Bible Text: 1 Samuel 26 | Preacher: Pastor Ken | Series: David: Committed Living
Betrayed
1 Samuel 23:19-20 “Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?  ‘Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.” 
Betrayed Again
1 Samuel 26:1-4 1 Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” 2 Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon, by the road. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had indeed come.
The Correct Response
Psalms 54 1 Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your strength. 2 Hear my prayer, O God;
Give ear to the words of my mouth. 3 For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. 4 Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life. …
Move Slowly & Seek Understanding
1 Samuel 26:5 So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Now Saul lay within the camp, with the people encamped all around him.
Seek Council
1 Samuel 26:6 Then David answered, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”
Do Not Go It Alone
1 Samuel 26:6 …”Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”
Do It God’s Way: Maintain Integrity
1 Samuel 26:7-9 So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. …Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!” But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?”
God’s Way: With Integrity
1 Sam 24:6-7 And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul.
Regarding Leaders
1 Samuel 26:10 David said furthermore, “As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish.
Take Appropriate Action Heart & Motivation
1 Samuel 26:11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.
Deal Directly With Individual
1 Samuel 26:17 Then Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 18 And he said, “Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand?
Build Bridges
1 Samuel 26:21 …And David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it. May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. …
An Example to Follow
Seek God in Prayer
Move slowly and seek guidance and understanding
Seek Council
Don’t go into life (battle) alone [Community Group]
Maintain your Integrity
Take Appropriate Action (Check your heart and motivation)
Deal Directly with Individual
Build Bridges