David and his men have retrieved their wives and children back from Amalekite bandits when yet another Amalekite stumbles into their camp. He brings along surprising news, betting everything that what he has to say will please Israel’s next king. It’s a deadly wager that costs him his life and displays for all to see that David’s respect for Saul’s position as the Lord’s anointed was real and that his affection for Jonathan ran deep.

Driven by fear, Saul dies in as ignoble a fashion as he often reigned. And, in the aftermath of Saul’s tragic demise, the kingdom of Israel is left at a low point mirroring the turbulent times of the judges.
As we move forward in our study, we must ask:
How will David, the anointed one, respond to the news?
How will the tribe of Judah react to the changing political landscape and David’s claim to the throne?
And, perhaps most crucially, how will the rest of Israel respond to David and Judah?
The fates of the nation and the monarchy hang in the balance as power shifts, alliances form, and a new era of leadership is about to unfold.

In 1 Samuel 26, the passage tells the story of how David chose to spare rather than spear King Saul. In a critical moment, David refrains from harming his enemy, demonstrating his unwavering loyalty not to Saul but to the Lord who anointed them both. This passage underscores David’s reliance on God, and the heartache he faces at the prospect of leaving the Lord’s presence because there is clearly no safe place for him within Israel’s’ boundaries.

In 1 Samuel 24, we encounter a unique situation where there are two anointed figures, David and Saul, face off once again. David, is confronted with a moral dilemma and the angst of his men when he finds Saul vulnerable in a cave but chooses not to harm him. Instead, he cuts off the corner of Saul’s robe, bringing to mind the words of Samuel in 1 Sam 15:27–28. Truly the kingdom is being ripped away from Saul but David does not chose to play the hand that brings it down. Instead, David relies on God’s providence, spares Saul’s life, and leaves the outcome in God’s hands. David exemplifies his faith in divine justice and the belief that God will ultimately establish His chosen ruler.

David’s flight persists as he returns to his home territory, Judah, where he should expect to find safety. However, upon his arrival, he is immediately confronted with news of a Philistine assault on the town of Keilah. Now, he faces crucial decisions. Should he intervene and rescue the town? Or should he leave the matter for Saul to handle? And, perhaps more importantly, will his men join him in this perilous venture? How will the town will respond when Saul comes looking?
As the chapter unfolds, it leads us to another town, a second pursuit, and an unexpected encounter with the Philistines—this time in David’s favor. Amidst these challenges, Saul relies solely on human intelligence, while David relies on the watchful protection of the LORD.

David is on the lam, and Israel continues to suffer under Saul’s reign as he comes to pieces and drags the nation down with him. Join us as we work through three short episodes that set up a longer narrative concerning the priesthood. As David’s self-preservation brings the curse on Eli’s household to fruition, what will become of God’s people caught in the middle? And how will the Lord use this season to mold
David into the king Israel needs instead of the ruler they deserve?

Three more times Saul seeks to get rid of David; a third time, David evades his spear. Three posses can’t round him up but prophesy, instead—as does Saul, naked and shamed, divested of his robes of office by his own hand under the influence of God’s spirit. What will become of Saul’s reign as his own family publicly sides not only with David but against their father? What will become of David as he flees under cover of darkness? And what is up with the household idol, and what kind of field was he hiding in, anyway?

God has delivered Israel from Goliath and the Philistines by the hand of David—but it begins to dawn on Saul what that may mean. As all Israel and his own household fall in love with his new general, Saul fights against the Lord’s favor with secret plots. What will become of this jealous leader? How does God protect his people in the face of those who view gifted colleagues as a threat? Lord deliver us from this body of death!

A king with a tormenting spirit, a court scrambling for an answer, a warrior who happens to be a smash lyre player….