Sermon Reflection with Group Questions

October 27 Sermon | 1 Samuel 24

1 Samuel 24 (Read the entire passage)

(24:1-7) When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wild goats’ Rocks. 3 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4 And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5 And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7 So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

The central theme in this part of the story is “MERCY.” Mercy is a key attribute of God and the ways of His kingdom. David has a heart after God and therefore God is at work increasing his heart with the ways of God’s kingdom, a kingdom established on mercy. This will influence how David leads as he become king.

We have seen that Saul was a worldly worshipper. He was appointed by God because that’s what the people wanted, a king like the other nations. Saul’s rule is founded on the ways of man not God. He has shown himself to be unmerciful. He is in a full on pursuit to kill David, whom God has said will be His choice as king. In our text today, David finds himself in a situation to take out Saul before Saul gets him. Tempting! David’s men see it as a sign of Gods deliverance. They are tempted! David stealthily cuts a corner of Saul’s robe. Then his heart shifts to God’s heart for Saul. Rather than taking matters into his own hands he extends mercy to Saul and asks God to judge rightly between them. Saul’s heart softens, he blesses David and returns home.


Mercy is not getting what we actually deserve. We deserve judgement, to be orphaned, and death. Grace is then getting what we don’t deserve. He offers us acquittal, to be a son or daughter, and life. In order to better grasp grace, we must understand mercy. The grace of God is cheapened otherwise.


David is demonstrating how the kingdom of God works and this is another foreshadowing of the ultimate act of mercy Jesus, the Son of God will extend to us through His death and resurrection for our sins and eternal life. This is a radical mercy.


This mercy is available to every wayward and ignorant sinner but we have to acknowledge Jesus’ offer and receive it. Mercy received will always lead to a transformed heart and an ever-increasing hope in Christ. “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner” is our heart posture. Jesus is able to meet us with His mercy in solidarity because He who was without sin was tempted as we are and suffered even more so than we have. So His mercy is deeply felt and offered to us in gently solidarity with us.

Reflection

  1. Where do you need the mercy of God in your life today? Offer this to Him and receive His mercy for you.

  2. Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

What does this mean to you today having given fresh thought to the mercy of Christ for you?

3. In receiving His mercy we can then offer mercy to others. Who is God asking you to show mercy to?


Share what God has done in your heart this week with your community group and/or friends.

Grace and peace on this journey together,
Chad Hollowell
Executive Pastor

COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION
Share what God has done in your heart this week with your community group and/or friends.

  1. Read 1 Samuel 24 together. What jumps out to you as the reader? Encouraging? Convicting? Confusing?
  2. There just might be a parallel between 1 Samuel 24 and way back to Genesis 3. Do you see an echo of the temptation of Adam and Eve? Did David pass where Adam and Eve had failed? How would Jesus eventually do even better than David in this test?
  3. When have you presumed (based on circumstances) that God was doing one thing (either good or bad), only to find out that all wasn’t as it seemed? How can you discern rightly, as David did, instead of relying on the voices/opinions/wisdom of those around you?
  4. When are you tempted to take justice out of God’s hands and into your own? How can you use David’s example and words to help you let God be Judge?
  5. We don’t have God-“anointed” leaders today as it was during David’s time. But we still have leaders put over us. Read 1 Peter 2:13-17 or Romans 13:1-7. How do you feel about these verses in light of David’s attitude toward God’s anointed. Agree? Disagree?
  6. Pray for and with one another.