1S13

1S13:1 “...Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty two years over Israel...”

How long did Saul reign well?

1S13:6,7 “...the men of Israel ...were hard-pressed) ...hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits ...the people followed ...trembling...”

The fall of Saul in four fleshly steps.

STEP 1: Seeking to meet legitimate needs in illegitimate ways.

What were the odds like in the upcoming battle?

1S13:5 Philistines had 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, people like the sand of the sea.

1S13:15,22 Saul had 600 men, and only Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear.

Why did only Saul and Jonathan have weapons?

1S13:19 Their world had stripped them of their weapons.

How does our world take our weapons?

Why Is it important to approach God in the correct way?

1S13:8-10 Saul gets impatient and offers an illegal sacrifice, trying to entreat God’s favor.

Is there a wrong way to access the sacrifice of Jesus?

What is “a man after God’s own heart”?

1S13:14 “...But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you..."

Do we share His core values, intents, and purposes? Gal.4:19 “...My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you...”

1S14

The faith of Jonathan:

1S14:6 “...Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the LORD will work for us, for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few..."

Similar to how David would approach Goliath?

The victory of Jonathan:

1S14:14 “...That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land...”

1S14:15 Then there’s another natural/supernatural event - earthquake.

1S14:16 The multitude melted away (trouble dissolved).

1S14:20,23 The enemy fights itself. The Lord delivers Israel that day.

Victory is tainted by Saul’s foolish order that no-one was to eat.

1S14:27 Jonathan ate some honey and was refreshed.

1S14:45 The people prevent Saul from killing Jonathan.

1S15

What was the next careless act of Saul?

1S15:2,3 “... Thus says the Lord ...strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey...”

1S15:9 “...But Saul ...spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good...”

STEP 2: Self preferences lead to incomplete obedience.

How did God respond to Saul’s incomplete obedience?

1S15:11 “...I regret that I have made Saul king ...”

1S15:17, 19 “... though you were little in your own eyes ...the Lord anointed you king over Israel ...Why then did you not obey ...but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil...”

Saul went from humble, chosen, and sent - to rejection.

1S15:22,23 “...Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying ...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, ...For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. ...you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king..."

Saul can’t undo what he had done.

1S15:26 “...But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel..."

1S15:35 “... Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death ...And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

1S16

A replacement is found in Bethlehem.

1S16:1 “...the Lord said to Samuel ...I have selected a king for Myself...”

Seven sons of Jesse don’t meet the Lord’s approval.

1S16:7 “...the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature ...for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart..."

David is brought in from tending the sheep.

1S16:13,14 “...Then Samuel ...anointed him ...and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward ...Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him...”

Is there a supernatural basis for good and evil? From where did the tormenting evil spirit come that terrorized Saul?

Does God provide opportunity to avoid evil’s grip?

1S16:23 “...So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him...”

1S17

How big and strong was Goliath?

1S17:4 “... Then a champion ...of the Philistines named Goliath ...whose height was six cubits and a span...” ~ 9 ½ feet

1S17:7 “... The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron...” ~ 16lbs 11oz

1S17:11 “...Saul and all Israel ...were dismayed and greatly afraid...”

The taunting continued until finally answered.

1S17:16 “... The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand...”

David came with God’s heart and assurance, living in a different reality.

1S17:40 “...five smooth stones...” Why 5? 5 Philistine tribes?

1S17:46 “...all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel...”

1S17:47 “...the battle is the Lord’s...”

1S17:50 “... David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him...”

1S18

A true friendship is formed.

1S18:1,3 “... the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David ... Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself...”

But trouble was coming.

1S18:6,7 “... when David returned ...the women came out ...singing and dancing ...and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands...”

1S18:8 “...Saul became very angry ...looked at David with suspicion from that day on...”

1S18:10,11 “...the next day ...an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved ...while David was playing the harp ...Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall...”

What could be done in this situation?

Was Saul’s condition bipolar, depressed, mental illness?

Would we deal with Saul’s condition with counseling or drugs?

Isn’t repentance and God’s deliverance what was needed?

Romans 1:21-25 “...though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened ... Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity ...For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever...”

Does dishonoring God lead to God giving a person over to self, and the person exchanging truth for lies?

Unsuccessful plot for David’s downfall.

1S18:20,21,25 “...Michal, Saul’s daughter ...I will give her to him ...she may become a snare ...dowry ...a hundred foreskins of the Philistines ...”

1S18:26-29 David brought two hundred, “...Saul ...knew that the Lord was with David ...was even more afraid of David...”

1S19

The hatred increases, but David has help.

1S19:1 “...Saul told Jonathan ...and all his servants to put David to death...”

1S19:5-7 Jonathan negotiates a temporary peace.

1S19:9 “..an evil spirit from the Lord ...Saul tried to pin David to the wall...”

1S19:12 “... So Michal let David down through a window, and he went out and fled and escaped...”

Why was there a household idol in David’s house?

Michal used it as a decoy, but why was it even available?

Unusual sequence of prophesying.

1S19:20-24 “... Saul sent messengers to take David ...the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul; and they ...prophesied ..Saul ...sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. So Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. Then he himself went to Ramah ...and the Spirit of God came upon him also, so that he went along prophesying...

Do we understand the spirit world?

1S20

David and Jonathan set up an emergency warning system.

1S20:9 “... Jonathan said ...if I should indeed learn that evil has been decided by my father ...would I not tell you about it?...”

1S20:20,22 Arrows to be shot. “... if I say ...the arrows are beyond you,’ go, for the Lord has sent you away...”

Saul is furious with his son Jonathan.

1S20:33 “... Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him down; so Jonathan knew that his father had decided to put David to death...”

David is officially on the run for his life.

Jonathan warns David using the system. They end up face-to-face anyway.

1S20:42 “... Jonathan said ...Go in safety ...The Lord will be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever...”

1S21

A pattern of deception begins?

1S21:2 David lies to Ahimelech to get 5 loaves of consecrated bread.

1S21:13 Feigns insanity before the people of Gath.

Is this the beginning of David’s besetting sin - manipulation. It becomes a habit, which is later used to kill Uriah. Does it hasten the eventual destruction of his family. Does his family also act deceptively?

1S22

David assembles a following and provides for family.

1S22:2 “...Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him...”

1S22:3,4 Leaves his family with the king of Moab.

Saul, moved by hate, has Ahimelech and others killed.

1S22:18 “... Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests, and he killed that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod …”

1S23

David asks the Lord twice about saving Keilah.

1S23:5 “... So David and his men ...fought with the Philistines; and he ...struck them with a great slaughter ...David delivered ...Keilah...”

He asks if the people he just saved will give him up.

1S23:12 “... Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.”...”

STEP 3: Obsession with preserving your own status.

1S23:14 “...Saul sought him every day ...God did not deliver him....”

David had already been anointed as king back in chapter 16.

Moving toward the fulfillment of God’s plans can take some time.

1S23:15-18 Jonathan encourages David to persevere.

1S23:26-28 Saul has David surrounded, but must abort fight Philistines.

1S24

David keeps his conscience clear.

1S24:3-13 “... Saul went in ...David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave ...David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly ...David’s conscience bothered him ... David ...did not allow them to rise up against Saul ...David ...called after Saul, saying, My lord the king! ...the Lord had given you today into my hand in the cave ...but my eye had pity on you; and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed ...there is no evil or rebellion ...my hand shall not be against you...”

1S24:20 Saul has a sane moment and response “... Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand...”

1S25

Rich but evil Nabal sets himself up to be attacked.

1S25:5,6,8 “...David sent ...men ...to ...visit Nabal and greet him ...and say ...please give ...to your servants ...and David...”

1S25:11 “...Shall I ...take my ...bread ...water ...meat ...and give it to men ...I do not know ...”

1S25:13 David prepares 400 men for an attack.

Intelligent and beautiful Abigail intercedes.

1S25:18,23,28 “...Abigail ...took bread ...wine ...sheep ...roasted grain ...raisins ...and figs ...saw David ...fell on her face ...at his feet and said ...please forgive...”

1S25:38 “... About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died...”

David continues to accumulate wives.

1S25:42-44 Abigail becomes David’s wife, along with Ahinoam, and Michal who Saul gave to Palti.

1S26

David again spares Saul.

1S26:4,7,9 “... David sent out spies, and he knew that Saul was definitely coming ... David and Abishai came ...by night ...Saul lay sleeping ...But David said to Abishai, Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt ... “

1S26:12 “...David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul’s head, ...no one saw or knew it, nor did any awake ...because a sound sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.?...”

He was leaving it to God. A lesson learned from the Nabal incident?

Does God prepare us to face our future by giving lessons in our present?

David is hoping to reap good from being good.

1S26:24 “... as your life was highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Lord, and may He deliver me from all distress...”

1S27

1S27:1,4,6,7 David decides to “...escape into the land of the Philistines ...Saul ...no longer searched for him ...Achish gave him Ziklag ...David lived in the country ...a year and four months...”

1S27:8-12 David completely destroys multiple local inhabitants, while deceiving Achish, telling him he was raiding Judah.

1S28

What to do about the Philistines attacking Israel?

1S28:3,6,7 “...Samuel was dead ...When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him ...Saul said ...seek for me a woman who is a medium...”

STEP 4: Succumbing to abominations.

1S28:11 Brings up Samuel from where? Is there a spirit realm reality that we don’t understand? Samuel reminds him that -

1S28:16,19,21 “.. the Lord has departed ...and has become your adversary ...tomorrow you and your sons will be with me ...he was terrified...”

1S29

The Philistines mistrust David.

1S29:2,3 “... the Philistines were proceeding ...and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish. Then the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here? ”

1S29:4 “... the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him ...said to him, “Make the man go back ...and do not let him go down to battle with us...”

1S29:11 “... So David arose early, he and his men, to depart in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines…”

1S30

David finds Ziklag looted and destroyed.

1S30:3 “... When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire ...wives ...sons ....daughters had been taken captive...”

1S30:6,8 “...But David strengthened himself in the LORD ...inquired of the Lord ...shall I pursue...”

An Eqyptian who had been abandoned led them to the Amalekites.

1S30:18 “...David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken...”

David graciously shares the spoils.

1S30:22 “... the wicked and worthless men said ...we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered...”

1S30:23-25 “... Then David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us ...For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage...”

1S31

The reign of Saul comes to an end.

1S31:2 “... The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua the sons of Saul...”

1S31:3-6 “... The battle went heavily against Saul ...he was badly wounded ...Saul took his sword and fell on it. ...his armor bearer ...also fell on his sword and died with him. Thus Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men on that day together...”

1S31:11-13 “...the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, ...the valiant men rose and walked all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall ...They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh...”

Remember Jabesh-Gilead? In Judges, they had failed to go to war against Benjamin, so they were killed and 400 virgins were given to the tribe of Benjamin. Have they now proved themselves to be honorable?

2 SAMUEL

2S1

David laments the death of Saul and Jonathan.

2S1:1-10 An Amalekite brings news of their death.

2S1:11-16 David has the Amalekite killed for not saving Saul.

2S1:24-26 “...O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul ...How have the mighty fallen ...I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan...”

2S2

Judah follows David. Israel follows Ishbosheth.

2S2:1 “...David inquired of the Lord ...Where shall I go up? ...To Hebron ...”

2S2:4 “...the men of Judah came ...anointed David king over ...Judah...”

2S2:10 Saul’s son Ishbosheth becomes king over Israel for 2 years.

War between David/Joab/Judah and Ishbosheth/Abner/Israel

2S2:14-16 24 lost initially - 12 from each side killed each other.

2S2:17 “... That day the battle was very severe, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David...”

2S2:18-23 Abner kills Joab’s brother Asahel, after he refused a warning.

2S2:30 Joab loses 19 and his brother Asahel..

2S2:31 Abner loses 360.

2S3

Son’s of David by 6 different wives.

2S3:2-5 Amnon, Chileab, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, Ithream.

Deut.17:14-17 "...When you enter the land ...you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses, ...he shall not multiply horses for himself ...He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself...”

2S3:14-16 And six weren’t enough? [Ish-Bosheth kidnaps Michal from her current husband to deliver her to David..

Why does Abner decide to take sides with David?

2S3:7-12 Not loyalty to God’s purpose and anointing - he’s upset when Ish-Bosheth questions him about sleeping with Saul’s concubine.

2S3:21,27,30 Abner plans to gather the people of Israel under David’s reign, but “...Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner...”

2S3:32,36 David mourns for Abner and “...all the people took note ..it pleasedl them...”.

2S4

Violence, and more violence.

2S4:1-8 “... Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, ...had two men who were commanders ...Baanah and ...Rechab ...came to the house of Ish-bosheth ...and they struck him in the belly ...killed him and beheaded him ...brought the head ...to David...”

2S4:9-12 “... David ...said to them ...when one told me, saying, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed ...when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood ...Then David commanded the young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hung them up beside the pool in Hebron...”

2S5

David is anointed by the elders of Israel as king.

2S5:4 “... David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. At Hebron ...over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah...”

2S5:7,9 “...David captured the stronghold of Zion (Jerusalam) ...lived in the stronghold ...and called it the city of David…”