God’s

Presence
I Samuel 18: 12-16
 12And Saul was afraid of David,
because the LORD was with him, and
was departed from Saul.

13Therefore Saul removed him from

him, and made him his captain over a
thousand; and he went out and came in
before the people.

14And David behaved himself wisely in

all his ways; and the LORD was with
him.

15Wherefore when Saul saw that he

behaved himself very wisely, he was
afraid of him.
I Samuel 18:12-14
16But all Israel and Judah loved David,
because he went out and came in
before them.
God’s
Presence
I Samuel 18: 12-16
 INTRODUCTION
Verse 12 says God departs from Saul
but was with David.

• Why? Is God playing favorites?

• Why wouldn’t He bless both men?

1. The IMPORTANCE of God’s
presence.
1) It gives courage (14).
• But King Saul doesn’t have though King.

2) It gives self-worth (14).

• But King Saul lost his though King.

3) It gives peace of mind (16).

• But King Saul was fearful though King
(12).
II. The IMPACT of God’s presence.

David:
1. DOER of what God asks him to do. Through
his leader.
a. As warrior – unwavering.
 “Went out whithersoever Saul sent him” (5)
b. As entertainer – unchanged.
 “David played with his hand, as at other
times” (10)
c. As target practice – untouched.
 “David avoided out of his presence twice”
(11)
 Because God gave him discernment.
d. As individual – ambitious.
 “To fight to become Saul’s son in-law (27)
II. The IMPACT of God’s presence.

David:
2) DRAW closer to God in every situation. Behaved wisely

a) In times of success (3-5)

 Best friend of the prince (3)
 Saul’s trusted warrior (5)
 Famous in their nation (5)

b) In times of demotion (11-14)

 From General to captain

c) In times of severe crisis (29-30)

 Become King’s enemy (29)
 Philistines personal enemy (30)

3) DEEPLY valued God’s presence more than anything

(30b).
 “David behaved himself more wisely than all the
servants of Saul”
III. The INJURY of God’s
absence.
•Saul:
1)INSECURITY.
 Downfall starts when he became jealous of David.
 Jealousy starts with insecurities.
Jealousy will led to:
a) Anger (8) – very wroth
b) Hatred (8) - displeased
c) Bitterness (9-11)
o difficult to accept: painful or very hard to accept
o hostile: expressing intense hostility
*Took his eyes off God and grew envious of the way God blessed David.
Things we commonly get jealous of:
• success
• talent
• possessions
III. The INJURY of God’s
absence.
2) INABILITY to discern.
Downfall results sense of entitlement (28-29)
 Saul saw
 Saul knows. Yet he never evaluate for his sense of entitlement
led to silent disrespect and hatred to God.
3) INSENSITIVE to God’s dealing.
 He saw and knew that God departed from him and he needs
God but never work his way to gain God again because of
PRIDE.

What proud people’s real feeling:

 fear (12,15,29)
 Jealousy blinded him of his own blessings.
 As result he loses the coveted thing: the Crown.
CONCLUSION:
God’s presence is the most important than
any other thing.
 Saul – unhappy even with everything we
need but without God’s presence.
 David – happy even if loss all things but
God is with him always.

Jealousy, Pride and God cannot be in you at

the same time.

Watch out – Pride will blind your own blessing

Choose God’s presence in your life than other

things in life.