The Life of David: 1. Who is on the throne?

I want us to think for a moment, how did we get to this moment in history of this game of cat and mouse between David, the same Da- David that's David and Goliath, that one, and King Saul, the king of Israel? How did we get to this moment where one of them is hiding in a cave and one of them is searching for him? Let me take you back to the sto- the start of the story of David.

Back in the start of the book of 1 Samuel, so 1 and 2 Samuel was one book, but it was just split across two scrolls, which is why we have 1 and 2.

There's a remote temple in a place called Shiloh, right in the middle of nowhere, basically, and there's an old priest called Eli who takes care of a young boy called Samuel.

Now, Samuel would become a prophet and a priest and a judge over Israel.

He would be, in fact, be the last judge of Israel, and it was under his watch that the tall and muscular and very good-looking Saul rose to be the king of the people of God, despite God's warning to the people that they, they might not want a king over them because of all the things that that would bring with them, and that they already had a king, and his name was God, or Yahweh, as they wouldn't have said.

And so they established this King Saul, and everything that comes with that starts so well and then goes so pear-shaped.

God gave the people what they wanted and let them deal with the consequences of this troubled kings.

And, and like I say, things go well for Saul for a while, but gradually Saul begins to ignore God's way, and he starts to do things his own way, and he's becomes troubled in his mind and his spirit, and Saul spirals into this place of paranoia, and he tries to solve his paranoia through violence.

Meanwhile, whilst all that's going on in the hillside country, a little further away, God is preparing a young boy in the normal and ordinary exploits of a young shepherd as he fights for his father's flock against lions and bears, and he protects the family livelihood with his life.

He learns to protect the sheep of his flock.

And then Samuel, this same Samuel that was raised by Eli in the temple, he enters the scene again, this time hearing from God that there is to be a new king.

And so off he goes to this place.

Now, Samuel, probably bearded, I imagine he had a big stick, and he enters this place and he says, "Bring me your sons.

I wanna know who it is that God has chosen." And so eventually he anoints the youngest one, David, as this new king of Israel.

The one, the forgotten one, the one that no one would look at and think it's gonna be him, God is choosing him.

And then not long after this, David's brothers, their older brothers, stand as they have done for weeks, being taunted by this giant Philistine who stands and shouts, "Who will come against me?" And no one moves a muscle except for this small shepherd boy who's brought cheese to his brothers.

And one stone from a sling later, the giant falls, and David's popularity rises because he's slain the foe.

And now all of Israel is looking to this guy thinking, "Wow, that's, that's kind of impressive.

God must be on his side." And rather than being delighted that the Philistines have been defeated, King Saul is looking at this young man thinking, "Need to keep my eye on you." And so Saul becomes obsessively both jealous and comforted by the work of this young David.

He brings him close into the very throne room.

David plays his music and soothes Saul's troubled mind and spirit, and yet at the same time, festering in Saul's heart is this murderous desire towards him because David is the Lord's anointed one who will come to the throne.

In Saul's eyes, he is a problem to be dealt with, and yet King Saul's son, Jonathan, the would-be heir to the throne, the one who when Saul eventually passes away will take the throne, sees David and becomes great friends with him.

A deep friendship that grows, and Jonathan, who out of anybody maybe after Saul would want David dead because he's gonna be the one that takes his throne, says, "No, no, no, this guy is the one that God has chosen over my father, over me.

He is the one that must be recognized as king." Jonathan displays friendship like no other.

He is devoted, and he warns David of, of his father's, Saul's, plan to kill him, and so David goes on the run into the wilderness.

I want us to think for a moment, how did we get to this moment in history of this game of cat and mouse between David, the same Da- David that's David and Goliath, that one, and King Saul, the king of Israel? How did we get to this moment where one of them is hiding in a cave and one of them is searching for him? Let me take you back to the sto- the start of the story of David.

Back in the start of the book of 1 Samuel, so 1 and 2 Samuel was one book, but it was just split across two scrolls, which is why we have 1 and 2.

There's a remote temple in a place called Shiloh, right in the middle of nowhere, basically, and there's an old priest called Eli who takes care of a young boy called Samuel.

Now, Samuel would become a prophet and a priest and a judge over Israel.

He would be, in fact, be the last judge of Israel, and it was under his watch that the tall and muscular and very good-looking Saul rose to be the king of the people of God, despite God's warning to the people that they, they might not want a king over them because of all the things that that would bring with them, and that they already had a king, and his name was God, or Yahweh, as they wouldn't have said.

And so they established this King Saul, and everything that comes with that starts so well and then goes so pear-shaped.

God gave the people what they wanted and let them deal with the consequences of this troubled kings.

And, and like I say, things go well for Saul for a while, but gradually Saul begins to ignore God's way, and he starts to do things his own way, and he's becomes troubled in his mind and his spirit, and Saul spirals into this place of paranoia, and he tries to solve his paranoia through violence.

Meanwhile, whilst all that's going on in the hillside country, a little further away, God is preparing a young boy in the normal and ordinary exploits of a young shepherd as he fights for his father's flock against lions and bears, and he protects the family livelihood with his life.

He learns to protect the sheep of his flock.

And then Samuel, this same Samuel that was raised by Eli in the temple, he enters the scene again, this time hearing from God that there is to be a new king.

And so off he goes to this place.

Now, Samuel, probably bearded, I imagine he had a big stick, and he enters this place and he says, "Bring me your sons.

I wanna know who it is that God has chosen." And so eventually he anoints the youngest one, David, as this new king of Israel.

The one, the forgotten one, the one that no one would look at and think it's gonna be him, God is choosing him.

And then not long after this, David's brothers, their older brothers, stand as they have done for weeks, being taunted by this giant Philistine who stands and shouts, "Who will come against me?" And no one moves a muscle except for this small shepherd boy who's brought cheese to his brothers.

And one stone from a sling later, the giant falls, and David's popularity rises because he's slain the foe.

And now all of Israel is looking to this guy thinking, "Wow, that's, that's kind of impressive.

God must be on his side." And rather than being delighted that the Philistines have been defeated, King Saul is looking at this young man thinking, "Need to keep my eye on you." And so Saul becomes obsessively both jealous and comforted by the work of this young David.

He brings him close into the very throne room.

David plays his music and soothes Saul's troubled mind and spirit, and yet at the same time, festering in Saul's heart is this murderous desire towards him because David is the Lord's anointed one who will come to the throne.

In Saul's eyes, he is a problem to be dealt with, and yet King Saul's son, Jonathan, the would-be heir to the throne, the one who when Saul eventually passes away will take the throne, sees David and becomes great friends with him.

A deep friendship that grows, and Jonathan, who out of anybody maybe after Saul would want David dead because he's gonna be the one that takes his throne, says, "No, no, no, this guy is the one that God has chosen over my father, over me.

He is the one that must be recognized as king." Jonathan displays friendship like no other.

He is devoted, and he warns David of, of his father's, Saul's, plan to kill him, and so David goes on the run into the wilderness.