1. Recent Omaha World-Herald Headline
“Tom Osborne says Bo Pelini won games, but his character…”

2. “proved to be an issue”

3. for those who give a hoot
Only a fool will not
listen to the wise
Main idea last time…
for those who give a hoot

4. The Wise The Naïve = “empty-headed” The Fool The Scoffer
The Four Types of
People in Proverbs

5. the Discouragement of Fools.
Avoiding
the Discouragement of Fools.

6. David had to deal with
Saul
The Ziphites
Nabal
It had to be exhausting!

7. Sometimes,
we have to deal with situations that never seem to end and foolish people who never seem to learn.

8. It requires us to:
Identify
Don’t join
Respond appropriately
Pray
Recognize reality
Endure

9. Déjà Vu All Over Again – Ch. 26
What a Fool Believes
What Can Happen – Ch. 27:1-2

10. 1 Samuel 26:1-4
The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”
So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David. Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

11. The Ziphites sold David out again.
The reality of life means that we may have to deal with some problems over and over.
Endurance

12. “I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.
1 Samuel 26:5-6
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.
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.

13. Before David acted, he gathered information.
No matter how much emotion is invested in a situation, it is rarely wise to act before getting the facts.
Endurance

14. 1 Samuel 26:7-9
 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.
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.”
But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?

15. 1 Samuel 26:10-12
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. 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.”
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.

16. Many things would have justified David’s killing of Saul.
David had spared Saul’s life before and was again unjustly being pursued.
Many things would have justified David’s killing of Saul.
Yet, David steadfastly believed God’s promise to make him king instead of his own manipulations.
Endurance

17. We cannot do the right thing the wrong way.
Endurance

18. Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”
1 Samuel 26:13-15
Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”
Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”
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.

19. David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.”
1 Samuel 26:16-17
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?”
Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”
David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.”

20. 1 Samuel 26:18-20a
And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 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.’  
Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord.

21. The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness.”
1 Samuel 26:20b-23a
The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
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.”
“Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it.
The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness.” 

22. David again wisely (and at a safe distance) directs Saul’s thinking to a spiritual point of view.
Once again it is clear:
Wisdom is involved not only in what we say and do, but how we say and do it.
Endurance

23. So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
1 Samuel 26:23b-25
The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”
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.

24. Endurance David knew who he was dealing with and acted accordingly.
When people act foolishly, we should address them in kind.
David was becoming an expert in dealing with fools.
Endurance

25. What a Fool Believes Déjà Vu All Over Again – Ch. 26
What Can Happen – Ch. 27:1-2

26. What do fools look like?

27. Fools are not teachable.
there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Fools are not teachable.

28. It’s foolish to be easily offended.
there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
Proverbs 12:16
Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
It’s foolish to be easily offended.

29. there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
Proverbs 17:28
Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.
Better for people to think you’re a fool than to open your mouth and prove it.

30. there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
Proverbs 18:2
A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.

31. It often does no good to reason with an unreasonable person.
there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
It often does no good to reason with an unreasonable person.
Foolish people have little interest in learning and more in hearing themselves talk.

32. With foolish people, it simply does no good to talk to them.
there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
Proverbs 23:9
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
With foolish people, it simply does no good to talk to them.

33. It’s not just what we know, it’s knowing how to use it.
there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
Proverbs 26:9
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
It’s not just what we know, it’s knowing how to use it.

34. As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.
there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.
Until some people are willing to deal with their problems, they will simply keep repeating them.

35. In life, a proud person is in more danger than a fool.
there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
In life, a proud person is in more danger than a fool.

36. there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
Proverbs 27:22
Though you grind a fool in a mortar,     grinding them like grain with a pestle,     you will not remove their folly from them

37. there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
When problems are deeply engrained, even physical pain won’t cause people to learn.

38. A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.
there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
Proverbs 29:11
A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back.
Self-control is a desirable and helpful quality.
A fool doesn’t have it.

39. What Can Happen – Ch. 27:1-2 Déjà Vu All Over Again – Ch. 26
What a Fool Believes
What Can Happen – Ch. 27:1-2

40. David and his men settled in Gath with Achish.
1 Samuel 27:1-3a
But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”
So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath.
David and his men settled in Gath with Achish.

41. 1 Samuel 27:3b-5
Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?” .

42. Emotional exhaustion can be a reality for us!
Fools require us to:
Identify them
Not join them
Respond appropriately
Pray
Recognize the reality of them
Endure with confidence
Endurance

43. To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments.
Psalm 54:1-3
To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. 
A Contemplation of David when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding with us?”
Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your strength. Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah .

44. Psalm 54:4-7
Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth.
I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me out of all trouble; And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies. .

45. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
Hebrews 10:35-36

46. Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus…

47. …instead of fools…