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Lesson Series

10. The Life of Paul

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©2007 David A. Jones.
All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVES: To teach that:
1. David’s experience while being persecuted is a type of the rejection of the Lord Jesus being practiced today.
2. Saul treated David as an enemy and persecuted him because of envy.
3. David was patient and merciful with Saul although he had opportunities to kill him.
4. David was joined by people who were willing to identify themselves with him in his rejection, knowing that he would be crowned king in a future day.
5. The Lord Jesus is rejected by the world, but has told his own that if we suffer with Him, we will also reign with Him.

SCENE 1. VISUAL AIDS. (E-5) In the desert, figures of David and others who come to be with him. On a sign the words, “David in the desert with relatives and others who were Distressed, Debtors and Discontented” (1 Samuel 22:2).
DEVELOPMENT:
Note to the teacher: The children need to be reminded of events prior to David’s life in the desert, why he was there and why he was persecuted by Saul. Since Saul tried to kill David more than once, his mercy in sparing Saul’s life repeatedly is an example of God’s love to the sinner.
SUMMARY:
- When Saul heard David being praised by the people for his courage and conquests, he became
envious (1 Samuel 18:5-8).
- Motivated by a satanic spirit, Saul tried more than once to kill David while he was staying with him in the palace (1 Samuel 19:9).
- The spear that Saul used when trying to kill David ended up stuck in the wall. David escaped and
fled (1 Samuel 19:10).
- David did not understand why Saul was so intent on killing him and asked Jonathan: "What have I
done? What is my sin before your father that he seeks my life?" (1 Samuel 20:1).
- Jonathan talked with his father and asked him: “Why must David die? What has he done?” See 1
Samuel 20:32.
- Saul responded violently and attempted to kill his own son. So "Jonathan knew that it was
determined of his father to slay David” (1 Samuel 20:33).
- The next day, Jonathan went out to the field with a boy that he sent running while he shot an arrow beyond him, shouting after him: “Make speed, haste, stay not" (1 Samuel 20:38).
- This was a coded message for David saying that he must leave because his father planned to harm him.
- David and Jonathan said goodbye with much affection, weeping together (1 Samuel 20:41).
- Later they saw each other briefly when Jonathan expressed his heart’s desire, "you will be king over Israel, and I will be next unto you" (1 Samuel 23:17).
- Jonathan’s wish never came to pass, for Jonathan died in battle.
- David escaped to the desert and hid in different places, because Saul was persecuting him.
- When his parents and brothers knew he was in the Cave of Adullam, they joined him.
- So that they would not be harmed, David arranged with the king of Moab for his parents to be
protected in his country (1 Samuel 22:1-4).
Cns. It is interesting to consider that Jesse had Moabitish blood for he was a son of Obed, the child born from the union of Boaz and Ruth the Moabitess.
- Some 400 people joined David in the desert (1 Samuel 22:2).
- These were people who were suffering, had debts, were in trouble or were otherwise discontented.
Cns. It is possible that these difficulties were due to the poor management of Saul’s government,
since he spent so much time persecuting David and did not attend properly to the needs of the
people.
Cns. The words expressed by a group of thirty people who came to David show devotion. See
1Chronicles 12:18.
- Not all of these people had been brave men but David’s example taught them courage and how to be faithful soldiers.
- Later, some became famous for their courage and received high positions when David received the kingdom.
Apl. During His period of rejection by the world, the Lord Jesus is teaching His own to be good
soldiers for Him. See 2 Timothy 2:3.
Apl. The day will come when those who have suffered with Him will also reign with Him.
- Those who joined David shared equally his rejection and the difficulties he faced.
- They recognized him as their head and king, even though he was not yet reigning.
Apl. The Lord Jesus Christ is rejected by the majority today, but those of us who love Him are
willing to suffer for Him and to bear the rejection of this world.
Note. See Psalms 57 and 142, including their headings. They were written by David while he was in the cave (of Adullam), and express his dependence upon God.

SCENE 2. VISUAL AIDS. (L-1) In the desert of En-gadi to the west of the Dead Sea, inside a cave, David and his men at the sides and Saul sleeping while David cuts a piece of Saul’s robe. Later add the figure of David with a piece of clothing in his hand, calling to Saul in the distance.
DEVELOPMENT:
- David and his men have had to move from one place to another.
- They have also fought battles in defense of the Israelites.
- Still there were always traitors who were willing to turn David over to Saul.
- Hidden in a cave with his men, David was given an opportunity to harm Saul.
- In order to sleep, Saul entered into the very cave where David was hidden. Meanwhile, Saul’s three thousand followers were camped outside as if they were a flock of sheep.
- David’s companions urged him to kill Saul. He refused to do so and taught his men to respect the
man whom God had anointed (1 Samuel 24:6-7).
- David returned good for evil. He limited himself to cutting off a piece of Saul’s outer garment.
Sug. David’s example in showing mercy by pardoning Saul’s life ought to be emphasized to the
students, for there is a lack of compassion in the world today at all levels of society. Compassion
should be practiced everywhere, in the home, the school and on the street.
- Without suspecting a thing, Saul left the cave and continued on his way in search of David.
Cmt. This is one example of God exercising His sovereign power, permitting David to draw close
enough to Saul to cut his garment, yet not allowing the king to awaken. (Another example is
given in scene 3.)
- Afterwards, when Saul was at a distance, David showed him the piece he had cut to prove that he
wished him no harm.
- Saul had to recognize that “you are more righteous than I” (1 Samuel 24:17).
- However, David could not trust Saul’s promises not to do him harm and continued to live as a
fugitive.
- David spared Saul’s life, waiting for some sign of repentance in him.
Apl. In the same way, God forgives the sinner that repents.

SCENE No. 3. VISUAL AIDS. (E-20) The hill of Hachilah, at night, with figures of Saul and his men sleeping with a spear at his head and a flask of water. Later add the figure of David in the distance calling to Abner.
DEVELOPMENT:
Cmt. Ziph refers to an area near the Dead Sea where there was a town with the same name. The
Ziphites. were of the same tribe to which David belonged. Hachilah was near to or within the
territory owned by the Ziphites. See note at the end.
- Saul again hunted David in Ziph, and David had a new opportunity to kill him (1 Samuel 26).
- Once again David did not permit Saul to be harmed.
- Saul and his army camped in a valley near to the principal roadway in that area.
- Saul knew that David was inland in the desert.
- Through the work of some spies, David was able to verify that Saul was accompanied by Abner. He was the commander in chief of the army.
- A deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on Saul and all his army.
- It was such a deep sleep that David and his nephew Abishai were able to walk and converse within the camp.
- Again David showed that he held only correct feelings toward Saul.
Apl. Another case of mercy shown. See the application given in the previous scene.
- He recognized the king as the anointed of the Lord, and as such, waited for God to bring an end to this time of persecution.
- From a hilltop David called out to Abner and showed him the spear and water jug, thus
demonstrating that he had been right beside him.
- Saul had to recognize his error. He confessed, “I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly”.
Apl. May none of our students live in such a way that these words become applicable to any of them. How terrible if this had to be their lamentation in Hell!
- In spite of Saul’s promises, David continued to be rejected in his own land.

SCENE 4. VISUAL AIDS. (Plain) On one side of the background, arrange the review figures showing David, a cave and a group of people, also a cross, and the words “If we suffer with Him”. On the other half, figures of a large group going towards the glorious entrance of heaven, a crown and the words “We shall also reign with Him”.
DEVELOPMENT:
Apl. David, during the time of his rejection, is a figure of the Lord Jesus Christ and the rejection He
suffers by the majority today.
- There were some who, for different reasons, were willing to share in his rejection.
- They trusted that God would some day fulfill His promises and that David would be recognized as
king.
- They expected to reign with him in a future day.
- Meanwhile David’s followers got to know him better and learned what pleased him.
Cmt. During this period of rejection, David wrote many Psalms, which for centuries have helped
others in times of difficulties.
Cmt. In David we see the Bible truth that through suffering, God can produce fruit in our lives. Note
that this fruit follows the suffering.
Apl. Although rejected by the majority today, the Lord Jesus wants to be received in the hearts of
people who in the future will also reign with Him in glory.

Note* 1 Samuel 23:19. Saul had returned to Gibeah, where he made his home. Since David was hiding in their territory, the Ziphites came to him. They were of the same tribe as David, but it seems that they feared that Saul might do to them what he had done to those of Nob. They tried to avoid the same kind of treatment and for this reason offered to deliver David into Saul’s hands. Some think David wrote Psalm 54 during this time. The hill of Hachilah was in this area. Some think that it was nearby what is known today as Masada.
Note for the teacher: This is not part of the lesson but the principle of mercy is seen in the parable of the unfruitful fig tree of Luke 13:6-9. The outstanding patience of the vineyard keeper is shown in his willingness to wait for the fig tree to give fruit. He requested that it be left a year longer and if it did not then give fruit, it would be cut down. In both these cases, we are shown a picture of the attitude of God towards the sinner, showing mercy and exercising patience while He waits for repentance.