PENTECOST METHODIST CHURCH

LIVE-IT-OUT GUIDE

 

PMC BIBLE MARATHON: SESSION 18

 

Sermon Recap & Discussion

 

Sermon Date: 18^th November 2018

Text/s: 1 Samuel 24:1-15                   

Title: God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways

Speaker: Mr Kevin Ang

(The sermon recording and slides can be found on the PMC website and MyPMC App.)

 

Key Lessons

 

1.      Worship, Not Wallow

o   Man’s way is to indulge in self-pity, but God’s way is for us to be steadfast in Him.

 

2.      Submit, Not Seek Revenge

o   Man’s way is to take matters into our own hands, but God’s way is to trust in His ways and timing.

 

3.      Reconcile, Not Ruin Relationship(s)

o   Man’s way is to be completely self-centered, but God’s way is for us to make the first move to restore relationships.

 

Digging Deeper into Scripture

 

Read 1 Samuel 24:1-22.

 

Context – Since chapter 18, David has been living under the threat of death. Disqualified by God as king and provoked by jealousy, Saul is single-minded in his determination to kill David. He murders the priests of Nob for innocently aiding David (22:16-19), and whenever he gets firm news of David, he pursues him with his whole army. David is forced to flee his home and to take up residence in caves in the wilderness with his band of misfits. The only thing David has is to cling onto the LORD’s anointing and the promise vocalised by Jonathan that “you shall be King over Israel” (23:17).  

 

In today’s passage however, David’s circumstances take a significant turn. Where Saul has always had the advantage over David in this game of cat and mouse, now the advantage moves to David. The question that presents itself at this point is: Will the LORD’s anointed trust the LORD to achieve His purposes His way, or will He take matters into His own hands? Or to put the question in terms of Hannah’s prayer (2:9-10): Will David prevail by might or by the LORD’s power?

 

1)      Consider verses 1 to 7 and imagine yourself in David’s shoes. What feelings or struggles do you think David experienced at this point?

 

 

 

 

 

 

2)      In verses 8 to 15, in what manner does David argue his innocence?

 

 

 

 

 

 

3)      Consider verses 16 to 22. Although Saul admits his guilt and resigns to the fact that “[David] shall surely be king”, what are some factors that cause us to doubt that he is genuinely repentant?

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAIN IDEA: If possible, as a LG, draft a sentence that captures the main idea for 1 Samuel 24:1-22.     

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPLICATION: How can we live out 1 Samuel 24:1-22 in the coming week? How can we apply this Main Idea to our lives?