At the movies: Deadpool and Wolverine (Draft)

The premise of Deadpool & Wolverine involves two unlikely heroes teaming up to save the world, maybe even the multiverse. Similarly, Jesus was the unlikeliest of heroes to save all of humanity and the world. Explore how the unlikeliest heroes can make the biggest impact for all of us.

INTRO

Deadpool and Wolverine, the latest Marvel superhero movie, is currently the second highest-grossing movie of this year. So, it warrants a place in our At the Movie series.

But there’s one problem: it’s a hard R-rated movie. It’s extremely violent and vulgar. In fact, I couldn’t even find a trailer that I play in church.

So, Pastor Kong and I had several conversations about whether we should talk about such an R-rated movie in church. Obviously, we decided to include it. Not to say y’all should see it—I’ll leave that to your discernment—but to explore why it’s so popular and what messages it is saying.

Yes, Ryan Reynolds is funny. Yes, it’s got incredible fight scenes, costumes, and Marvel cameos. But I don’t think that’s 100% why it’s so successful.

As a film genre, this is a buddy cop movie— mismatched characters get put together, and hilarity ensues—Bad Boys, 21 Jump Street, Bridesmaids, or anything with The Rock and Kevin Hart.

Yes, all of these have funny, contrasting personalities. But they also portray very human experiences—tension, personality conflict, and working with someone you don’t like. Yet, they also always end with character growth and friendship.

And I think they’re so popular because that’s what we wish could happen with the conflicts in our lives. In many ways, we wish we could be those people with their success rather than ourselves with conflicts that never seem to get resolved.

Summary

Since I can’t show a trailer, here’s the official, spoiler-free summary of Deadpool & Wolverine.

“Deadpool's peaceful existence comes crashing down when the Time Variance Authority recruits him to help safeguard the multiverse. He soon unites with his would-be pal, Wolverine, to complete the mission and save his world from an existential threat.”

What makes this pairing unique is that Deadpool has spent the last two movies mercilessly teasing Wolverine and Hugh Jackman, who plays him. But now, Deadpool needs his frenemy, and of course, they fight together gloriously and save the universe.

Bible

So, are you wondering how on earth I’m going to tie this into a Bible teaching? Well, me too.

Remember my premise that we enjoy buddy cop movies because we long to be like them, but we know we are not? Well, today, we’ll look at one of the more unusual buddy pairings in Scripture— David and King Saul. Why? Because there is something remarkable and enviable in how David handles his frenemy relationship with King Saul.

We’re going to hit 5 defining events in David & Saul’s relationship. And from these, we’ll discover 3 things: something about God, something about us, and some new way to live.

#1 – Ch. 16 – Selecting David

Our story begins in 1 Samuel 16, where we left off last week. In the previous chapter, Saul disobeys God’s command, and the prophet Samuel says God will take the kingdom away from him.

Next, God commands Samuel to go to the town of Bethlehem to the family of Jesse. God has chosen one of his sons to be the next king.

Samuel meets Jesse and seven of his good-looking sons. In that moment, God reminds Samuel of something significant.

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

When Samuel finally saw the youngest son, David, he said, “This is the one.”

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

#2 – Ch. 16 – Serving King Saul

In this same chapter, we learn a few things:

• When the Spirit of the Lord entered David, the Spirit also left King Saul, and an evil spirit tormented him.

• David was placed as a servant to the King because he could play the lyre, a small handheld harp and music helped calm Saul

21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” 23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

Here’s where the friendship began

#3 – Ch. 18/19 – Saul Fears David

Chapter 17 is the famous story of David and Goliath, where David instantly goes from zero to hero. He becomes a national celebrity overnight. The crowds even came up with a song:

7 “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

That doesn’t settle well with King Saul. This nobody boy was more popular than him.

8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on, Saul kept a close eye on David.

The next day, Saul was overtaken by an evil spirit and actually threw a javelin at David, trying to pin him to the wall.

David went from the king’s favorite musician to target practice. The dear friendship sours and Saul gets suspicious, erratic, and even violent. He even ordered David to be killed. But at every move, David had integrity and success.

Verse 29 says,

“29 Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days. From friends to suspects to enemies.

King Saul was now actively pursuing David to kill him.

#4 – Ch. 24- David Spares Saul’s Life

David fled with some soldiers. He managed to stay one step ahead of Saul the whole time. Then, in chapters 24 and 26, David spares Saul’s life… twice.

David and his men were hiding in a cave. Right on his tail, Saul happened to go into the same cave to… well, relieve himself.

David’s men tell him to kill Saul—that God is delivering his enemy into his hands. David sneaks up in the dark but only cuts off a corner of his robe. But he was convicted of what he just did.

6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.”

David went out of the cave and stood before he followed Saul out of the cave and confessed to him. He stood before the man trying to kill him and poured his heart out. Saul had the most unexpected response.

16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David, my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.

Saul lets David go. Later, in another city, David had another chance to kill him but didn’t Saul, again, confesses “I have sinned” and calls David his son. But David still fears Saul’s erratic and irrational behavior.

#5 – 2 Samuel 1 – Saul’s Death

First Samuel ends with Saul dying in battle by his own hand. Then, 2 Samuel begins with another unexpected moment. David is heartbroken over Saul’s death. He even writes a beautiful lament psalm for Saul and his son Jonathon.

After his mourning, David was anointed king.

Summary

From strangers to friends to enemies to family but still enemies. David and Saul have a complex relationship, but through it all, David demonstrates unwavering respect and honor for his king.

Application

At the beginning, I promised we’d discover three things: something about God, something about us, and some way to live.

What do we learn about God from David & Saul’s relationship?

There was not a moment of this chaos when God was not sovereign and faithful. He lifted up and took down kings, anointed and removed leaders according to his divine plan.

Despite Saul’s attempts to kill David and thwart God’s plan, God’s will prevails. David eventually takes the throne, showing that human actions cannot undo God’s purposes. God is in control, even when circumstances seem chaotic or when people try to resist His will.

What do we learn about ourselves from this relationship?

We live in a constant tension between obedience and self-will. We struggle between following God’s commands and pursuing our desires.

We are both Saul and David. We are jealous and insecure, erratic and threatening. But we can also be just, obedient, and honoring. The only question is who you are more of and who you are becoming.

What is one way this story can shape how we live?

You might expect me to say: Have patience and trust in God’s timing. But that’s too easy. I’m going to go for something harder.

Honor authority, even when it’s difficult. Speak honorable. Act honorably.

Despite Saul’s attempts to kill him, David consistently respected him as God’s anointed king. He refused to take matters into his own hands, demonstrating the importance of honoring authority, even when the person in authority is unjust.

You will encounter leaders or authority figures who are difficult or unfair. But you honor God when you act with integrity and respect, and you dishonor him when you retaliate, undermine them, or talk behind their backs.

This could be your boss, parents, or even the President-elect in November. In the family of God, there is no place for vilifying the enemy, acts of retribution (even small ones), or taking matters into your own hands.

Conclusion

Honor authority, even when it’s difficult.

The story of David and King Saul is compelling because we wish we could be more like David, but we’re more like Saul. This “buddy cop” story is inspiring because it shows us how we, too, can be a person after God’s own heart.