The Fugitive Freed
In his darkest moment of despair, God delivered David, fulfilled His promises and made him king over His people.
1 Samuel 30-31; 2 Samuel 1:1-2:4
The Fugitive’s Faithful Father
Despite David’s sin and unfaithfulness, God was faithful to save David and fulfill His covenant promises.
1 Samuel 28:1-2; 29:1-30:8 (30:1-8)
The Fugitive’s Fear
When David does not seek God and trust in His Word but instead acts based on his internal fears, he wanders into a period of exile and sin.
1 Samuel 26-28:2 (1 Samuel 27:1)
The Fugitive’s Folly
In the incident with Nabal and Abigail, David acts foolishly, but God rescues Him through the wise and godly actions of Abigail.
1 Samuel 25 (1 Samuel 25:32-35)
The Fugitive’s Faith
When persecuted David displayed an obedient faith that feared and sought God, was sensitive to his own sin, and looked to God for deliverance.
1 Samuel 23-24 (1 Samuel 24:11-15)
The Fugitive
David’s time as a fugitive fleeing the madness and wrath of Saul shows that real security is found in God, not our outer circumstances.
1 Samuel 21-22 (22:1-5)
A Faithful Friend
Jonathan was a faithful friend to David, putting God’s call and David’s needs ahead of personal ambition and cultural expectations.
1 Samuel 20 (1 Samuel 20:12-17)
In the Hall of the Mad King
David experienced God’s favor and protection as Saul descended into madness and tried to kill him.
1 Samuel 18-19 (18:6-16)
The Shepherd Warrior
David, anointed with Spirit, was filled with faith to face and conquer the enemies of God so that the people of God might enjoy the fruits of his victory.
1 Samuel 17
The Shepherd King
God sovereignly chose the young shepherd David to be king, anointed him with the Holy Spirit, and caused him to come into the court of the king – all to initiate events that would make David king and lead to the coming of Christ.
1 Samuel 16
How The Mighty Have Fallen
Saul fell because he did not really seek to know God and His will, preferring to attempt to manipulate God into blessing his own desires and actions.
1 Samuel 28-2 Samuel 1; 1 Chronicles 10 (1 Samuel 28:4-7; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14; 2 Samuel 1:17-27)
A Wicked King
Over time, Saul’s sin grew from a lack of personal integrity to consulting witches – with devastating effects for himself and those under his leadership.
1 Samuel 18-28 (1 Samuel 18:20-22; 28:3-7)
A Jealous King
When Saul was rejected as king because of his sin, rather than repenting and finding his identity in God, he let his jealousy drive him to fear and despise others.
1 Samuel 16-28 (1 Samuel 16: 14-23; 18: 5-17)
A Rebellious King Is Rejected
Saul was rejected as king because he feared others and did not obey God’s word, and then made excuses for his sin, hoping that the rituals of worship would excuse his rebellion.
1 Samuel 15 (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
The Compulsive And Confused King
Saul is a compulsive man, full of rash and foolish actions, rooted in his confusion over how to walk in God’s favor.
1 Samuel 13:1-15
The LORD’s Anointed King
The anointed kings of Israel serve as a picture of Jesus, the Anointed One, Who faithfully rules us forever and has anointed us with the Spirit.
1 Samuel 10-12; 1 Samuel 10:1-10
Great Expectations – The Rise Of Saul
When Israel demanded a king, God graciously provided Saul, a man of great promise possessing the characteristics Israel desired, to lead the people under Yahweh their King.
1 Samuel 9-10 (1 Samuel 9:15-21)
A King for Israel
Israel rejected the LORD as their King, preferring to led by a human king to be like the nations around them.
1 Samuel 8
The LORD Reigns
Our God reigns over all things, and this calls for a response of repentance, worship, and remembrance of God’s work in our behalf.
1 Samuel 5-7
Ichabod – The Glory Is Gone
People often superstitiously believe that they can guarantee God’s favor and protection through external rituals, but His favor is only received through genuine faith.
1 Samuel 4
The Word and the Prophet
An absence of God’s Word is a great curse, but God is faithful to raise up true prophets to speak forth His word.
1 Samuel 3
Holy People and Unholy Priests
The fundamental problem for all humans is our rejection of the reign of God, preferring to do what is right in our own eyes, which leads to chaos and curse rather than God’s blessing.
1 Samuel 2 (1 Samuel 2:11-18)