How the Mighty Hath Fallen

Posted by on August 9, 2009 under Sermons

  • “A law unto themselves” Romans 2:14
  • “A house divided” Matthew 12:25, Luke 11:17
  • “A man after his own heart” 1 Samuel 13:14
  • “Apple of my eye” Deuteronomy 2:10, Zechariah 2:8
  • “At my wit’s end” Psalm 107:27
  • “Blind leading the blind” Matthew 15:14, Luke 6:39
  • “By the skin of our teeth” Job 19:20
  • “Can a leopard change his spots?” Jeremiah 13:23
  • “Don’t cast your pearls before swine” Matthew 7:6
  • “Drop in the bucket” Isaiah 40:15
  • “Dust of the earth” Genesis 13:16
  • “Eat, drink, and be merry” Ecclesiastes 8:15
  • “Eye for an eye” Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21 Matthew 5:38
  • “False prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing” Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22
  • “Fell on rocky ground” Matthew 13:5
  • “Fight the good faith” 1 Timothy 6:12
  • “Golden calf” Exodus 32

  • “Good Samaritan” Luke 10:25-37
  • “Hammer swords into plowshares” Isaiah 2:4
  • “He gave up the ghost” Luke 23:46
  • “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone” John 8:7
  • “Handwriting on the wall” Daniel 5:5
  • “How the mighty hath fallen” 1 Samuel 1:19-27
  • “Labor of love” 1 Thessalonians 1:3
  • “Letter of the law” 2 Corinthians 3:6
  • “Many are called, but few are chosen” Matthew 22:14
  • “Man shall not live by bread alone” Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4
  • “More blessed to give than to receive” Acts 20:35
  • “My brother’s keeper” Genesis 4:9
  • “No peace for the wicked” Isaiah 48:22, Isaiah 57:21
  • “Out of the mouths of babes” Psalm 8:2
  • “Pride goes before a fall” Proverbs 16:19
  • “Put your house in order” 2 Kings 20:1, Isaiah 38:1

  • “Red sky at morning” Matthew 16:3
  • “Salt of the earth” Matthew 5:13
  • “Signs of the times” Matthew 16:3
  • “Soft answer turns away wrath” Proverbs 15:1
  • “Stood by the stuff” (a reference to troops that guarded supplies) 1 Samuel 25:13, 30:24
  • “Strait and narrow” Matthew 7:14
  • “Suffer fools gladly” 2 Corinthians 11:19
  • “Sweat of your brow” Genesis 3:19
  • “The blind leading the blind” Matthew 15:14, Luke 6:39
  • “The love of money is the root of all evil” 1 Timothy 6:10
  • “The truth shall make you free” John 8:32
  • “There’s nothing new under the sun” Ecclesiastes 1:9
  • “Thorn in the flesh” 2 Corinthians 12:7
  • “To everything there is a season” Ecclesiastes 3:1
  • “Twinkling of an eye” 1 Corinthians 15:52
  • “Wars and rumors of wars” Matthew 24:26, Mark 13:7
  • “Weighed in the balances and found wanting” Daniel 5:5
  • “What is truth?” John 18:38
    		•

    Who Killed Saul?

      1 Samuel 31

    • Saul falls on his own sword
    • His armor-bearer refused to kill him
      		•  2 Samuel 1

    • Amalekite
    • Kills the wounded Saul
    • Brings David emblems of royalty
      		•

    Options

    1. Both accounts are true – two different perspectives (Saul attempted suicide, Amalekite finished the job)
    2. Amalekite is lying
    3. Two stories with different intents

    Understanding David’s Response

    1. Amalek is the ancient enemy
    2. Saul’s death could be David’s opportunity to rise
      • Saul was all that held David back
      • There is no king at this time
    3. Amalekite is securing a favor

    4. Bloodguilt –
      • Ancient concept (Cain and Abel)
      • David will not assume any guilt for Saul’s death
      • He will rule only if it is God’s will
      • David curses Mount Gilboa

    Public Grief

    1. David is a poetic leader
    2. He chose poetry over politics
    3. “Where loss is not grieved there are barriers to newness” – W. Brueggemann

    David, King of Judah

    1. David moves according to God’s will.
    2. David is king in the south.
    3. David makes allies with Jabesh-Gilead.
    4. Saul’s tribes are in the north.

    Civil War

    1. Seven and a half years
    2. Joab leads David’s forces
    3. Abner leads Saul’s forces
    4. Contest of champions ends in a draw
    5. Risk of annihilation