E-pistle for December 18, 2015
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E-Pistle
FreeWay Foundation December 18, 2015
David's "Wise Behavior" Scared Saul!
I Samuel 18:1-30)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Saul's son, Jonathan, became David's closet friend; he gave David his
royal robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt . . . signifying his yielding of
the right of succession to the throne of his father, vv. 1-4.
2. The women of Israel sang a victory song honoring David more than
Saul; Saul envied David and twice unsuccessfully tried to kill him;
David "behaved wisely" and the people loved him, but Saul became
very afraid of him, vv. 5-16.
3. Saul offered his older daughter, Merab, to David . . . then gave her in
marriage to another man; Saul next offered his younger daughter, Michal,
asking as a dowry from David the lives of 100 Philistines (hoping that
David would be killed in the attempt); David and his men killed 200
Philistines and Michal became his wife, making him the king's son-in-law,
vv. 17-27.
4. Saul knew that God was with David, that his daughter, Michal, loved him,
and that the people highly esteemed him; Saul became even more afraid
of David, vv. 28-30.
II. Meditation: on the reasons Saul was afraid of David
1. Because the Lord was with David, v. 12.
2. Because the Lord had rejected Saul as King and had departed from him,
v. 12; 15:23, 25.
3. Because David "behaved wisely" (prospered spiritually), vv. 5, 14, 15, 30.
4. Because everyone loved David, including even members of Saul's own
family, vv. 28-29.
III. Revelation: on Jonathan's close friendship with David
1. Jonathan became one in spirit with David, v. 1.
2. Jonathan loved David as he loved himself, vv. 1, 3.
3. Jonathan made a blood covenant with David, v. 3.
4. Jonathan gave David royal gifts . . . recognizing him as the true successor
to the throne of Israel, v. 4.
(For further details and spiritual implications, see notes on I Samuel 19-20)
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Keep my promises (Saul had promised his daughter's hand in marriage to
the man who killed Goliath, I Samuel 17:25, but he tried to renege on that
vow in several ways.)
2 Realize that disobedience always causes an anointed person to lose the
power and blessing of God upon his life.
3. "Behave wisely" . . . reverence God with a heart of true integrity, which
is the beginning of spiritual wisdom, Proverbs 9:10.
4. Be a genuine friend to others, just as Jonathan was a true friend to David,
Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; John 15:13-15.
two kinds of wisdom
(James 3:13-18)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Meditation: on the wisdom from below . . . and their opposites (vv. 14-16)
1. Bitterness (sweetness) 6. Earthly (heavenly)
2. Envy (not covetous) 7. Sensual (spiritual)
3. Self-seeking (unselfish) 8. Demonic (Godly)
4. Boasting (modest; humble) 9. Confusion (orderly)
5. Lying (truthful) 10. Every evil thing (every good thing)
II. Meditation: on the wisdom from above . . . with their opposites (v. 17)
1. Pure (unclean) 5. Merciful (vengeful)
2. Peaceable (belligerent) 6. Fruitful (non-productive)
3. Gentle (harsh) 7. Unbiased (prejudiced)
4. Submissive (unteachable) 8. Sincere (fake)
III. Revelation: on wisdom from God's perspective
1. A wise and understanding person shows by his conduct that his works are
done in the proper spirit and with a Godly attitude (meekness), v. 13.
2. The wisdom from below is produced by Satan; the wisdom from above
comes from the Holy Spirit and produces His fruit (Galatians 5:22-23).
3. These two types of wisdom (heavenly and earthly; divine and human) are
direct opposites; they cannot be reconciled by finding a compromise
between them.
4. God's wisdom is peaceable (v. 17); it is sown in peace (v. 18); it is sown
by those who make peace (v. 18).
IV. Application: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Exhibit the meek, gentle spirit of Christ in all that I do.
2. Allow the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in my life.
3. Not tolerate in my life characteristics from both lists of "wisdom" (Satanic
and Godly) . . . they are mutually exclusive.
4. Be a peacemaker, sowing peace . . . introducing persons to the "Prince of
Peace," Isaiah 9:6.
"Behold the fool saith, 'Put not all thine eggs in the one basket' – which is but a manner of
saying, 'Scatter your money and your attention'; but the wise man saith, 'Put all
your eggs in the one basket – and watch that basket.'"
Mark Twain
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