## The Life of David - Part 8

## I Samuel 26

As we look into God's Word we find the accurate picture of the man who was after God's own heart. We have seen David's "ups" and we have viewed his "downs". We have seen his victories and his failures. Last week we saw how that God used Abigail to keep David from seeking revenge against the foolish man, Nabal. When we are confronted with a truth from God, He often will test us to see if we have truly accepted that truth. David was tested time and time again.

In chapter twenty-six we find that Saul is once again convinced that he must kill David. As he pursues David into the wilderness, God delivered him into David's hand again. Note how the drama unfolds.

I. Success #1 - Restraint 26:1-25

A. Saul Pursues. 26:1-4

1. Saul allows the influence of bad advice to cause him to act.

2. Remember, we must do right no matter how many people tell us that it is alright to do wrong!

3. Once again Saul is on the warpath against David.

4. Remember: 24:20

B. David Spares. 26:5-12

1. David finds Saul asleep and very vulnerable.

2. It would have been easy to put an end to the problem.

3. Abishai encouraged David to let him kill Saul.

a. Note how subtle the temptation.

b. David now has the opportunity for someone else to do the deed.

c. Previously his men had encouraged him to take action, but now Abishai says, "If you won't, then let me!"

4. David rejects that notion as well, but takes Saul's spear and cruse.

5. Note: 12b God was still at work in this situation.

C. David Challenges. 26:13-16

1. He calls out to Abner and says that he was unable to protect his king.

2. He shows Saul's spear and cruse as proof of Abner's dereliction of duty.

D. Saul Awakes & Acknowledges. 26:17-25

1. Saul realizes that David has spared his life again.

2. He confesses his sin and vows to never again try to do harm to David.

3. He acknowledges that David will prevail and do great things.

II. Failure #1 - Compromise 27:1-28:2

A. The Cause. 27:1

1. Horizontal focus.

a. "David said in his heart..."

b. No prayer was offered, although it was clear that God had enabled him to have the success of chapter 26.

2. Pessimistic reasoning.

a. "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul"

b. He looked at the future and had no hope.

c. He was saying, "What's the use in trying? I won't win!"

d. Such a lack of faith is a result of focusing on the circumstances rather than upon God.

3. Rationalistic logic.

a. "There is nothing better for me..."

b. David was saying, "I have no other choice."

c. We will begin to rationalize what we do when we fail to seek God's counsel.

d. David was about to compromise with the enemy, and in his mind, he was rationalizing that he has no other option.

B. The Extent. 27:2-4

1. When we do wrong others will be affected!

2. Some may have the attitude that it won't hurt anyone else, but that simply isn't true.

3. David's compromise was going to affect the lives of 600 others as well as their families.

C. The Consequences. 27:4-7

1. A False sense of security.

a. David thought that he was secure in the enemy's camp.

b. However, this was only a temporary release of the pressure, not a solution.

2. Divided loyalties.

a. David began to call himself the servant of Achish.

b. No longer God's servant, but the enemy's.

3. A period of compromise begins.

a. Sin will always take you farther than you meant to go; keep you longer than you meant to stay; and cost you more than you want to pay.

b. Now David was living in enemy territory, a servant to the king of Gath, and remained in that situation for sixteen months.

III. Failure #2 - Deceitfulness 27:8-28:2

A. A Double-minded Man. 27:8-9

1. The modern day word for this is "duplicity".

a. Definition: Deception by pre- tending to feel and act one way while acting another.

b. James says that such a man is unstable in all his ways.

2. David was an Israelite, not just any Israelite, he had been annointed to be the next king of all Israel.

3. While living in Ziklag, he fought against "other" enemies of Judah.

4. He brought the spoil to Achish.

B. Vagueness or Half-truth. 27:10

1. The king asked David where he had been making his raids.

2. David was somewhat vague in his answer.

3. He said he had gone against the south of Judah implying that he had been fighting Israelites, but he wasn't.

C. Secrecy. 27:11-12

1. David had totally annihilated the enemies he had fought against.

2. But now we see the real reason, he wanted to make sure that there were no witnesses to carry the news of what was actually going on.

3. Achish was convinced that David was loyal to him, because he thought that David had made Israel hate him by these raids.

D. A moment of truth will come. 28:1-2

1. The Philistines were preparing for a war with Israel.

2. Achish tells David that he would join him in battle.

3. David is once again very vague in his response.

4. Achish doesn't make things easy at all.

Conclusion: Now what? David's failures have taken him into a dreadful situation. How could he go to battle against the very nation that he was to rule? What would be the result on his army, his family, or his relationship with God? The Scriptures say: "Be sure your sin will find you out" David was about to be found out. Next week we will see what takes place, but think with me on how this applies to our lives for Christ. Can we sin without involving others? What will be the result of our compromise of the principles of God's Word? Christians who choose carnality above spirituality will begin to think wrong, rationalize their sin, and then lie and be deceitful in order to cover up that sin. It can go on for a long time, but "Be sure your sin will find you out.!" Numbers 32:23