and water jug?

1 Samuel 24:8-22

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 24:8-22 (New International Version)

⁸ Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. ⁹ He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'? ¹⁰ This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's anointed.' ¹¹ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. ¹² May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. ¹³ As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you.

¹⁴ "Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? ¹⁵ May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand."

¹⁶ When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud. ¹⁷ "You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. ¹⁸ You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. ¹⁹ When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today. ²⁰ I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. ²¹ Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family."

²² So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

David confronts Saul after the king leaves the cave. He prostrates himself, (lies face down) and explains that he could have easily killed the king. He asks why Saul hates him so much, why Saul spends so much energy on a "dog" or a "flea", something insignificant.

He asks for a truce and to let God be the judge. Saul agrees, and weeps. BUT; as Saul leaves with his army, David takes his followers back to safety.

Questions:

1. Why did David Prostrate himself before Saul?

2. Why does David compare himself to a dog or flea?

3. Has David learned in this relationship? He did not follow Saul to the palace, but took his bodyguards with him to his stronghold.

1 Samuel 24:1-7

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 24

David Spares Saul's Life

¹ After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi." ² So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

³ He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. ⁴ The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said ^a]'>[a] to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.' " Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

⁵ Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. ⁶ He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD." ⁷ With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

We are skipping along here. David is on the run from Saul. Each take time out to fight other tribes, but David is hiding in the wilderness. Saul is chasing him but does not know how close he is to David. He goes into a cave to relieve himself not knowing this is where David and his men are hiding. David cuts off a piece of Saul's cloak, but feels remorse and does not let his men kill the king.

Questions:

1. Why didn't David kill Saul? Saul is constantly trying to kill David.

2. Why did he become heart stricken in verse 5?

3. How tough would it be for David's men not to go ahead and take care of the king?

1 Samuel 19:18-24

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 19:18-24 (New International Version)

¹⁸ When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. ¹⁹ Word came to Saul: "David is in Naioth at Ramah"; ²⁰ so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saul's men and they also prophesied. ²¹ Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. ²² Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Secu. And he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?"
"Over in Naioth at Ramah," they said.

²³ So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. ²⁴ He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel's presence. He lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

I almost decided to skip this part of the story. It is difficult to understand and doesn't add to the flow of the story of David. Evidently, Saul was prone to the spirit. Read 1 Samuel 10:10-12. This is a very similar story with some of the same words, just no David.

If Saul was bi-polar, and prone to manic behavior as well as dark depression, this would fit his profile. When visiting the prophets of God, it would be believable that he could become very charismatic. I'm not saying charismatic people are bi-polar. Saul went from very high to very low. When he was on a high it is possible that he would dance and jump around. But why did his hit men do the same?

Questions:

1. After David flees to be with Samuel, who ratted him out to Saul?

2. Why would David feel safe with the prophets?

3.What's up with Saul?

1 Samuel 19:8-17

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 19:8-17 (New International Version)

⁸ Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.

⁹ But an evil ^a]'>[a] spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the harp, ¹⁰ Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.

¹¹ Saul sent men to David's house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don't run for your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be killed." ¹² So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped. ¹³ Then Michal took an idol ^b]'>[b] and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats' hair at the head.

¹⁴ When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michal said, "He is ill."

¹⁵ Then Saul sent the men back to see David and told them, "Bring him up to me in his bed so that I may kill him." ¹⁶ But when the men entered, there was the idol in the bed, and at the head was some goats' hair.

¹⁷ Saul said to Michal, "Why did you deceive me like this and send my enemy away so that he escaped?"
Michal told him, "He said to me, 'Let me get away. Why should I kill you?' "

Footnotes:

1. 1 Samuel 19:9 Or injurious
2. 1 Samuel 19:13 Hebrew teraphim ; also in verse 16

Saul is still trying to kill David, and David still hangs around. Saul was in full mental illness by this time, but even after Saul tries to pin David to the wall with a spear 3 times, he is still unaware that his life is in peril.

David's wife, Saul's daughter, finally gets through to David, and helps him escape. Saul is upset and Michal lies to cover up. This is one dis-functional first family.

Questions:

1. David is a busy boy. Why would he go back to Saul after fighting the Philistines again?

2. Why does David stay in the palace after his father-in-law tries to kill him again?

3. What was an idol doing in the house of the Jewish King?

1 samuel19:1-7

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 19

Saul Tries to Kill David

¹ Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David ² and warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. ³ I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out."

⁴ Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. ⁵ He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The LORD won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?"

⁶ Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death."

⁷ So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.

Saul still wants to kill David. His son Jonathan loves David, and tries his very best to sooth the tension Saul feels towards David. He explains how all David has done has been for Saul. David has not sinned against the king, so why should the king want him dead?

Saul agrees to not kill David, and David goes back in the service of Saul. Saul had sworn not to kill David, but this would prove to be a temporary oath.

Questions:

1.Why is Jonathan restraining his Father?

2. If you were David, would you hang around in the field as Jonathan talked to the king?

3. Why would David go back to the palace to be in Saul's service?

1 Samuel 18:17-30

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 18:17-30 (New International Version)

¹⁷ Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD." For Saul said to himself, "I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!"

¹⁸ But David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my family or my father's clan in Israel, that I should become the king's son-in-law?" ¹⁹ So ^a]'>[a] when the time came for Merab, Saul's daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

²⁰ Now Saul's daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased. ²¹ "I will give her to him," he thought, "so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." So Saul said to David, "Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law."

²² Then Saul ordered his attendants: "Speak to David privately and say, 'Look, the king is pleased with you, and his attendants all like you; now become his son-in-law.' "

²³ They repeated these words to David. But David said, "Do you think it is a small matter to become the king's son-in-law? I'm only a poor man and little known."

²⁴ When Saul's servants told him what David had said, ²⁵ Saul replied, "Say to David, 'The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.' " Saul's plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.

²⁶ When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, ²⁷ David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so that he might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.

²⁸ When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, ²⁹ Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

³⁰ The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success ^b]'>[b] than the rest of Saul's officers, and his name became well known.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Samuel 18:19 Or However ,
2. 1 Samuel 18:30 Or David acted more wisely

Poor Saul. He thinks that getting David in the family he can do away with him. He promises his oldest daughter, David refuses and she is engaged to another anyway. He offers daughter #2, again David refuses. He says that he is too poor and a commoner-how can he be a kings son-in-law?

Saul tells him that Saul wants no big gift, he will sell cheap! All he wants is...say..100 foreskins from Philistine warriors. A bargain! David takes the army out and instead of getting killed or worse, he brings the gift back. Instead of failing and dieing , David becomes even more popular.

Why foreskins? Remember- the Jews have a covenant with God to circumcise all male children, the Philistines were not bound by the same agreement. Instead of hauling 100 heads for a gift, (that would fill a cart and be a real eye-sore) all David had to do was get 100 foreskins. Those would fit in a very small bag, therefore would be easier to transport.

Questions:

1. I hate to bring this up, but didn't the King promise his daughter to the man who killed Goliath back in 1 Samuel 17:25?

2. Why did David refuse the first daughter?

3. What is it that Saul is really afraid of?

1 Samuel 18:1-16

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 18

Saul's Jealousy of David

¹ After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. ² From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. ³ And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

⁵ Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully ^a]'>[a] that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the people, and Saul's officers as well.

⁶ When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. ⁷ As they danced, they sang:
"Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands."

⁸ Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

¹⁰ The next day an evil ^b]'>[b] spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.

¹² Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul. ¹³ So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. ¹⁴ In everything he did he had great success, ^c]'>[c] because the LORD was with him. ¹⁵ When Saul saw how successful ^d]'>[d] he was, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Samuel 18:5 Or wisely
2. 1 Samuel 18:10 Or injurious
3. 1 Samuel 18:14 Or he was very wise
4. 1 Samuel 18:15 Or wise

David has killed the enemy, now he has to put up with what that causes.Saul's own son, Jonathan, becomes very good friends with David. This is interesting because Jonathan is in line to be king, and also is a very good person. David becomes successful in everything he does, he has the golden touch, so Saul puts him in charge of the army.

David is successful with the army, instead of dying, he and the army kill many of the enemies of Israel. The people love him and sing his praises. Now Saul starts to get jealous. Saul tries to kill David, twice, at his palace as David plays. ( Is that a way to treat the band?) Saul becomes afraid and paranoid, and removes David from his presence.

Questions:

1. Why would Jonathan love David? Why would David trust Jonathan?

2. If someone is very successful and you are scared of him, why put him in charge of the army? Isn't Davis still kind of young?

3. Why does David hang around after Saul tries to kill him?

1 Samuel 17:41-58

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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 17:41-58 (New International Version)

⁴¹ Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. ⁴² He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. ⁴³ He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"
⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
⁵¹ David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. ⁵² Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath ^a]'>[a] and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. ⁵³ When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp. ⁵⁴ David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put the Philistine's weapons in his own tent.
⁵⁵ As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is that young man?"
Abner replied, "As surely as you live, O king, I don't know."
⁵⁶ The king said, "Find out whose son this young man is."
⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine's head.
⁵⁸ "Whose son are you, young man?" Saul asked him.
David said, "I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem."

Footnotes:

1. 1 Samuel 17:52 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew a valley

Goliath was appalled at who the Israelites sent to fight him. David was young, red-headed and wore no armor. They started the trash talking before the event. They really liked to call each other dogs.
Goliath was going to kill David quickly; but leave his dead carcass for the buzzards to eat. David pulled out his sling and rocks the big man's world, then he cuts off his head. That motivated the Israelite army and stunned the Philistines.
Curious passage at the end. Saul asks his general Abner who this boy is, and Abner does not know. They have to go get David and ask him who he is.
Questions:
1.Why does Goliath take David lightly?
2. What does David use, (besides a stone) in his battle?
3.Why would David fell it was necessary to cut off Goliath's head?

1 Samuel 17:19-40

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1 Samuel 17:19-40 (New International Version)

¹⁹ They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines."

²⁰ Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. ²¹ Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. ²² David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. ²³ As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. ²⁴ When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear.

²⁵ Now the Israelites had been saying, "Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father's family from taxes in Israel."

²⁶ David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

²⁷ They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, "This is what will be done for the man who kills him."

²⁸ When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."

²⁹ "Now what have I done?" said David. "Can't I even speak?" ³⁰ He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. ³¹ What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

³² David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."

³³ Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."

³⁴ But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, ³⁵ I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. ³⁶ Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. ³⁷ The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

³⁸ Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. ³⁹ David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
"I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. ⁴⁰ Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

Goliath was a monster. Not only was he huge, but he had been killing men since he was a boy. He was more than just a mere mortal-he was a legend! Sometimes legends are very hard to kill.

Saul offered a lot to any MAN that could defeat Goliath, ( yes I meant to cap the word man.) The camp was buzzing about this offer and David heard it. His brother Eliab heard that David was talking to the soldiers. Verse 28 is very interesting. Not only does it show some sibling rivalry, it also shows that David is not perfect in the eyes of his brother.

Saul hears about what David has said and sends for him. David tells the king that he is going to take care of things, and after shunning the Kings armor, he sets off to battle the giant.

Questions:

1. Why are the men of Israel so afraid of one man?

2. Why does Eliab create such a scheme with his little brother?

3. What is it that makes David think he can win? Why would Saul let a boy try something none of his other soldiers would try?

1 Samuel 17:1-18

Relax, Read and Reflect
Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 17

David and Goliath

¹ Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. ² Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. ³ The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

⁴ A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet ' tall. ⁵ He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels ; ⁶ on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. ⁷ His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.

⁸ Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. ⁹ If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." ¹⁰ Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other." ¹¹ On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

¹² Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul's time he was old and well advanced in years. ¹³ Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. ¹⁴ David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, ¹⁵ but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

¹⁶ For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

¹⁷ Now Jesse said to his son David, "Take this ephah d]'>[d] of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. ¹⁸ Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. e]'>[e] See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance f]'>[f] from them.

This setting up the action. The Philistines made a living fighting wars. They were traders and had superior weapons. David was home, but his three oldest brothers were with King Saul and the army. Jessie, David's Dad, sends his baby boy to the front with a care package from home. This is were he meets Goliath. Goliath comes out every morning to taunt the enemy. He is big and bad and the Israelites are afraid of him. He asks that they send out one man to fight Goliath and they will settle the battle that way, but no one takes up the offer.

Questions:

1. Why was David home? Wasn't he a part of Saul's court?

2.The Israelites were warriors too. They had taken the promised land by force. Why were they scared of one man?

3. Why would this taunting bother David?

1Samuel 16:14-23

Relax, Read and Reflect
Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 16:14-23 (The Message)

David—An Excellent Musician

¹⁴ At that very moment the Spirit of God left Saul and in its place a black mood sent by God settled on him. He was terrified.

^15-16 Saul's advisors said, "This awful tormenting depression from God is making your life miserable. O Master, let us help. Let us look for someone who can play the harp. When the black mood from God moves in, he'll play his music and you'll feel better."

¹⁷ Saul told his servants, "Go ahead. Find me someone who can play well and bring him to me."

¹⁸ One of the young men spoke up, "I know someone. I've seen him myself: the son of Jesse of Bethlehem, an excellent musician. He's also courageous, of age, well-spoken, and good-looking. And God is with him."

¹⁹ So Saul sent messengers to Jesse requesting, "Send your son David to me, the one who tends the sheep."

^20-21 Jesse took a donkey, loaded it with a couple of loaves of bread, a flask of wine, and a young goat, and sent his son David with it to Saul. David came to Saul and stood before him. Saul liked him immediately and made him his right-hand man.

²² Saul sent word back to Jesse: "Thank you. David will stay here. He's just the one I was looking for. I'm very impressed by him."

²³ After that, whenever the bad depression from God tormented Saul, David got out his harp and played. That would calm Saul down, and he would feel better as the moodiness lifted.

Today I chose to use "The Message " paraphrase as text. It is good to be able to look at several versions when studying the Bible. Sometimes one may leave you scratching your head going "huh" and another may bring it home.

God left Saul. When he did a dark mood or bad spirit came in. Today most scholars think it was a mental illness, probably manic-depression. When Saul began to suffer he looked for someone who could sooth him, make him feel better. Saul was king, and a big and powerful dude. If I was one of his advisers and he was freaking out-I would want him to sooth down. They say that music calms the savage beast, so the advisers-his cabinet- looked for a good harp player. Guess what? David played the harp. God does work in mysterious ways.

They sent for David and when Saul would get depressed, David would play for him and make him feel better. This made Saul-and his cabinet- feel better.

Questions:

1. Think about verse 14. Does this give us a clue about our lives?

2. Wouldn't have been easier if God had not brought David and Saul together? Why or why not.

3. What did this do for David? Why was his relationship with Saul important?

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Relax, Read and Reflect
Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 16

Samuel Anoints David

¹ The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

² But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me."
The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate."

⁴ Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"

⁵ Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD."

⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one." ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?"
"There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep."
Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down ^a]'>[a] until he arrives."

¹² So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Saul had turned from God, and God had turned from Saul. Here he instructs Samuel to go anoint the next King. God tells Samuel, the prophet and religious leader of Israel to go the house of Jessie and there he would find the man God has chosen. Samuel gets there but none of Jessie's sons are the man God is looking for, and they have to send out for the youngest-David, Samuel anoints him on the spot.

Questions

1. Why is Samuel still morning for Saul? Saul has fallen out of favor with God and God is moving on. Why can't Samuel?

2. How difficult must it have been for Samuel to anoint a new King WHILE THE FIRST KING IS LIVING AND IN GOOD PHYSICAL HEALTH?

3. What do we learn immediately about David?

New Lesson Series

We will start a new lesson series this next Sunday, July 19, 2009. We will study David, ( the Jewish King, not the youth minister.) Class starts @ 9:50 AM and we will meet in the classroom of the Christian Life Center.
To prepare for this week, read 1 Samuel- Chapters 16-17. This is the story of the young David and Goliath. Hope to see you Sunday.