GREAT COURAGE: DAVID’S STORY

Week 2: Mercy

During this study, we will be doing a ‘deep dive’ into a scriptural passage. It is strongly encouraged that you study the passage and entire chapter ahead of the study. Also be prepared with your research tools, for example Google or your study Bible, as you will need to reference it during the study. Spend time answering and discussing each question with the intention to gain sufficient understanding to help your own private Bible study as you further explore these topics.

Study Chapters: 1 Sam 24-26; James 1:13-17

Pilot text

1 Sam 24:1-7 1 Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.)
4 Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.
6 And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”
7 So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.

Discussion Points

Take time to explore and understand the word ‘courage’ as used in the bible, and within the context of bible language. Use your Hebrew dictionary, Strong’s concordance or similar resource.

1. What do the events of the pilot text tell us about David’s relationship with God?
2. Look at the story of Nabal in chapter 25. What can we learn about David’s character? Consider the cultural context within which this is happening.
3. What (potentially counterintuitive) attributes of courage can we see from the scripture passages?

Closing thoughts:

Mercy is the character of God. Sometimes we are faced with the opportunity to exact vengeance. From a natural perspective, it could even be argued that we deserve such vengeance given the adversity we had experienced. Who more so than David could make this argument, seeing what he suffered at the hands of Saul even when he had done nothing wrong? His closest advisors urged him to seize the moment – after all, God must be behind it.
Here again, we see why God described David as the man after His own heart. David didn’t just know the scriptures; He knew God’s character. Anybody can use scriptures to justify what they want to do (the devil is very skilled at this). But it takes someone who knows the character of God to truly discern God’s heart in that kind of situation. It took real courage for David to spare Saul’s life knowing that he might come back after him (which he did). In fact, the greatest beneficiary of that exercise of courage was not Saul but David, who was focusing on establishing himself in God’s will.
We often consider great courage in the context of opposition. But sometimes even greater courage is needed to say no when everything seems perfectly aligned towards one direction. It takes courage to expose the idol in our own hearts and recognise the voice of seduction for what it is (see James 1:13-17).
Consider situations in your life right now where you need courage. Could it be that you are applying courage to the wrong thing? Perhaps, instead of the courage to fight, you need the courage to step away from the fight. Instead of courage to resist, you may need the courage to submit. Instead of the courage to exact vengeance, you may need the courage to show mercy.

Application Questions (use scriptures to support your position):

1. A friend asks you to pray with him for the courage to resign from his job to start a new business. He is the primary breadwinner in his family. What would you say to him?
2. Two of your friends (both are also friends) are having a deep disagreement that is threatening to destroy their friendship of over 10 years. They both believe that they are right, and neither is willing to back down. You are very concerned about where this is going, and would like to help them get over it. What would you advise them (in the context of courage as examined in this study)?