Lesson #29

1 SAMUEL 29
Lesson #29
REVERSING A WRONG DECISION

• Memory Verse: Psa 27:1

• Saul’s actions in seeking counsel from a false source, the witch of Endor, was the final act of rebellion in God’s eyes.
• King Saul paid for his sin in 1Chr 10:13-14.
• The witch of Endor paid for her sins in Psa 83:10.
• David had made a wrong decision at a moment of weak faith.
• He became allied with Israel’s enemy, King Achish, in order to get away from King Saul. (Chapter 27)
• David had promised to fight for King Achish, and he was promoted to a high position (28:2)
• Now we must discover how to reverse this bad decision.

• Read Psa 27:1-6
• What are the positive statements of faith?
• The Lord is my light (1)
• David needs light having walked into darkness with his wrong decision.
• The Lord is my salvation (1)
• David needs to be saved from the consequences and guilt of this wrong decision.
• Whom shall I fear? (1)
• What a fearful position in which he put himself, fighting against God’s people.
• Fear is the opposite of faith. To reverse the fear, he stands on faith that he has nothing to fear.
• The Lord is the strength of my life (1)
• David will need strength of character to get out of this situation!
• My heart shall not fear. (3)
• Notice that David mentions the fear again. He is feeling the pressure.
• I will be confident. (3)
• David talks to himself so that he hears faith come out of his mouth.
• He shall hide me in his pavilion. (5)
• God is his refuge in times of trouble.
• He shall set me upon a rock. (5)
• Jesus Christ is the solid rock all through scripture.
• Read 1Cor 10:4
• My head shall be lifted above my enemies. (6)
• God will redeem and bring victory according to David’s renewed faith.
• We can identify the past, present, and future presence of God in verses 1-3.
• Verse 1 is present.
• Verse 2 is past.
• Verse 3 is future.
• What is the result of wickedness?
• The plans of the wicked will cause them to stumble and fall. (2)
• We cause many of our own problems much of the time in the same way that David caused himself this perplexing situation.
• Weak faith.
• Not seeking God before making decisions.
• What are David’s deepest heart’s desires and what do they mean?
• =1= David desired to dwell in the house of the Lord all his life. (4)
• In other words, he is determined to stay in fellowship with God.
• =2= David desired to behold the beauty of the Lord. (4)
• In other words, he desired a very close relationship with God so that God would reveal his secrets and bring him blessings.
• =3= David wanted to inquire in His temple. (4)
• There was no temple at the time David wrote this, for the temple was not built until his son Solomon reigned. So, what did David mean?
• He wanted to be guided by the Holy Spirit so that he would not fall into this type of situation again.
• Contemplation: What are your deepest heart’s desires?
• Will they still be your heart’s desires 5 or 10 years from now?
• In other words, how abstract are your desires? How temporal are they or are they eternally significant? Your deep desires tell you a lot about your spiritual perspective.
• What are the actions of praise to God:
• David offers sacrifices of joy. (6)
• David sings praises to God. (6)

• Read Psa 27:7-14
• What are some scriptural answers to David’s prayer requests in order to base his requests on the Word of God?
• =1= Hear, O Lord, when I cry (7)
• Read Isa 65:24
• =2= Have mercy upon me. (7)
• Read Eph 2:4
• =3= Answer me. (7)
• Read Isa 65:24
• =4= Hide not thy face from me. (9)
• Read Jam 1:17
• =5= Don’t put me away in anger. (9)
• Read Jon 4:2
• =6= Don’t leave or forsake me. (9)
• Read Heb 13:5
• =7= Don’t deliver me to the will of my enemies. (12)
• Read Luk 1:71, 74
• What are some commands from God?
• Wait on the Lord. (14)
• Be of good courage. (14)
• What is David’s final result of obeying God’s commands?
• His heart was strengthened. (14)
• What title would you give this Psalm?
• You might give it the title, “In the dark hour of trouble” or “A Psalm when in fear”.

• 1Samuel 29:
• Chronologically 1Sam 29 comes before 1Sam 28.
• 1Sam 28:4 says that the Philistines were camped at Shunem in the Jezreel valley.
• 1Sam 29:1, 11 says that they gathered at Aphek and then went up to Jezreel.
• Therefore the proper order of events should be:
• =1= Saul gathered his army at a spring in Jezreel near the foot of Mount Gilboa.
• =2= The Philistines rallied at Aphek in the Sharon Plain.
• =3= Then the Philistines advanced along the via Maris to Shunem at the foot of the hill of Moreh.
• =4= Saul deployed his army opposite them on the lower slopes of Mount Gilboa.
• =5= From there, Saul went to consult the medium at Endor.
• =6= The next day, Saul met his death in battle.

• Read 1Sam 29:1-11
• “Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright…” (6)
• The phrase, “as the Lord liveth” does not mean King Achish was a believer in God. Instead it is used to impress David.
• “…that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

(8)

• The designation, “my lord” refers to King Saul.
• How does David get out of having to fight against his own people?
• Because of David’s faith expressed in Psa 27, God intervened into the thought and plans of unbelievers.
• Why does God intervene?
• If David fought against his own people, it would jeopardize God’s plan and intent for David to be a king acceptable to his people.
• Will God do this for us today if we make bad decisions?
• Sometimes God will and sometimes he will not. It all depends on God’s sovereign plan for your personal life.
• Even when God does not intervene, He will walk through the situation with you if you trust Him.

HOMEWORK
1SAMUEL 29 – 30
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of Psa 27 and 1Sam 29
• What do you find most helpful to your life in Psa 27?
• Can you think of a time in your life when God intervened to keep you from going off on a path of destruction base on your wrong decision?

• Preparation for 1Sam 30
• Read 1Sam 30:1-31
• What did David do to redeem himself from a wrong decision?
• Why are verses 21-25 important?
• How do you deal with discouragement?

• Memory Verse: Psalms 91:11-12