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Faithfulness again (vss 1-4)
- This is the 13th time that Saul has tried to kill David.
- Saul throws javelin in 18:11.
- Saul baits David into battle 18:25.
- Saul tells Jonathan to kill David in 19:1.
- Saul throws javelin in 19:10.
- Saul sends assassins to David’s house in 19:15.
- Saul sends assassins to David while living with Samuel in 19:20.
- Saul sends assassins to David again while living with Samuel in 19:21.
- Saul himself goes to David while living with Samuel in 19:24.
- Saul goes to Nob to kill David in chapter 22.
- Saul goes to Keilah to kill David in chapter 23.
- Saul goes to the wilderness of Ziphites in 23.
- Saul goes to Engedi in 24.
- Saul goes back to Ziphites in 25.
- It’s the continuous attacks that erode the will to do right. Remember that!
Faithfulness brings God’s protection (vss 5-12)
- Saul wanted to kill David, but couldn’t. David didn’t want to kill Saul, but he could’ve.
- David can be trusted with opportunities.
- David doesn’t know how or what God is doing with Saul.
- God’s anointing is in conflict with God’s will.
- The LORD put a throne in Israel against His own will. Gave the people what they wanted. And in giving the nation of Israel an earthly throne He went against His own will.
- Saul is an enemy of God, therefore Saul has no protection from God. In fact, the LORD actively works against Saul. David is able to take Saul’s source of protection and life.
Faithfulness has a convicting voice (vss 13-20)
- David is a better and more faithful protector of Saul than Abner was.
- Unfaithful people hate to hear the words of the faithful.
- Unfaithful people despise the lives of the faithful.
Lord rewards faithfulness (vss 21-25)
- David says Saul’s words are so hollow. His regrets are a waste of time. David says God won’t move according to your feelings of guilt, He’ll move according to your faithfulness.
- Verse 23 is the theme.
- In a righteous economy, everyone gets paid for what they do. You don’t get paid for your intentions. You don’t get paid for your regrets.
- In a perfect economy, people would get paid for the work they did. People would not get paid for work they didn’t do. People would not get paid for their intention to work. People wouldn’t get paid for their regret that they didn’t work. In a perfect economy, people would get paid for the work they did.
- You’ll find over and over the LORD saying every man is judged according to his works.
- 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
- Revelation 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
- Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
- (Salvation is a work man CAN’T do. Salvation is a NEED man has. So salvation is never by works of righteousness. But apart from salvation the LORD rewards for the work that’s been done.)
- If you told some of your friends at school to trust Jesus Christ because they’re sinners, you’d get made fun of. But the LORD would take notice of that.
- If you stopped using your mouth for gossip and started using it for the gospel it wouldn’t be as fun at first. But the LORD would consider that.
- If you chose to pray for someone you hate instead of hurt them in conversation behind their back, nobody would know. But the LORD would start to keep His eye on you.
- Because now you’re doing the LORD’s work. And the LORD’s work is important to the LORD. He has an operation to oversee. And He’s very diligent about it. And He takes care of His business. And He takes care of His servants.
