How does Saul's fear compare to David's trust in God in 1 Samuel? Setting the Scene: Two Men Facing Armies 1 Samuel 28:4: “The Philistines assembled and came and camped at Shunem; Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.” • Same landscape, same enemy, two very different responses. • Saul sees the Philistine host and freezes; David, years earlier, looked at another Philistine giant and ran toward the battle. Saul’s Fear Unfolding 1 Samuel 28:5: “When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.” • Panic replaces confidence. • Verse 6 shows why: “Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him.” His prior disobedience (1 Samuel 15:22–23) had severed fellowship. • Desperation drives him to the medium at Endor (28:7–10), something he himself had outlawed. Roots of Saul’s Fear • Loss of God’s presence (16:14). • Rejection of God’s word; partial obedience with Amalek (15:13–23). • Envy and insecurity (18:8–12). • No repentance—only regret over consequences. David’s Trust on Repeat 1. Facing Goliath (17:45–47): • “You come against me with sword and spear… but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts.” • Victory credited to the LORD before the stone ever left the sling. 2. Hunted in the wilderness (23:14): • “Saul searched for him every day, but God did not deliver David into his hand.” 3. Sparing Saul’s life (24:6; 26:9–11): • Refuses shortcuts; trusts God to exalt in His timing. 4. Ziklag crisis (30:6–8): • “But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” • He seeks God’s guidance, receives an answer, and acts in faith. Side-by-Side Snapshot " Situation " Saul " David " "-----------"------"-------" " Confronted by Philistines " Heart trembles (28:5) " Runs toward Goliath (17:48) " " Access to God " ‘The LORD did not answer’ (28:6) " ‘David inquired of the LORD, and He answered’ (23:2; 30:8) " " Response to Fear " Seeks forbidden counsel (28:7) " Strengthens himself in God (30:6) " " View of God’s Power " Shadowed by disobedience " Central, personal, covenantal " " Outcome " Spiritual darkness, impending death (31:4) " Preservation, eventual throne (2 Samuel 2:4) " Key Takeaways for Today • Fear flourishes where fellowship with God is broken; trust thrives where obedience keeps the channel open. • Consulting substitutes—whether mediums then or self-reliance now—deepens dread. • True courage is not personality but perspective: seeing giants through God, not God through giants. • God’s silence to Saul underscores the seriousness of ongoing rebellion; God’s answers to David highlight His readiness to guide a yielded heart. Invitation to Reflect Which path are we tracing—Saul’s spiral of fear or David’s climb of trust? The same faithful God stands ready to strengthen every heart that seeks Him on His terms. |
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