1 Samuel – Selected Passages – LONG LIVE THE KING?
David: A Man’s Man, God’s Man – Lesson #4
A Complete Lesson
· When is it most difficult to accept the leadership of a political figure like a president, governor, or mayor?
· When is it most difficult to accept the leadership of a boss, foreman, or teacher?
· When it is it most difficult to accept the leadership of a pastor, elder, deacon or parent?
· “Long live the king!” – a common and familiar blessing for a ruling monarch.
“Long live the king!” – words wishing someone in authority a long and happy reign.
“Long live the king!” – easy words to say when the king is good, and loving, and kind!
· “Long live the king!” – But what if the king is a tyrant? What if the king has a personal hatred for me? What if the king seems to have a personal vendetta against me? I might start to question and say, “Long live the king?”
· David was in that position. He had killed a giant, done the king’s bidding, behaved himself wisely, became the king’s son in-law, and still gained the disfavor of the king, persecuted in several ways.
· You and I will sometimes find ourselves in that position with someone who is in authority over us. No matter how much good we do we are belittled or persecuted.
· David teaches us how to handle ourselves when we are in a position that makes us want to say, “Long live the king?”
DAVID REGROUPED WHEN HE HAD TO
· 1 Samuel 18:5-9 – Why was Saul paranoid about David?
· Why do leaders get paranoid about those under them?
· 1 Samuel 18:10-12 and 1 Samuel 19:8-11 – David was suddenly attacked. What are some of the ways leaders start throwing “javelins”?
· David dodged, ducked and darted when he had to. He regrouped. How can we regroup when we receive unfair attacks?
· What part should prayer have when we are unfairly attacked?
Matthew 5:44-45 – But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
· 1 Samuel 20:1 – What lessons does David teach us about unfair attacks from leaders?
DAVID RETREATED (RAN) WHEN HAD TO
· 1 Samuel 20 – Although David regrouped as much as he could, it soon became evident that in this case a different solution was needed. He needed to retreat or lose his life.
· When will we know that it is time to run from a situation?
· Why should running be a last resort and not a first defense?
· 1 Samuel 21:1 – David left by himself. What does that teach us about leaving a situation?
DAVID DIDN’T RETALIATE WHEN HE COULD HAVE
· Who would have won a “one on one” fight between David and Saul? Why did such a fight never happen?
· 1 Samuel 24 tells of a time when David could have retaliated? What brief blessing did David receive in verses 18-22?
· Again in 1 Samuel 26 David had an opportunity to retaliate. What do verses 7-11 teach us about the advice of our friends?
· What are some common ways that we might retaliate against those who have hurt us?
· Comment on the verses below.
Romans 12:19-21 – Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
· In what ways is Jesus a good role model for us when we are attacked by superiors?
DAVID RESPECTED THE KING’S AUTHORITY
· David had already been anointed king. Why did he wait to establish his kingdom until after the death of Saul?
· Comment on these verses:
Psalm 75:6-7 – For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. [7] But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
· Even when David briefly joined the enemy forces in 1 Samuel 27 and 29 he did nothing to harm Saul.
· In what ways can we remain loyal to someone in authority even if we have to run from their administration?
DAVID REMAINED LOYAL
· Saul’s death is recorded in 1 Samuel 30.
· According to 2 Samuel 1:11-27, how do we tell that David forgave Saul?
· What happens when people fail to forgive others?
Hebrews 12:15 – Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
· Who is to be our role model for forgiving others? Why?
Ephesians 4:31-32 – Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: [32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
· In retrospect, what helped David behave so well under duress?
· What will help us behave well under duress?