The Usual Run of Announcements

• Open Forum this evening will be in J114• Exam next Wednesday – the standard policies apply!• Don’t forget to be working on the Proverbs paper• Let’s sing!

• HAI ADONAI UVARUKH TZURI (2X)

• Lives The LORD and blessed (is) my Rock•• VEYARUM ELOHEI YESHU’ATI (2X)• And may He be exalted the God of My salvation

The Rise of David; the Fall of Saul

• Rembrandt, David and Saul

Review reasons for Saul’s loss of the kingdom

• Presumptuously offered sacrifices at Gilgal

• Did not exterminate all the Amalekites and their king Agag

• Copley, Samuel Rebukes Saul• (1798)

Questions to Ponder

• How were Saul’s sins so much worse than David’s that he would lose the kingdom and suffer the removal of God’s Spirit?

• Once the kingdom was removed from him, why torture Saul so long by allowing him to linger as king?

• How are we to understand the Spirit of the LORD and an evil spirit from the LORD as they related to both David and Saul?

• Why did God choose Saul as king and allow such personal and national disaster?

Background information on David

• Tribe and lineage– Judah– Line of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz and

Ruth

• Anointed by Samuel after disobedience of Saul– Samuel journeyed to Bethlehem– David was the youngest– The Spirit of the LORD came upon David

Saul and the Spirit of the LORD

• Purposes – to indicate that he was chosen – to lead Israel to victory – to protect David from him (19:20-23) – a special manifestation, not “indwelling”

• Because Saul’s life was increasingly characterized by disobedience, the Spirit was removed. Note David’s cry (Ps 51) “take not your Holy Spirit from me.”

And the evil spirit from the LORD (I Sam 16:14,23; 18:10; 19:9)

• Tormented Saul and was part of God’s judgment against him

• God uses all things to work His good purposes (cf the wrath of men shall praise Him Ps 76:10)

• David’s initial contact as a harp player brought him into Saul’s court

Period of Preparation: The “Good Times” – Entry into Saul’s Service

• Provided music to relieve Saul’s distress

• The Goliath incident

• A popular warrior

• Saul’s son-in-law

• Friendship with Jonathan

The Geographical Setting

The Elah Valley: Battle with Philistines

The “Bad Times” – Flight from Saul

• Nob and Ahimelekh the priest• David and King Achish of the Philistines• David’s “army”• Pursued by Saul through the wilderness• Nabal and Abigail• Ziklag –

– Achish’s “sheriff” of the Negev’s lucrative spice trade routes

– David’s ruse– revenge on Amalekites

The Wilderness

The Battle Moves up North

The Fall of Saul

• Visit to the witch at En-Dor

• Defeat and suicide

• Report of the Amalekite

• David’s lament