1 Samuel #23: An exposition of 1 Samuel 22:6-23. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, June 24, 2012.
Intro:
To believe in Christ is to be given life eternal and abundant. It is to have the assurance of God’s love and care now and forevermore. To stand at a graveside and know the deep, abiding peace of your loved one’s presence with God is beyond measure. To hear a doctor say, “It’s a tumor,” and yet, in that moment, sense the loving presence of God is overwhelming. To read in Daniel 6 of God’s protection of his servant in the lion’s den is to thrill to the wonder of God’s power and grace. Or to be reminded of the Hebrew children’s dance in the fire and God’s deliverance can make even a Baptist shout! But such passages do not remove the pain and confusion of Acts 7 as we look in the bottom of that pit and witness his broken body, crushed by an angry mob. Nor do they silence the questions raised by those dear saints in Hebrews 11 who were tortured, imprisoned, sawed in two, and who wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. What happens with your theology when you do all the right things, you believe, you trust, you affirm and yet all hell breaks loose? “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” just doesn’t seem to cut it when your family and your village is wiped out!
He was anointed king. God’s hand was obviously on his life as he moved from victory to victory. So what is he doing hiding out in a cave with 400 misfits while an ungodly tyrant clamors for his life? Is God in control or not? Our text this evening is found in 1 Samuel chapter 22.
Text: 1 Samuel 22:6-23
Context:
With 1 Samuel 22:5 we leave David and his 400 hiding in the forest of Hereth, somewhere in Judah.
With verse 6 we move north to Gibeah. At our last sighting of Saul he was hurling a spear at his son Jonathan due to his defense of David’s innocence. As we arrive Saul has just received word that David has been sighted.
The contrast is great.
David in hiding, on the run.
Saul in security surrounded by his servants (wording may indicate holding court).
Yet the truth is David was secure and Saul was uneasy!
Saul is filled with fear.
22:7 – Saul speaks to his servants/advisors, “Men of Benjamin.”
They are all from Saul’s tribe!
Apparently he doesn’t trust anyone else.
It is also clear that he is paranoid.
He doesn’t even trust his servants – 7:7-8.
He doesn’t sound too secure does he? There was no evidence that a conspiracy existed. No evidence that his servants were disloyal. He was surrounded by his cronies. They all profited from his ways. Why would they oppose him? They wouldn’t!
As we work through this text here is what I want us to see:
Thesis: Peace, in times of opposition and severe trial, demands that you keep your focus on the grand truth of God’s sovereignty.
There are three great truths reflected in this text.
- In the face of hostility and fierce opposition the people of God rest secure in the certainty of God’s sovereign control. (22:6-18)
- God’s sovereignty does not always translate into peace and deliverance in this life. (22:16-19).
- While God’s sovereignty does not guarantee my personal safety it does ensure the preservation and triumph of His church. (22:20-23)
Conclusion:
Life in this fall world is filled with heartache and despair. In this world injustice is common place.
The only thing that can give you peace is to cling to the precious truth of God’s sovereign rule. That doesn’t mean that you will live in peace and escape turmoil. It doesn’t mean that you will not be the victim of some ruthless tyrant. But it does mean that you are part of something grand. The church of the Lord Jesus and the kingdom of God which cannot fail!