Study 35: 1 Samuel 24: Trent Evans

This sermon walks slowly through 1 Samuel 24, tracing David’s encounter with Saul in the cave at En Gedi and inviting listeners to pay close attention to how God forms His people through tension, danger, and restraint. The message highlights God’s ongoing protection over David even when threats are near, the danger of acting on human logic instead of God’s word, and the discipline of resisting voices that sound wise but do not align with Scripture. It examines David’s sensitivity to conviction, his refusal to harm the Lord’s anointed, and his willingness to honor God even when surrounded by people urging him toward compromise. The passage becomes a study in discernment, humility, the difference between genuine repentance and manipulation, and the wisdom of extending forgiveness without stepping back into harm. It ultimately points to the covenant faithfulness of God, showing how David’s mercy flows from an already-established promise, and how Christ fulfills this pattern by mediating a better covenant that extends grace, cleansing, and restored relationship to all who come to Him.

Sermon Outline

1. Approaching Scripture With Reverence

Timestamp: 00:08–02:20

Key Scriptures: General exhortation

Key Points:

• We often take for granted the freedom to open Scripture publicly.

• Believers worldwide face real danger for what we study openly.

• Entering the Word requires gratitude, sobriety, and attentiveness.

  
  

2. Context From 1 Samuel 23

Timestamp: 03:11–08:14

Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 23

Key Points:

• Saul pursues David relentlessly, driven by envy and hostility.

• God rescues David daily; discouragement does not disqualify faithful people.

• Jonathan’s strengthening work (Hebrew chazaq) models encouragement.

  
  

3. Saul’s Renewed Pursuit and the Meaning of En Gedi

Timestamp: 09:15–11:57

Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 24:1–2

Key Points:

• Saul immediately resumes pursuit after fighting the Philistines.

• He gathers 3,000 “able” men (Hebrew bachur).

• The enemy often uses the strongest footholds we leave unaddressed.

• En Gedi means “crags of the wild goats,” a rugged refuge area.

  
  

4. Saul in the Cave: The Law, Irony, and Hidden Protection

Timestamp: 12:50–18:17

Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 24:3; Deuteronomy 23:12–14

Key Points:

• Saul unknowingly enters the very cave where David and his men hide.

• His act of relieving himself follows biblical law, though his life contradicts it.

• God’s protection does not always remove the threat; sometimes He protects within it.

  
  

5. Misquoting God and the Danger of Pragmatism

Timestamp: 18:17–21:12

Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 24:4

Key Points:

• David’s men claim God said something He never said.

• When we don’t know Scripture, we risk believing lies that sound spiritual.

• Human logic can obscure God’s hidden purposes.

6. David’s Action and Immediate Conviction

Timestamp: 21:12–25:38

Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 24:4–7

Key Points:

• David cuts the robe corner but quickly becomes conscience-stricken.

• Past robe-tearing episodes (1 Samuel 15:27–28) echo in this moment.

• A tender conscience is a mark of a heart aligned with God.

• David rebukes his men and refuses to let anyone harm Saul.

7. Discernment, Rebuking Wrong Voices, and Obedience to God Alone

Timestamp: 25:38–29:32

Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 24:7

Key Points:

• David resists pressure from 600 men because God said “no.”

• True obedience cannot be outsourced; once God speaks, we are responsible.

• Personal story illustrates difference between pleasing people and pleasing God.

8. David’s Confrontation and Appeal: Humility and Honor

Timestamp: 35:30–41:50

Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 24:8–15

Key Points:

• David publicly honors Saul, bowing and addressing him as “my lord the king.”

• He appeals to truth, not rumor: “Why do you listen to men?”

• David shows mercy, restrains revenge, and leaves judgment to God.

• “From evildoers come evil deeds” becomes a moral anchor.

9. Saul’s Response: Tears, Manipulation, and False Repentance

Timestamp: 41:50–50:53

Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 24:16–22

Key Points:

• Saul weeps and calls David “my son,” but this is manipulative, not repentant.

• His words expose his true fear: “I know you will surely be king.”

• Abusive patterns often repeat; David discerns the difference between emotion and transformation.

• Forgiveness does not require returning to a place of danger.

10. Covenant Faithfulness and the Greater King

Timestamp: 50:53–56:44

Key Scriptures:

• 1 Samuel 20:14–17

• Hebrews 9:14–15

• Key Points:

• David’s mercy toward Saul springs from a preexisting covenant with Jonathan.

• In the same way, believers receive mercy through a covenant already established in Christ.

• Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, provides cleansing, inheritance, and reconciliation with the Father.

Scripture References

1. 1 Samuel 24 (Primary Text)

Timestamp: 00:08–03:11; 09:15–56:44

Usage:The chapter is taught verse by verse. It forms the backbone of the entire sermon, focusing on Saul’s pursuit of David, David’s restraint, the cave encounter, and the theme of mercy under enemy pressure.

2. 1 Samuel 23

Timestamp: 03:11–08:14

Usage:Revisited for immediate context. Highlights Saul’s relentless pursuit and God’s daily rescue, David’s discouragement, and Jonathan strengthening David (Hebrew chazaq). Sets the emotional and spiritual backdrop for chapter 24.

3. 1 Samuel 23:16 (Jonathan strengthens David)

Timestamp: 04:55–05:51

Usage:Explains the Hebrew word chazaq (“to fortify, repair”), showing how Jonathan becomes God’s instrument of encouragement and challenging the church to embody that same ministry.

4. 1 Samuel 23:28–29 (The rock of escape)

Timestamp: 06:46–07:34

Usage:Used as an image of protection: the rock separating David from Saul becomes a picture of God’s way of providing escape.

5. 1 Samuel 24:1–2 (Saul gathers 3,000 men)

Timestamp: 09:15–11:57

Usage:Emphasized to show the imbalance of power (5:1 ratio) and how the enemy leverages strong footholds. Hebrew bachur (“vigorous, capable”) is discussed.

6. Deuteronomy 23:12–14

Timestamp: 14:49–16:31

Usage:Explains why Saul enters the cave to relieve himself. Shows that Saul keeps outward ceremonial law while ignoring the heart of God, exposing spiritual inconsistency.

7. 1 Samuel 24:3–7 (David cuts Saul’s robe)

Timestamp: 17:18–25:38

Usage:Explored to show the tension between pragmatic action and obedience, the danger of misquoting God, and David’s sensitive conscience.

8. 1 Samuel 15:27–28 (Saul tears Samuel’s robe)

Timestamp: 22:53–23:36

Usage:Recalled to draw a parallel between Saul’s earlier rebellion and David’s robe-cutting moment. Highlights how David is convicted where Saul was not.

9. 1 Samuel 24:8–15 (David’s appeal and restraint)

Timestamp: 35:30–41:50

Usage:Used to show humility, honor, and the choice to let God judge between enemies. David refuses revenge and entrusts justice to God.

10. “From evildoers come evil deeds” (Ancient proverb referenced in 1 Samuel 24:13)

Timestamp: 40:46–41:50

Usage:Applied to show David’s confidence that his actions will prove his character innocent before God.

11. 1 Samuel 24:16–22 (Saul’s tears and manipulation)

Timestamp: 41:50–50:53

Usage:Examined to reveal the difference between emotional response and true repentance. Also used to highlight manipulation patterns and the wisdom of boundaries.

12. 1 Samuel 20:14–17 (David and Jonathan’s covenant)

Timestamp: 52:55–54:22

Usage:Shows that David’s mercy toward Saul was already grounded in covenant loyalty. Demonstrates the continuity of covenant faithfulness through relationships.

13. Hebrews 9:14–15

Timestamp: 55:32–56:44

Usage:Used to connect David’s covenant faithfulness to the greater covenant fulfilled in Christ. Shows Jesus as mediator, cleansing the conscience and granting eternal inheritance.

Word Study

“Strengthen” (Hebrew: chazaq)

Origin

• Hebrew (Old Testament)

Original Word, Strong’s, Pronunciation

• חָזַק — chāzaq

• Strong’s H2388

• Pronounced: khaw-ZAK

Definition

Simple: To strengthen, encourage, fortify.Extended: In the Hebrew worldview, chazaq means to bind up, repair, make firm, restore courage, or impart inner resolve. It can describe both physical strengthening and spiritual fortification.

Synonyms / Antonyms

• Synonyms: Amats (H553 — to be strong, courageous), Kun (H3559 — to establish, make firm)

• Antonyms: Raphah (H7503 — to let go, weaken, relax), Mahak (H4229 — to dissolve, melt)

Key Biblical Usage

• 1 Samuel 23:16 — Jonathan “strengthened David’s hand in God.”

• Deuteronomy 31:6 — “Be strong (chazaq) and courageous.”

• Psalm 31:24 — “Be strong (chazaq) and let your heart take courage.”

• Ezra 10:4 — “Rise up; this matter is in your hands. So take courage (chazaq).”

Reflection (How the Word Deepens the Sermon)

The sermon highlighted Jonathan strengthening David during a time of exhaustion and fear. Chazaq reveals that this wasn’t simple encouragement but spiritual repair of David’s heart. In 1 Samuel 24, this background matters: David resists violence because he was previously fortified by truth, not emotion. The word anchors a major sermon theme: God supplies courage that aligns us with His will, even when circumstances push us toward compromise.

“Anointed” (Hebrew: mashiach)

Origin

• Hebrew (Old Testament)

Original Word, Strong’s, Pronunciation

• מָשִׁיחַ — māshiach

• Strong’s H4899

• Pronounced: mah-SHEE-akh

Definition

Simple: One who is anointed or set apart.Extended: Refers to someone consecrated with oil for a divine task — a king, priest, or sometimes a prophet. It carries legal, spiritual, and covenantal weight. To oppose the mashiach is to oppose God’s appointment.

Synonyms / Antonyms

• Synonym: Mashach (H4886 — to anoint, consecrate)

• Antonym: Chalal (H2490 — to profane, treat as common)

Key Biblical Usage

• 1 Samuel 24:6 — David refuses to harm Saul because he is “the Lord’s anointed.”

• 1 Samuel 16:13 — David is anointed by Samuel; the Spirit comes upon him.

• Psalm 2:2 — Kings oppose the Lord and His anointed.

• Daniel 9:25–26 — Messianic prophecy using mashiach.

• Luke 4:18 (Greek equivalent): “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for He has anointed Me…”

Reflection

Understanding mashiach clarifies why David refuses to kill Saul even when it seems reasonable. He is not protecting Saul’s character but honoring God’s appointment. This word deepens the sermon’s emphasis on obedience over impulse and reveals that David’s restraint flows from a theologically grounded conviction: you cannot seize what God Himself must give.

“Covenant” (Hebrew: berit)

Origin

• Hebrew (Old Testament)

Original Word, Strong’s, Pronunciation

• בְּרִית — berit

• Strong’s H1285

• Pronounced: beh-REET

Definition

Simple: A binding agreement or sacred vow.Extended: A covenant is a relational, legal, spiritual commitment bound by oaths, signs, blood, or divine promise. Covenants structure the entire biblical narrative and reveal God’s character as faithful and steadfast.

Synonyms / Antonyms

• Synonyms: Shevuah (H7621 — oath), Edut (H5715 — testimony/witness)

• Antonym: Parar (H6565 — to break, violate, nullify)

Key Biblical Usage

• 1 Samuel 20:14–17 — David and Jonathan’s covenant of loyalty and protection.

• 1 Samuel 24:21–22 — Saul asks David for mercy; David honors his covenant with Jonathan.

• Genesis 9:13 — God’s covenant sign with Noah.

• Exodus 19–24 — Covenant at Sinai.

• Jeremiah 31:31–34 — Promise of the new covenant.

• Hebrews 9:14–15 — Christ as mediator of the better covenant.

Reflection

In the sermon, David’s mercy toward Saul is rooted in covenant faithfulness, not sentimentality. The word berit underlines that mercy in the kingdom flows from prior commitments of loyalty, echoing God’s own steadfast covenant toward humanity. This prepares the listener to see the final connection: Jesus fulfills the ultimate covenant that rescues and restores us.

Questions for Deeper Study

Where do you see the tension in your own life between human logic and God’s leadership, and how does David’s restraint in the cave invite you to trust God in places that feel urgent or vulnerable?

David’s conscience responded quickly when he realized he had crossed a line. What practices help you stay tender to God’s correction, and what areas of your life might God be inviting you to revisit with the same humility David showed?

**David honored his covenant and entrusted justice to God rather than taking it into his own hands. How does this passage challenge the way you respond when you feel misunderstood, mistreated, or pressured to prove yourself?