DAVID IN SAUL’S CAMP
1 Sam. 26:2-25
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. I was thrown out of the break room of my Walmart yesterday. They asked me what I was doing there. I told them, “I’m on a break.”
2. They said, “But you don’t work here!” I said, “I just finished using the self-checkout, so clearly I do work here.”
[Consumers now have to pump their own gas, check their own groceries, and pick up their own mail!]
B. TEXT
1. 2 So Saul went...with his 3,000 select Israelite troops, to search there for David. 5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped...6 David then asked...“Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?” “I’ll go with you,” said Abishai. 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. 8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.” 9 But David said to Abishai.... “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come...11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.” 13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?” David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” [David questioned Saul’s chasing him.] 21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong....25 you will do great things and surely triumph.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
C. THESIS
1. We see another magical moment when David does the astounding as he walks with God. Who walks into their enemy’s camp to take the prized possessions of their adversary? Yet for David and God, it was a normal day’s work.
2. We see this incident was planned by God, the admiring armor-bearer of David, and the unusual symbols that David was impressed to take with him.
3. The title of this message is “David in Saul’s Camp.”
I. A MISSION PLANNED BY GOD
A. TWO TIMES DAVID SPARED SAUL’S LIFE
1. In 1 Sam. 24:17-20, God chose to show King Saul that David was not out to harm Saul or to take the kingdom from his family.
2. David spared Saul’s life, and Saul replied, “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18...the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me....20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.” David swore not to harm Saul or his family, and Saul stopped pursuing David.
3. But we see in this chapter (at the instigation of the Ziphites) that Saul begins pursuing him again, contrary to his former pledge.
4. The chapter 24 instance of David sparing Saul’s life seemed accidental -- Saul wandered into a cave where David & his men were hiding. But this time (chap. 26), when David entered Saul’s camp, it was fore-ordained by God to happen. God’s special providence gave David this opportunity and he followed God’s leading into an impossible situation.
B. THE AMAZING MIRACLE OF GOD’S SLEEP
1. All the soldiers, even those who were on guard as sentinels, were fast asleep. For all practical purposes, Saul’s whole army was helpless to their enemies – their eyes blindfolded and their hands bound.
2. It was miraculous that every man in the army should all be asleep at the same time, and so fast-asleep that David and Abishai could walk and talk among them, and yet none of them stirred. David could have shouted and none would have stirred!
3. This shows how God can use even sleep as way to disarm His foes. God commands the powers of nature and makes them to serve his purposes. How easily God can make the strongest weak, the wisest foolish, and baffle those who are most watchful! This should encourage God’s people to trust Him and not fear His enemies.
II. DAVID’S ARMOR-BEARER – ABISHAI
A. THE CAREER OF ABISHAI HELPING DAVID
1. Abishai was the son of David’s sister Zeruiah. All three of her sons – Joab, Abishai, and Asahel – were mighty warriors. Undoubtedly Abishai had sat at his mother's feet and heard of his uncle David's exploits. He had heard how his uncle had killed lions, bears, and the Philistine champion Goliath, and turned other impossible situations into opportunities for God's miracles.
2. Abishai started following David when it wasn’t a glorious thing -- when David was poor, a fugitive, and when outlaws followed David. At that time David was living in a cave! (1 Sam. 22:1-2). Abishai didn’t follow him for the perks!
3. Then in 1 Sam. 26, when David asked the question, “Who will go with me into the camp of Saul?” Abishai didn’t hesitate. Abishai knew that it was a suicide mission; just the two of them walking into the camp of Saul was insane. Saul was surrounded by 3,000 of Israel’s best troops (like Navy Seals or Army Rangers) and they were there to destroy David.
4. But Abishai believed God was with David, and if God was leading David to do something, God was going to bring them through it, and he would get a front-row seat to see a miracle!
5. David obviously didn’t want to go into Saul's camp alone; it’s God’s will we go by twos. David needed Abishai as his second. David may not have gone without him. It’s the same with Pastors today – they need backup!
B. LATER INSTANCES OF ABISHAI’S CALLING
1. Abishai supported David in many battles. He must have stationed himself near David to help him if he got overwhelmed. In 2 Sam. 21:16-17, David was overpowered by a giant named Ishbi-benob, who was about to kill David. Abishai jumped between them and killed the giant.
2. Late in David’s life, when David’s son Absalom had taken the kingdom and David fled with his few followers out into the desert and away from the palace, the capital city, and into obscurity once again, we see Abishai marching beside him, barking orders and ready to make a last stand with God’s man (2 Sam. 16:5-14). Abishai was faithful to the end, and of course, God put David back on the throne again.
III. FORESHADOWING OF FUTURE EVENTS
A. PASSING OF THE SPEAR-SCEPTER & WATER
1. The aim of God & David in chap. 26 was not to vindicate David, but to bring an end to the persecution of Saul. God wanted to prove, once-and-for-all, that David was not out to deprive Saul of his authority or life, but was still Saul’s most faithful guardian (vs. 16).
2. God had David take Saul’s SPEAR-SCEPTER and WATER FLAGON, two essential things Saul always kept near him. The spear was much more than a staff; the Israelite king’s spear war also his scepter, the emblem of his office & authority. It was very ornate. Gen. 49:10 tells us, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet.” The staff is also the scepter. God gave David the Ruler’s Staff (Num. 24:17; Ps. 45:6).
3. God also gave David Saul’s royal source of water/ anointing. In the natural, you couldn’t travel the deserts without water. But in a greater sense that water represented the Holy Spirit; God gave David Saul’s portion! So, these weren’t two ordinary things, but had divine symbolism and implications. Yes, David gave them back, but this was a prevision of things to come.
4. David showed his incomparable superiority over Saul. David could’ve killed Saul but wouldn’t; Saul wanted to kill David but couldn’t! In entering the camp of Saul, David showed his sagacity: he saw his enemy’s weaknesses and knew how to take advantage of it. It shows his vigilance: he was ever on the alert. It shows his courage: willing to venture into the midst of danger. David stopped Abishai from killing Saul; that was God’s business, not his. David’s integrity proved that he alone was worthy to reign over Israel.
B. ONE LAST SEASON OF GRACE FOR SAUL
1. God’s presence was on David. When David spoke the word of rebuke and spared Saul’s life, the Holy Spirit reactivated on Saul and brought such conviction that he was unashamed, condemned himself, and vindicated David. God was giving Saul one last chance to repent of his ways and begin to do right. Saul even prophesied that David would prevail in the end! Wow!
2. After this parting, neither Saul and David ever saw one another again. What a sad ending for Saul; like Judas, he left the Anointed one to walk into the darkness. It could’ve been so different. Our lives need not end sadly – we can still do something to change them! Why don’t we make the commitment to lead lives of walking with God, like David!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. There was a Mongolian girl name Dolgie who had both parents die. Most Mongolians are Buddhists. Dolgie’s brothers & sisters thought their parents died because they upset the spirits. They were very afraid. Dolgie heard the Gospel and got gloriously saved and started attending a mission church.
2. Her older brother thought this would upset the spirits more and endanger the family. They beat Dolgie up for going to church, but she kept going. So her brother decided to kill the missionary. Dolgie heard about it, prayed, and warned the missionary.
3. Dolgie’s brother went to a service. During the praise and worship time, he stood up, but the Holy Spirit came upon him and paralyzed him. He could not move his arms. He could not move his legs. He couldn’t even sit down. This made him very frightened. He realized that the Christian God was greater and more powerful than any evil spirits. When the service was over, he was finally able to move and ran out the door.
4. The Good News is that Dolgie’s brother became a Christian and Dolgie herself became a Children’s Pastor and served in the ministry! [Story told by missionaries Bob & Chrissy Godwin, Assemblies of God World Missions.]
B. THE CALL
1. How many want to be refilled with the Holy Spirit?
2. How many want to rise to their highest potential and walk with God?
3. How many want to begin a relationship with Jesus?
[There are some ideas/quotes from the Pulpit Commentary, Matthew Henry, and Denny Duron in this piece.]
