Lesson #20

1 SAMUEL 20
Lesson #20
FACING FEAR

• Memory Verse: Psalms 18:3

• Read 1Sam 20:1-23
• David asks, “Why me?”
• The situation of assassination attempts was not beginning to bother David.
• Remember that all David’s crutches are being removed so that he relies totally on the Lord.
• Instead of asking, “Why me?”, what are some better questions to ask?
• What can I learn from this situation?
• How should I respond? (See Psa 34 below)
• Jonathan denied that Saul was trying to kill David.
• He was either unaware of 1Sam 19:8-24 or he trusted his father’s oath in 1Sam 19:6.
• A commitment (6, 23)
• A commitment involves the Lord.
• It demands loyalty or faithfulness that never should be taken lightly.
• Read Rom 1:31
• Read Mat 5:37
• It demands involvement.
• It requires love.
• If it is important to you, it is important to me.
• Notice:

• The custom was that a new king would eliminate all members of the former king’s household upon gaining ascendancy of power in order to offset any opposition. (2Sam 9:1-13)

• Read 1Sam 20:24-42
• Saul became ill. (Lev 7:20-21 Lev 15:5,16)

• “…he is not clean; surely he is not clean.”

(26)

• Jonathan was accused of being a traitor. (30-31)
• Saul’s cursings and rebuke concerning Jonathan’s possible succession to the throne.
• The results is Saul’s anger at Jonathan.
• Notice Jonathan’s love and faithfulness to his commitment to David despite his own personal danger or his own personal prosperity and ambition.
• Commitment:
• How to respond rather than to ask, “Why me?”
• Read Psa 34
• Nine Steps into God’s presence in time of fear:
• =1= Bless the Lord (Psa 34:1)
• Worship by an act of the will.
• =2= Boast in the Lord (Psa 34:2)
• Let your ears hear your mouth speak faith.
• =3= Magnify the Lord (Psa 34:3)
• Remain in fellowship with other believers and make God a bigger part of your life.
• =4= Seek the Lord (Psa 34:4)
• Have a mind set to do the Lord’s will.
• =5= Look on the Lord (Psa 34:5)
• Focus your attention on the Lord because that on which you focus will become more real to you.
• =6= Cry unto the Lord. (Psa 34:6)
• Throw your whole self on the Lord and include repentance for any sin.
• =7= Taste and see the Lord (Psa 34:8)
• Make a faith commitment to the Lord.
• =8= Trust in the Lord (Psa 34:8)
• =9= Fear the Lord (Psa 34:9)
• Have an awesome respect for God’s total sovereignty.
• The conditions for receiving deliverance from fear:
• =1= Keep your tongue from evil. (Psa 34:13)
• =2= Keep your lips from speaking deceit (Psa 34:13)
• =3= Depart from evil. (Psa 34:14)
• =4= Do good. (Psa 34:14)
• =5= Seek and pursue peace (Psa 34:14)
• Summary:
• What promises are there in Psalms 34?
• Joy (2,5)
• A listening ear (4, 15)
• Deliverance (4,6, 17, 19)
• Protection (7)
• Blessing (8)
• Provision (9-10)
• God watches over you. (15)
• God’s presence is close (18)
• Salvation is eternal (22)
• What does David teach us about gaining the “fear of the Lord”? (11)
• The believer needs to have a desire for eternal life and to please the Lord. (12)
• The believer needs to keep his tongue from evil (13)
• The believer must not speak guile. (Eph 4:25)
• The believer must not do evil (14)
• The believer must seek peace. (14)
• The believer must pursue peace (14)
• There is a prophetic part to this verse that refers to Christ (15-22)
• Jesus in the Garden (18-19)
• Jesus on the cross (20)
• Judas (21)
• What Jesus accomplished (22)

HOMEWORK
1 SAMUEL 21
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of 1Sam 20
• Analyze how you are doing in your response to problems that come into your life in light of Psalms 34. Write down specific problem areas and then write some specific responses you will do.

• Preparation for 1Sam 21
• Read 1Sam 21:11-15
• Read Psa 56
• Why was Ahimelech afraid?

• What was David’s plan of action?

• Read Mat 12:1-8
• What is Jesus’ point?

• Why was David not killed by God as God had slain others who violated the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant?

• Memory verse: Psa 56:3-4