From the Cave to the Kingdom: David 15

Of course, if you've been coming a while, you know that we're currently in the middle of a series studying the life of David.

And we come to a stage in David's life known as the fugitive years.

In other words, the years that David spent on the run trying to evade being captured and killed by Saul.

Now, most scholars believe that this period of time lasted about 10 to 14 years.

I believe it lasted 14 years.

I'm on the long end of that spectrum, but most scholars believe around 10 to 14 years.

And it was probably the most important season in David's life because it occurred during his formative years.

You see, the prophet Samuel had anointed him as Israel's future king when he was about 10 years old.

But David wasn't ready to rule until 20 years later when he was about 30 years old.

But the years he spent as a fugitive were very formative.

God was forming him into the leader he needed to be when he assumed the throne.

Now, throughout these formative years, David learned several things.

He learned dependence upon God.

how to lead in difficult times with very difficult people.

He learned how to submit to God.

He learned how to restrain his emotions.

He learned military strategy, political diplomacy, and compassion for the vulnerable.

David also learned from his mistakes, and he made many mistakes.

You see, at times, David acted out of fear rather than faith.

He used deception.

That's a nice way of saying he lied.

He endangered others.

And he nearly took personal vengeance upon Nabal.

Nevertheless, the dominant message in the narrative was that David refused to seize the throne by murdering Saul.

twice he had the opportunity to kill Saul yet he spared him because he believed that Saul was the Lord's anointed therefore David chose to wait for God to remove Saul and to establish him as king instead of taking the throne by force which most people would have done I would have looked at it as God is giving me that opportunity he's been trying to kill me this is self-defense I'll act in self-defense kill him this must be God but David didn't feel that way He felt like Saul was the Lord's anointed and he had no right to touch him.