David in Ziklag and ®

Saul’s Death BSF® Lesson 15

1 Samuel 28-31 Notes
People of the Promised Land I

Focus
“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” – Psalm 36:9

This Lesson
A. Saul’s Desperation – 1 Samuel 28
B. David’s Direction from God – 1 Samuel 29-30
C. Saul’s Death – 1 Samuel 31

Engage
What worries awaken you in the night? What dreadful reality greets you in the morning? When faced with
foreboding and uncertainty, we often struggle to control our emotions. Fear of the future or of present suffering may
tempt us to depend on ourselves, worldly ways of escape or supernatural forces for insights and advantage over our
circumstances. But desperation and despair blind us from truth and distort clear thinking. We may forget or deny
that God directs and helps those who seek and trust in Him. Have you looked for solutions where you knew you
should not go?
Where do we go, and on whom can we depend? The contrast between David and Saul is dramatic. In frenzied,
terror-filled despair amid his unrepentance before God, Saul continually moved further into sins. On the other hand,
David responded to devastating trouble by coming back to the Lord for relief and redirection. How are you respond-
ing to your circumstances? Are you moving closer to sin or closer to your Savior? Will you let God guide you
through the examples of these men and the evidence of His patience, love, mercy and grace?

Saul’s Desperation – 1 Samuel 28

David’s Dilemma – 28:1-2
David’s choice to escape from Saul through a false
alliance with King Achish of Gath was costly. David
seemed to forget the lessons from the first time he tried
to hide in Gath. (See Lesson 13.) As we often do, David
went back to the wrong place expecting a different
result. David led himself, his mighty men and their
families back as servants to Goliath’s people, Israel’s
enemy, the Philistines. For more than a year, David and his
men lied about fighting the Israelites on behalf of Achish.
Instead, they attacked other peoples and seized their
property, giving it to Achish as if it were from the Israelites.
They also killed all the men, women and children to avoid
any reports that would uncover David’s scheme.
Now, Achish ordered David and his men to accompany
the royal forces into battle against Israel. It is as if God was
forcing David to choose whom he would serve – his people
or his enemies. David’s deceptive answer to assure Achish
he would see “what your servant can do” shows David was
a slave to the lies he had told. God had promised to make
David king of Israel. Now, King Achish told David he
would make him his bodyguard for life.
David was learning a new lesson about humility.
David was humbled by the weight of his deception and
this crisis of identity, loyalty and leadership. Would
David follow Achish or turn back to God and Israel? Did
he even know yet what he would do?
Saul’s Desperation – 28:3-6
Saul watched the Philistine force assemble against him.
Fear and panic gripped Saul. The shadow of Goliath’s
power fell on Saul as he recognized the threat against him.
David was not there to calm him or to rescue Israel this
time, but David was to apparently fight against them.
Saul’s tragic circumstances were opportunities
to repent and depend on God. Yet, Saul showed by his
choices that he still followed his own way. God’s Spirit
had departed from Saul.1 Samuel the prophet was dead.2
Saul “inquired of the Lord,” but he received no favorable
answer “by dreams or Urim or prophets.” Instead, God
was silent.
Why did God not answer Saul? Throughout Scripture,
God warns that those who fail to follow His Word will lose
the privilege of hearing or understanding it.3 God, who

In compliance with copyright restrictions, no portion of these materials may be reproduced in any form or stored on any system without written permission of the publisher.
HEADQUARTERS – SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Copyright © Bible Study Fellowship 2018
sees the motives of our hearts, knows whether we seek true
guidance and assurance or merely whatever we want to
hear. We can discover this about ourselves, too. Anytime
we openly refuse to follow God’s Word on a matter, but we
keep praying for a different answer or outcome, we prove
we are no longer looking for guidance, but for what we
desire. When we close our ears and hearts to God, we
cannot blame Him if He responds with silence.
God had rejected Saul as king because he disobeyed
God.4 Saul had enough insight to publically admit David
was God’s choice to be king.5 Rather than accepting God’s
gracious will for Israel and becoming David’s mentor,
Saul succumbed to jealousy, violence and conspiracy to
murder.6 God had continually offered Saul grace and mercy
in the midst of his disobedience. Yet, Saul’s contempt
for God grew as he rejected God’s will and disobeyed
God’s Word. The suffering through consequences of
Saul’s sin affected him and those around him. But even the
suffering did not bring about surrender of his will to God.
The tragedy of Saul’s life is he consistently rejected God’s
grace in exchange for a life of disobedience, disloyalty and
distance from Him and His goodness.
Saul and the Medium of Endor – 28:7-25
Instead of responding to God’s silence with
humility and repentance, Saul sought guidance from
a medium, a person who claimed to have insight into
the spiritual realm. This encounter reveals the depth of
Saul’s disobedience. It also reveals that doing wrong
often involves many sins and hurts many people. Saul
hypocritically ignored God’s Word and his own previous
laws against this practice. Meeting in disguise at night
reflects the dark nature of sin and people’s desire to cover
it. Yet, sin is always an offense against God that cannot
be hidden, overlooked, rationalized or ignored. God
sees all sin and judges all sin.
The tragedy of Saul’s life is that he consistently
rejected God’s grace in exchange for a life of
disobedience, disloyalty and distance from Him
and His goodness.
Saul’s misguided leadership also involved others
in sin. The woman reminded Saul and his men that what
they asked for was illegal. She suspected they were trying
to trick her. Saul even used the Lord’s name to swear she
would not be punished. Saul asked her to bring Samuel
back from the dead.
Who or what appeared? An evil spirit? Or did God
send Samuel’s spirit back to speak to Saul? The woman
was surprised, fearful and suddenly certain she must be
dealing with the king. Whatever it was, Saul “knew it
was Samuel” and fell on the ground in fear. We do not
know all that happened, but we do know God chose to
step into the darkness, deception and dishonesty
Saul had created for himself to expose His truth,
presence and power. God caused Saul to hear a
message he did not want to hear. Saul was reminded
of the unchanging consequences of his previous sin –
David would be king. Saul was informed of the coming
consequences for his sins – the next day Saul and his
sons would lose their lives, and Israel’s army would fall
to the Philistines.
Saul lay prostrate, overwhelmed by the consequences
of his disobedience. Yet Saul, who could not bring
himself to repent or plead for mercy on behalf of his
sons or his army, was quickly persuaded instead to
satisfy himself with a meal. This response stands in
stark contrast to how David would respond to a prophet’s
confrontation with him and the consequences for his sins
in 2 Samuel 12, which we study in an upcoming week
(Lesson 20).

The Bible Speaks about the Occult

Practice of witchcraft or forms of divination – gaining some knowledge or power through ungodly supernatural
ways – has been common in human cultures since Adam and Eve listened to and acted on the words of the serpent
in direct disobedience to God.7 Evil may appear disguised as helpfulness, but evil always seeks to steal, kill
and destroy.8 Any kind of occult practices, with their connections to Satan and his demons, is rebellion against God.
God is good to forbid all occult practices. God calls His people to remain completely separate from such
activity. It is particularly foolish for a believer in Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, abiding in unity with the triune
God, to turn to the evil spiritual world of demons, spirits, stars, horoscopes, summoning ancestral spirits, palm-
reading, superstitions, fortune-telling, séances, shamanism or forces such as luck or chance.
God reveals the reality of supernatural warfare and equips His children with His armor for battle.9 All tempta-
tion to engage God’s supernatural enemies to gain what God has not given is hypocritical, dishonors God and
ignores the examples of Jesus’ dealings with these spirits and superstitions. They involve the evil one, going
to the supernatural world of Satan rather than to the Lord and His Holy Scripture for guidance.10 The book of
Acts records the story of Ephesian believers who repented of dabbling in occult arts because of conviction and
commitment to the Lord Jesus.11 If you have thought these practices are beneficial or harmless fun, do not be
deceived. Ask God to quickly and clearly convict you to repent of any occult practices in which you
participate or approve. Live in the freedom of His truth.

2 | AdNotes (06.2018) www.bsfinternational.org | People of the Promised Land I Lesson 15

 David’s Direction from God – 1 Samuel 29-30
David Refused by the Philistine Army –
29:1-11
David was reaping the consequences of his deceptions,
as well. David had an opportunity to influence Achish
and display God’s goodness to the Philistines. But he
continued to choose deception. Achish was impressed
with David’s apparent loyalty and trusted him with his
life. David had no intention of honoring this arrangement.
Achish, an unbeliever, trusted David, who represented
the Lord. Achish even spoke to David in the Lord’s name,
“As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and
I would be pleased to have you serve with me.”
Achish was deceived. But the other rulers of the
Philistine city-states were understandably suspicious and
angry about including the Israelites among them. The
other commanders thought David’s motive was to
serve himself and win back Saul’s favor by betraying
them. They even recalled the song that first sparked
Saul’s jealousy of David: “Isn’t this the David they sang
about in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and
David his tens of thousands’?” These “tens of thousands”
were Philistines, after all.
David played a dangerous, deadly game by
deceiving Achish and dishonoring God. We may
quickly see David’s fault in calling God’s enemy, “my
lord the king.” Yet, when believers claim allegiance to any
person, group, company, business, goal or endeavor, they
represent God and the things that please Him.
When believers claim allegiance to any person,
group, company, business, goal or endeavor, they
represent God and the things that please Him.
As a believer, are you deceiving unbelievers about
what God is like and what He offers people through
your words at work, business practices, family
gatherings, social media posts and weekend activities?
What might they think of God if they found out you
are disloyal, deceptive or taking advantage of their trust
for your own gain? God’s guidance is clear: “Whatever
you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.”12
Achish was forced to send David home to Ziklag to
avoid conflict with the other Philistine commanders. What
a gracious gift God gave not only David, but Achish.
God even cared to preserve Achish’s standing among
these men for this time and for His eternal purposes.
Mercifully and providentially, God also protected David
People of the Promised Land I Lesson 15 | www.bsfinternational.org AdNotes (06.2018) | 3
from being in the position of leading himself and his men
into fighting their own people. This included the Lord’s
anointed, Saul, and Saul’s sons, including Jonathan,
David’s beloved friend. Yet, God did allow consequences
for David’s deceptions to fall on his home in Ziklag to draw
David into repentance and renewal of their relationship.
Destruction and Despair at Ziklag – 30:1-6
Spared from battle against Israel, David and his men
arrived home after a three-day march. They found Ziklag
burned and their families captured, including David’s two
wives. David and all his company of soldiers wept “until
they had no strength left to weep.” David’s men rightly
blamed their leader for this terrible loss. He brought
them to Ziklag in Philistine territory. He led them to
attack the Amalekites, who now had avenged themselves
in Ziklag. They even talked of stoning David.
At this point, David’s and Saul’s stories show almost
parallel devastation and despair. Saul was certain of defeat
and death. David bore responsibility for his and his men’s
sorrow and the captivity of their families; his life was
again under threat. The difference, though, was in the
two men’s responses to their crises. Saul fell down in
the medium’s house, consumed by his own tragedy; his
only comfort was the meal the medium prepared for him.
David, on the other hand, “found strength in the Lord his
God.” In God’s grace, David was able to see beyond his
circumstances to the goodness of the Lord.
David Inquires of the Lord – 30:7-8
David proves his humility by his actions. He turned to
Abiathar the priest to help him ask God for His guidance.
David needed to know from the Lord Himself if he should
pursue the Amalekites. Humanly, it would seem the only
course to take, but David, in enemy territory and without
his men’s confidence, looked for God’s direction rather
than relying on his feelings, others’ expectations or his
own thinking. As believers in our redeemed, but not yet
perfected, state, we become humble by recognizing the
futility of our own thinking and our lifelong need to
seek God’s thinking.13 We put this into practice by faith
and dependence on His Word and Spirit.
The Rescue of the Captives – 30:9-20
God promised David success in pursuit of the
Amalekites to rescue the families. Now all 600 of David’s
men, stirred by David’s answer from the Lord, followed
David in this God-ordained venture. On their journey,
God graciously gave David another opportunity to
influence an unbeliever for God’s glory. David and his
men encountered an Egyptian slave, ill and abandoned
by the Amalekites. After caring for him, David swore
they would not kill him or return him to his master if he
led them to the Amalekites. He gratefully agreed. These
were sincere words David would fulfill. God utilized the
Egyptian’s trust in David to fulfill His promised victory.
David and his men fought through the night and all the
next day until all that had been taken was recovered and
every captive was rescued.
David’s Justice – 30:21-31
Scripture says some of David’s men were too
exhausted for the battle. As David’s company of men
returned to where they had left these 200 men, some
of those who had fought grumbled that they should not
get any plunder but take only their wives and children.
David, however, led well by lifting the men’s eyes to the
source of all things. He proclaimed God “protected us
Saul’s Death – 1 Samuel 31
The Death of Saul and His Sons – 31:1-7
In his dying moments on Mount Gilboa, Saul
continued to assert his pride by stealing for himself a role
reserved for our life-giving God. Saul murdered himself.
Suffering and fear are real,
but so is the power of God
in repentance, prayer and Suicide in our families, churches, schools and
His presence. In Saul’s most communities is a call for believers to love all
desperate moment, he called people well.
out to his armor-bearer
and asked him to commit a
crime against God. Instead of calling out to his Maker and
facing death with praises to God on his lips, Saul insisted
on ending his life and ordained kingship on his terms. How Burial of King Saul – 31:8-13
might even his final moments have been different if he had
called out in humble repentance and dependence for help
in the name of the Lord?15 Saul’s sin to commit suicide
set into motion a series of devastating consequences for
those he left behind. His armor-bearer immediately killed
himself, as well.
Suicide is one of the most tragic choices that exists
in our fallen world. We must stand with David who
confesses to God, “My times are in your hands.” 16
Yet, all who trust the Lord as Savior are free from
condemnation, no matter how they die.17 Suicide is
4 | AdNotes (06.2018) www.bsfinternational.org | People of the Promised Land I Lesson 15
and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came
against us.” David displayed the godly principles of
unity, dignity and respect among the body of believers.
He also offered the ultimate lesson in stewardship –
everything belongs to the Lord. God had a hold of
David’s heart, and infused His warrior with humility,
grace and wisdom.
David also shared the spoils with Judah’s elders in
places that had likely also suffered from past Amalekite
raids. Was David preparing to return and creating good
will for himself in Judah? Or was God simply growing
love, compassion and kindness in David toward his
people, nurturing an unselfish, loyal leader. Scripture
does not say. Whatever the thoughts and motives in
David’s mind, his actions were generous and just. David
was no longer using plunder to prop up a lie, but to
make reparations and promote justice for those who had
previously been wronged. What we do with what God
puts into our hands matters. Our deeds can show others
what is true about pleasing God.14
sin. But it is not the “greatest” sin nor does it determine
our eternal destiny. Suicide in our families, churches,
schools and communities is a call for believers to love
all people well. We are to act in compassion and grieve
with those who grieve. Believers should be known as
people who will listen, help,
speak truth in love, pray,
cherish all life and practice
humility and gentleness
toward those surviving the
consequences of another
person’s suicide.
The Philistines’ despicable treatment of the bodies
of Saul and his sons shows the nature of those with whom
David associated for a time. Again, we marvel at God’s
grace that David was not involved and not on the scene.
Instead, valiant warriors from Jabesh Gilead marched
through the night to Beth Shan to recover the bodies.
Saul had begun his reign rescuing the people of that
very city from the Ammonites.18 The people of Jabesh
Gilead honored the dead king and his sons with burial
at the site of his victory on their behalf, under a
tamarisk tree.
 Psalm 36: God’s Immeasurable Love
Psalm 36 expresses the contrast between the cruelty of sinful mankind and the immeasurable love
of a holy God. All people are born blinded by sin, but they also remain blinded by choice as they refuse to see
and follow after the grace and glory of our awesome, almighty God. He makes His character evident through His
interactions with His creation.
As in the psalm’s title, David proves himself humbly and wholeheartedly as the servant of the Lord.
Another humble, wholehearted servant, Paul, was led by God to repeat verse 1 of this psalm in his letter to the
Romans.19 How differently do you see yourself, those around you and God in light of this psalm?
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, David wrote in verses 1-4 of the wicked, who “plot evil; they commit themselves
to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.” In other words, people who know they do wrong purpose-
fully reject God’s guidance and refuse to turn from their sin and submit to God. When Paul uses verse 1, he is
restating the truth that wicked people close their eyes to all the evidence of God before them. They refuse to
revere God, His will or wisdom. They choose to continue on their own path of sin, unrepentance and unbelief, on
a path toward judgment. Apart from God’s grace, this is every person’s story.
Verses 5-9 praise the Lord Himself for His gloriously infinite character, shown in His perfect perspective and
care of all His creation. The Lord’s words not only guide us, they guard us. God alone spends Himself in caring
for all from the highest heavens to the greatest depths. This care was ultimately proven by God the Son,
Jesus Christ, who came to live as a man and die on a cross in our place, “while we were still sinners.”20 In
contrast to the fallen creation, God alone is good. He is restoring His creation. He is coming again to reign.
Verse 9 contains truth we all desperately need, but often refuse to hear. God is the source of life. All
people belong to God and derive their identity, significance and purpose from being made in His image and for
His glory. All those who identify with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior become God’s children and kingdom
citizens forever.
Verses 10-12 ask the Lord for what He promises to give those who know Him: everlasting love, righ-
teousness, protection, perseverance under trials, strength to stand and God’s perfect way and timing to execute
judgment against those who would not know Him as Savior.
David understood that encouragement, no matter what the situation, comes from contemplating and praising
the reality of God. Hopelessness is swallowed up by praise for those who look to God and cast their cares
on the One who loves infinitely and who always, faithfully, acts from that love.21 If God has convicted you of
wickedness in unbelief, will you repent and believe right now? His presence, power and promises are for you.
If you believe in God but are struggling in hard circumstances, will you reach out to God and to His light for
encouragement right now? Will you praise Him and trust Him, based on the words of this psalm? Will you pray
for unbelievers and pursue loving relationships with them, so through their interactions with you they may taste
and see the Lord is good?

People of the Promised Land I Lesson 15 | www.bsfinternational.org AdNotes (06.2018) | 5

 Take to Heart
It is imperative to love God and trust Him at all
Hold Fast
times. Under pressure or in crisis, if we feel God has not
done what we want, we may default to what seems right
to or seems to work for others. Whether it be the occult,
unethical business practices, immorality or dishonesty,
any effort to get what we desire that is not what God
desires is simply and clearly sin. At these times, God
enables us to remain firm in our commitment to Him
and repent and return to Him. God perfectly knows the
future and gives good, trustworthy guidance when we
open our ears and hearts to His Word.
God proved Himself faithful to David even in
enemy territory. The Lord encouraged him when his
family was abducted and his friends confronted his
misguided leadership. At every point, when David was
shaken, he found deep assurance in the strength and
unfailing love of God. Though he sometimes failed,
David’s heart always belonged to the Lord.
We must seriously take to heart God’s warnings
about sin and its consequences. All who study
His Word learn that repeated rejection of God and
disregard of His commands create a hardened mind
and spirit. The dangerous thing about stubbornly
insisting on doing things our way is God will often
let us be stubborn until we break. By grace, the Holy
Spirit of God exposes our sin and distance from
Him, so we can repent, confess our sin and stop
refusing Him. As the prophet Hosea wrote, we can
“return to the Lord. Say to him: ‘Forgive all our sins
and receive us graciously ...’ ”22 When we believe in
salvation through Jesus’ death, which paid the penalty
for our sin, God hears, forgives and transforms.23

Has this passage warned or resources and temporary fixes to 10:13-14: “Saul died because he
Apply It

convicted you of relying on a source
of consolation or direction that leads
you away from God? Dependence
on God for guidance and strength
results in right actions. God’s
Word is available to you, and He
hears all prayers of repentance and
need. As you pray, recall the truth
you know about God, who brings
light. “In your light, we see light,”24
David said. Remember what you
have learned of God – He is great,
sovereign, all-knowing, infinite in
mercy, loving, compassionate and
good. Believe this, even if you do
not understand what He does or
does not do. Consider Him, meditate
on Him and humbly voice your
doubts as well as your requests.
Ask Him to strengthen your faith
and give His help in your situation.
Then boldly trust Him to do so.
Will you turn away from empty
trust the living and present God? was unfaithful to the Lord; he did
Neither Saul nor David
had complete control over their
emotions; neither was consistently
strong and levelheaded; neither
was always a clear thinker. What
sets apart Saul and David? It was
David’s willingness to seek the Lord
in what he should do next. He had
a heart for God, a desire to serve
and honor Him. Are you following
God’s words and determined to do
the next right thing? David certainly
did not do this perfectly every time.
But we can see by David’s example
that this is where the Christian
life has power, purpose, hope and
provision. True spiritual growth and
leadership of others is about humbly
trusting God to give courage to seek
His help and do the next right thing.
The Scripture’s summary of
Saul’s end is found in 1 Chronicles
not keep the word of the Lord
and even consulted a medium for
guidance, and did not inquire of
the Lord. So the Lord put him to
death and turned the kingdom over
to David son of Jesse.” It is a sad
description and legacy. The life of
every believer who presses on to
follow God glows with the light
of His grace and leaves a legacy
that brings honor and glory to
Jesus. What would be written of
you regarding your relationship with
the Lord of heaven and earth? If you
are God’s child, all your triumphs
are through God’s might; all your
growth comes by God’s nurture and
guidance. No matter what comes –
joy or sorrow, strength or weakness,
vitality or death – all is delivered by
the hands of our loving Savior.

Check out these footnoted references for further study of God’s Word in this week’s lesson.
Go Deeper

1: Spirit departed Saul: 1 Samuel
16:14
2: Samuel’s death: 1 Samuel 25:1
3: Separation from God’s
wisdom: Isaiah 6:9-10; 59:1-13; 10: God’s warnings against the
Matthew 13:14-15
4: Saul rejected: 1 Samuel 15:7-29
5: Saul’s admission: 1 Samuel
24:20
6: Invitation to repent: Romans 2:4
7: Heeding evil: Genesis 3:1-7
8: Satan’s work: John 10:10
9: Supernatural warfare:
Ephesians 6:10-20
occult: Leviticus 19:31-32; 20:6;
Deuteronomy 18:9-13; 2 Kings
21:6; Micah 5:12; Revelation 21:8
11: Rejecting the occult: Acts
19:18-20
12: Honor God: Colossians 3:17
13: Deceptive thoughts: 1 Samuel
27:1; Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans
12:2; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
14: God’s desire: Hosea 6:6;
Micah 6:8; James 1:27;
1 John 3:17-18
15: Help: Psalm 124:8
16: My times: Psalm 31:15
17: No condemnation: Romans 8:1
18: Rescuing Jabesh Gilead:
1 Samuel 11:1-11
19: No fear of God: Romans 3:18
20: Still sinners: Romans 5:8
21: Praise instead of despair:
Isaiah 61:3
22: Return to God: Hosea 14:1-2
23: God forgives: 1 John 1:9
24: In your light: Psalm 36:9

All Scripture quotations, in this publication are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ® NIV ®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
6 | AdNotes (06.2018) www.bsfinternational.org | People of the Promised Land I Lesson 15