My Father, My Father

My Father, My Father

(1 Samuel 24 and 1 Samuel 26)

Yearly Theme:  “Peace is…”

Series Title:  “The Cost of Peace”

September 19^th, 2021

Something to think about:

Have you ever been offended or hurt by someone that held an esteemed position of authority in your life? If so, how would you describe your relationship with them,

both before and after?

Follow up question: Were you still able to honor the position given them even when

in the midst of your hurt or anger?

This is week #3 of our sermon series, “The Cost of Peace”, and In today’s message,

we take a look at the story of David and his relationship with King Saul. David was selected by God from the sons of Jesse. Going through one by one, the prophet Samuel comes upon the young David who had been tending to the sheep in the fields. “So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah” (1 Samuel 16:13).

David held great honor under the rule of Saul. He lived in his palace, he ate at his table, he was married to the king’s daughter, his best friend was the king’s son, and he was successful in all of the battles that he undertook. Saul had become a father to young David. But just as David was rejoicing in the goodness and favor of God, something snapped in Saul (1 Samuel 18:5-8). Saul took offense to the admiration given to David. How did he handle his offense?

Three of Saul’s greatest weaknesses in dealing with offense:

1.  

2.  

3.  

Saul’s focus shifted from the God who had anointed him King of Israel. He was now focused inward and outward, and his pride, ego, and lack of trust in God had continued to send him deeper into paranoid madness. David is forced to run for his life. Why would God allow David to be put under the care of Saul?

David could have handled the offense no different than Saul and challenged the rule and leadership of Saul, as well as question the divine providence of God. Instead, David did

the unexpected, and he honored the position that Saul held because of the anointing that God had originally bestowed upon Saul.

“KEY POINT: Honor, not vengeance, opens the door for God to move powerfully”

David had two opportunities to remove Saul from the throne and some would say that he would have been perfectly justified to do so. But instead, David puts his faith and trust in God. He gives the power of judgment back to God and releases himself from vengeance against Saul.

Opportunity #1:

Read 1 Samuel 24:1-15

Opportunity #2:

Read 1 Samuel 26:1-12

Three of David’s greatest strengths in dealing with betrayal:

1.  

2.  

3.  

Something to take home:

Have you been hurt, betrayed, or offended by someone of esteemed leadership? Maybe it was a boss with who you had always had a good relationship. Maybe it was a spiritual leader such as a pastor, or an elder of the church. How did you handle the situation? Did you act like Saul and fly off the handle seeking to be the judge of the leader who offended you, doing anything to get revenge upon them? Or did you carry yourself like David, doing so with honor, having trust in God’s plan, and letting Him be the judge of the situation?

Who has God put us under in order to test us? David was put under the care and watch Saul by God. Just as David was tested for his obedience to God, we too are tested to see if we will remain obedient to God’s perfect will and judgment. Vengeance is God’s and not ours to dish out on a whim. If we are to be like David, we must trust that God can will make the right decision. Until then, we have to do our best to look past the behavior and honor their God-given position. Do not grab hold of the bait of Satan and let anger and vengeance take root in your life. Give over to the Great Healer.

“KEY POINT: Honor, not vengeance, opens the door for God to move powerfully”