1 Samuel 19

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

David is Protected from King Saul

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. God can use natural means to protect His servants.

  2. God can use supernatural means to protect His servants.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let’s be peacemakers like Jonathan.

QUESTIONS

  1. What was David’s status in Israel in the beginning of the chapter?

  2. What was the bad news for David at this point?

  3. Why was there an idol in David’s household, as we see in verse 13?

  4. List the four natural means God used to protect David from King Saul.

  5. Recount the humorous event of God’s supernatural protection of David.

ANSWERS

  1. David was a popular hero and a young general in the Israelite military forces. He was married to Michal, one of King Saul’s daughters, and was close friends with Saul’s son, Jonathan.

  2. Because of David’s popularity, Saul became extremely jealous of David.

  3. Possession of these household idols in that culture did not necessarily mean the owner was involved in idolatry. Small idols were used as title deeds to property, and this large idol may have been a cultural decoration.

  4. a. Friends b. Human ability c. Family d. Circumstances

  5. When King Saul heard that David was with Samuel, he sent messengers there to take David. But the Spirit of God came upon these henchmen and they prophesized in spite of themselves. This happened 3 times, until Saul himself came. He also was forced by the Spirit of God to prophesy in spite of himself.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. This story of David’s protection is similar to God’s protection of Elijah in 1 Kings 17. In both cases, God used natural and supernatural means to protect and provide for His servants. Discuss the parallels in these stories.

  2. Can God use supernatural means to protect His people today? Yes! Do you know about personal accounts of this?

CHALLENGE

  1. Jonathan was willing to speak to his father and make a temporary peace with David. He did this even at the risk of his own life. How can you be a peacemaker between the people in your life?

KEY VERSES

  • “Jonathan told David, saying, ‘My father Saul seeks to kill you.’” 1 Samuel 19:2

  • “Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence.” 1 Samuel 19:10

1 Samuel, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid1 SAMUEL 19