The partridge is a bird a little smaller than a chicken that was common in Israel. “In every part of the hill country it abounds, and its ringing call-note in early morning echoes from cliff to cliff alike amid the barrenness of the hills of Judea and in the glens of the forest of Carmel.” Smith’s Bible Dictionary To kill a partridge, the hunter would chase it until it was tired and then overtake it. Morrish Bible Dictionary

In verse 20 of our text, David said that Saul hunted him as a partridge. The Apostle Peter also reminds us that the Devil as a roaring lion is hunting us. He continually uses temptations to try to trap us.

Transition

As we examine this chapter, I want us to see the similarities between Saul hunting David and the Devil hunting us.

Saul Searched Again for David (v.1-4)

  1. The Ziphites betray David (v.1-2)
    1. Ziph was a little north of Carmel.
    2. We do not know why they betrayed David.
  2. David learned of Saul’s approach (3-4)
    1. Saul and 3000 chosen soldiers went to Ziph to hunt for David.
    2. David sent spies to follow Saul’s movements.
      ☆ Just as Saul would not give up hunting David, so the Devil will not give up tempting us to do wrong. No matter where we go, his temptations will follow us. Our enemy is persistent and powerful.
      (Eph 6:12) “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.”

David Visited Saul’s Camp (v.5-12)

  1. David’s plan (v.5-7)
    1. He located Saul’s camp (v.5). Saul lay in the trench. The “trench” was the middle of a circle. The whole army camped around the king to give him the most protection.
    2. David planned to go down to Saul in the camp. It is possible that God directed David to make this trip since the Lord put the entire army into a deep sleep (v.12). His plan was not to kill Saul but to do as he had done earlier in the cave.
    3. This was a VERY dangerous mission. He asked for a volunteer to go with him (v.6). Abishai volunteered.
    4. They visited Saul’s camp by night (v.7). Saul was sleeping in the middle of the circle of soldiers.
  2. Abishai’s plea (v.8-12)
    1. He plead with David to let him kill Saul (v.8)
    2. David refused to let him kill Saul (v.9-11)
    3. Instead they took Saul’s spear and water jug (v.12)
      ☆ When David’s enemy got close to him, he stayed close to the Lord. We know this because God caused the entire army to be in a deep sleep. The very best thing we can do when the Devil is trying to tempt us to do wrong is to stay close to the Lord. James wrote,
      (Jas 4:7-10) “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
      ☆ We have no strength in ourselves to defeat the Devil. We must depend on the Lord. This is why Paul wrote,
      (Eph 6:10-11) “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

David Spoke to Saul (v.13-20)

  1. David got away then called back to Abner (v.13-16)
    1. He first put a great space between them (v.13)
    2. David then called to Abner, the king’s bodyguard (v.14-16). He rebuked him for failing to protect the king.
  2. Saul recognized David’s voice (v.17-20)
    1. Saul called to David and he answered (v.17).
    2. David asked Saul to stop trying to kill him (v.18-20)
      ☆ The Christian life is a good life, but not necessarily an easy life. The Devil uses all kinds of people and trials to try to break us. We see this in the Apostle Paul’s life.
      (2Cor 11:23-28) “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”
      ☆ David felt like a hunted partridge in the mountains. Saul, his enemy chased him from place to place seeking we wear him out and catch him. Our enemy, the Devil, is even more persistent. He never gives up. Jesus gave this warning to His disciples the night before His crucifixion:
      (Matt 26:41) “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Saul Admitted His Error (v.21-25)

  1. Saul claims repentance
    1. Saul had lied to many times before. It is difficult to know if he was sincere now or not.
    2. He admitted sin, foolishness, and error.
  2. David and Saul talk
    1. David reminded Saul again that he could have killed him (v.23)
    2. David asked the Lord to protect his life (v.24).
    3. They parted ways (v.25)
      ☆ David did not believe Saul but he wisely trusted the Lord to deliver him from the hand of Saul. Satan too is a liar. We must trust the Lord as David did. God has promised never to allow us to be tempted above our ability to resist. He always gives an exit before the temptation is too strong. When tempted, look for the exit IMMEDIATELY.
      (1Cor 10:13) “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
      (2Tim 2:22) “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Conclusion

When you feel like the Devil is hunting you as a partridge, follow the principles we have noted this evening. Remember that the Devil is persistent and powerful. Stay close to the Lord and depend fully on Him. Do not be alarmed when trials or persecutions attack you. That is nothing new. Watch and pray continually. When temptation tempts you immediately run for the exit.

Song: Stay Awake!
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Hunted as a Partridge
16 August 2015 PM – 1 Samuel 26:1-25 – Life of David – Scott Childs