DAVID: A RISE AND FALL

2022-10-02 

Jonathan Falwell 

1 Samuel 18:5-15 (CSB) 

5 David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the fighting men, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well. 6 As the troops were coming back, when David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments. 7 As they danced, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands. 8 Saul was furious and resented this song. “They credited tens of thousands to David,” he complained, “but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward. 10 The next day an evil spirit sent from God came powerfully on Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual, but Saul was holding a spear, 11 and he threw it, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David got away from him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul. 13 Therefore, Saul sent David away from him and made him commander over a thousand men. David led the troops 14 and continued to be successful in all his activities because the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him.

1. David’s success grew 

Vs 5a

David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do…

• David was serving Saul faithfully and God was blessing his efforts
• This was a direct result of what took place in the anointing of David

1 Samuel 16:13

…and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on David from that day forward

2. Saul’s insecurity grew 

Vss 6-8a

As the troops were coming back, when David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments. 7 As they danced, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands. 8 Saul was furious and resented this song…

• Once again, pride destroys God’s anointed
• No one is immune to the dangers of pride

3. When God’s anointing is on you, the enemy is out in full force 

Vs 9-11

So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward. 10 The next day an evil spirit sent from God came powerfully on Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual, but Saul was holding a spear, 11 and he threw it, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David got away from him twice.

• Saul’s pride and insecurity led to evil choices
• God removed His Spirit from Saul and evil took over

Quote: “But Saul’s condition now was far worse than being without the Lord’s Spirit, for “an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.” The Hebrew word translated “evil” (Hb. rāʿâ) has a wide range of meanings from “misery” to “moral perverseness.” Thus, it is possible—and perhaps preferable—to interpret the text not to mean that the Lord sent a morally corrupt demon35 but rather another sort of supernatural being—an angel of judgment…”[1]

1 Samuel 10:6

“…the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully on you”

• Has now become –

Vs 10

“The next day an evil spirit sent from God came powerfully on Saul”

4. The hand of God is better than the blessing of men 

Vss 12-15

Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul. 13 Therefore, Saul sent David away from him and made him commander over a thousand men. David led the troops 14 and continued to be successful in all his activities because the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him.

• Keeping our focus on walking with God will always lead to great things, even when there are those out to stop us

Application

1. Trust in the promises of God
2. Don’t let discouragement keep you from God’s plan
3. Fear God leaving you more than others rejecting you

[1] Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, vol. 7, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 182.