Monday, May 19, 2025
Sunday, May 4, 2025
The end of an Era
by Ps Wilson Teo
Big idea:
God is the one who exalts and disposes those in power
#1
David faithfulness to Yahweh
1 Samuel 27:1-6
But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.” 2 So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath. 3 David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. 4 When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him. 5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?” 6 So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since.
"David and 600 men went and served under philistine"
1 Samuel 27:8-12
Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) 9 Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish. 10 When Achish asked, “Where did you go raiding today?” David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah” or “Against the Negev of Jerahmeel” or “Against the Negev of the Kenites.” 11 He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12 Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.”
"David and his men would target enemies of Israel and take their possession during his stay in Gath."
There's a bigger scheme of things here with higher purpose..
The 3 lands : They were ancient enemies of Israel
Joshua 13:1-2
When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. 2 “This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites,
"Geshurite"
Deuteronomy 25:17-19
Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. 19 When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
"Amalekites"
David took these enemies lands so that Israel will not follow and worship these nations
Saul failed to conquer Amalek then led Saul to be rejected by God
God grant David favour before Achish (enemy). God used David to removed Israel enemy one at a time
because of David's obedience God's presence was always with David even those time he's still at the lowest of his life, God was still with him.
Going through tough times does not mean God's presence is not with you. In fact, you experience his presence more and more. Do not focus on difficulty alone. Lift your eyes! let Holy Spirit show you God is still with you, protecting you
1 Samuel 29
The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2 As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish. 3 The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.” 4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? 5 Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” 6 So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you. 7 Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.” 8 “But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ 10 Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.” 11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
"When Philistine went to war with Israel while David was still with Achish. Achish do not feel David was a threat. However, the commanders of philistine fear David will side with Israel. This was how God orchestrated and prevented David to be caught between cross fire of Israel and philistine, God prevented David from fighting Israel."
1 Samuel 30:1-5
David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. 3 When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
"Amalakites took David family and possession after David and 600 men gone home. His own men wanted to stone him"
1 Samuel 30:6-9
David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.” 9 David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind.
"David found strength in the lord and set out to pursue the amalakites "
1 Samuel 30:17-19
David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. 18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.
"David brought back all that was lost."
We can learn that David posture to seek God and find strength from Yahweh before embarking .... He was weak, David did not rush off immediately to do something... But seek the lord's direction, Yahweh mind and assurance
Is Holy spirit asking you to Shut off the noises around you so that you can hear from Him?
Are you making space and time to hear from him, allowing him to speak?
Hear from the holy spirit
God used David even though he was leaving politically away from israel
#2
Saul's unfaithfulness to Yahweh
1 Samuel 28:4-7
The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 7 Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” “There is one in Endor,” they said.
"Saul constant rebellion against God"
1 Samuel 28:11-14
Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” “Bring up Samuel,” he said. 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” 13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure[a] coming up out of the earth.” 14 “What does he look like?” he asked. “An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
Firstly the medium is shocked that Samuel actually appeared.... Medium is expecting someone else
Secondly, God can used any method to pronounce a death sentence, in this matter is Saul
Thirdly, Not everything that works is of God
1 Samuel 28:15-18
Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” 16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today.
1 Samuel 31:6
So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.
"Saul started very well as the first king of Israel but ended terribly as the enemy of God"
It's always easy to start well but difficult to end well. Be under God's authority and not on our own.
If we truly wants to end well:
A. Prioritize our relationship with God above all else
(Have God as king over our lives)
- Are we placing something or someone above God?
- Is Fame, power, money, status more important than Him?
- Jesus Christ cannot be king if he is not above all else.
- How much time do you allocate to God?
- It will show in your life whether God is king above all else
B. To repent quickly when convicted by the Holy Spirit
- When we constantly ignore the voice of God, we drift further and further away
- Saul could no longer hear the voice of God due to his constant rebellion
- Do not wait until you cannot hear his voice anymore
- Always ensure you're atune to his voice
- Never dulling our spirit or our hearts to the voice of the holy spirit
Big idea:
God is the one who exalts and disposes those in power
#1
David faithfulness to Yahweh
1 Samuel 27:1-6
But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.” 2 So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath. 3 David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. 4 When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him. 5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?” 6 So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since.
"David and 600 men went and served under philistine"
1 Samuel 27:8-12
Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) 9 Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish. 10 When Achish asked, “Where did you go raiding today?” David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah” or “Against the Negev of Jerahmeel” or “Against the Negev of the Kenites.” 11 He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12 Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.”
"David and his men would target enemies of Israel and take their possession during his stay in Gath."
There's a bigger scheme of things here with higher purpose..
The 3 lands : They were ancient enemies of Israel
Joshua 13:1-2
When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. 2 “This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites,
"Geshurite"
Deuteronomy 25:17-19
Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. 19 When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
"Amalekites"
David took these enemies lands so that Israel will not follow and worship these nations
Saul failed to conquer Amalek then led Saul to be rejected by God
God grant David favour before Achish (enemy). God used David to removed Israel enemy one at a time
because of David's obedience God's presence was always with David even those time he's still at the lowest of his life, God was still with him.
Going through tough times does not mean God's presence is not with you. In fact, you experience his presence more and more. Do not focus on difficulty alone. Lift your eyes! let Holy Spirit show you God is still with you, protecting you
1 Samuel 29
The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2 As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish. 3 The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.” 4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? 5 Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” 6 So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you. 7 Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.” 8 “But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ 10 Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.” 11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
"When Philistine went to war with Israel while David was still with Achish. Achish do not feel David was a threat. However, the commanders of philistine fear David will side with Israel. This was how God orchestrated and prevented David to be caught between cross fire of Israel and philistine, God prevented David from fighting Israel."
1 Samuel 30:1-5
David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. 3 When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
"Amalakites took David family and possession after David and 600 men gone home. His own men wanted to stone him"
1 Samuel 30:6-9
David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.” 9 David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind.
"David found strength in the lord and set out to pursue the amalakites "
1 Samuel 30:17-19
David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. 18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.
"David brought back all that was lost."
We can learn that David posture to seek God and find strength from Yahweh before embarking .... He was weak, David did not rush off immediately to do something... But seek the lord's direction, Yahweh mind and assurance
Is Holy spirit asking you to Shut off the noises around you so that you can hear from Him?
Are you making space and time to hear from him, allowing him to speak?
Hear from the holy spirit
God used David even though he was leaving politically away from israel
#2
Saul's unfaithfulness to Yahweh
1 Samuel 28:4-7
The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 7 Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” “There is one in Endor,” they said.
"Saul constant rebellion against God"
1 Samuel 28:11-14
Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” “Bring up Samuel,” he said. 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” 13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure[a] coming up out of the earth.” 14 “What does he look like?” he asked. “An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
Firstly the medium is shocked that Samuel actually appeared.... Medium is expecting someone else
Secondly, God can used any method to pronounce a death sentence, in this matter is Saul
Thirdly, Not everything that works is of God
1 Samuel 28:15-18
Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” 16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today.
1 Samuel 31:6
So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.
"Saul started very well as the first king of Israel but ended terribly as the enemy of God"
It's always easy to start well but difficult to end well. Be under God's authority and not on our own.
If we truly wants to end well:
A. Prioritize our relationship with God above all else
(Have God as king over our lives)
- Are we placing something or someone above God?
- Is Fame, power, money, status more important than Him?
- Jesus Christ cannot be king if he is not above all else.
- How much time do you allocate to God?
- It will show in your life whether God is king above all else
B. To repent quickly when convicted by the Holy Spirit
- When we constantly ignore the voice of God, we drift further and further away
- Saul could no longer hear the voice of God due to his constant rebellion
- Do not wait until you cannot hear his voice anymore
- Always ensure you're atune to his voice
- Never dulling our spirit or our hearts to the voice of the holy spirit
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