Latest revision as of 14:15, 3 September 2025

Theological Proposition/Focus: God's unchanging standards are the guardrails that keep us from the fatal crash of compromise, and His grace is the only power that delivers us when we stumble.

Christ Focus: Christ is our ultimate guide and example of unwavering faithfulness to God's standards, offering grace and deliverance when we falter.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: This sermon encourages Christians to recognize the dangers of compromising their values in the face of trials. Just as Saul's actions led to his downfall, compromising one's faith can lead to spiritual despair. We can find hope in God's protection, as evidenced in David's life, reminding us that trust in God is paramount during our struggles.

Introduction

Image: Driving with guardrails

I enjoy driving in the mountains, and I have to admit—I kind of like to drive fast in the mountains. Emily will tell you that I'm not a speeder on the interstate (that drives her crazy), but like my dad, I have a habit of pushing the pace on those winding mountain roads.

Mountain driving is a lot of fun, but it also teaches an important lesson: guardrails matter. Imagine flying down a narrow road with sharp curves and no guardrails. Every bend feels terrifying, and every mistake could be fatal. But when guardrails are in place, the drive is different. They don't guarantee safety, but they provide protection. Guardrails don't restrict freedom—they preserve life.

In the same way, God's unchanging standards are the guardrails of our spiritual lives. Saul ignored them and drove himself off a cliff. David stumbled close to the edge, but God's grace kept him from disaster.

Need: In times of spiritual crisis, we must choose faithfulness to God's guardrails over compromise, trusting in God's providential care as exemplified in the lives of Saul and David.

Preview: Today we are going to explore compromise to better understand it. We will begin by looking at God's immutability, the preposterous results of compromise, and the need for divine deliverance from compromise.

Text: 1 Samuel 28:3-24; 1 Samuel 29:1-11. Read with each point.

Setting the Stage:

With all the ground we have to cover in our series, I'm going to skip over chapter 27 and just give you the highlights.

In 1 Samuel 27, David—still on the run and fearing for his life—decides his best option is to take refuge in Philistine territory. He and his 600 men settle in Gath under the protection of King Achish. Gaining Achish's trust, David is given the town of Ziklag, where he lives for over a year. During that time, David carries out raids against Israel's enemies, but he deceives Achish by claiming he's been attacking Israelite regions. David makes sure there are no survivors to report the truth, and Achish becomes convinced that David has completely turned against his own people.

That brings us right to chapter 28. Listen to verses 1 and 2:

1 Samuel 28:1-2
"In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, ‘You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.' David said, ‘Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.' Achish replied, ‘Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.'"

At this point, perhaps because of Saul's weakening leadership—or maybe because the Philistines feel confident with David seemingly on their side—they begin preparing for a major campaign against Israel.

What we're going to see today is that this looming battle creates a deep crisis for both Saul and David. Saul, in complete desperation and spiritual compromise, turns to a medium for guidance—something strictly forbidden by God. Meanwhile, David, though seemingly caught on the wrong side of the conflict, is ultimately protected by God from making a devastating compromise.

Body

Immutable — The unchanging God holds His people to unchanging standards (28:3-14).

God's standards are meant to outlast God's spokesmen (3).

As if the impending battle were not enough, verse 3 adds even more bad news: Israel's spiritual guidepost has been removed. Samuel, the prophet, is gone, and with him the voice of God that Saul had once known so clearly. Saul's situation is desperate.

But underlying this verse is an important truth: even though Samuel is gone, God's commands still stand. God's standards are not tied to any one man. His Word outlives His messengers.

The text also reminds us that Saul, presumably under Samuel's guidance, had once made progress in removing mediums and spiritists from the land. This was not a minor issue—it was obedience to God's clear commands (Lev. 19:31; 20:27; Deut. 18:10-11). Yet the very standard Saul had once enforced will soon be the very standard he abandons.

We've already read ahead, so we know what Saul is about to do. But even if we had not, it is obvious where this is headed: Saul is desperate, unstable, and without Samuel's presence; we are about to see how he responds.

The truth is, the real tests of character often happen when no one is watching. It's easy to look faithful when the prophet, the pastor, or the spiritual mentor is near. But what about when they are gone? Saul collapses without Samuel, and in the sermon today, we will watch his character unravel completely.

But before we go further, let me challenge you: How is your character? How do you respond when no one is watching, when no spiritual leader is holding you accountable? Do you live faithfully because you fear God—or only because others see you?

God's standards are not person or situation dependent (4-7).

In verses 4-7, the narration moves from the background—Samuel is dead—to current events. The narrative shifts to the battlefield. Samuel is dead, and now the Philistines are prepared for war. Saul is desperate. But here's the lesson: desperation does not change God's truth.

Saul calls out to God, but God does not answer. Why? Because God is not a genie in a bottle, obligated to respond to a desperate cry. Saul had rejected God—and now God has rejected Saul.

Some might ask: "Was it fair for God to ignore Saul's inquiry?" Consider this: not long before, Saul had slaughtered the priests at Nob because they had helped David (1 Sam. 22). At that time, God worked through priests. Saul had effectively cut the telephone line to God—and now he demands God to speak. But nothing in Saul's prayer reflects repentance. He does not humble himself; he simply expects God to serve his needs.

This is the heart of Saul's foxhole prayer. And when it goes unanswered, Saul reveals his true character. Instead of repenting, he turns to necromancy—the very thing he once outlawed. Saul's actions show clearly: he has no interest in godliness. He is interested only in himself.

Here's the principle: God's standards do not bend to personalities or circumstances. Just because God does not answer Saul does not give Saul the right to break God's law. The right response would have been repentance: to ask, "Why is God not answering me? What do I need to change?" But Saul never asks that. He simply reaches for the next tool in his bag.

And yet—even here—God is not absent.

God often provides a way out of compromise (8-14).

1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us:

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

Even in the face of sin and compromise, God gives opportunities to turn back.

The irony in verse 8 is striking. Saul goes to a medium—someone he had once expelled from the land. And notice: even this medium speaks truth! She tells Saul this is foolish. God gives Saul a clear way out, but Saul ignores it. He assures the woman she will not be punished, making a promise he has no authority to give.

Then, in one of the strangest moments in Scripture, Samuel actually appears. The woman herself is shocked—she hadn't expected it to work. God intervenes, not to validate her powers, but to deliver one last rebuke to Saul: compromise never turns out the way we expect.

Look at the foolishness of everyone involved. The medium cannot raise the dead. Saul cannot grant her protection. Everyone is posturing, deceiving, manipulating—and no one is satisfied with the result. God had provided a way out, but Saul plunged headlong into compromise.

MTR: Re-examine God's standards in your own life and look for signs of compromise.

Where are you tempted to excuse compromise? Where are you rationalizing sin because of circumstances or desperation? Remember: God's standards are unchanging, and He always provides a way of escape.

Preposterous — Compromise often leads to preposterous expectations (28:15-25).

We cannot expect God to bless disobedience (15-19).

Saul may be unstable, but he isn't blind to his situation. In verse 15, he admits what is obvious: the Philistines are poised to win, and God is no longer helping him. He recognizes the symptoms of his reality but misses the root cause—his disobedience.

Saul's problem has always been the same: he has consistently ignored God's commands, and he has never repented. Yet here, he still seeks God's blessing while standing in outright rebellion.

Let's be clear: we cannot expect God to bless disobedience. Say it again—we cannot expect God to bless disobedience.

It is almost absurd what Saul is asking:

"Please ignore the fact that I have used a forbidden medium. Please overlook the many times you have condemned my character. Please forget that I have relentlessly tried to kill your anointed servant, David, while neglecting the Philistines. Please just tell me what to do now." ^[1]

Sounds ridiculous, right? And yet... we are not that different.

• "Can you pray for my relationship with my girlfriend?" Sure, tell me about her. "Well, she doesn't believe in God..." → No! I cannot pray for success in an unequally yoked relationship you should not be in (2 Cor. 6:14)."

• "Can you pray for this new activity?" But the activity keeps you from worship and fellowship.

• "Can you pray that I get this job?" But the job would pull you from your family and church.

• "Can you pray that we get this house?" But affording it would mean abandoning generosity and tithing.

Do you see the preposterous expectation? We ask God to bless disobedience. We rationalize, excuse, and spiritualize our rebellion instead of repenting.

The truth is, much like Saul, we are often blind to our root problem. We want God's blessing without surrendering to God's authority.

The path of compromise is hard to reverse (20-25).

Once Saul hears Samuel's devastating words, he collapses. Verse 20 says he "fell full length on the ground, filled with fear." And yet—even here—he does not repent. That point cannot be overstated. Saul never apologizes, never confesses, never bows before God. He simply wallows in self-pity.

Compromise often ends that way. The deeper we go, the harder it is to turn back. Each small step down the wrong path entangles us further until repentance seems almost impossible.

The scene closes with Saul being persuaded to eat. The meal looks royal—bread, meat, the fattened calf—but it is tragically symbolic. This is the last supper of a king who will not be king much longer. The man who once stood head and shoulders above the people (1 Sam. 9:2) now lies face down in the dirt, awaiting his downfall. He has reaped the harvest of a life of compromise.

Image: Star wars and the path of the dark side.

The Star Wars universe gives us a vivid picture of compromise. Characters rarely leap into the Dark Side all at once. Instead, the fall happens gradually:

1. Temptation—The allure of power or an easy solution draws them in.

2. Imperilment—They give in "just once" to anger, fear, or hatred.

3. Submission—Small compromises pile up until they rationalize their sin.

4. Captivity—They no longer control the Dark Side; the Dark Side controls them.

That is exactly how sin and compromise work. Nobody wakes up one day and decides to wreck their marriage, destroy their testimony, or abandon their faith. It happens step by step, compromise by compromise, until the end result seems inevitable.

Saul's story warns us: compromise is not just foolish—it is preposterous. It blinds us, enslaves us, and makes us expect God to bless what He has already condemned.

MTR: Create guardrails in your life to keep you from compromise.

Don't wait until you're desperate in the pit like Saul. Ask now: What boundaries must I put in place so I don't drift step by step into disobedience?

Practical Guardrails:

Relationships

• Decide in advance that you will only pursue relationships that honor God (2 Cor. 6:14).

• Surround yourself with godly friends who will call you out when you drift.

Media & Entertainment

• Set boundaries on what you watch, listen to, or scroll. If it dulls your hunger for God or normalizes sin, cut it off.

• Remember: what fills your heart shapes your desires (Matt. 6:22-23).

Finances

• Build generosity into your budget first, so you don't compromise later.

• Ask: "Will this purchase strengthen or weaken my ability to obey God?"

Time

• Prioritize worship, prayer, and fellowship. Don't let busyness slowly crowd out the things of God.

• Guard the Lord's Day and family discipleship time with the same seriousness you guard work deadlines.

Decision-Making

• Before any major choice, ask: Does this align with God's Word? If not, it's off the table.

• Don't pray for God to bless something you already know violates His commands.

Spiritual Life

• Commit to regular confession. Don't let small sins accumulate.

• Invite a trusted believer to hold you accountable before compromises take root.

Saul didn't wake up one morning and suddenly decide to use a medium. He drifted there one compromise at a time. Guardrails don't just keep you from falling—they keep you from drifting in the first place.

Deliverance — The only real victory over compromise is found in God Himself (29:1-11).

David faced a moment when compromise would have been easy (1-3).

We've spent much time zoomed in on Saul's failures, but now the camera shifts back to David. And what do we find? David is in enemy territory—living among the Philistines. To them, he appears loyal to their cause.

The danger is obvious. War is about to break out, and David is marching in formation with the Philistine army. If he fights for them, he is a traitor to Israel. If he turns on them mid-battle, he is a traitor to the Philistines. Either way, compromise seems inevitable.

And truth be told, David may have already compromised by putting himself in this situation in the first place. It was the easier path—running from Saul and aligning with the enemy. But this is the beauty of God's faithfulness: even when David stumbled into a risky position, God had not abandoned him.

Compromise would have been easy. Deliverance would only come from God.

But God orchestrated events to protect David from a devastating compromise (4-5).

This part of the story shines a spotlight on God's providence. While David is marching with the Philistine army, the other commanders raise objections. They don't trust him. They remember the songs sung in Israel—"Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

They demand David be sent home. To the Philistines, this is suspicion. To David, it is salvation.

See the fingerprints of God here:

• He stirred distrust in the Philistine leaders.

• He orchestrated conversations David never initiated.

• He closed a door David might not have had the courage to close himself.

If David had gone into battle, the outcomes were all disastrous. At best, he would be seen as a backstabber to the Philistines. At worst, he would have been forced into killing his own king, Saul—sparking a civil war and destroying his reputation before he ever sat on the throne.

David was walking into a no-win situation, and God pulled him out. That is providence.

Even when David pushed, God protected David from compromise (6-11).

David's response in verse 8 is puzzling. Instead of gratefully accepting the escape God had given, he pushes back. He protests his loyalty, as if he actually wanted to fight in the Philistine ranks!

And yet, even in this moment, God's grace overruled David's words. The Philistine leaders would not budge. They dismissed David anyway.

That's the power of grace: God kept David from devastating compromise, even when David himself wasn't seeing clearly.

The contrast between Saul and David here is striking:

• Saul abandoned God, and God let Saul spiral deeper into compromise.

• David belonged to God, and even when he stumbled toward compromise, God's grace shielded him.

This is not a license for carelessness—it is a reminder of God's covenant faithfulness. Deliverance does not come from our cleverness, discipline, or strength. Deliverance comes from God Himself.

MTR: As you battle compromise, make sure to include God in that battle.

Not like Saul, treating Him as a genie to call when you're desperate, but like David—trusting His providence and grace even when you've wandered into risky places. Victory over compromise is not found in ourselves. It is found in God alone.

Practical Steps — How to Bring God Into the Battle Against Compromise

1. Pray Honest, Repentant Prayers

• Don't pray like Saul—asking God to bless what you already know is sin.

• Pray like David—"Search me, O God, and know my heart…see if there is any offensive way in me" (Ps. 139:23-24).

2. Build Guardrails Before the Battle

• Decide your boundaries now—relationships, media, money, time—so you don't have to negotiate them in the heat of temptation.

• Proverbs 4:23 says, "Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

3. Lean on God's Providence, Not Just Your Willpower

• Look for the "ways of escape" God provides (1 Cor. 10:13).

• When He closes a door, don't push against it—thank Him for protecting you.

4. Stay Close to God's People

• Isolation makes compromise easier. Accountability makes obedience possible.

• Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds."

Conclusion: Saul vs. David — A Tale of Two Responses to Compromise

As we've traced these passages, two lives have unfolded before us in stark contrast.

• Immutable: Saul forgot that God's standards never change. David, even when weak, still belonged to that unchanging God.

• Preposterous: Saul expected God to bless disobedience, and his compromise only grew deeper. David faced the same temptation to compromise, but God's providence kept him from disaster.

• Deliverance: Saul ended in despair because he abandoned God. David found deliverance because God never abandoned him.

Here's the unifying truth: we cannot fight compromise in our own strength. Only God can deliver us.

Final Word

At the end of the day, the difference between Saul and David was not perfection—it was posture.

• Saul clung to pride and control, and compromise consumed him.

• David clung to God, and grace delivered him.

1. ↑ Bill T. Arnold, 1 & 2 Samuel, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003), 375.