LONG LIVE THE KING?
1 Samuel – Selected Passages
David: A Man’s Man, God’s Man - Lesson #4
A Complete Lesson
·
When is it most difficult to accept the leadership of
a political figure like a president, governor, or mayor?
·
When is it most difficult to accept the leadership of
a boss, foreman, or teacher?
·
When it is it most difficult to accept the leadership
of a pastor, elder, deacon or parent?
· "Long live the king!" - a common and familiar blessing for a ruling monarch.
"Long live the king!" - words wishing someone in
authority a long
and happy reign.
"Long live the king!" - easy words to say when the
king is good, and
loving, and kind!
· "Long live the king!" - But what
if the king is a tyrant? What if the king has a personal hatred for me? What if
the king seems to have a personal vendetta against me? I might start to
question and say, "Long live the king?"
· David was in that position. He had killed a giant, done the king’s
bidding, behaved himself wisely, became the king’s son in-law, and still gained
the disfavor of the king, persecuted in several ways.
· You and I will sometimes find ourselves in
that position with someone who is in authority over us. No matter how much good
we do we are belittled or persecuted.
· David teaches us how to handle ourselves
when we are in a position that makes us want to say, “Long live
the king?”
·
1 Samuel 18:5-9 – Why was Saul paranoid about David?
·
Why do leaders get paranoid about those under them?
·
1 Samuel 18:10-12 and 1 Samuel 19:8-11 – David was
suddenly attacked. What are some of the
ways leaders start throwing “javelins”?
·
David dodged, ducked and darted when he had to. He
regrouped. How can we regroup when we
receive unfair attacks?
·
What part should prayer have when we are unfairly
attacked?
Matthew 5:44-45 - But
I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
·
1 Samuel 20:1 – What lessons does David teach us
about unfair attacks from leaders?
·
1 Samuel 20 – Although David regrouped as much as
he could, it soon became evident that in this case a different solution was
needed. He needed to retreat or lose his
life.
·
When will we know that it is time to run from a
situation?
·
Why should running be a last resort and not a first
defense?
·
1 Samuel 21:1 – David left by himself. What does that teach us about leaving a
situation?
·
Who would have won a “one on one” fight between David
and Saul? Why did such a fight never
happen?
·
1 Samuel 24 tells of a time when David could have
retaliated? What brief blessing did
David receive in verses 18-22?
·
Again in 1 Samuel 26 David had an opportunity
to retaliate. What do verses 7-11 teach
us about the advice of our friends?
·
What are some common ways that we might retaliate
against those who have hurt us?
·
Comment on the verses below.
Romans 12:19-21 - Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [20] Therefore if
thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing
thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with good.
·
In what ways is Jesus a good role model for us when we
are attacked by superiors?
·
David had already been anointed king. Why did he wait to establish his kingdom
until after the death of Saul?
·
Comment on these verses:
Psalm 75:6-7 - For
promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
[7] But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
·
Even when David briefly joined the enemy forces in
1 Samuel
27 and 29 he did nothing to harm Saul.
·
In what ways can we remain loyal to someone in
authority even if we have to run from their administration?
·
Saul’s death is recorded in 1 Samuel 30.
·
According to 2 Samuel 1:11-27, how do we tell
that David forgave Saul?
·
What happens when people fail to forgive others?
Hebrews 12:15 - Looking
diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness
springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
·
Who is to be our role model for forgiving others? Why?
Ephesians 4:31-32 - Let
all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,
and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: [32] And be ye kind
one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you.
·
In retrospect, what helped David behave so well under
duress?
·
What will help us behave well under duress?