David's Confusion

When the prophet Samuel anointed David as King, God promised David will ascend to the throne. But when Saul tried to kill him. David was filled with fear and what we are seeing in David is the vacillation in his own mind and in his own heart. Between doubt and faith. Now doubt takes over, you know, we tend to view David is kind of a bulletproof hero fought lions killed Goliath, but he was human just like the rest of us. He was a sinner today are Renewing Your Mind. We continue Dr. RC Sproul series on the life of David and will find some common ground with this biblical Dragon when push comes to shove, are we willing to believe God as we continue now with our study of the life of David we remember that in our last lesson we saw this episode of David's relationship with the foolish rich man may ball and how when they boss burned David's peace overtures. David reacted with fury and set out with his sword to attack the shearers and shepherds of Maple and how that Abigail rose up at the risk of her own life to go out and meet David and stop him in his tracks and sue for peace and how the David was so relieved and saw the hand of God in this encounter and said, Blessed be the Lord, who sent you this day to stop my hands from wickedness and so David here for a time, at least, came to his senses. Now when we look at this.

In David's life that. When David is on the constant run from the pursuit of Saul, David, the fugitive, what we see in the man is vacillation one minute he's trusting in the promises of God, the next minute he's taking matters into his own. Hey another two times in this. In which David is stopped from wreaking judgment and vengeance against Saul. Two occasions were David behaves in on believable terms of self-control and restraint and in a godly spirit two times in the midst of this harassment at the hands of Saul. Saul inadvertently comes into the immediate presence of David on the first occasion Saul and his men are searching through the wilderness for David and his men, not knowing that David and his troops had found refuge in one of these huge caves in the region of Vendetti. If you've ever been to Palestine and been to the Dead Sea region around the area where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. You will see those hills and mountains along that area that are filled literally with thousands and thousands of caves, many of which have never been explored.

Even to this day. Will David and his men had sought refuge in one of these caves and we are told in the Scriptures that Saul takes a brief rest from his pursuit of David and goes into one of these caves to relieve himself and when he enters the cave completely unknown to him. David is right around the bed and David and his men see Saul coming and his men say to David theory is these vulnerable let me slay him. Saul apparently taken off his coat.

David said no. He is the Lord's anointed. Let no one lift a finger against the king. David at least respected the office that Saul held and David realized that God had put Saul in the position of authority where he was. He knew that Saul was radically corrupt. He knew that God was passing the kingdom from Saul to David and this would've been the perfect opportunity for David to make the prophecy come to pass, but he didn't indulge in the kind of thing Rebecca did when she deceived her husband to make sure that the patriarchal blessing was passed on to the son that she wanted and saw one of those Kaiser shenanigans that we read throughout the Old Testament. David says now don't touch but he leaves his calling card. He wants Saul to know that David could've killed him but didn't know the record of that is found earlier in the 24th chapter of the book of first Samuel and so after Saul leaves the cave David arose when outside the cave and called after him, saying, my lord the king Saul looked behind him. David stooped with his face to the earth and bow down and David said to Saul, why do you listen to the words of men who say to you, David seeks your harm look this day.

Your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave and some orders me to kill you. But my eyes spiritual and I said I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed look my father see you see the corner of your robe in my hand friend that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand and I have not sinned against you and yet you hunt my life to take it. Let the Lord judge between you and me and then when David finished speaking, Saul cried out, is this your voice. My son David and then Saul lifted up his own voice, and wept, and he said to David, you are more righteous than I am. For you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil and you have shown this day how you've dealt well with me for a man finds his enemy really let them get away safely, therefore, may the Lord reward you with good for what you've done to me this day and now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand therefore swear not to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendents after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father's house.

Listen to this momentarily. Saul repents and acknowledges to David his own understanding that God had taken the kingdom from him and his own understanding but God had delivered the kingdom to David and Saul is saying. Now I see why you are far more righteous than I you could've killed me and you didn't and he confesses his sin against David, please. For one thing promised me David, but when you become king. You will not cut off the descendents of my house. Crucial promise in the Scriptures tell us that that day David swore the oath he agreed to that promise.

And of course what follows is the story we've already looked at the encounter with the foolish Maple and then right after that right after this wonderful repentance by Saul were back in the same situation were once again Saul and his army are pursuing David and once again as Saul and his army pitch their tents and rest for the night. David and his troops no worse Saul and his troops are sold as another David's there, and so David and his men look at the camp of Saul say David Wilder sleep. Let's go get him. So David and one of his men sneak into the camp of Saul at night and the Bible says the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Saul and his men made it possible for David to come so close and he comes up right beside Saul and there is so sound asleep with his water jug beside and his spear that huge spear that he had thrown at David so many times is not sticking in the ground beside Saul. And no matter how powerful a person is when they're awake.

They are utterly defenseless when they're asleep, but again God holds him back and again he refuses to take revenge for himself. Instead, he takes the spear and the jug and beliefs in peace, but that after you safely back the same kind of thing that happened in chapter 24 happens again we get into this shouting communication. David begins to taunt Abner with Saul's chief Gen. and David in the 15th verse of chapter 26 cries out to Abner, are you not a man who is like you and Israel, why have you not guarded your lord the king for one of the people came in the destroyer lord the king, and the thing that you have done is not good.

And again, Saul recognizes the voice of David, and he cries out is that your voice my son David and David said, it is my voice, my Lord. Okay David since king why do you keep pursuing me.

I mean no harm to you and for the second time David has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has no evil intent against Saul for the king of Israel has come out. The secret fully as one hunts a partridge in the mountains and again Saul repents and cries out, I have sinned return, my son, David, for I will harm you know more because my life was precious in your eyes this day.

Indeed, I have played the fool and David said here's the king spear, let one of your young men come over and get it in verse 25.

Saul says that David may you be blessed my son David, you shall both do great things, and shall still prevail, and so David went on his way and Saul returned to his place know the purpose of our lesson today is not simply to look at these narratives of these close encounters of a strange kind between David and Saul were on both occasions David could've killed Saul on both occasions David spared his life and on both occasions Saul repents and promises not to harm David what I want us to see is what happens next because as heroic and as virtuous and as faithful as David ask in these two incidents. The next move that he makes is another plunge into unfaithfulness into sinfulness and into vice is an incredible thing, but the very next chapter.

Chapter 27 begins with these words and David said in his heart. Now I shall parry someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines and Saul will despair of me to seek me anymore in any part of Israel.

So I shall escape out of his hand.

We don't read the stories of the lives of the biblical people just for the sake of getting heroic models to emulate and so on. The purpose of the Old Testament.

My friends is not simply to tell a story's about men and women like ourselves. The chief purpose of the Old Testament is to reveal to us the character of God. God is the chief character here and what we are seeing in David is the vacillation in his own mind and in his own heart. Between doubt and faith in the previous two episodes. David's face was preserved now doubt takes over how many times has God demonstrated to David his promise and care for David's life. What does it take for David to trust God. No sooner does the chapter and were David spares the life of the king and the king promises never begin to chase after him that we read in this chapter.

These ominous foreboding unconscionable words. David said in his heart.

Now I shall parry someday by the hand of Saul. They would think so over escape Saul the second time. Mr. sample thank you God for delivering me from the hands of Saul. Thank you for giving me this privilege. To show before the whole world that I mean no evil, and so on. He said escape twice, three times, time again my lecture running out. Surely he's thinking now Saul is going to kill me.

And so he acts on that thought, and he leaves his native land where does he go he goes to gas again.

He goes to the fullest things and for the next few years and he spends his life as a renegade running around all kinds of military raids bloodthirsty killing people all over the place.

As an outlaw is entered into an alliance with the very king that was his mortal enemy. All of this because he's driven by a fear of Saul another reality is friends but that day the David spared the life of Saul and David gave Saul spear back was the last time David ever saw Saul in his life. David didn't know that. And David didn't think that these numbers seem again for sure. And the next time I see him he's going to kill me was the next we can get in deep trouble when we start reasoning within ourselves with the kind of reasoning that is diametrically opposed to the promise of God, you know I've said a million times five said it once it's one thing to believe in God.

It's another thing to believe God all the difference in the world is easy for us to believe that God exists. The real test of faith is do we believe what he says do we believe his promises of the promises don't come to us immediately. Our faith begins to come apart at the seams. David had experienced the anointing of the prophet of God. Samuel had poured the holy oil upon his head and pronounce the very promise of Almighty God that he would be the king, and if that wasn't enough Abigail's actions when she intervenes to stop David from a bloodthirsty act of revenge against naval David recognized in her testimony, the presence of God and the ratification of the promise of God. So again, David saw the word of God being secured and buttressed in his own life, but now he panics and now he flees because his internal reasoning was completely at odds, and antithetical to the word of God and the most shameful behavior, David. During this period in suits because he now begins to live his life, not by the word of God or by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, but by the reasonings of David and he compromises the gospel had been preached to him by Samuel and he does it in a shameful and disgraceful manner, delivering himself as an ally to the very enemies that he had fought against for so many years, we read that when he went over to a cash who was the king of gas. The city of Goliath that a case believe David and said he has made his people Israel utterly up or him. Therefore he will be my servant forever.

Imagine that David has fallen so far. Now he has become a symbol of the performance and hatred for his own people but God had redeemed through David's hand as he now stands shoulder to shoulder with the king of the fullest and it's difficult for us to view David in such a compromising position but aren't you grateful that the Bible doesn't shy away from showing us the faults of our heroes stay with us here on Renewing Your Mind, Dr. Spruill, return it just a moment with a final thought on how we should respond in moments of crisis every Saturday we returned to the series on the life of David Dr. scroll is showing us every aspect, both good and bad of David's amazing story. He also helps us connect David with the rest of Scripture, including the Messiah who would follow.

There's an overarching narrative to the Bible and that that's why like to recommend our resource offer today. It's the special edition of Dr. Spruill series duster glory.

It's a 57 part study tour that explores the themes and events of the Bible from Genesis all the way to Revelation. In this special edition set provides an extra disc containing the study guides for the series so request duster glory. When you give a donation of any amount to litigator ministries.

You can reach us online@renewingyourmind.org or you can call us at 800-435-4343. Let me also recommend one of our latest podcasts. It's called ask Liggett here, and it provides you with an opportunity to submit your questions about the Bible theology the Christian life and apologetics each week.

One of Liggett years teaching fellows provides knowledgeable, easy to understand answers that you can trust to listen.

Just go to ask.Liggett here.org or you can subscribe in iTunes Google play or stitcher belt. Once again here's RC again. Let me ask you not to be too harsh with David because, in the sense of what David has done now. He's every man is you is me. Perhaps the deepest struggle we have in our Christian lives is to live by the word of God and that becomes most difficult when we are pursued and surrounded by our enemies. When was the moment of greatest crisis. Perhaps in the life of Jesus was when he was exposed and vulnerable to the relentless assault of Satan.

When Jesus was alone in the wilderness in the wilderness, not far from where David was here, and when Satan came not salt but Satan, and sought Jesus life and sought to seduce him into disobedience, offering him a kingdom offering him redemption telling him to turn the stones into bread because Jesus was hungry. Jesus said to Satan, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God.

Remember that the last words that Jesus had heard his ears before he went into the wilderness, was when the heavens themselves opened and God said audibly to him. This is my beloved son, and now is alone in the wilderness and the serpent comes and says him.

If you are the son of God turn the stones into bread as if he were not the son of God. What this Jesus did.

Does he believe every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. What does it were David failed Jesus triumph and that's our lesson not simply to believe in God but to believe God. We are thankful that Jesus triumph because will see even more human failure next week as RC continues the series join us for the message titled the mighty fall next Saturday here on Renewing Your Mind