The Unstoppable Triumph of God's Plans Over Human Politics, Fear and Failure

Thank you for that good prayer. If you got your Bibles with you, let's turn to 1st Samuel 18. We're going to continue the series. I got tell you, I'm kind of excited about this one. Uh it's it's packed. It's packed with good stuff because if you've walked with Jesus for or even try to walk with Jesus for like seven seconds. One of the things that you're going to notice is that um obedience comes um with blessings, but it also comes with uh battles. Obedience comes with blessings, but it also comes with battles. And I know this isn't the favorite ter sermon topic. You know, nobody really wants a sermon, the gift of people throwing spears at you. But welcome to 1st Samuel chapter 18, a chapter where David's faithfulness puts him on a collision course with Saul's insecurities. Um, up until this point, God had anointed David. David obeys God. God elevates David. People celebrate David and Saul starts googling how to chunk a javelin with precision. It is the chapter of a story of a young man walking directly into God's plan for his life and discovering that sometimes walking into God's plans means walking into somebody else's jealousy. It is a story of friendship and favor involving Jonathan, of progress and promotion involving David's rising in and Saul's army. It's a story about fear and insecurity of of of Saul's unraveling verse by verse. It's a story of plans of manipulation where Saul schemes to to trap David. Most of all, it's a story about God quietly accomplishing his will through it all. You know, just your average Tuesday. So, embedded in this chapter is something deeper. It's it's the unstoppable triumph of God's purpose over human politics, human fear, human failures. And if we look closely, everything in this chapter, everything in this chapter points to Jesus who conquered not with spears and javelins, but with a cross. So let's uh let's look at the original bromance of um David and Jonathan. We ended last time in verse 17 where David had defeated Goliath. People are excited and it says, "And Saul said, whose son art you man?" And David answered, "I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehem." Now we pick up with verse 18. And it came to pass when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. And Jonathan loved him as his own soul. The soul of Jonathan was knit. And let's start where scripture starts because this is probably one of the most beautiful friendships in the entire Bible. At this time, Jonathan is the son of Saul. He's the heir to the throne. He's a champion warrior. He's the dude that just a couple of chapters ago turned to a servant guy when they were surrounded by thousands of Philistines and said, "Hey, hey, you and me, let's go up the hill because our God is able to save by many or few." And they climbed up the hill. They did the Jedi thing with the Philistines. They killed so many in a half acre that they were piled up, you know, body upon body. That's this Jonathan. He's a warrior, too. He's the son of the king. He's the heir to the throne, a champion warrior. But then he meets David, a shepherd boy, a heart player, a giant slayer, fresh off the Philistine victory circuit. And scripture says that their souls were net, not kind of clicked, not had some stuff in common, not followed each other on the ancient Israel Instagram. It says that they were knit, woven, bound together because Jonathan sees something in David. something divine, something anointed, something courageous, something pure, something he knows he himself is not called to be. And let me tell you and encourage our young people and old people. When you are walking in God's calling on your life, there is something about you. And this is remarkable because if anyone had a reason to see David as a threat, it was Jonathan. I mean, think about it. The kingdom by birth is supposed to be his. It's his birthright. It's his inheritance. It's his future. And I say that because many of us don't even like it when somebody else on Facebook gets more likes than us. And Jonathan is dealing with someone who will literally take the throne that he was born to secede to. But instead of jealousy, he honors him. There's something special about Jonathan. And he does something shocking because Jonathan, he does something shocking. It it said that we just read instead of jealousy, he honors him. He gave David his robe, his garments, his sword, his bow, his his bow, his girdle. So day I mean, don't miss that because it it because it says there in verse four, Jonathan stripped himself that day of the robe that was upon him and gave it and his garments, his sword, his bow, his girdle. He is literally handing over the symbols of a future king. and he sees God's calling on God on David. He doesn't fight it. He He lets it happen. And sometimes I wonder, I mean, how how can you be so amazing like that, Jonathan? Let me tell you something.

Jonathan was on the same battlefield that all the other Israelites were. And when Goliath went out there and taunted the Israelites for 40 days and 40 nights, Jonathan, champion warrior Jonathan, future King Jonathan did nothing. But what he did do is he was able to see David rise up and go at the king, go at Goliath and say, "You're going to die this day because the battle is the Lord's." Jonathan saw something in David. I take some encouragement for that because as good as Jonathan is, as good as every every one of y'all are, there are times when our life when we fail, but God's purpose never fails. And God's hand was on David to promote David. Jonathan saw it and I think that helped compel Jonathan to do some of the things that that he did because being able to turn over the kingdom, that's rare. That's holy. That's the kind of kingdom friendship that only God can ordain where the greatest evidence of a friend's character is to celebrate your successes and calling even when it surpasses our own. Because here's a truth from human behavior 101. Identity celebrates, but insecurity competes. You get that? When you know who you are in Christ, you don't have to compete with anybody. And even when their calling is better than yours, even when they will succeed more, you don't have to compete because of who you are. The Bible says in second Peter, 1 Peter chapter 2:9, 1 Peter chapter 2:9, that you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, peculiar unto the Lord. So Jonathan knows who he is. Jonathan knows who God is. He knows that David is serving the servant God with even more courage than him. He said, and and he does something amazing. Here's my bow. Here's my girdle. Here's my thing. So I got a question to ask us just as a self diagnostic at this point in the scripture early on. Are you a Jonathan or are you a Saul to the Davids in your life and somebody else succeeds? Do you feel threatened or do you write the letter of support when when God elevates another person? Do you secretly hope that they fail or sincerely hope that they flourish? Do you do you financially contribute to When someone else walks in the spotlight, do you clap or critique because Jonathan claps loudly? Do do you publish their successes on your social media today? And here's the thing, because Saul, as we are about to see, turns into the guy leaving the anonymous Yelp review. David not that good on the harp, you know. So, then we go, let's uh let's let's watch it out. Let's go to verse five. And when David went out withers so Saul sent him and behaved himself wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war. And he was accepted in sight of all people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. So David, one day he's doing Uberies for his brother. The next day he kills Goliath. The next day he's captain over thousands in Saul's army. He just defeated the biggest enemy Israel had ever faced. And now he's leading men into battle. He's gaining respects. He's succeeding at everything God uh Saul has asked him to do. Now, there are some preachers out there and there's this phrase out there in the evangelical world that calls it God's favor. That phrase is not really used in in scripture, but it is definitely shown in scripture and it's being shown right here because David has got success after success and he handles success with humility while Saul handles David's successes with insecurity. And now we come to some of my favorite people. Y'all remember Saturday Night Live? Sher O Terry and Will Frell had this skit and it was called the perfect cheer. Y'all remember that? Yeah, I see a couple of you shaking hands. Some of you weren't born, but in the perfect cheer, they they were cheerleaders for the Spartans and they were just extra. They cheered everything everywhere with total enthusiasm and they didn't respect any kind of boundaries. They would cheer at PTA meetings. They would cheer at chess massages and they would do the perfect cheer. We are about to meet those people. David has killed Goliath. David is in the king's court. There are certain things that are not necessarily appropriate to say, but that doesn't stop the perfect cheerleaders. And here we go. And it came to pass as they came when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistines that the women came out all the cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul. So they knew he was there with tabaretses, with joy, with instruments of music. And the women answered one another as they played. And they said, here it is, the perfect cheer. Saul has slain his thousands and David his 10 thousands. No, he didn't. He killed one dude. He killed Goliath. But that doesn't stop the perfect cheer. They're very excited about David. And that's great, but they didn't watch what they say. And in modern terms, what they're saying is Saul is good, but David, dang, David's really, really good. And let's be honest, nobody likes being compared, right? Even in church. What? Matthew's sermons get more likes than mine. What? Oh, yeah. Y'all see it, too. Okay. I enjoyed your small group, but Julia's small group is amazing. Hey, your pecan pie is good, but have you tried Susan's? You just keep on going. And there's something in us that clenches us when someone says, "You're good." But that person, that person's incredible. And Saul, Saul clenches up. And he clenches up hard. And this is what scripture says in verse eight. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him. And he said, "They have ascribed to David 10 thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands. But what can he have more? But the kingdom?" And here it is. And Saul eyed David from that day forward. That's the southern term. He gave him the stink eye. So the reaction says Saul was very raw.

And it means stewing. It means spiraling. It means he's scrolling through Envy's Instagram feed at midnight. And he says the line that no insecure leader should ever say out loud. What more can he have other than the kingdom? It's almost as if Saul had heard the song. Okay. Uh Saul heard the song the ladies were singing like, "Okay, first of all, boundaries, ladies. You don't need to put everything into that song. And third, c can we maybe have a little HR training on sensitivity because you're a walking violation? But the song honestly wasn't the problem. The problem here is Saul's heart. It's not right. And and and this is where Saul's downfall began. Not not when David began to rise, but when Saul's downfall began. Because your mind and here's here's your mind when stress comes will always go to where your identity is the weakest. And Saul's identity was in the applause. Saul's identity was in the achievements. Saul's identity was in the perception. Saul's identity was in in his title. So when David shine, Saul didn't know who he wasn't. And this is what happens when you build your identity on things that God never told you were yours to keep. So don't build your identity on how much money you make, what kind of house you live in, what kind of job you have. It's all fleeting nonsense. And here's the truth scripture showing us God's calling on someone else is not competition for you. Okay, let's go to the second portion. third portion sermon. And if you haven't been listening, if you've been distracted, put down the phone, pay attention. This is the part that just speaks to my heart. Here we go. Verse 10. And it came to pass on the tomorrow that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house. And David played with his hand as at other times. Here it is. Underline this. There was a javelin Saul's hand. And Saul cast the javelin for he said, "I will smite." Kids, that's kill. I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. Now, this is where the chapter takes a sharp turn. Y'all dig it, right? The ladies are singing. It's the next day. Saul's got a headache. David's playing the harp, helping Saul to relax. And then the scriptures describes an evil spirit that came from the Lord. And this phrase actually bothers some people. But remember the context. God is not doing the evil. God has allowed it. And this is God removing his restraining hand, allowing Saul's own rebellious heart to spiral under a demonic agitation. So Saul, notice this, has a spear in his hand. And the scriptures say and mention this detail twice. The scriptures mention it twice because the writer wants you to see what is in Saul's grip. He cast a javelin. And it says right there in verse 10, "And there was a javelin in Saul's hand." Let's walk back into the palisene because this scripture gives a detail that might slip past us because it absolutely explodes with meaning. Y'all, Saul had a javelin in his hand again still always. And it's not a coincidence. And it's not poor decorating choices. And it's not the ancient king fidget spinner behavior. This is the detail. The Holy Spirit is waving a red flag saying, "Look closely. This matters." Because the javelin reveals Saul more closely than any other dialogue in the scripture. Why did Saul have a javelin when he's the king of Israel sitting in his throne room? He needs to have a scepter.

He is a king. The only time that a king needs a javelin is when he is on the battlefield.

You know what? I say that and I cannot count the number of times that have held a javelin in my hand. Because let me tell you about your identity. Hebrews chapter No, no, no. Let's go back to First Peter chapter 2:9. You are a royal priesthood. You are a chosen people. The Bible describes us as fellow heirs of Jesus Christ because of what he's done for us, brothers and sisters, eternally, spiritually. I'm looking at kings and queens. How many of you have a javelin in your hand? Right

when you need to be having a septic when people come against you, how many take the javelin instead of saying, you know what, your opinion of me doesn't matter. So why did Saul have a javelin in his hand? Because Saul had traded the scepter of a king for the weapons of a fearful man. In the ancient world, kings held scepter, symbols of of rules, symbols of wisdom, symbols of appointment. But Saul isn't holding that. He's gripping the spear. It's a profound picture of a leader who has lost his authority long before he lost his position because that scepter kind of symbolized a calling. The spear symbolizes control. A scepter says, "God has appointed me king." The spear says, "I will protect myself." The scepter says, "I trust God with the throne." The spear says, "I trust my weapons more than God." Saul hasn't lost the crown yet, but he's already lost the heart of the king. Why did he have a saw? Because why did he have a javelin and spear? Because he was ruled by paranoia. By the time we reach 1st Samuel 18, Saul is a deeply paranoid man. He has lost the Lord's promise. He's been told that he lost the kingdom and is leaving his lineage. He watched David rise faster than he could process. He search Heard songs of comparison comparing him unfavorably. He felt God's hand on someone else's life more than his own. So the javelin is not just a weapon. It's Saul's security blanket. It's an emotional support spear. You know, some people carry a stress ball, but Saul's like, "Nah, give me the sharpest thing you got." The javelin here is kind of the physical manifestation of Saul's internal collapse. It's fear made visible. It's paranoia that arms itself. Why did Saul have a javelin? Because Saul wants to appear strong even while he's feeling weak. Because holding that javelin, it gave Saul the illusion of strength, the image of authority, the the posture of a warrior, but it also exposes a truth that he cannot admit.

Saul's terrified. And people who feel weak often carry visible symbols of power. It's the the coworker who flexes their title every five minutes. It's the the supervisor who micromanages everything. It's the the neighbor who threatens to call corporate uh if if your grass is a quarter inch too long. It's the the person who drops a name like it's spiritual gift. Those are all spears, all external symbols meant to hide internal insecurity. Why does Saul have a javelin? Because Saul uses weapons to solve problems only worship can fix. David's playing the harp to to calm Saul's tormented spirit. David is literally ministering through music, a spiritual bomb for a spiritually tormented man. And that's important because David is using his hands to bring healing, but Saul uses his hands to bring harm. One holds an instrument, the other holds a weapon. One uses his gifting, the other uses intimidation. One uses calms the atmosphere, the other escalates it. So Saul's javelin reveals that he's trying to fight spiritual problems with physical solutions. But you cannot battle demons with javelins. You you cannot defeat insecurity with intimidation. You you cannot erase guilt with aggression. And you cannot fix your heart by throwing spears at people who exposed your emptiness. Saul's javelin. He's holding it because he's refusing to bow. And I want you to listen to me. Your weapon can become your identity. And if you're constantly carrying around sarcasm, bitterness, manipulation or shame, intimidation or or criticism, self-p protection or or passive aggressiveness, those will slowly shape you into someone you never intended to be. And so Saul picks up this javelin so often that by the by chapter 19, he's he's defined by it. You will not rise by clinging to your weapons. You rise by clinging to God. Let's go over to First Peter chapter 2:9. It says, "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people." And for those of y'all new to the King James, that means you are owned by God. You're a peculiar people that you should have shown forth the praises that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light. Hold scepters, not javelins, because let me tell you something, the battle's been won. This is Hebrews chapter 10 verse 10 through13 describing Jesus and the will of God through Jesus says, "By the which will we are sanctified." That's present tense. We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which could never take away sin. But this man Jesus after he offered one sacrifice for sins sat down at the right hand of God and from henceforth expecting until his enemies be made his foottool. Complete total victory by the sacrifice of Christ and nothing else. You have won the eternal battle through the actions of Jesus Christ. That is your identity. Royal priesthood. That is your identity. Holy nation, that is your identity. Chosen generation, you don't have to go around carrying javelins. You can carry scepters and it can dictate how you interact with everybody in your life. And when they come against you, you can be okay. And when they say falsities about you, you can be okay. When they attack you and malign you and slander you, you can be okay because of who you are. And Saul, verse 12, and Saul was afraid of David because David was the Lord was departed with him. And pardon me, and Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him and was departed from Saul. I want you to notice how God makes people fear you even when you're not trying. Because this is ironic. I want you to think about this. Saul was afraid of David. David had no army on his own. He had no throne. He had no plan to overthrow Saul. He's playing music to terrify Saul. And Saul is terrified. Why? Because David's influence is not about position. It's about the presence. And scriptures tell us plainly because why did Saul Why was Saul scared? Because the Lord was with him was departed Saul. So David is carrying something Saul no longer carries. And deep down Saul knew it. So let's keep let's see God keep opening doors that Saul keeps trying to shut. Verse 13. Therefore Saul removed from him and made him his captain over a thousand. And he went out and came in before the Lord. And David, here we go. Underline this, behaved himself wisely in all his ways. And the Lord was with him. Wherefore, when Saul saw that he behaved himself wisely, there we see it again. By the way, it's used four times in this chapter. He was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David because he went out and came in before him. So Saul's trying something new. Instead of javelin target practice, he says, "You know what? I'm going to put him in the army. I'm not going to chunk spears." But it didn't work. David's still alive. That that the javelin throw didn't work. David's still alive. The walls got some new ventilation holes. Nothing's changed. So here's what Saul does. He tries plan B. He tries distance. He sends David away. He says, "Hey, let's get the guy out of the palace far away. Let him lead some troops. Maybe, just maybe, something will happen." And you can almost hear Saul whispering. You know, accidents occur. But instead of David falling apart, David flourishes. And everywhere he goes, scripture says it's because he behaved himself wisely. It's really the Holy Spirit kind of highlighting how David navigated the pressure, the jealousy, and the adversity. David just keeps winning. He keeps gaining respect. He keeps winning people's hearts. He keeps honoring God. And Saul, well, he keeps on losing sleep. And here's the principle. When God is with you, even human sacri sabotage can become divine setup. I mean, Saul thought David, he's sending David away would hinder him, but God used it to enlarge him. Saul demoted David, but David God promoted David. Saul tried to isolate David, but but God used it to evaluate David. I mean, have you noticed that sometimes the things that people do to you is the very thing that God uses to strengthen you. It's the job transfer that that felt like a setback actually becomes the season that God works most in your life. The relationship that ended actually becomes doorway to to healthy connections. The supervisor who tried to sideline you ends up unintentionally training you. See, here's the thing. God isn't running the story. God is. Saul isn't running the story. God is. David isn't succeeding because David is awesome. He's succeeding because God's presence has never left him. Not once. And Saul notices. And Israel notices. When God is with you, it shows not because you're trying to prove something, but because his presence produces fruit that speaks louder than your resume. Verse 17. And and Saul said to David, "Behold, my elder daughter Mirab will I give thee a wife. Only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles." That's interesting. For Saul said, and he's saying this to himself, "Let not mine hand be upon me, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him." And David said to Saul, "Who am I? What is my life or my father's family in Israel that I should be a son-in-law to the king?" I want you to I want a side note here because God elevates the humble, but he resists the proud. And David right here, he's not trying to grab the throne. He's not chasing a crown. He He's not pushing for power. If David were living in 2025, he would not be handing out business cards. Future king of Israel, he he'd be playing the guitar, the harp backstage. He'd be fixing the shepherd's sling. He'd be saying, "I'm just thankful to be here." And it says, "But it came to pass at a time when Merb Saul's daughter should have been given to David that she was given to Adreal Maholife, the wife." So we see here where Saul is starting to scheme. He's offered David his daughter. Meabb is a trap. Not because he wants a happy family for a son-in-law, which in in modern terms is like but but but because David is a great guy. Not because Saul is a proud father. Saul says be valiant and fight the Lord's battles. which in modern terms is like saying, "Hey, David, why don't you go fight the war over there, the the one where the last seven guys didn't come back. It it would mean so much for me." And so Saul's actually manipulating David with a marriage offer, hoping David dies in battle. And here's here's the dark truth, and y'all listen to this. This is a dark truth about insecure leaders. They will spiritualize their manipulation.

Saul wraps up his schemes with religious language. His scheme is to get David out there the battlefield with the Philistines and get him killed. But he wraps it up in religious language. Fight the Lord's battles. But what he means is fight the battles that benefit me. So Jonathan, I want you to notice the josition because Jonathan gave David a robe and a belt and a in humility. But and Saul offers David's daughter but in hypocrisy. Similar acts but completely different motives. That's why scriptures tell us to try the spirits because not every offer that sounds spiritual is born of purity. So some are saturated with hidden agendas. And so what the text tells us right here is is that Meera gets given to someone else. And can you imagine being David for just a second? you know, he's he's fighting the battles. He's being faithful. He's uh risking his life. And word gets back to him, hey, you know, bro, the king's daughter you're supposed to marry about that. You know, she's she's married someone else. At that point, you hear the the canned laughter from the sitcoms. But here's what God's doing. I want y'all to notice this. Kids, pay attention. He's protecting David from a marriage that he never ordained. God is protecting David from a marriage that he never ordained. And some of God's greatest mercies are the relationships that he doesn't let you enter into. And we don't know Mirup's heart. We don't know her character. But we do know this. God had someone else for David. A woman named McDonald. And she loved him. Even this will play into God's larger purpose because even love can get weaponized. Verse 20. And Mikuel, Saul's daughter, loved David. They told Saul the thing pleased him. And Saul said, "I will give him her that she may be a snare, that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Wherefore Saul said to David, "Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law in the one of the twain." This is the twist. Mel, Saul's youngest daughter, genuinely loves David. She's genuinely drawn to him. And Saul, Saul sees it as strategy. Scripture says he thought, "I'll give him her that she may be a snare." This is dark. He's using his own daughter as bait. And let's just kind of pause here, ladies. If your dad ever wants you to get married because it would weaken the guy and help people kill him, red flag. Swipe left. Swipe left on the whole family. by the way. But Saul doesn't understand something. When when God is writing someone's story, your schemes, they're scaffolding for the other person's promotion. So Saul sets a trap, but God turns it into a testimony. Verse 22. And Saul commanded his servant, saying, "Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all the servants love thee. Now therefore be the king's son-in-law. And Saul's servant spake those words in the ears of David. David here, he's actually worried at this moment. Saul has sent his people say, "Hey, David. David, David, the king really likes you. He's about to give you his daughter. So go ahead and propose. Be the g." But here's the thing. David didn't have anything to offer the king. So David deirs a little bit. He says, "And David said," seemth it to you a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor and lightly esteemed man. I want you to imagine this. This isn't false humility. This is David addressing a real problem. David the giant killer. David the rising commander. David the one that everybody celebrates and sings about. David, the man after God's own heart, describes himself as a poor and lightly esteemed man. That's not insecurity. That's the realization of who he really is. David knows where he came from. David knows who he is. He knows he's not entitled to anything. Do you?

Because it was Jesus that won your eternal inheritance, not you. It was Jesus's faith that got you saved, not you. It is Jesus that got you to heaven. It is Jesus and God that chose you, paid for you, ransomed you, sanctified you, not you. Jesus plus nothing. Do you know who you are? Because without the Lord and without his influence and his irresistible sovereign spirit upon you. This is how the Bible describes you, there is none righteous, know not one. Your righteousness is as filthy rags. You're altogether unprofitable. The poisons of asps is upon your lips. That's us. Uh if when we were enemies, he died for us. That that's us. When Jesus died for us, the scriptures describe us as the enemies of God. Do you fully appreciate your identity without Christ? And yet for some reason, he died for you. He sent his spirit into you. He has he has irresistibly called you. He has predestinated you, fornown you, called you, justified you. This is all the things that God has done for you. Do you know who you are in Christ? And do you know who you are outside of Christ? Now we go to when the only thing that people can remember is victory. Let's go to verses 24- 27. And the servants of Saul told him, saying, "On this manner spake David." And King Saul said, "Thus shall you say to David, the king desireth not any dowy. You don't have to give me anything. Just a 104 skin of the Philistines."

Can we all just stop and just admit that? That's a little freaky, but it means kill the Philistines and then bring me proof. But dude, why can't you just bring a thumb? I don't know. Freaky to be avenged to the king's enemy. But you know, one of the things I love about it is the Bible doesn't hide the graphic details. I love it. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his servants told David's these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Oh, only need to get 100 for skins. That's not a problem. And the days were not expired. Wherefore David arose and went, and he and his men slew the Philistines, 200 men. And David brought their four skins and he gave them the full tail to the king that he might be the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave Mikuel his daughter to wife. Now, now we get to the famous bride price part of the story. Saul demands the 100 Philistines for skins and David brings back 200. And I love the graphic details. Could you imagine hanging out with your friends at lunch the next day? And so what was the bride price? Well, my father-in-law kind of likes something strange. Let's just let's just I mean Okay, here we go. Enough of that. And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David. And Mckel's Saul's daughter loved him. And Saul was yet more afraid of David. and David became and Saul became David's enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth. And it came to pass after they went forth that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was much set by. So the chapter ends with Saul's fear reaching a breaking point because you can't win a fight with the God who authored the story. So let's pull back and just give some application here because 1 Samuel chapter 18 is not a chapter about trying harder. It's about trusting the one who already won the fight. It's not about being like David. It's about being like the son of David, Jesus Christ. It's not a story about slaying your giants or getting fores. It's a story about trusting the one who's already crushed the ultimate giant on your behalf. And where David behaved wisely,

Jesus behaved perfectly. So your hope today is not in your performance. Your hope today is in Christ's accomplishment. So let's talk practically. I mean, h how do you live when Saul has a spear? Because David's life in this chapter gives us a blueprint of dealing with toxic people, toxic parents, toxic children. And I mean, let's be fair. Insecure leaders, jealous co-workers, manipulative family members, inconsistent mentors, unfair supervisors, people who have misread you, people who have resented you, people who want your downfall more than they want your rising. What do you do when Saul has a spear? Here's the first lesson I got out of this chapter. Keep serving even when you're unappreciated. David keeps playing music for fall Saul. He keeps fighting the battles. He keeps obeying God's. David's faithfulness is not tied to Saul's mood.

I feel like I need to say that again. David's faithfulness is not tied to Saul's move. It's tied to God's mission. And I know it's hard. And this is a word for some of you. Do not let someone else's condition or insecurity dictate your obedience. Weary not in welloing. Don't fight battles that God has never assigned you. David never throws a spear back. Not once. Not in this chapter. Not in the next one. Not in the book. Not ever. If David had responded blow forblow, spear for spear, he would have become the very thing that he was destined to replace. You don't defeat the Sauls in your life by becoming Sauls. Because some spears are meant to be dodged, not thrown. Some accusations are meant to be ignored, not answers. Some people are meant to be avoided, not confronted. your purpose. It's too big to be wasted on petty warfare. Third lesson I I kind of pulled out of this is let God expose what you shouldn't try to explain. Has de ne David never tries to convince Saul that David is not a threat. He never says, "Hey Saul, bro, chill. You know, I'm not after your throne. Hey Saul, can can we just have a meeting, coffee, conflict resolution ceremony? He never says, you know, I literally just play harps and kills giants. I'm not plotting a clue. He never says that. People who are determined to misunderstand you cannot be persuaded by explanations. Stop explaining, start praying, keep walking. God will reveal the truth in his perfect timing. The last lesson I kind of pulled out of this is that character is proven most clearly in chaos. David behaved wisely again and again again and again not because he was perfect but because his heart belonged to God and character is is not proven on the mountaintop. Character is proven in the messy hallways where spirit spears fly. And if David wanted the throne, this is his chance to kill Saul. But David wanted God more than he wants the throne. So should we. What does this mean for us today? Here's the truth. God's calling on your life. And every one of you is called. You are a royal priesthood. You are a chosen people and a generation. You are a holy nation. God's calling on you is stronger than people's opinion of you. If Saul couldn't stop David, your critics can't stop you. If spears can't stop David, rumors can't stop you. If manipulation can't trap David, toxic people can't contain you. The God who called you is the God who carries you. Another truth is that that God will use both your enemies and your allies for you. Jonathan prepared David through love. Saul prepared David through hatred. Both are forming them. Both are shaping them. Both are tools in God's hands. And sometimes God will use encouragement to build you. But sometimes he uses resistance to sharpen you. Both are disciplehip. And and both are holy. And what feels like a delay is actually divine work in progress. So David may think, you know, why am I running? Why am I hiding? Why am I misunderstood? Why is there so much chaos around this calling Lord? Because a throne is coming and God won't let you sit there unprepared. Every spear that saw through strengthening David's dependence on God. Every setback that David endured is cultivating a strength he would need for future leadership. God is not denying David right now. God is shaping David. The same is true for you. One final thing before we just land the plane. We've looked at David. We've we've talked about Saul. Now, let's talk about the third major figure in this story, and that's Jonathan. Because Jonathan is one of the most underrated figures in scripture. He recognizes God's calling on someone else. He he he lays down his own privilege. He initiates a a good friendship. He supports God's anointed one. He celebrates someone whose rise means his own decline. Jonathan is the model of a kindred-minded friendship. He's the friend that promoted you, who donated to your campaign, who wrote letters of support, who puts his name on the line when it counts. And this is what Jonathan teaches us. The right friends can accelerate your life and accelerate your calling. Jonathan just doesn't accept David. He empowers David. He just doesn't encourage David. He equipss David. He just doesn't love David. He lays down his right to the throne. This is a friendship that smells a lot like Jesus. And humility in a relationship is the hallmark of maturity because Jonathan doesn't ask, "What do I get out of this?" He says, "How can I serve God in this purpose in my life?" That's maturity. By supporting David, supporting David's calling is not losing his own. He doesn't diminish himself. So, let's talk about your place in the story. Let's land the plane because I want to be make something very clear. You are not David. You are the one hiding behind David's victory. Just like you hid behind Jesus's victory. You are not the hero. Jesus is. You are not the champion. Jesus is. You are not the conqueror. You are more than a conqueror through him that loved us. David won the battle that Israel never fought. And Jesus won your eternal salvation that you never earned. So your hope is not self-effort. Your hope is Christ accomplishment. So stop trying to earn what Jesus has already finished. Stop trying to fight what Jesus has already defeated. Stop trying to pay for what Jesus has already purchased. You are free. Not because of effort, but because of the resurrected, reigning, redeeming son of God. If you'd like to serve him as we do here at Camp Creek Church, we'll give you that chance as we stand to sing Himn.

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