1. Saul put his faith in the wrong person… Himself!

2. A terrible price was paid by Saul for his sin.
Saul has died, his sons are dead, Israel is in retreat.

3. God is sovereign and does remarkable acts of mercy for humanity.
But, the reality of free will and sin often leave terrible marks on the world and its history.

4. David is now positioned to become King.
David has defeated the Amalakites, rescued those taken captive and their goods, re-established relations with Israel, and gotten his walk with the Lord together.
David is now positioned to become King.

5. How well do you handle power?

6. 2 Sam. 1:1-2
Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

7. And David said to him, “Where have you come from?”
2 Sam. 1:3-4
And David said to him, “Where have you come from?”
So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
Then David said to him, “How did the matter go? Please tell me.”
And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

8. 2 Sam. 1:5-7
So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’

9. 2 Sam. 1:8-10
And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’ So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”

10. And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”
2 Sam. 1:11-13
Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?”
And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”

11. 2 Sam. 1:14-16
So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died. So David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’”

12. David learned from his run-in with Nabal: leave judgment to God!
Lying is never a good idea.
vv. 6-10,
Prov. 12:17-22; 26:24-28
How well do you handle power?

13. Greed can be deadly vv. 15-16; How well do you handle power?
God does not think highly of deception, especially when we’re simply trying to win other people’s favor vv. 9-10
Greed can be deadly vv ;
Prov. 1:19; 15:27; 21:25-26; 30:15
How well do you handle power?

14. How well do you handle power?
It is a rare person today who can maintain integrity while others are “kissing up” vv
If the authority is present, judgment driven by genuine love and righteousness, is a good thing vv
How well do you handle power?

15. 2 Sam. 1:17-19
Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:
“The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

16. 2 Sam. 1:20-21
Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon— Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
“O mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, Nor fields of offerings. For the shield of the mighty is cast away there! The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

17. 2 Sam. 1:22-23
From the blood of the slain, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return empty.
“Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.

18. 2 Sam. 1:24-25
“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury; Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in your high places.

19. “How the mighty have fallen, And the weapons of war perished!”
2 Sam. 1:26-27
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women.
“How the mighty have fallen, And the weapons of war perished!”

20. with the baggage created by a lack of forgiveness. Matt. 18:34
Obedience to God, exercised in forgiveness and in not taking revenge, sets us free to genuinely love others
(vv. 17f).
David can genuinely love and grieve Saul because he doesn’t have to deal
with the baggage created by a lack of forgiveness.
Matt. 18:34
How well do you handle power?

21. Examining Forgiveness How well do you handle power?
Mt. 6:9-15, esp – the warning
Mt. 18:21-35 – the perspective and the danger
Eph. 4:31-32 – the basis
James 2:13; cf. Mt. 5:7 – the extra-credit
How well do you handle power?

22. How well do you handle power?
Rom. 12:17-21
1) No payback v. 17
2) Do this v. 18
3) Don’t do that v. 19a
4) Give God space v. 19b
5) Not your call v. 19c
6) Turn up the heat v. 20
7) Fight fire with water v. 21
How well do you handle power?

23. How well do you handle power?
As wonderful as married love is, few things can match the love of a good friend v. 26.
Blessed is the person who has both Prov. 17:17; 18:24; e.g. Promisekeepers
It’s good to recognize that married love can tend to be more selfish than selfless. Thus, the commands of our Lord Eph. 5:22-33
How well do you handle power?

24. How well do you handle power?
In spite of what some have tried to read into this passage, David and Jonathon stand as one of the truly great friendships in the Bible.
How well do you handle power?

25. So good to see you! One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
Proverbs 18:24
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Certainly true of Jesus, but also true of a good friend.
So good to see you!

26. So good to see you! The righteous choose their friends carefully,
Prov. 12:26
The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Friends are a matter of choice and involve spiritual priorities.
So good to see you!

27. Proverbs 22:24-25
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,     do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
So good to see you!

29. Building a Culture

30. What is culture?
A way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization

31. In times of change, we have a chance to set new patterns.
It’s critical that we take advantage of those opportunities.
Building a Culture

32. David is building a different culture than Saul built.
Justice instead of whim
Restraint instead of emotion
Forgiveness instead of vengeance
Concern for others instead of a concern for self
Honoring the Lord above all else!
Building a Culture

33. What cultures have you grown up in? How have they impacted you?
Your home?
Your parents?
Your school(s)?
Your work?
Your friendships?
How have they impacted you?
What would you change?
Building a Culture

34. What cultures are you building in…
Your home?
Your marriage?
Your school(s)?
Your work?
Your friendships?
What do you want?
Building a Culture

35. How well do you handle power?