Study of 1 Samuel #24: an exposition of 1 Samuel 24:1-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, July 29, 2012.
Intro:
David’s journey to the throne was long and difficult – why? He was a man after God’s own heart. He was chosen by God to rule over Israel. God rejected Saul and anointed David. So why all those years of pain, persecution, hiding out and running? Do you ever get frustrated with the way God is running the universe? If you say, “No.” I have to wonder what else you lie about! His ways are not our ways neither are His thoughts our thoughts. There are times I’m left scratching my head. I’m not saying God is wrong. I’m not questioning His grace, mercy, kindness or wisdom I’m saying I don’t get it. I’m saying I struggle to understand. Yet, by faith, I accept it. By faith I trust Him. If you think David hid out in caves and scurried from village to village in perfect, unwavering faith you are, at best, naive. David was a godly man but he was a man. A frail child of dust. A son of Adam. A man of flesh and bone who struggle like the rest of us. Yet in the midst of the struggle he demonstrated enormous courage and profound faithfulness. How did he do it? What is it that sustained him through those dark, troublesome days? I’m convinced he was carried along by his confidence in the fact that God was always present and at work in everything. David pillowed his head on the doctrine of divine sovereignty. Our text this evening is found in the 24th chapter of 1 Samuel.
Text: 1 Samuel 24:1-22
David has rescued the village of Keilah and narrowly escaped from the hand of Saul.
As the chapter 24 opens David has found on a home on the western shore of the Dead Sea, several hundred feet up a large cliff in the wilderness of Engedi.
Word reaches Saul about David’s whereabouts and Saul takes 3000 choice men and is in pursuit.
24:1-2 sets the context.
Here is the principle I want us to learn from this chapter:
Thesis: On the long, winding, road of biblical faithfulness believers must learn to trust in God’s abiding presence and providential working.
God is always there regardless of the circumstances. Whether you sense His presence or not, and whenever He is present, He is at work. Too often we judge God’s presence by what we see or feel. We determine His working by whether we like what is happening or see its potential for our God. The problem is we are not reliable witnesses. When it comes to spiritual matters we are notoriously shortsighted and dull.
Throughout this chapter David trusts in God’s presence and work. I want to show you how that trust is manifested.
Three things I want to point out.
- To trust in God’s abiding presence is to see beyond the “obvious.” (24:3-7)
- To trust in God’s abiding presence is leave the outcome in God’s hands. (24:8-15)
- To trust in God’s abiding presence is to remain faithful yet vigilant. (24:16-22)
Conclusion:
The road of faith is long, winding and at times treacherous. Survival, perseverance demands that you trust in God’s abiding presence and providential working. He is always present and always working for His glory and your good.
Look beyond the obvious.
Leave the outcome to Him.
Be faithful yet vigilant.