BIG IDEA:
DESPAIR FUELS DESPERATION RESULTING IN A LIFE OF DECEPTION
(:1) INTRODUCTION: DESERATE MEASURES
A. David Driven by Despair –
1. Defeatist Thinking
“Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul”
Saul has been the one frustrated thus far; why should David give up on the Lord’s protection? Apparently David has just tired out of the discipline of living a moment by moment type of faith walk.
2. Limiting Your Options
“There is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the Philistines”
B. David Driving Saul to Despair as He Justifies His Actions
1. Rationalistic Justification
“Saul then will despair of searching for me anymore in all the territory of Israel”
2. The End Justifies the Means
“and I will escape from his hand”
No sign of David inquiring after God in this passage; no waiting upon the Lord for guidance; no evidence of faith; no clinging to God’s promises;
It is always a problem when one leaves the promised land without explicit divine command
I. (:2-7) SETTING UP CAMP OUTSIDE OF THE PROMISED LAND (IN THE MIDST OF THE ENEMY)
A. (:2a) Heading Out of Bounds Puts Lives in Jeopardy
“So David arose and crossed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him”
B. (:2b-3) Living with the Heathen Contradicts God’s Design of Holiness
“And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each with his household”
“David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess”
C. (:4) Accomplishing His Short-sighted Objective Provides David with a False Sense of Security
“Now it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he no longer searched for him.”
D. (:5-7) Negotiating for a Piece of the Pie Secures a Strategic Foothold
“let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country”
II. (:8-9) STRATEGIC GUERRILLA ATTACKS TO BENEFIT JUDAH
A. (:8) Effective Base of Operations for Strategic Guerrilla Attacks
“Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites and the Girzites and the Amalekites”
B. (:9a) Ruthless Tactics Required Because of His Deception
“did not leave a man or a woman alive”
C. (:9b) Valuable Spoils of Victory
“and he took away the sheep, the cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing.”
III. (:10-12) SELLING THE DECEPTION TO THE ENEMY
A. Achish Asked the Right Questions
“Where have you made a raid today?”
B. Achish Lacked Objective Evidence
“ And David did not leave a man or a woman alive, to bring to Gath, saying, ‘Lest they should tell about us, saying, ‘So has David done and so has been his practice all the time he has lived in the country of the Philistines.’”
C. Achish Believed the Lies of David
“So Achish believed David”