CAN YOU BUILD GODLY CHARACTER?
1 Samuel 26; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Proverbs 3:5-6; Proverbs 12:13; Psalm 23:3-4; Psalm 46:1; Ephesians 4:28
Series: “Heart of a Champion”
Pastor Sam Pepper
New Day Christian Church, Port Charlotte, FL
September 7-8, 2024
I. INTRODUCTION
In the most difficult and unfair season of David’s life, time and again, he built godly character by choosing to trust in the Lord. This was foundational.
The main idea of today’s passage is to help you get the right footing, foundational footing, of trusting in God. Trust in God will help you build godly character.
II. SCRIPTURE
A. Saul’s Pursuit of David (Verses 1-4)
In chapter 26, Saul gets word from the Ziphites that David was going to be in a particular area. So, Saul musters 3,000 troops to go find David.
B. David Sneaks into Saul’s Camp (Verses 5-7)
5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain . Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him. 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. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
C. David Spares Saul’s Life (Verses 8-12)
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.”
Abishai’s ready to kill Saul with his own spear. Talk about giving Saul a taste of his own medicine!
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.”
You couldn’t ask for a more perfect opportunity to kill Saul than this. But, David refuses. He’s got something different in mind. David says,
“Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”
12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.
The same language used here for deep sleep is the same language in Genesis of the Lord putting Adam to sleep so he could take a rib and form Eve.
D. David’s Confrontation with Abner, Saul’s Commander (Verses 13-16)
With Saul’s spear and water jug in hand, David and Abishai cross back over to the other side. And David, from that safe distance, calls out to Abner, the Commander of Saul’s army who is personally in charge of Saul’s safety.
“Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”
This is just like the evidence of the corner of Saul’s robe from chapter 24 – undeniable proof that David had the opportunity to kill Saul but didn’t do it.
E. David’s Confrontation with King Saul (Verses 17-25)
17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?” David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” 18 And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of?
Saul is such a phony! Saul realizes here that he’s been out juked. And so he’s gaslighting David by calling David his son.
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.”
Saul’s given half an apology and empty promises before. And he’s doing it again. It sounds pretty good at surface level, but if David took it to heart and actually came back as Saul requested, it would have likely cost David his life, as Saul’s emotions and morality are so unstable and his character questionable.
Saul is exhibiting an earthly sorrow, but not true repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:10 says,
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Someone can sound repentant, but the proof is in their actions. There should be genuine remorse.
SIGNS OF TRUE REPENTANCE:
1) They will show genuine remorse.
- No more excuses, no more blame: “If only you… Not that big deal.” They will own their sin
2) They will eliminate bad behavior.
- No more drunkenness, lying, immoral sexual relations, losing temper, hitting, yelling, cursing
3) They will replace bad behavior with good behavior.
- Go to church, new set of friends, keep their promises to show up on time, pay bills, goes to counseling.
- Ephesians 4:28 says, “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.”
4) They will seek forgiveness and make amends.
- Pay people back, confess to the offended party, make amends w/ parents, grown children, boss, people who now have nothing to do w/ you.
5) They make these changes a permanent part of their life.
- Not going to make changes in order to just get back with you, get their job back, get an inheritance
6) They will humble themselves before God.
- Surrender to Christ, true life change…
Saul exhibits none of these things! He’s just up to his same old tricks. He’s sorry David out witted him, but he’s not repentant about his actions.
22 “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. 24 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
III. APPLICATION
The story of David and Saul is a comparison of character. In this cat and mouse game Saul chooses to handle things his own way, with his own resources, by his own hand. David, however, chooses to trust God in each decision he makes.
Saul destroys his character. David builds his character.
David’s climb to the top of the hill to meet a sleeping Saul was a lot easier because he chose to trust God before he took a single step forward. His character was after God’s own heart because he was a man that trusted in his Lord – especially in adverse times.
David built godly character by…
- David trusted God Would provide a path forward (VS 7)
Not only did David not retreat from Saul and his army, David faced them and walked directly through Saul’s encamped army. As if God himself made a path for him.
Years later, David’s own son would write in Proverbs 3:5-6 says,
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
David himself would write in Psalm 23,
“He guides me along right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”
Fear (and all the off-shoots like anxiety, nerves, worry) often stop us from walking the path God lays out. So often, we look ahead and if the path seems too dangerous, we sometimes begin to look for an excuse to not do it. We look for an off-ramp.
If God is calling you to action during a season of adversity…maybe it’s to rebuild a relationship, admit a wrong and repent, confront a bully, stand for truth; you should trust that God’s going to provide a path forward.
- David trusted God would bring justice. (VS 9-10)
People have an innate desire for justice. Sometimes we try to be judge, jury, and executioner. We’re going to make things right! We’re going to make them pay! We’re going to get our way! Take matters into our own hands!
When Abishai wanted to kill Saul, David wouldn’t let him. In verse nine it says,
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
Free cheese is always available in mouse traps!
Jesus said in Matthew 26 to, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
If David let Abishai kill Saul, the story would have changed dramatically. For starters, it’s possible that the commotion of doing that would have woken the army and David may not have made it out alive.
If he did make it out alive, David would have lost the moral high ground. His character would have taken a hit. David’s legacy would have been the man who murdered the sleeping God-anointed king!
David’s goal in this entire story wasn’t to win against Saul. Twice he had the opportunity to strike Saul dead – to take matters into his own hand. Once in this chapter, once in chapter 24. But, David’s not in it to win it. His goal isn’t to bring Saul to justice, or slander his name, or even defame his character. David’s goal was to trust in God.
- David trusted God would deliver him from trouble. (VS 23-24)
In verse 23 and 24 David said to Saul,
“The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness…so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”
Living a life of integrity will generally help keep you out of long-term trouble, mischief, disfunction, prison. Since David is living faithfully, his life is on a trajectory that will bring a lot of blessings, even though it’s temporarily difficult.
Saul, on the other hand, can’t keep himself out of trouble. He’s filled with rage and jealousy. His faithfulness to God has tanked. A couple chapters from this point he will actually go and see a medium to contact the dead for advice on what to do. His kingship and legacy is a tragedy.
I think of Proverbs 12:13 that says,
An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble. [Berean Standard Bible]
Godly character will keep you out of trouble in your marriage. You’ll have a healthier marriage and healthier family.
Godly character will keep you out of trouble in your finances. You’ll spend your money with wisdom, have less debt, and steward your resources better.
Godly character will keep you out of trouble in personal areas of vulnerability. You’ll give into temptation less, you’ll begin to lose your desire for things that once destroyed your life, your relationships, career, family, or reputation.
Psalm 46:1 says,
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
IV. CONCLUSION
Over and over again, in chapter after chapter, we see a constant contrast between Saul and David. Between a king whose heart is drifting from God, and a shepherd boy turned warrior, who’s heart is trusting in God.
And the big, over-arching, 30,000 foot question from the story of David and Saul is: Who are you trusting in? Who are you modeling your life and character after?
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