The many battles of David

The many battles of David

Read 1 Samuel 23

1. David was a man who had several wilderness experiences.

2. King Saul was jealous of him because of God was with him – 1 Samuel 18 vs 12 “And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lordwas with him, and was departed from Saul.”

3. He risked his life before he could pay the dowry for Michal, the king’s daughter – 1 Samuel 18 vs 25 “And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.”

4. Saul pursued his life to kill him.

5. He fled from his matrimonial home, escaping from the window to avoid being killed by King Saul – 1 Samuel 19 vs 12 “So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.”

6. He fled to the wilderness to escape being murdered by Saul – 1 Samuel 20 vs 24 “So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.”

7. He ran to the enemy’s camp to escape from Saul. He hid in Gath, among the Philistines – 1 Samuel 21 vs 10. “And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.”

8. He pretended to be a madman to escape being captured by the King of Gath – 1 Samuel 21 vs 13. “And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.”

9. He fled and hid in the cave Adullam to escape Saul – 1 Samuel 22 vs 1 “David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.”

10. He hid in the wilderness, in strongholds and a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph to hide from Saul, who was seeking his life – 1 Samuel 23 vs 13 “Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.”

11. He hid in the strongholds of the wilderness of Engedi to hide from Saul – 1 Samuel 24 vs 1 “And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”

12. He hid among wild goats with the rocks, to escape Saul – 1 Samuel 24 vs 2 “Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.”

13. Yet, when he had opportunity to kill Saul, he refused to take vengeance – 1 Samuel 24 vs 4, 12 “⁴ And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lordsaid unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily. ¹² The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.”