June 5, 2001

1 Samuel 24

Vv. 1-8.

In this section, Saul renews his pursuit of David with the intent to kill David. Providence brings Saul alone into the same cave wherein David and his men had hidden themselves. Evidently, Saul goes to sleep, and David's men urge him to kill Saul, telling him that this is the day the Lord promised – to deliver his enemy into his hands to do with as he pleases. David reasons with himself and with his men against doing Saul any harm, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing. And thus David returns good for evil, overcoming evil with good. Saul leaves the cave, and David follows Saul out. Though David did not take the opportunity to slay his enemy, he did take the opportunity to slay the enmity. David bows himself to the ground before the one who is seeking to slay him, teaching us: a) not to hold hatred against even those who seek our harm, and b) to render honour where honour is due, and c) to be humble before all our superiors, even to those who seek to injure us.

V. 1, what a terrible way to live. Saul only had one thing on his mind, even while fighting his enemies, the Philistines. And that one thing was to kill David, to pay whatever price needed to see that David is destroyed. The very thing that should have caused Saul to unite with David again, the Philistines, was the only thing that keep him from killing David (he had to stop his pursuit against David and go fight the Philistines.)

But Saul's problem was not with David; the problem was with the Lord. David was only an outward result of the root problem of unresolved sin, rebellion against God's word to him, on Saul's part. Saul's rebellion against God was the reason Saul pursued David with such vigour, even when David had done nothing against Saul. David was not the problem; he was someone to strike out against as Saul fought against God.

V. 2, it sure looks like a man who is having to live with the wild goats would not be a threat to anyone. And of course, David was not a threat; it was all in Saul's mind.

V. 3, in this area were many caves, some enlarged by men for a cool place to take their flocks in the heat of the day for rest. Saul was seeking David upon the rocks of the wild goats, but David was in the cave where sheep were kept. Divine providence placed David in the very cave where Saul would go to find rest.

God's hand is continually at work, even if we feel we are fleeing from the "enemy."

V. 4, David's men urge David to kill Saul, and get the entire situation over with.

Sometimes the Lord delivers our enemies into our hands or works circumstances contrary to His word to see what we will do. Will we obey His word over what appears to be proper circumstances? (See v. 10 below.)

If we have faith, it will be tried. (While I was still in Md, Bro. Burrows offered me a job in La, and I told him no for months.)

David refused to kill Saul, and he only cut off a piece of his rob while restraining his men from moving against Saul, v. 7. V. 17, notice that David only returned good for evil at Saul's own testimony. (1 Pet. 2:18.) Is this not what the Son of David (the Word of God) tells us to do in Romans 12:21? (Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. – And by doing this, Sauls heart was pricked.)

Parenthesis:

Was David here loving the sinner, Saul, while hating the sin?

Standing against the heresy being propagated by Darbyists that one can "love the sinner while hating the sin," Strong, said:

Gen. 18:25; Deut. 32:4; Ps. 5:5, 7:9-12, 18:24-26; Matt. 5:48; Rom. 2:6; 1 Pet. 1:16. These passages show that God loves the same persons whom he hates. It is not true that he hates the sin, but loves the sinner; he both hates and loves the sinner himself, hates him as he is a living and wilful antagonist of truth and holiness, loves him as he is a creature capable of good and ruined by his transgression.
There is no abstract sin that can be hated apart from the persons in whom that sin is represented and embodied. Thomas Fuller found it difficult to starve the profaneness but to feed the person of the impudent beggar who applied to him for food. Mr. Finney declared that he would kill the slave-catcher, but would love him with all his heart. In our civil war Dr. Kirk said: "God knows that we love the rebels, but God also knows that we will kill them if they do not lay down their arms." The complex nature of God not only permits but necessitates this same double treatment of the sinner, and the earthly father experiences the same conflict of emotions when his heart yearns over the corrupt son whom he is compelled to banish from the household. Moberly, Atonement and Personality, 7 — "It is the sinner who is punished, not the sin." (Systematic Theology, 290, 291.)

In other words, sin cannot be separated from the sinner, for one cannot starve the lazy bum as required by God without starving the man, nor can one kill the sin of murder as required by God without killing the murderer. "Love the sinner, but hate his sin" is impossible for both God and man.

What we have here with Saul is that God did not hate him, so David could not hate him. Saul was God's chosen man for Israel at this time, and David had to respect him as such.

V. 5, David's heart smote him because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

David's heart was tender. Harmign the Lord's anointed would have been against God's law. David had no intention of harming the Lord's annointed. All he did was cut off a piece of his rob, wihich was not against the Lord in any way. But David's heart smote him over a little thing like this.

It is good to have a conscience that will smite us over little things, and we make the little things right. This comes back to the problem and the difference between David and Saul. David's heart smote him over the little things, whereas Saul would not admit to any sin at all. This is why David was given the kingdom. (I realize that it was God's grace at work.)

However, we want to be careful that we do not establish a higher standard for us than what the Lord has established in His word — Phariseeism.

5 ¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary (Saul here for David) the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, (the chance was here for David to kill Saul, but it would have been contrary to God's laws, so he resisted the opportunity) knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 ¶ But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, (David had been called anointed years before) after that ye have suffered a while, (10 or so years for David) make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Pet. 5:5-10.)

The pursuing of David here and over the many years is a perfect illustration of 1 Peter 5:5-10, which is identical with James 4:6-8.

Notice, 1 Peter 5:5:

1) David was subject to Saul, even though Saul was trying to kill him. How? David was subject to the office of Saul, not to Saul's sin. In being subject to Saul, David was subject to God.

2) David was clothed with humility, v. 5.

He humbled himself before God, even to the point where his heart smote him for cutting off Saul's ‘skirt.'

3) David was exalted in due time, v. 6.

By leavign all vengence up to God, God did it.
By submitting completely to God, God exalted him when God got ready, which was many years latter.

4) If David had harmed Saul, the devil would have devoured David, v. 8.

Why? Because after violating a pricnciple of God's word, the devil has access to us, and he is watching for the chance. God will allow Satan to being the results of our sins to pass. Fear also will allow things to come to pass, Job 3:25.

5) David suffered awhile, and then he was established, v. 10.

We want to be established, exalted without having to humbel ourselves before God, and obeying his laws and principles. We want to be established without suffering.
We want to be exalted and established based upon circumstances working together, or based on what we feel is best, instead of the established principles of God's word.

We want the good results without the ingredients.
We want the Angle Food cake without having to put in all the right things in the right order.
We want to be able to pour in what we please, and reap what we want.
We want to be able to mix our seed in planting, yet reap a perfect, unspoiled harvest.
We want to be able to plant Pig Weed with our Soy Beans, and still have a good crop of beans.

Human reasoning tells us that if we will do the best we can, regardless of the ingredients, we will get a good crop.
Human reasoning tells us we can plant Humanism. Our human reasoning tells us that we can plant what seems right (Pig Weed) with the good seed (God's law-word), be sincere, work hard, hope and pray, and still get a good crop. (Pro. 14:12, 16:25.)

Such a mixture has never worked, nor will it ever work.
God's precepts are the same all through nature.
Whether bakign an Angel Food cake, planting grain or waanting the Lord to establish us or our children, His laws cannot be violated.

Many people waant to pick and chose what to agree with from what is preached or read in Scripture — like picking all the good tasting ingredients for a cake and leaving out the bad tasting ingredients (salt, baking soda, &c.).

1 Peter 5:10

God wants to make us perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle us, but there will be suffering, v. 10; there will be afflictions, v. 9 (circumstances roar against us, and will devour us if given half a chance); there must be steadfastness in the faith regardless of what reasoning says, v. 9; there must be sobriety, vigilance, v. 8; there must be humility before Gdo, admitting He and His ways are right and past finding out (Job 9:10, Rom. 11:33), applying them to our every walk of life, regardless of circumstances, v. 6; there must be subjection one to another, and we must be clothed with humility – putting off pride, v. 5.

Notice two humilities: 1) before man. 2) before God, v. 6. The calamities that God allows — instead of pride and rebellion against them, humble ourselves in prayer and fasting. Humility is not a weak kneed sissy. Remember Moses and Christ. But it is a realization of a complete dependance upon God and His basic principles applied to our every thought and action.

David put in the right ingredients, and ended up established on the throne forever, not only after Saul, but in his son, Christ Jesus.

We want to be established, but on our terms, or on what we think is best, and only chosing the principles of God's word we feel we can live with or agree with. The Angel Food cake will fall.

We want to come to church when we please.
We want to be spiritual when we please.
We want to watch and be influenced by who we please.
And we want our children to still serve the Lord.

V. 10, make you perfect — folks want to be saved as they please.

Vv. 9-15

V. 9,

II. He lays the blame of his rage against him upon his evil counsellors: Wherefore hearest thou men's words? #1Sa 24:9. It is a piece of respect due to crowned heads, if they do amiss, to charge it upon those about them, who either advised them to it or should have advised them against it. David had reason enough to think that Saul persecuted him purely from his own envy and malice, yet he courteously supposes that others put him on to do it, and made him believe that David was his enemy and sought his hurt. Satan, the great accuser of the brethren, has his agents in all places, and particularly in the courts of those princes that encourage them and give ear to them, who make it their business to represent the people of God as enemies to Caesar and hurtful to kings and provinces, that, being thus dressed up in bearskins, they may "be baited." (MH.)

V. 10, notice David's forbearance, or restraint. The Lord delivered Saul into his hands, yet he followed the word of the Lord.

From v. 4 above:

"Sometimes the Lord delivers our enemies into our hands or works circumstances contrary to His word to see what we will do. Will we obey His word over what appears to be proper circumstances? If we have faith, it will be tried."

Follow the rest of the thought above through into 1 Peter.

As David followed Saul out of the cave and spoke, he showed that he was not controlled by circumstances, but by the word of God.

David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed himself.
1 Corinthians 13:7. True love, love that we are to love one another with, Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

What does it take to turn us against a person, or to get us to talk about a person?
Some things about this situation with David. Remember, God records every detail that He wants us to know about, and in the order He wants them recorded.

V. 8, David stooped and bowed toward Saul. Saul is tryign to kill David; he is moving heaven and earth in his attempt, and David still honours him.

V. 9, Were others turning Saul's heart against David? I don't think so, for all the records we have is of Saul's servants defending David. I believe here that David refused to believe that Saul was against him on his own. David refused to believe that Saul hated him enough to kill him, and David would not accept the obvious. rather than allow any doubt cast upon Saul, he believed only that others were influencing Saul against him.

David would only believe good about Saul. Anything bad, he would not allow his mind to dwell upon, and he would only accept that Saul was being influenced. And we know that Saul was being influenced by the devil to try to do away with David, or at least interfere with God's plan for David. Of course, God used this interference to train David.

And we must remember, though Satan may drive us into and pursue us through the wilderness, he is only being used by God. Satan is always no more than a tool in God's hands, working according to God's good pleasure.

(I can imagine the frustration Satan must have — all of his best intentions and works against the Creator always turn out for the benefit of the Creator.)

Now, David's actions were toward God's anointed, not toward a philistine. How much does it take to get us to believe bad about a person?

11/25/84, pm

V. 10, David declares to Saul God's provision and protection for him. He points out that he had a chance to harm Saul, and he tells of the encouragement of others to do just that. Then he shows Saul that his motives are really for Saul's welfare.

Note: words are cheap. What do our action show? David could have told Saul of his loving respect for him as he stuck the knife into him. Saul told David of his love for him as he sought to kill him.

Note also here God's diving providence: the Lord had delivered thee today into mine hand. We must not underestimate God's providence that controls all actions of men and nations.

V. 11, David holds up the proof that he does not want to harm Saul. Do we? Can we hold up proof of what we say we believe? Can others see that proof, as they could with David? Can we point back to the opportunity we had to violate God's words and say, "I stood for right there"?

WE PROVE OUR FAITH BY OUR ACTION, OUR DRESS, OUR HABITS.

Vv. 12, 13, regardless of what others think or say, the Lord will judge. Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked — Give a man enough rope, and he will hang himself if he has wicked motives. God here gave David the whole coil of rope, and the circumstances proved David's motives were only good toward Saul.

In other words, CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT MAKE US WHAT WE ARE; THEY ONLY REVEAL WHAT WE ARE. If a man has wicked desires and motives in his heart, when the circumstances are right, he will do it. What is in the heart will come out.

David had perfect circumstances, but because he wanted to be right before God, he would not compromise. If he had been wicked or had wicked desires toward Saul, he would have done more than cut off a piece of clothing.

We cannot emphasize enough that circumstances only reveal the heart.

David said, "I just don't care what the circumstances might be, I am not going to lift up my hand against you because of who you are and the office you hold. If the Lord wants to do anything, He will have to do it. I won't. If I had been the wicked man you believe me to be, I would have moved against you." (V. 13.)

Remember, when we lie among the thorns, we will get scratched. It is just as natural for the wicked around us to seek to scratch us as it is for the thorns to scratch us. But no matter how bad they scratch us, we must leave vengeance up to the Lord.

The other side of the proverb David used is, Saul was wicked, or he wouldn't be seeking David's life. (Isa 32:6-8.) A dog barks at the sheep; the sheep don't bark at the dog.

The same circumstances can reveal two different things from two people. This circumstance revealed David's purity, and at the same time, revealed Saul's impure motives. Jeremiah 32:6-8, the same circumstances revealed Jeremiah's faith in the word of the Lord, while they revealed his cousin Hanameel's unbelief.

V. 14, "What is a great king like you with 3,000 men doing out here chasing me. If you catch me, you only have a dead dog to show for all your efforts. What credit is that to you, to be able to return with a dead dog as your spoil of war.

What pleasure is it to hung a single flee? Even if you seek it, it isn't easily found. If you find it, it isn't easily caught. If you catch it, it isn't easily killed, and it is certainly a poor prize for a king an 3,000 of his chosen men.

Illustration: Did you ever try to find a flee on pet? on the carpet?

How typical of many Christians. We spend our time, energy and money on the unimportant and insignificant things. We compromise our stand for something that will be forgotten in a few years.

(5/24/84)

V. 15, The Lord judge...

(June 19, 2001, I have a message made out of the below, as well as a mailing. I rearranged it place the quotes on the end, and then to publish it without the quotes.)

Among other things, the Lord will judge how we use the time He has given us. We are not here discussing slothfulness, but the missus of time. Life is a race against time. We will only win that race if we realize the following:

1) Time is limited. And it is no respecter of persons – no one will get more hours in a day than another. Nor is it recoverable – every hour that is lost is gone forever.
2) The maximum number of productive years is established by God. (Ps. 90:10)
3) Days must be counted. (Ps. 90:12)
4) Time is given to us to do God's work. (Jn. 9:4)
5) Time is unrecoverable.2) Death is certain.
6) The return of Christ is even more certain.
7) Time requires accountability.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10.)

In Saul's unwarranted pursuit of David, not only did Saul waste time, for which he gave an account for, but he caused David to spend his time fleeing. And thus we see that we never waste time at our own expense. It always costs others:

If on the job – others must work harder to make up our waste.
If in our relationship with the Lord – those under our protection will have to work harder to avoid Satan's destruction in their lives.
If just being lazy – the example we set will be picked up by our children, and somewhere it will be paid for.

Not only will we loose the race against time, the race to accomplish something for the Lord with our life, but we will greatly hinder those watching us from running their race effectively. (Heb. 12:1.)

Most people think the race is to see who can achieve more of this world's goods, the most leisure time, or even the earliest retirement, but nothing can be further from the truth. No matter how much we might gain of these things held important by the world, it will not be enough. At the end of one of the most distressing books in Scripture, the Book of Ecclesiastes ends with these words:

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecc. 12:13, 14.)

Saul wasted his time pursuing David, forcing David to spent his time fleeing.

Illustration: Did you ever try to find a flee on pet? on the carpet?

I'm afraid we are far more like Saul than we are like David. We spend our time, energy and money on the unimportant and insignificant things. We waste a lot of time pursuing things that are of no earthly value – useless activities that lose all their value in eternity. If we had to live for eternity on the treasures we lay up with the proper use of our time, most of us would live in poverty.

Time and the Word of God

Though the Tri-Une God lives in eternity where there is no concept of time, we do not. We are in a trap of time, which I have found to be very constraining. (Someone has said that the constraint of time we feel here shows that we were made for eternity.)

The Lord raises the question:

1 ¶ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (Isa. 55. See also, Ecc. 4:8.)

Why do we spend our time on those things that have no eternal value, and very little, if any, value here on earth?

The Spirit warns us twice about the use of our time:

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Eph. 5:16.)
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (Col. 4:5.)

First, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Albert Barns' comments:

Verse 16. Redeeming the time. The word here rendered redeeming, means, to purchase; to buy up from the possession or power of any one; and then to redeem, to set free—as from service or bondage. See Barnes "Gal 3:13" (see below, ed.). Here it means, to rescue or recover our time from waste; to improve it for great and important purposes. Because the days are evil. Because the times in which you live are evil. There are many allurements and temptations that would lead you away from the proper improvement of time, and that would draw you into sin. Such were those that would tempt them to go to places of sinful indulgence and revelry, where their time would be wasted, and worse than wasted. As these temptations abounded, they ought therefore to be more especially on their guard against a sinful and unprofitable waste of time. This exhortation may be addressed to all, and is applicable to all periods. The sentiment is, that we ought to be solicitous to improve our time to some useful purpose, because there are, in an evil world, so many temptations to waste it. Time is given us for most valuable purposes. There are things enough to be done to occupy it all, and no one need have it hang heavy on his hands. He that has a soul to be saved from eternal death need not have one idle moment. He that has a heaven to win has enough to do to occupy all his time. Man has just enough given him to accomplish all the purposes which God designs, and God has not given him more than enough. They redeem their time who employ it

We need to recover our time, redeem it, from its waste upon unimportant things that do not account for anything in eternity. We will not be judge on how familiar we were with the local recreational areas nor on how well we knew the popular sports figures of our day.

The days are evil, as they were in the days of the apostles. They are evil in this context not necessarily because of the abounding sin, but because they abound with temptations and allurements that seek to lead into things that are a "waste of time." The things may not be sin in themselves, but they draw our hearts and time away from God's Kingdom work. We live in a particularly evil day because generally people have too much time on their hands, and they use that time to pursue personal pleasure rather than to invest in God's Kingdom.

Let me define kingdom work — Kingdom work would involve building a godly personal life, as well as building a godly family. It involves going about our occupation in a manner that brings glory to God. It involves proper use of leisure, (Mk. 6:31.) among other things.

Time is given us to invest in the kingdom work of our God; the purpose of our life here is to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Mat. 6:33) – that is, our first responsibility to our Creator is to advance His kingdom here on earth. And there is plenty for every one to do. We have just enough time to accomplish God's purpose, nor to we have too much time on our hands. It is to be used wisely for the glory of God; it is to be redeemed:

(1.) in gaining useful knowledge (especially in the study of God's word, ed.);

(2.) in doing good to others (Gal. 6:10, ed.);

(3.) in employing it for the purpose of an honest livelihood for themselves and families;

(4.) in prayer and self-examination, to make the heart better (and thereby make our actions better, ed.);

(5.) in seeking salvation, and in endeavouring to do the will of God. They are to redeem time from all that would waste and destroy it—like recovering marshes and fens to make them rich meadows and vineyards.

Let me add (6.) here: in maintaining the house of God (Hag. 1:4ff.). It goes without saying that it is the people who make up the church – that is, the New Testament church is the assembly of the firstborn. (Heb. 12:23.) Moreover, the Apostolic church did not have "buildings" to meet in, such as we have today. However, whatever we might think of the buildings themselves, they still to the world represent the kingdom of God on earth. The LORD'S complaint against His people in Haggai was they were not using their time to maintain the building that represented the Kingdom of God on earth.

There is time enough wasted by each sinner to secure the salvation of the soul; time enough wasted to do all that is needful to be done to spread religion around the world, and to save the race. We should still endeavour to redeem our time for the same reasons which are suggested by the apostle—because the days are evil. There are evil influences abroad; allurements and vices that would waste time, and from which we should endeavour to rescue it. There are evil influences tending to waste time

There is enough time wasted by the saints that if it were properly used for God's kingdom work, there would be no lack of workers in the local church and the world would be Christianized. It is wasted:

(1.) in the allurements to pleasure and amusement in every place, and especially in cities;

In the allurements to pleasure and amusements of every description. There is certainly no problem in pleasures and amusements, as long as they do not violate Scripture, but very little of those things make us more effective for the Lord Jesus.

Across the street from the church is a man who, evidently, only works a 40 hour week, and, also evidently, he has worked there for some time, for he gets a lot of vacation time. He spends a lot of time working in his yard, washing and waxing his truck (he seems to have a new one every few years), and washing his motor home. He takes his motor home out for the weekend 2 or 3 times a month. I have watched him for the 18 years we have been here, and there are times when I "envy" him. He has a 40 hours a week job that pays good, and he pursues his pleasure the rest of the time.

I have never known that kind of life. My dad was a workaholic – I can only remember two times going anywhere as a family for a day off, other than the State Fair. When I got out of the service, though I went right to work in the building trades, I worked as a layman at the church in the evenings (under Dr. Ford Proter). I primarily worked in the bus ministry, though I did anything around the church that needed to be done.

When I met Carol, I was on the staff as a layman at the church that had the college where she was a student. She also was busy as a student in the children's ministry. And we married with a common desire to use our time in the Lord's work. We both exchanged the time that most people used for personal pleasure for time trying to advance the kingdom of God. Even here, we exchanged our personal time in the evenings for Kingdom work time in folks homes in Bible studies or visitation.

Carol and I would speak often of the lack of desire on people's part to redeem the time – that is, exchange their personal pleasure time for Kingdom work time.

We realized the evil days in which we live, for the allurements of the world have prevented people from redeeming their time for the cause of Christ.

(2.) in the temptations to novel-reading, consuming the precious hours of probation to no valuable purpose;

In the allurements to useless things that have no value to the Kingdom of God, yet they cost us multiplied hours of time. There allurements are all around us, particularly the TV. The allurement of sports has extracted a heavy price from the Kingdom of God. Time that could have been well spent in advancing His kingdom has been spent with no lasting effect for the cause of Christ.

I remember in Louisiana, you might be able to get the men out to do a project at any time except when the Dallas Cowboys were playing. The preacher could preach as long as he wanted to as long as he was done in time for the men to see kick-off at noon. I really can think of no eternally redeeming value of sports, whether it be football or basketball. I like drag races and tractor pulls, but I can think of no eternal redeeming value of either.

Think of the lost hours reading novels. I must admit, when I was in the service, I loved to read Luke Short, Louis Lamore and Edger Rice Burrows, and I read all of them I could find. But as I look back, I know they did not increase my ability for the Kingdom of God.

Today's Christian authors make a very good living writing useless, vain books which only corrupt the Christian's world view, e.g., The Prayer of Jabez and Left Behind, among multitudes of other books.

(3.) in the temptations of ambition, most of the time spent for which is wholly thrown away, for few gain the prize, and when gained, it is all a bauble, not worth the effort;

In the allurement to invest time in pursuing unreasonable ambitions.

(4.) in dissipation—for who can estimate the amount of valuable tune that is worse than thrown away in the places of revelry and dissipation?

In the allurement to argue about words. (1 Tim. 1:4-6, 6:4, 5, 2 Tim. 2:14ff., Titus 3:9ff.)

(5.) in wild and visionary plans—temptations to which abound in all lands, and pre-eminently in our own;

In the allurement to daydream. (What would I do if I were to win a million dollars.)

(6.) and in luxurious indulgence—in dressing, and eating, and drinking.

In the allurement to overindulge. The overweight population shows that we have become a society of overindulgence. Our possessions also show that we are more concerned about the advancement of self than we are about the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

{b} "days are evil" #Ps 37:19

Galatians 3:13:

Verse 13. Christ hath redeemed us. The word used here exhgorasen is not that which is usually employed in the New Testament to denote redemption. That word is lutrow. The difference between them mainly is, that the word used here more usually relates to a purchase of any kind; the other is used strictly with reference to a ransom. The word here used is more general in its meaning; the other is strictly appropriated to a ransom. This distinction is not observable here, however, and the word here used is employed in the proper sense of redeem. It occurs in the New Testament only in this place, and in #Ga 4:5 Eph 5:16 Col 4:6. It properly means, to purchase, to buy up; and then to purchase any one, to redeem, to set free. Here it means, that Christ had purchased or set us free from the curse of the law, by his being made a curse for us. On the meaning of the words redeem and ransom, See Barnes "Ro 3:25"; See Barnes "2Co 5:21"; See Barnes "Isa 43:3". (Barnes' Notes.)

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Christ has redeemed us; He bought us back from destruction. Christ has commanded us to redeem our time from destruction also, and it is destroyed in front of the TV, among many other places.

Family New Testament Notes:

Redeeming the time; time considered as furnishing opportunity for serving Christ; in other words, making the most of every opportunity. The days are evil; days of wickedness, such as will oppose many hinderances to your Christian activity.

Geneva:

5:16 {h} Redeeming the time, because the {i} days are evil.

(h) This is a metaphor taken from the merchants: who prefer the least profit that may be before any of their pleasures.
(i) The times are troublesome and severe.

The metaphor is of a merchant who eagerly exchanges his personal pleasure time for time to buy and sell to get gain. (James 4:13.) We have all known businessmen who succeeded because they exchanged their time one would normally spend in personal pleasure for time pursuing their occupation. The result was prosperity.

I used to work for a man who had to quit school at a very early age to support his family. I am sure he is quite wealthy now, though you would not know it by looking at him. The way he gained his wealth was by exchanging personal pleasure time for work time. The time was right for his business, and Divine Providence placed him in that time of history. He took advantage of the time, and he prospered. I knew another layman when I was on a church staff. The story was basically the same with him—he had to quit school at about the sixth grade to support his family. As opportunities developed, he exchanged his personal enjoyment time for the time it took to develop his business, and the Lord prospered him greatly. Nor did he have to sacrifice his family nor his Christian service as a layman.

The Spirit makes a point of twice telling us to redeem the time. We redeem the time as a businessman willingly and gladly redeems his time – we exchange the time we would normally spend on personal pleasure and leisure for time spend advancing God's Kingdom on earth.

We all have the same amount of time. Though we cannot lengthen time, we can purchase good time (developing God's Kingdom both within and without ourselves) with the time we would normally spend – squander or trifle away – on things that have no bearing on God's Kingdom work. In fact, the context (Eph. 5:15) tells us that true wisdom involves controlling time, making it our servant as a does the businessman.

John Gill:

Ver. 16. Redeeming the time, &c.] Or "buying time"; a like expression is used in # Da 2:8, which we render, gain time: but in the Chaldee text it is, "buy time": and so Jacchiades, a Jewish commentator on the place, renders it, Myrkmn Mta tazh teh, "ye buy this opportunity"; and the Septuagint version uses the same phrase the apostle does here; but there it seems to signify a study to prolong time, to put off the business to another season; but here taking time for a space of time, it denotes a careful and diligent use of it, an improvement of it to the best advantage; and shows that it is valuable and precious, and is not to be trifled with, and squandered away, and be lost, as it may be; for it can neither be recalled nor prolonged: and taking it for an opportunity of doing good to ourselves or others, it signifies that no opportunity of discharging our duty to God and man, of attending on the word and ordinances of the Gospel, and to the private and public exercises of religion, of gaining advantage to our own souls, or of gaining the souls of others, and of doing good either to the bodies or souls of men, should be neglected; but even all risks should be run, and means used to enjoy it: in the Syriac and Chaldee languages, anmz, "time", comes from Nbz, "to redeem": the reason the apostle gives for the redemption of time is, because the days are evil...

Jamieson, Fausset, Brown:

16. Redeeming the time—(#Col 4:5). Greek, " Buying up for yourselves the seasonable time" (whenever it occurs) of good to yourselves and to others. Buying off from the vanities of "them that are without" (#Col 4:5), and of the "unwise" (here in Ephesians), the opportune time afforded to you for the work of God. In a narrower sense, special favorable seasons for good, occasionally presenting themselves, are referred to, of which believers ought diligently to avail themselves. This constitutes true "wisdom" (#Eph 5:15). In a larger sense, the whole season from the time that one is spiritually awakened, is to be "redeemed" from vanity for God (compare #2Co 6:2 1Pe 4:2-4). "Redeem" implies the preciousness of the opportune season, a jewel to be bought at any price. WAHL explains, "Redeeming for yourselves (that is, availing yourselves of) the opportunity (offered you of acting aright), and commanding the time as a master does his servant." TITTMANN, "Watch the time, and make it your own so as to control it; as merchants look out for opportunities, and accurately choose out the best goods; serve not the time, but command it, and it shall do what you approve." So PINDAR [Pythia, 4.509], "The time followed him as his servant, and was not as a runaway slave."

Redemption involves redeeming our time as well as redeeming our souls. (1 Pet. 4:2.) In other words, conversion involves converting our idea of time – we now desire to use our time for the Lord, even over our own personal pleasure. We look for oportonities to serve the Lord, and we give up present enjoyment to do that service.

Because the days are evil. The evil days could refer to the shortness and unexpectedness of life – if we are going to do anything for the Lord, we had better do it now.

Peoples New Testament Notes:

Redeeming the time. Using every opportunity; buying them by giving up present enjoyment.

Matthew Poole:

Ver. 16. Redeeming the time; or, buying the opportunity: a metaphor taken from merchants, that diligently observe the time for buying and selling, and easily part with their pleasure for gain; q.d. Deny yourselves in your ease, pleasure, &c. to gain an opportunity of doing good.

Charles Hodge:

V. 16. 'Exagorazo>menoi to<n kairon>, redeeming the time. This is one manifestation of wisdom, one method in which their Christian character as the children of light should be exhibited. The words have been variously explained: —
1. Making use of, availing yourselves of the occasion for doing good, not allowing it to pass unimproved.
2.Buying back the time, redeeming it, as it were, from Satan or from the world.
3. Making the most of time, i.e. using it to the best advantage.
4. Adapting yourselves to the occasion, etc.
The decision between these different view depends partly on the sense to be given to ejxagorazo>menoi, and partly on the question whether kairo>v is to be taken in its proper sense, opportunity, appropriate time; or in the general sense of kairov>, time. The words ajgora>zein and ejxagora>zein, have in common the idea of acquiring by purchase. The latter in virtue of the force of the ejk properly means to purchase back, or to make free by purchase. But it is also used in the sense of the simple verb, as in Daniel 2:8, whence the expression in the text is probably derived. There, according to the Septuagint, the king said to the Chaldeans, who declined to interpret his dream until they knew what it was, oi+da elw< kaipo<n. uJmei~v ejxagora>zete, "I know you wish to gain time." This sense of the verb suits the passage before us. Then if kairo>v means here what it does in almost every other passage, where it occurs in the New Testament, the most natural interpretation of the clause is, "availing yourselves of the occasion," i.e. improving every opportunity for good. If kairo>v be taken for kro>nov which is barely admissible, the sense would be, "making the most of time," i.e. rescuing it from waste or abuse. Both of these interpretations are good and suited to the following clause, because the days are evil. Ponhro>v, evil, may be taken either in a physical or moral sense. The patriarch said, "Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been," Genesis 47:9. The moral sense of the word, however is better suited to the context. Evil days, mean days in which sin abounds. It is parallel to the expressions, "evil generation," Matthew 12:39; and "evil world," Galatians 1:4. Because sin abounds is a good reason why Christians should seize upon every opportunity to do good; and also why they should make the most of time. So that this clause suits either of the interpretations of the first part of the verse. That kairo>v properly and commonly means opportunity, or suitable time, is a strong reason for preferring the former of the two interpretations mentioned. The same exhortation and in the same connection is found in Colossians 4, 5. Here the apostle says, "See that ye walk as wise men, redeeming the time." So that this right use of time, or this seizing on every opportunity for doing good, is in both places represented as the evidence and effect of wisdom, i.e. of divine truth, which is the wisdom of God, which he has revealed, 1 Corinthians 2:6-13.

Adam Clarke:

Redeeming the time involves "buying up" those moments that others seem to throw away. While others are wasting away their time on vain things that do not matter in the Kingdom of God, we are using our time to improve that Kingdom.

Verse 16. Redeeming the time— exagorazomenoi ton kairon? Buying up those moments which others seem to throw away; steadily improving every present moment, that ye may, in some measure, regain the time ye have lost. Let time be your chief commodity; deal in that alone; buy it all up, and use every portion of it yourselves. Time is that on which eternity depends; in time ye are to get a preparation for the kingdom of God; if you get not this in time, your ruin is inevitable; therefore, buy up the time. Some think there is an allusion here to the case of debtors, who, by giving some valuable consideration to their creditors, obtain farther time for paying their debts. And this appears to be the sense in which it is used by the Septuagint, Daniel 2:8: ep alhqeiav oida egw, oti kairon umeiv exagorazete? I know certainly that ye would gain or buy time — ye wish to have the time prolonged, that ye may seek out for some plausible explanation of the dream. Perhaps the apostle means in general, embrace every opportunity to glorify God, save your own souls, and do good to men.
Because the days are evil .— The present times are dangerous, they are full of trouble and temptations, and only the watchful and diligent have any reason to expect that they shall keep their garments unspotted.

W.B. Godbey:

16. "Buying in the opportunity, because the days are evil." When bright den went into eclipse, Satan's reign of darkness, sin, and death sadly supervened. It has swept along like a desolating avalanche, nearly six thousand years, during which the "saved are few;" only here and there a traveler on the King's highway, while the pell-mell multitudes rush at racehorse speed into hell. Therefore, it stands us in hand wisely to snatch every fleeting moment, thus "buying in the opportunity" to rescue the perishing.

Second, Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (Col. 4:5.)

Geneva:

(4) In all parts of our life, we ought to have good consideration even of those who are outside of the Church. (b) Advisedly and cautiously. (c) Seek occasion to win them, even though you lose something of your own by it.

Redeeming the time involves losing something of value for the well being of God's work – defined as His work in our lives, in our family, in our friends, in our community, in our church and in our nation. We rescue time out of the hands of Satan and out of the world, as they influence us to misuse that time.

Jamieson, Fausset, Brown:

redeeming the time—The Greek expresses, buying up for yourselves, and buying off from worldly vanities the opportunity, whenever it is afforded you, of good to yourselves and others. "Forestall the opportunity, that is, to buy up an article out of the market, so as to make the largest profit from it" [CONYBEARE and HOWSON].

Peoples New Testament Notes:

Redeeming the time. Using every opportunity and seeking time to do them good.
Redeeming. Buying by giving up your own pleasure.

Matthew Poole:

Redeeming the time; showing your prudence, say some learned men, in gaining time by honest craft, to secure you from spiritual dangers to your souls, or divert those who have power from persecutions: taking the expression proverbially. And for that purpose cite a passage in the prophet from the Septuagint, #Da 2:8. Others, and the most, import of the original words, take time for opportunity, or the fitness it hath for some good; and the participle we render redeeming, to import either morally, (not physically, which is impossible), a recalling or recovery of time past that is lost, by a double diligence in employing what remains; or a buying up the present time, i.e. parting with any thing for the improvement of it to our spiritual advantage; or a buying it out, i.e. a rescuing it, as it were, out of the hands of Satan and the world, which by distracting cares and tempting pleasures do occasion often the misspending of it: see #Eph 6:16.

Robertson's NT Word Pictures:

{Toward them that are without} (prov touv exw). A Pauline phrase for those outside the churches (#1Th 5:12; #1Co 5:12). It takes wise walking to win them to Christ. {Redeeming the time} (ton kairon exagorazomenoi). We all have the same time. Paul goes into the open market and buys it up by using it rightly. See the same metaphor in #Eph 5:16.

"Those who are without, " is found in 1 Cor. v. 12, and in 1 Thess. iv. 12, and points to persons beyond the pale of the church, and not simply or prominently the false teachers, as Junker supposes. Those without should be surrounded with every inducement to come in. No barrier should be thrown in their way, but the attractive nature of Christianity should be wisely exhibited to them. And as the life and practice of those within the church is what they especially look at and learn from, so the apostle says, "walk in wisdom..." in reference to them. ... The world's Bible is the daily life of the church, every page of which its quick eye minutely scans, and every blot on which it detects with gleeful and malicious exactness. The same wisdom will assume the form of discretion in reference to time and place. Unwise efforts at proselytism defeat their own purpose; zeal without knowledge is as the thunder shower that drenches and injures, not the rain that with noiseless and gentle descent softens and fertilizes... (Colossians, by John Eadie, Richard Griffin & Co., 1856. 1980 Klock & Klock reprint.)

"Redeeming the time." ... The general meaning is "purchasing, or seizing the opportunity." ... "out of another's possession,"... (Ibid.)

Wisdom toward them who are outside the faith means that we invest something of value to reach them, as we would buy something at the store. We all have a set amount of time, and that time is the same for each of us. We each have 168 hours a week to spend at the store. What do we purchase with it? Do we spend them on things that have no value for the Kingdom of God? Do we spend them on things that advance the cause of Christ? Redeeming the time means we purchase things that please God over things of personal pleasure.

The context of Colossians 4:5 tells us that the use of our time is a major message about our faith that we give to the world around us. A mark of our Christian character is how we use our time – is it on personal pleasure, or is it on the advancement of God's Kingdom on earth?

And the Lord will judge which one was right in this matter. And He did. The very thing Saul avoided to pursue David killed him, the Philistines. 24:1 with 31:8.

June 19, 2001

I often hear folks say, "God judges the motives; God is concerned that the motives are right." True enough, but He will judge if the actions are not right, regardless of the motives.

Saul's motives were right in desiring to secure his children's future, (Pro. 13:22, 1 Sam. 20:31) but his actions were certainly wrong. The godly way to secure his children's future was to know and do the Command-Word of God. (Jn. 13:17, 15:14, Rev. 22:14.) His children's secure future could have even started here if Saul would have confessed his sin of rejecting the Word of the Lord, which he had rejected twice at the start of his reign. But because Saul forgot, or ignored, the Command-Word of God, God forgot his children. (Hosea 4:6.)

It is clear, therefore, that the kingdom passed from Saul, and that his children perished because of his hardness in sin. (I realize the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty, and that the kingly line had to pass to the house of Judah. I do not, however, even hint that I know how God's Sovereign Providence works behind the scene to bring these things about. I only know that all things work together to accomplish His eternal and sovereign purpose, and that man is accountable for his actions, Isa. 46:11, 2 Cor. 5:10, Eph. 3:11, &c.)

As Saul looked to secure Jonathan's future by violating God's word, he was wasting his time. Physical effort that is contrary to the Command-Word of God will not secure anyone's future, except in failure and destruction. The only thing that would have secured the children's future was to submit to the authority of God's word back in 13:8, 9 and 15:3.

God's man told him to wait to make the offering; he did not.
God's man told him to destroy Amaleck. He did not.

If Saul had submitted in these two areas, his son's future would have been secure. Rather than put aside his pride and make these two things right, he sought ungodly means to secure his son's future. Anything other than Psalms 1 and Proverbs 3:5-10 to secure our children's future not only is a waste of time, but is destructive.

Not, it is a godly attitude to want to leave a good inheritance for our children, but the inheritance we should desire for them is a good name, and the physical inheritance will be a by product of the good name.

Saul was wasting his time seeking to establish his son in an unscriptural way. All of his effort and time spent pursuing David, not to mention the money to support 3,000 men in his endeavor, went down the drain when Saul and Jonathan were killed.

Wrong priorities always lead to death and destruction, not only for us, but for our families.

Remember here that God used the wrath of man (Saul's anger to praise Himself. He used Saul to train David to be a good king over His people. the Lord judged between Saul's pride, which led tot his wasted life, and David's desire to stay right with God. David got the throne, and Saul got the ‘axe.'

The Lord plead David's cause.
The Lord delivered David out of Saul's hands.
The Lord delivered Saul into the hands of the Philistines.
The Lord will judge, which is our hope and assurance as we are oppressed by the Saul's of this world. There is a day coming, and the oppressed will be comforted.

The accounts will be settled.
The time will be accounted for.
The motives will be revealed.

And I must look at David in amazement here at this point of his life. He had supernatural grace to enable him to wait for the Lord to settle the account with Saul.

Saul had to account of his time, and the price, wages, he received were expensive, and they were paid for by many generations.

Saul lost his race against time, and the ripples lasted for many years and cost many lives..

He had to account for his life.
He did not use it to God's work, but to pursue the desires of the flesh, to establish his children in life in an unscriptural way. And the Lord judged harshly, as He said he would do.

Some things that will help us respect time and help prevent wasting it:
1) For one week, keep a detailed record of oru activities every 15 minutes.
2) At the end, go back and evaluate how we used the 168 hours. How much for eating, sleeping, resting, entertainment, conversation, Bible, prayer, &c.

And how much was used for productive work and achievement.

The results will be shocking.
Keep a daily record of goals and achievements.

Vv. 16-22

June 19, 2001

V. 16, Saul lifted up his voice and wept, but his wasted time was unrecoverable. It was gone. We also see that weeping is not a sure sign of true repentance.

V. 16, notice how quickly Saul's attitude changed from a roaring lion to a meek and quiet lamb. Why?

I think it was becaue as God sent the troubeling spirit of conviciton over Saul's rebellion from under authoryt, Saul became a schizophrenic. He became a double minded man. He knew wht he should do. Though a child of God, he became a double minded man, and became unstable in all his ways. (James. 1:8.)

It does not take much to turn or sway a person with a guild complex or guilty conscience because it is not long before Saul is back after David again. (Pro. 26:23-26.)

Saul's later life was very unstable, and he ended it by killing himself over his pride. (1 Sam. 31:4. Now, the Philistines may have tortured their captives.) Modern Psychology uses the term Schizophrenic, and says we must understand and have patience with them. Well, they are sinners, and sin needs to be addressed first before anything can be done to help the epople.

V. 17, notice Saul did not say, "You are righteous and I am wicked," but said, "You are more righteous than I." Saul just could not admit he was wrong.

God's hand was heavy against him. He knew the result of his refusal to submit because Samuel had told him (13:13, 14), and he confessed that David had the kingdom (24:20). But pride will go further than "I'M NOT AS GOOD AS OTHERS ARE." It says, "I AM NOT REALLY THAT BAD." I have had many tell me this as I have spoken to them.

Vv. 17, 18, Saul admits a mistake in judgment after it is exposed with the piece of clothing David holds up. But as far as admitting wrong, repentance of sin, Saul never does that. (Pro. 28:13, 14. Sounds very much like President Clinton.)

Why does he refuse to admit sin?

This goes back to his original sin of 13 and 15. His rebellion from under authority, and until a person makes a r4oot sin right, they will never see sin as sin. Maybe they might admit a "mistake," as they get caught in that "mistake, but never a real view of sin that will bring true repentance. (Pro. 28:13, 14, is a roaring lion, = Saul). There is no such thing as mental illness, Romans 1.

Saul did not refuse to see his sin here. The fact is that Saul could not see his sin here. (James 1:22-27.) Saul here looking at David saw his spiritual condition. Saul here looked in the mirror of God's truth; he could not help but see that David spared him.

But Saul was blind. Saul was deceived by his own rebellion and pride back in chapters 13 and 15. As he looked into the perfect law of liberty, he continued in his sin. He beheld himself, and turned and went his way and straightway forgot what manner of man he was (Ja. 1:24), because in chapter 26, Saul sets out once again to pursue David with his 3,000 chosen men.

He forgot the events of chapter 24 within a very short time.
Why?
He was BLIND. He was DECEIVED by his past sins when Samuel told him to wait, and he did not.

When Samuel told him to kill all the Amalackites and he saw a "better way." (1 Samuel 15:19-21.)

Saul was deceived , but he deceived himself. He sincerely believed he was doing right, even to the point of killing a loyal subject in order to establish his children. But he was deceived, blinded by his own sin of rebellion.

How many Christians do I know today — they really believe they are doing right. They will admit no wrong unless confronted with the cold hard facts. Then they will not admit sin, but just a simple mistake in judgment.

"You are more righteous than I" meaning "I am righteous, but just not as much as you are at this point."

They are sincere as a heart attack, and as honest as they can be. Though their motives are pure in their own eyes, they are sinners.

Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Proverbs 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Isaiah 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

But their actions speak, "There is something wrong," but they cannot see that (You cannot separate what you are from what you do").

Why?

There is a sin back there somewhere that they refuse to face. Their pride prevents admitting that was wrong, and as we say, "They are as honest as they can be, pure as they can be or sincere as they can be." the problem is, they are blind and deceived , and cannot see. They can not be honest, prue nor sincere according tot he word of God because they cannot see. They are deceived, and their families are paying the price.

It is as impossible for them to see they are wrong as it is for a leopard to change his spots (Jer.15:23) until they go back, maybe years before, and confess that one sin that has blinded them. (Gal 6:3, 2 Cor. 4:2, Heb. 12:15.) They will remain blind to any further spiritual principles.

Answer:
Honestly examine the things of our life and family. As we look, we see things that don't line up with the word of God, and "We don't see it that way." Then somewhere there is a problem. Check with the preacher, "Is there anything that doesn't line up?" He answers, and you fell "I don't see it that way." then 1 of 2 things: 1) aren't saved. 2) Sin in the past never dealt with.
Why do it? Our families sake, Jonathan, our other children and grandchildren.

5/25/84
June 20, 2001
Vv. 16-22

Again, Saul never really admits sin.

V. 19, an enemy would kill an enemy, and because David spared Saul, this showed he was not an enemy.

V. 20, Saul already knew this from Samuel's prophecy. Too bad Saul would not say the rest, "I know you will be king, established on the throne, because I will not make my sin of rebellion right."

Saul makes it sound like:
1) God is playing favorites.
2) God loves David more than him.
3) God is choosing sides.
4) Saul is being persecuted.

Again we see that because Saul would not make sin right, he lost his throne. And he was blind as to why he lost the throne. And if anything is true of even the saved who will not make sin right, this is. "Why is God persecuting me? I'm not such a bad fellow" A common thought.

V. 21.
Saul asks for mercy on his children. Here he is trying to escape the results of his rebellion. But even with the promise from David, the next king, the results still come to pass. Mephibosheth is the only child spared, and he was spared for Jonathan's sake (2 Sam. 9:17), and even this son that escaped the death that the rest of Saul's children suffered was crippled, lame in his feet. He was lied against (2 Sam. 19:26), and lost all of his possessions (vv. 27-30).

Saul sought to escape the results from showing up and claiming his children. He died believing that he had avoided the results, but he did not.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Gal. 6:7.)

Man may promise to spare, but the results will come to pass. The only child (grandchild) of Saul that was spaired was lame. So not one escaped.

This is one reason it is so important that we pray over our children, and cut off through the blood of Christ any sins or weaknesses passed down from the child's parents and grandparents.

Notice of interest here: Saul spent his life chasing after David rather than admit his sin. His only surviving grandson was lame in the feed, and could not walk without help.

Our weakness will show up in our children, if we do not confess and forsake sin, and ask God to break the results of that sin in their lives.

My weakness will be passed on.

Example:
Weakness of drinking, the children will have a strong tenancy in that direction.
"We don't want you to date until you are 18-20."
"But dad, others are."
"You have inherited some weaknesses from us (me) that maybe others have not. So for your own protection, you need to avoid that temptation."

Only as Saul saw that the choice was his:
He could chose to be right with God.
He could chose to be right and do right on the throne.
He could chose not to pursue David.
In fact, he could chose not to love David ad David could have chosen to love Saul.
Saul could have chosen to obey God's principles ads David did.

David was not more righteous. David had more character than Saul, and chose to obey God's word rather than choosing to obey his sensual desires.

Saul had the some choices, but chose the wrong things. God sent the strong delusion, and Saul felt he was right. Saul was not a victim of anything, but his own free will, as he chose to do the wrong things.

As long as a person feels they are a victim, they will be bound.
When they see that they have a choice and the power of God to carry out that choice, they can be free, and will have the power to do the right thing.

The thing that seemed right to do to gain security on the throne for Saul and his children was to put down any compition. That way led to death of Saul and all his children and grandchildren, except one. In that one, it led to a physical defect, lame in his feet.

The thing that was right to do to gain security on the throne was to submit to authority in every area. Such submission led David to life for many generations.

The only goal of the Christian is to have many godly generations. This can only be accomplished by putting the right thing in by faith. Saul's goal was to establish many generations after himself, but he put the humanist ingredients in it: "What seems best."

David's goal was to be right with God, and God established many godly generations after him. He put the right iingredients in by faith, which were opposite of Saul's, and got out the right results, life.

Saul's was force and human understanding, wisdom put in, and death out.

David's was submission to authority, and Gods' wisdom by faith.

We sure have much more of Saul in us than of David.

V. 22, David sware unto Saul; Saul went home; but David went to a safe place again.

Saul might as well have stayed home, for if God be for us, who can be against us? When a man's ways please the Lord, even his enemies are at peace with him. Man could not harm David as long as the Lord was protecting him.

Our responsibility is to see that our ways please the Lord.

But David went to a safe place again.

David was not an "easy touch." Though Saul "repented" with words backed up with tears, David still did not trust him.

We should not be in a hurry to trust others who have shown themselves in the wrong several times. The Lord said to "forgive seventy times seven," (Matt. 18:22) and we should forgive, for we cannot hold an offence without damaging ourselves, but He did not say to trust them again "seventy times seven." Common sense tells us make others prove themselves before we place confidence in them again.

Example: Someone steals from us, and they ask us to forgive them. Obviously, forgive them, but until they repay, we cannot trust them with anything of value.

Conclusions:

1) As we try to read and study God's word, does it seem like a closed book to us? Ask the Lord so show if there is an area we are deceived in.

2) Are we seeking the promises of men for the security of our children? The only security for our Children is us being in God's will.

3) Do we believe we are a victim of someone or something? If so, then we will never be free.

Our goal is to raise many godly generations, and anything outside of this is outside of God's word.