David, SQ

Study Guide

Vengeance is Mine

Some of our deepest hurts and pains lead us to want to retaliate against the person experiencing hurt and pain. It is a vicious cycle. And it won't end until there is an intervention of mercy. Tune in as Pastor Markus Witherspoon challenges us to respond not with retaliation, but with mercy.

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Icebreaker Questions

  1. If you had to live inside one movie or TV show world for a year, which would you choose and why?
  2. What’s an area of your life where you’re learning to trust God more right now (or being challenged to do so)?
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Read 1 Samuel 24:1-4a (CSB)

Be mindful of the voices we listen to.

There’s a lot of noise in our lives (friends, family, podcasts, news, social media, coworkers) and not all of it helps us hear God more clearly. In this story, David is surrounded by voices too. Jonathan speaks life and truth over him, reminding him of God’s promises and character. His words anchor David’s heart back to God’s faithfulness. That’s wise counsel.

But then we see another set of voices, David’s men. They mean well, but their advice is rooted in exhaustion, not faith. They even use God’s name to justify their own desires. That’s a dangerous place to be. It shows us how easily our emotions or culture can disguise themselves as “good advice, ”even when they’re steering us away from God’s truth.

Here’s what we can learn from David:

  1. Wise counsel points us back to God’s Word, not just what feels right.
  2. Good advice often points us toward our own will, not God’s.
  3. The voices we amplify shape our choices and ultimately the direction of our lives.

Jonathan’s encouragement led David straight to worship and prayer (Psalm 54). He didn’t just hear wise counsel, he responded to it by talking with God himself. That’s the difference between simply listening to advice and letting God’s voice lead you.

So before we make big decisions, respond in conflict or chase an opportunity, we should pause and ask: Whose voice am I really listening to right now?

Discussion Questions

  1. Think of a time when you followed good advice that sounded right in the moment but didn’t align with God’s wisdom. What did you learn from that experience?
  2. Why do you think “good advice” can sometimes feel more appealing than “wise counsel”? What makes it harder to follow the kind of counsel that points us back to God instead of just what we want to hear?
  3. What are some practical ways you can “amplify” the voices that draw you closer to God and “mute” the ones that don’t?
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Read 1 Samuel 24:4b-22 (CSB)

Extend mercy and honor, even when it’s undeserved.

If we’re being honest, honor and mercy are never really deserved.  That’s what makes them so powerful. Mercy, by definition, is something we give even when it’s not earned, and that’s exactly what God has done for us.

David had every reason to take revenge on Saul. He’d been hunted, betrayed, and forced into hiding for years. And yet, when the opportunity came to end his suffering, David chose something radically different, honor and mercy.

In 1 Samuel 24, David kneels before the man trying to kill him. He shows respect to Saul’s position even though Saul’s character didn’t deserve it. Then David reveals the piece of Saul’s robe he cut off, proving that he could have taken Saul’s life but didn’t. Instead of revenge, he chose restraint. Instead of bitterness, he chose blessing.

This moment shows us something vital about God’s heart, mercy isn’t weakness; it’s strength under control.

Extending Mercy…

  1. Reflects God’s heart. (Luke 6:36 & Micah 7:18)
  2. Guards our heart. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
  3. Opens up their heart. (1 Samuel 24:16-19)

Mercy doesn’t erase justice, it simply trusts God to handle it. That saying "Vengeance is mine.” isn't our line to say when it comes to the story of our life, it’s Gods!

It’s choosing to say, “I won’t let what you did to me determine what I do next.”

And that’s the real test of spiritual maturity, when we honor God not just by how we worship, but by how we treat people who’ve wronged us.

Discussion Questions

  1. Can you think of a time when someone showed you mercy or grace that you didn’t deserve? How did that experience impact your heart or perspective toward them, or toward God?
  2. Luke 6:36 says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” What does it reveal about God’s heart that He continues to show mercy to us? How does remembering His mercy toward you change the way you view others who’ve hurt you?
  3. Paul warns that unforgiveness gives the enemy a foothold in our lives (2 Corinthians 2:10–11). In what ways have you seen bitterness or unforgiveness affect your heart, mindset, or relationships over time?
  4. How did you find freedom? What’s one small, practical step you could take this week to show honor or mercy to someone who’s hard to love—whether it’s through your attitude, words, or prayers?
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Current Sermon Series

In this series, we’ll journey through the remarkable life of David — shepherd, poet, warrior, king, and wholehearted worshiper of God. From humble beginnings in obscurity to the heights of leading a nation, David’s story is one of both triumphs and trials. We’ll see him dodge javelins hurled by a jealous king, hide in caves as a fugitive, and stand boldly before giants like Goliath — and through it all, God’s faithfulness shaping a man after His own heart and showing us what He can do through a willing life.

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