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Acts 13:22-23 says, “After removing [King Saul], He raised up David to be their king. He also testified about him and said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do My will.’ From this man’s seed, in keeping with His promise God brought to Israel a Savior – Yeshua.”[1] The following passage relates the persecution that we experience with the persecution that Yeshua went through. It also links it to what David had said of himself and prophetically. [John 15:18-27] Notice how Yeshua says that “this fulfils the word written in their Scripture” (vs. 25); this Scripture being fulfilled is a Psalm of David, 35:19.

[Read 1 Sam. 19:1-24]

This passage is a great example of repetition. Here is the basic outline:Michal_Gustave_Doré

  1. Saul is wanting to kill David – Tells his son and courtiers to kill him (vs1)
    1. Jonathan warns David (vs. 2-3)
    2. Jonathan talks to Saul on behalf of David (vs. 4-5)
    3. Jonathan restores him/protects him (vs. 6-7)
    4. Interlude of War (vs. 8)
  2. Saul wants to kill David again – Tries to kill him and then sends agents to kill him (vs. 9-10)
    1. Michal warns David (vs. 11)
    2. Michal protects David and helps him escape (vs. 12-14)
    3. Michal talks to Saul about David/lies to help him escape (vs. 17)
    4. David flees to Samuel (vs. 18)
  3. Saul still wants to kill David – Sends agents to kill him (3 groups) (vs. 19-21)
    1. The Ruach of God protects David (vs. 20)
    2. Enemies are overpowered by being forced to “prophesy” (as in a trance) (vs. 20)
  4. Saul still wants to kill David – Saul goes himself to kill him (vs. 22)
    1. The Ruach of God protects David (vs. 23)
    2. Saul is overpowered, strips of his clothes, and “prophesies” (vs. 24)
  5. David runs back to Jonathan, one last time, as a last ditch effort. (20:1)

To understand David’s attitude through this tumultuous time in his life, we need to go over and read [Psalm 59]. How does David describe his enemies? (vs. 3, 6) How have David’s enemies sinned against him? (vs. 13) How does David describe himself with respect to his own righteousness? (vs. 4, 5) What does David ask God to do to his enemies? (vs. 12) Why does he say to God, “Do not slay them,” and what does this show about David’s heart? (vs. 12) What does Adonai’s authority over the nations have to do with David’s desire upon his enemies? (vs. 6, 9, 14) What does it mean when David says that God will “laugh” and “scoff” in verse 9? How does David describe his relationship to Adonai? (vs. 10-11, 17-18)

Let’s read a passage from [1 Pet. 4:12-19] and [Rom. 12:14-21]. How does David’s response parallel the response we are supposed to have when we go through persecution?

So in terms of applying this to our lives, when we are falsely accused and persecuted:

  • We should take our grievances directly to Adonai, instead of to other people.
  • Even when someone is wishing evil against us, we should not wish them dead. Instead we can cry out to Adonai for justice, and choose to bless others in the midst of it.
  • Regardless of what we go through, we must remember that our lives are in Adonai’s hands. He will provide a way.
  • We must not seek our own revenge. The repayment of the pain and suffering against is us in Adonai’s faithful hands. He will bring about ultimate justice.
  • We must remember that Adonai sees everything. Nothing is hidden from Him.

[1]Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from the Tree Of Life Version (TLV), 2014.