Can You Build Godly Character?
1 Samuel 26
09/08/2024
Chris Mason – Sarasota Campus Outline
INTRODUCTION:
Can You Build Godly Character?
When I talk about being a person of character, what I’m asking is: will you lead a life of integrity? Even when life is hard. Even when you don’t understand. Even when it would be easier to give up or give in.
Can You Build Godly Character?
The answer is a resounding YES! But, the key to building Godly character is to understand: Where Are You Placing Your Trust? Properly Placed TRUST is foundational to building Godly Character. Robert Frost in his poem: The Road Not Taken had this to say, Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Scripture tells us in Matthew 7 that broad is the road that leads to destruction. Narrow is the road that leads to life and only a few find it.
Where are you placing your TRUST?
Where you place your trust makes all the difference.
As we’ve studied 1 Samuel together, we have seen time and time again that David is a man after God’s own heart because of his unwavering TRUST in God. As 1 Samuel 26 opens we see that David…
I. TRUST GOD TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT
Do you TRUST God to make things right?
26 1The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”
This is the second time that the Ziphites has ratted out David. Now, Saul after his last confrontation with David in the cave, had promised to leave David alone, but temptation gets the best of Saul and he puts together 3,000 fighting men to hunt David down.
Word gets back to David that Saul is coming after him…
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 down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.
6 David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “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. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
What does this mean for us?
As you Trust God to make things right. As you strive to build Godly character…You need to…
A. Watch Out For Temptation (1-7)
Someone once said: Free cheese is always available in mouse traps!
Temptation is not a sin, but it is a trap!
This passage is filled with temptation, We see the contrast between Saul and David. Saul can’t resist the temptation to pursue David again. David comes face to face with a sleeping Saul. His spear by his head. Maybe the same spear Saul has used to try and pin David to the wall. But David, a man of character, refuses to give into temptation.
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
How do you avoid temptation? First, you watch. “Watch” means to be aware of your surroundings. Be alert. Don’t walk aimlessly.
Second, you pray. What should you pray? In the Lord’s Prayer – Jesus teaches his followers, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Prayer is our first option, not our last resort.
The story continues in verse 8…
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, “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. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”
If you truly TRUST God to make things right, then you’ll…
B. Remember It’s God’s Job To Decide, Not Yours (8-11)
Maybe today, you need to halt and remember it’s God’s job to decide, not yours!
David won’t let Saul be killed for two reasons: 1. He is the Lord’s anointed and 2. God will strike Saul down.
David had learned this in chapter 25 dealing with Nabal. Trust God with the timing and the details.
Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Not only do we trust God to make things right, but you also need to…
II. TRUST GOD TO PROTECT YOU
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.
David and Abishai sneak out of the camp and cross over to the other side. Then David climbs up on a hill some distance away and he calls out to the army and Abner the commander of the army. David says, Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?
Abner replied, Who are you who calls the king?
15 David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”
David and Abishai are surrounded by 3000 soldiers, but they are protected by God. God had placed them into a deep sleep.
King Saul on the other hand is surrounded by 3000 armed soldiers, but is totally vulnerable.
What does this tell us? In building Godly character, you must place your…
C. Trust In God, Not People (12-16)
Has anyone ever let you down? Maybe it was your ex-husband or wife. Maybe it was a parent who failed to protect you. Maybe it was a friend who gossiped about you behind your back. And you learned the hard truth. People will let you down.
Can I share with you the promise of God?
Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
God will never leave nor forsake you. Trust in God, not people!
If you TRUST that God will protect you…and you want to build Godly character in your life…it’s time to…
D. Commit Your Way To The Lord (17-20)
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? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
Saul recognizes David’s voice and calls out to him. And David responds by committing his way to the Lord. If God has told Saul to go after him, then David will make an offering. But if men have done it, then may they be cursed before the Lord. David says they have driven him away from his inheritance. They have encouraged him to serve other gods. The Lord’s inheritance here refers to the covenant community living in Israel. David has been driven from his people and driven from the land. He has been driven to other lands where he could have been tempted to serve foreign gods.
David commits his way to the Lord. He puts himself and his future in God’s hands.
Psalm 37 says: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” (Psalm 37:5-6)
Will you commit yourself to the Lord?
It’s football season. You’ve decided to cut back on your drinking. You’re not going to get wasted with the guys. Will you commit yourself to the Lord?
Your spending has been out of control. Will you cut up that credit card? Will you financially commit yourself to the Lord?
When you commit yourself to the Lord, what you are saying is that you…
III. TRUST IN GOD TO REWARD YOU
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.”
At this point we need to stop and take an important sideroad. Was Saul sincere? Was Saul sorry? You can be sorry, without being repentant
2 Corinthians 7:10Godly 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.
SIGNS OF TRUE REPENTANCE:
1) They will show genuine remorse.
2) They will eliminate the bad behavior.
3) They will replace the bad behavior with good behavior.
4) They will seek forgiveness and try to make amends.
5) They make these changes a permanent part of their life.
6) They will humble themselves before God.
David has heard all of this before. There is an old saying, fool me once, shame on you, but fool me twice, shame on me!
David isn’t about to be fooled a second time.
22 “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it.
Then David says…
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.”
In building Godly character…
E. Remember God Rewards Those Who Do Right (21-24)
David proclaims that the Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. David has been righteous and faithful by not laying a hand on the Lord’s anointed. As surely as David valued Saul’s life, David expects the Lord to value his own life and deliver him from trouble.
Hebrews 6:10 “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
God rewards all those who do right.
Then, the last verse of chapter 26…
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.
This is the last time David and Saul will meet. Saul, who has spent the last 10 years making David’s life a Hell on earth speaks words of peace and blessing upon David.
What we see here is that…
F. God Can Make Even Your Enemies Be At Peace With You (25)
Can you trust this?
- Your boss who is overbearing and makes your job harder than it needs to be.
- Your neighbor who tells the HOA all your housing infractions
- That student who bullies you.
- That family member who belittles you and the way you parent your children.
Proverbs 16:7 “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.”
God rewards all those who do right. And God can make even your enemies be at peace with you.
Conclusion:
How do you show that you are a person of Good Character? Leave It Up To God!
How do you leave it up to God? By demonstrating three important areas of trust. 1) Trust God to make things right. 2) Trust God to protect you. And 3) Trust God to reward you.
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