God Is Faithful

INTRO

Yesterday, we learned how God used Abigail, the wife of Nabal, to intervene in David’s life when he was so focused on retaliation that he had lost his way.

TEACHING

1 Samuel 26:1–4: The Ziphites went to Saul a second time and told him where David was hiding (1 Samuel 23). Saul left with 3,000 men to search for David (vv. 1–2). In this case, David’s enemy was telling Saul where David was. But God was also communicating with David and let David know Saul was nearby (v. 3). David sent out spies to find exactly where Saul was (v. 4). There had to be a sense for David that he was going down the same path with Saul again. His feelings about it were captured in Psalm 37.

1 Samuel 26:5–12: When David found out where Saul’s camp was, he went there and found Saul asleep in the middle of a circle of his 3,000 soldiers (v. 5). David asked Ahimelech, the Hittite, and Joab’s brother Abishai (David’s nephew) if one of them would go with him into the camp. Abishai agreed to go (v. 6). That night, David and Abishai snuck into the camp

where Saul was sleeping (v. 7). Abishai saw this as a chance for David to kill his enemy and offered to pin Saul to the ground with his own spear that was next to him (v. 8). David knew the spear because Saul tried to kill him with it. Yet again, David refused to lift his hand against God’s anointed king. He realized the Lord would take care of Saul in time (vv. 9–10). Instead, David took the spear and the water jug next to Saul’s head and they left the camp where everyone within it was under a deep sleep from the Lord (vv. 11–12; Luke 6:27–36).

1 Samuel 26:13–16: David crossed to the other side of the mountain and then shouted to Abner and the Philistine camp (v. 13). David first met Abner when Abner took him before Saul, while David was still holding the head of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:55–57). He asked Abner if he was going to answer him (v. 14). Abner questioned what David was doing. David explained that because the night watchmen had been asleep, he was able to sneak into the camp to Saul’s side without anyone knowing it. For proof, David told Abner to look for Saul’s spear and water jug (vv. 15–16).

1 Samuel 26:17–21: Although Abner did not immediately recognize David’s voice, Saul did (v. 17). Notice Saul referred to David as his son and David referred to Saul as his lord and king. David asked why Saul relentlessly continued to chase him. David asked that if he had done evil against God to tell him what that was so he could bring an offering to God, or if Saul was believing lies about David (vv. 18–19). David said to Saul that using an army of 3,000 men just to get to him was like chasing a flea or running after a partridge hiding in the mountains (v. 20). David was speaking truth into

Saul, trying to get Saul to realize what he was doing. Saul confessed that he had sinned against David again (v. 21). This is not the first time Saul became convicted about his sin toward David. It happened after David cut a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe instead of harming Saul. Even though Saul confessed, he never repented for what he had done (2 Corinthians 7:10).

1 Samuel 26:22–25: David told Saul to send one of his young men over to get his spear (v. 22). David reaffirmed that he saw Saul’s life as valuable, and asked that Saul see David’s life the same (v. 23–24).

CLOSING

Hebrews 10:23 emphasizes that God is always faithful to His promises. God was faithful to David and David was faithful to God. When David faced Goliath, God was faithful. When David was in the cave with Saul, God was faithful. When David encountered Nabal, God was faithful. We are God’s anointed, and He has always been faithful to us and to deliver.

David had to walk out his calling, even when things didn’t seem to be happening in his favor. Instead of trying to manipulate the situation or make something happen, David remained faithful.

How can David’s life speak to us? How can we take the Nabals and Sauls in our lives and shift them into something that is positive and productive? How can we pray for our enemies? Do we listen for the word of God and walk into the enemy camp and trust that God will be there with us? Instead of running away from problems, how can we run toward them? What if we just keep showing up as we trust that God is moving in our midst?

What’s going on in your life today? Maybe this wilderness experience is part of the journey. Just be faithful to whatever God has promised and called you to do!