1 Samuel 26

1 Samuel 26

MacArthur - PLAYING THE FOOL “Behold, I have played the fool.” 1 SAMUEL 26:21 ✧✧✧ A Christian should not act like a fool. In Deuteronomy 32:6 Moses looked out at the belligerent children of Israel who had failed God so many times and said, “Do you thus repay the Lord, O foolish and unwise people?” The children of Israel were playing the fool. Sadly, God’s people today continue to play the fool. One way they do so is through disbelief. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus appeared to two disciples who didn’t believe that He had risen from the dead. Jesus said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25). To disbelieve God and His Word is to play the fool. Another way believers play the fool is through disobedience. In Galatians 3:1 the apostle Paul says, “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?” And in verse 3 he says, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” They started out well but were disobedient and got caught up in the works of the law. Still another way Christians play the fool is through desire for the wrong things. First Timothy 6:9 says, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires.” If you desire the wrong things, you play the fool. Finally, you can play the fool through doing the wrong things. James 3:13–17 says that there are two kinds of wisdom. Godly wisdom produces “good behavior” (v. 13), but foolish wisdom produces “jealousy and selfish ambition” (v. 16). A self–centered person plays the fool. It’s sad to see so many Christians playing the fool. It doesn’t make any sense. Why should Christians live as blind, ignorant, foolish people when they have the wisdom of God? Paul says at the end of Romans, “I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil” (16:19). If you have to be a fool at all, be a fool (unknowing, unacquainted) about evil. ✧✧✧ Suggestions for Prayer: Make Paul’s exhortation in Romans 16:19 your prayer. For Further Study: Read Proverbs 2:1–22 as a reminder of what benefits you’ll receive from following true wisdom instead of playing the fool. (Borrow Strength for today) PLAYING THE FOOL - E F Hallock TEXT: “Then said Saul, … ‘I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly’ ” (1 Sam. 26:21c ASV). INTRODUCTION: Someone has said, “There’s no fool like an old fool.” King Saul was nearing seventy years of age when he spoke these words to David. Forty years before, Samuel had anointed Saul Israel’s first king. He was a physical giant, a real leader of men, a man with great potential for outstanding success. I. How King Saul played the fool. A. He failed to await God’s appointed time (1 Sam. 13:8–15). Samuel said, “Thou hast done foolishly” (v. 13 ASV). B. He disobeyed the Lord’s command to destroy Amalek (1 Sam. 15:1–22). He substituted sacrifice for obedience. C. He became exceedingly jealous. He made enemies of both Samuel and David. D. He sought counsel from a witch (1 Sam. 28:3–20). He refused to go to the Lord in repentance. E. He committed suicide in battle (1 Chron. 10:13, 14). II. How we play the fool. A. We say, “There is no God” (ASV). The atheist is a fool (Ps. 14:1 ASV). B. We “make a mock at sin” (Prov. 14:9 KJV). One who considers sin lightly—as the natural fruit of evolution, etc.—is a fool. C. We trust in our own minds. When we do, we are fools (Prov. 28:26). D. We commit adultery. When we do, we have “no sense” (Prov. 6:32). E. We substitute excuses for faith in Christ. F. We Christians do not “walk with the Lord in the light of His Word.” When we trust in our “own mind” or other men—“broken staffs”—we are fools. CONCLUSION: The wise man is he who receives the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart and acquaints himself with the Lord by reading and doing His Word. Played the fool (foolishly)(05528)(sakal means to be a fool, to act foolishly. Having or showing a lack of good sense, judgment, or discretion. It means acting in an indefensible manner, without reason, in foolish haste (Ge 31:28); especially in disobeying God's instructions (1Sa 13:13; 1Ch 21:8; 2Ch 16:9). Uses an idiom, Saul would later say "Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error.” (1Sa 26:21). Sakal - 8v - acted foolishly(2), acted...foolishly(1), done*(1), done...foolishly(1), foolishly(1), foolishness(2), make(1), played the fool(1). Gen. 31:28; 1 Sam. 13:13; 1 Sam. 26:21; 2 Sam. 15:31; 2 Sam. 24:10; 1 Chr. 21:8; 2 Chr. 16:9; Isa. 44:25 Committed...error (gone astray, erred)(07686) shagah means to to go (lead) astray (Ezek 34:6), to err, to mislead (Dt 27:18, Pr 28:10), to be deceived (hold a mistaken belief (Pr 5:23; 20:1), to wander, to make a mistake. The primary emphasis in the root shagah is on sin done inadvertently (but that was not the case with Saul - his sin was conscious, volitional ....The Scripture pinpoints at least three causes for such wandering. The first is wine and strong drink (Isa 28:7; Pr 20:1). The second is the seductive strange woman (Pr 5:20, 23) versus the love of one’s wife, which ought to “captivate” one (Pr 5:19). The third is the inability to reject evil instruction (Pr 19:27). Only Saul in the OT admits culpability at this point (1Sa 26:21). 1 Samuel 26:22 David replied, "Behold the spear of the king! Now let one of the young men come over and take it. BGT 1 Samuel 26:22 καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπεν ἰδοὺ τὸ δόρυ τοῦ βασιλέως διελθέτω εἷς τῶν παιδαρίων καὶ λαβέτω αὐτό LXE 1 Samuel 26:22 And David answered and said, Behold, the spear of the king: let one of the servants come over and take it. KJV 1 Samuel 26:22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it. NET 1 Samuel 26:22 David replied, "Here is the king's spear! Let one of your servants cross over and get it. CSB 1 Samuel 26:22 David answered, "Here is the king's spear; have one of the young men come over and get it. ESV 1 Samuel 26:22 And David answered and said, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. NIV 1 Samuel 26:22 "Here is the king's spear," David answered. "Let one of your young men come over and get it. NLT 1 Samuel 26:22 "Here is your spear, O king," David replied. "Let one of your young men come over and get it. NRS 1 Samuel 26:22 David replied, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and get it. NJB 1 Samuel 26:22 In reply, David said, 'Here is the king's spear. Let one of the men come across and get it. NAB 1 Samuel 26:22 But David answered: "Here is the king's spear. Let an attendant come over to get it. YLT 1 Samuel 26:22 And David answereth and saith, 'Lo, the king's spear; and let one of the young men pass over, and receive it; GWN 1 Samuel 26:22 David responded, "Here's the king's spear. One of the young men should come over and get it. BBE 1 Samuel 26:22 Then David said, Here is the king's spear! let one of the young men come over and get it. 1 Samuel 26 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID IS CAUTIOUS AFTER SAUL'S SOFT WORDS! David's response to Saul's confession is terse and to the point (pun intended)! David replied, "Behold (hinneh; Lxx = idou) the spear of the king! Now let one of the young men come over and take it - David was in no hurry to take Saul at his word and personally hustle over to return the spear. Note that David apparently retained the water jug! 1 Samuel 26:23 "The LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I refused to stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed. BGT 1 Samuel 26:23 καὶ κύριος ἐπιστρέψει ἑκάστῳ τὰς δικαιοσύνας αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν πίστιν αὐτοῦ ὡς παρέδωκέν σε κύριος σήμερον εἰς χεῖράς μου καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησα ἐπενεγκεῖν χεῖρά μου ἐπὶ χριστὸν κυρίου LXE 1 Samuel 26:23 And the Lord shall recompense each according to his righteousness and his truth, since the Lord delivered thee this day into my hands, and I would not lift my hand against the Lord's anointed. KJV 1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed. NET 1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD rewards each man for his integrity and loyalty. Even though today the LORD delivered you into my hand, I was not willing to extend my hand against the LORD's chosen one. CSB 1 Samuel 26:23 May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his loyalty. I wasn't willing to lift my hand against the LORD's anointed, even though the LORD handed you over to me today. ESV 1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD's anointed. NIV 1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. NLT 1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the LORD placed you in my power, for you are the LORD's anointed one. NRS 1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD rewards everyone for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD gave you into my hand today, but I would not raise my hand against the LORD's anointed. NJB 1 Samuel 26:23 May Yahweh reward each as each has been upright and loyal. Today Yahweh put you in my power but I would not raise my hand against Yahweh's anointed. NAB 1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD will reward each man for his justice and faithfulness. Today, though the LORD delivered you into my grasp, I would not harm the LORD'S anointed. YLT 1 Samuel 26:23 and Jehovah doth turn back to each his righteousness and his faithfulness, in that Jehovah hath given thee to-day into my hand, and I have not been willing to put forth my hand against the anointed of Jehovah, GWN 1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD will reward any person who is righteous and faithful. The LORD handed you over to me today, but I refused to attack the LORD's anointed king. BBE 1 Samuel 26:23 And the Lord will give to every man the reward of his righteousness and his faith: because the Lord gave you into my hands today, and I would not put out my hand against the man who has been marked with the holy oil. The LORD will repay: 1Ki 8:32 Ne 13:14 Ps 7:8-9 Ps 18:20-26 I refused to stretch out my hand: 1Sa 26:9,11 24:6,7 1 Samuel 26 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Psalm 18:20-26 (DAVID WRITES) The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all His ordinances were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me. 23I was also blameless with Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity. 24 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes. 25 With the kind You show Yourself kind; With the blameless You show Yourself blameless; 26 With the pure You show Yourself pure, And with the crooked You show Yourself astute. 27 For You save an afflicted people, But haughty eyes You abase. Psalm 7:8 The LORD judges the peoples; Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me. LEAVE THE PAYDAY TO THE LORD The LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness - Some versions like CSB see this as a wish "May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his loyalty." Others a statement of fact or truth about God as in NET version "The LORD rewards each man for his integrity and loyalty." Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. -- Rev 22:12+ for the LORD delivered you into my hand today but I refused to stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed (mashiach; Lxx = Christos) -