Developed from Swindoll's inspiring biographical series based on great leaders of the Bible, this devotional will remind you each day that God can do extraordinary things through ordinary men and women! Learn anew from the devoted lives and spiritual experiences of Esther, Job, Joseph, David, Moses, Elijah, and Paul. 384 pages, hardcover from W.
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David Spares
Saul
To Remember: Love your enemies
Lesson 1 Samuel 23-26
Keilah: David defends Keilah from the Philistines. Saul
hears about it and intends to trap David there. David asks God if the people
of Keilah will protect him, and God says no. David escapes. 1 Sam. 23:12
Discussion Point: How should the people of
Keilah treated David?
Saul pursued David through the wilderness. God always
protected David, even sending a messenger to call Saul away when he was
getting extremely close to David. 1 Sam. 23:26-27
Discussion Point: Many of the psalms of David
seem to have been written at this time in his life. Have a student read
Psalm 59:1-2.
Later, Saul brought 3,000 men to search for David near
En Gedi. At one point, David and his men were hidden in the back of a cave.
Saul entered the front of the cave. 1 Sam. 24:6
Act Out: Act
out this scene, having students imagine what the men thought and felt. At
first they were scared of discovery. Then they thought this was David's
chance to kill Saul. God had delivered him into their hand. Show how David
was torn, but his respect for Saul as King kept him from harming him. He
only took a piece of Saul's robe to prove his good intentions.
When Saul left, David proves he would
not hurt him and Saul is ashamed. 1 Sam 24:17
David stays in the wilds of Judah. The local people
give him and his men food and supplies, and in exchange, David protects them
from bandits and thieves. One of the men David helps is named Nabal. Nabal was
proud and rude. He refused to help David despite what he'd done. David becomes
angry, but before he acts, Nabal's wife Abigail brings supplies and men and
begs David to forgive her husband. David does. Later, Nabal dies in his shame
and Abigail becomes David's wife.1 Sam. 25:33
Discussion Point: While the people of Keilah
were probably afraid of Saul, Nabal was simply arrogant and crude. What
attributes did Abigail show that Nabal didn't? How important is it to know
what characteristics we want in a spouse?
Activity: Add to the good and bad points of Saul
and David on their charts. Be sure to include forgiveness and self-control for
David.
Craft: Trace a robe on a piece of colored paper.
Have students cut it out, tear off a corner and paste both to a page labeled
Saul's coat. Allow students to decorate the Kingly robe.
Discussion Point:
(for older youth) Many people in David's position would justify killing Saul in
self-defense. Discuss how David knew he would be protected. (he'd been protected
before, he'd been anointed to be King, he had access to God's advice). Others
would say that God must have wanted him to kill Saul since 1) he'd been
anointed, 2) God delivered him into his hands. Discuss how David knew that the
king was holy, how God would handle everything in his own time, and how David's
hands would be clean when he came to the throne. Also - if he kills the previous
king, what example is he setting when he becomes king?
Matthew 5:43-45 "You have heard
that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I
say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that
you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on
the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
linguistic questions 
activity questions
emotion questions
application questions 
fact questions 
review questions 
