TBO Psalms: In the Presence of My Enemies
The Book of Psalms • Sermon • Submitted
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How does God lead us in worship when times are difficult? How does God lead us to worship when we don’t feel like worshiping? What does it look like to worship when your life is on the line?
David was just a lowly shepherd boy. He cared about his flock and tended to them as if they were his own. He loved the Lord and worked hard to please Him in all that he did. In just a short time David had gone form sitting under trees in the shade to slaying giants, fighting wars, and fleeing for his life from a king he once called friend. There was nothing peaceful about his circumstances. You might wonder if David ever longed to be back home in Bethlehem, sitting under a tree, listening to the gentle bleating of his sheep as he plucked away at the lyre. Regardless of how he felt, David shows us what it looked like to be a worshipper.
Last week we talked about how Jonathan had been a true friend to David. He made a covenant with him and ensured that David would escape Saul safely. We pick up today with David on the run from Saul, fleeing for his life as Saul pursues him from town to town. This chapter in David’s life would be very influential in shaping the king he would be. Within this short period of time, David writes five Psalms. Each one shows us David’s heart of worship as he wrestles with his environment, and although Psalm 23 probably isn’t one of the ones he wrote during this time, it gives us a good perspective about who God is in the midst of all the chaos.
Who is God? Why is He worthy of our worship?
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
David sees the Lord as his shepherd. As the good shepherd the Lord cares and protects us. All our needs are found in him.
He cares for us when we are in seasons of peace and comfort.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
He cares for us when we are in seasons of heartache
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
With his staff He draws us in and with His staff He fights off our enemies. Death cannot harm us when we’re under the Shepherd’s care.
He cares for us even when our path leads us before those that wish to cause us harm.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
David found himself eating with his enemies often, but even there God continued to protect him.
Where David should have found distress and harm in his situation he found instead the goodness and faithful love of His good shepherd.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
What does this say about the kind of God we are worshiping? He loves us, He cares for us, He provides for us. Even in valleys of shadows and death, even when our table is in the presence of our enemies, our God is with us. We find that the only way to respond to the great care God demonstrates for us as Good Shepherd is to respond in worship.
David begins his escape after Jonathan warns him by shooting his arrow past where David was hiding. His journey brought him to Nob. Nob was a priestly city in the land of Benjamin. It was a town that Saul would have been familiar with having come from the tribe of Benjamin but it was also one that David knew would provide him refuge. David comes to a priest named Ahimelech for assistance.
David went to the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech was afraid to meet David, so he said to him, “Why are you alone and no one is with you?” David answered the priest Ahimelech, “The king gave me a mission, but he told me, ‘Don’t let anyone know anything about the mission I’m sending you on or what I have ordered you to do.’ I have stationed my young men at a certain place. Now what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever can be found.” The priest told him, “There is no ordinary bread on hand. However, there is consecrated bread, but the young men may eat it only if they have kept themselves from women.” David answered him, “I swear that women are being kept from us, as always when I go out to battle. The young men’s bodies are consecrated even on an ordinary mission, so of course their bodies are consecrated today.” So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, for there was no bread there except the Bread of the Presence that had been removed from the presence of the Lord. When the bread was removed, it had been replaced with warm bread. One of Saul’s servants, detained before the Lord, was there that day. His name was Doeg the Edomite, chief of Saul’s shepherds. David said to Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword on hand? I didn’t even bring my sword or my weapons since the king’s mission was urgent.” The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want to take it for yourself, then take it, for there isn’t another one here.” “There’s none like it!” David said. “Give it to me.”
This story leads us to an interesting conflict of character. Should David eat the consecrated bread of the priests. He was not from the tribe of Levi and did not serve as priest in Israel and so technically should not have been allowed to eat the bread under the law. As we talk about worship it’s important to remember that God desires our hearts more than He desires sacrifice. This doesn’t mean we can disobey what God has commanded us as long as our hearts desire Him. It means that our relationship inspires action and not the other way around. David understood that the Law was made for mankind to show how to be holy. Man was not made for the Law instead man was made for relationship with God. So although David did not fulfill the letter of the law in eating the bread, David fulfilled the spirit of the law in remaining holy and centered on his relationship with God his good shepherd.
This question of character would appear over a thousand years later as the Pharisees accused Jesus’ disciples of breaking the Talmud and sinning against God on the Sabbath. In Jesus’ day you had the Law and you had the Talmud. The Law was the first five books of the Bible, inspired by God and given to the people to live by. The Talmud was a list of man-made oral traditions created to ensure the Law would not be broken. They were not equal in their authority but were treated as such by the Pharisees. If the law said to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, the Talmud would say you can’t walk over a mile and a half or your guilty of working and not resting on the Sabbath.
At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry: how he entered the house of God, and they ate the bread of the Presence—which is not lawful for him or for those with him to eat, but only for the priests? Or haven’t you read in the law that on Sabbath days the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Part of worshipping in our difficult circumstances is recognizing that Jesus is our rest. When we are worn out and burnt out not feeling like worshipping, Jesus reminds us it’s not about duty. It’s about recognizing Him as the Lord of rest, coming to Him, and finding Him to be our comfort and ever-present help in times of danger.
And so David flees to Gath. The home of Goliath the Philistine. Here is David carrying the sword of the man whose head he cut off and is now staying in his hometown. Do you think David was welcomed into that city? Here we have the first of five Psalms that David writes during this time.
For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.” A Miktam of David. When the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be gracious to me, God, for a man is trampling me; he fights and oppresses me all day long. My adversaries trample me all day, for many arrogantly fight against me. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? They twist my words all day long; all their thoughts against me are evil. They stir up strife, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life. Will they escape in spite of such sin? God, bring down the nations in wrath. You yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know: God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere humans do to me? I am obligated by vows to you, God; I will make my thanksgiving sacrifices to you. For you rescued me from death, even my feet from stumbling, to walk before God in the light of life.
David knows men can’t do harm to him. Look at that beautiful stanza in verse 3-4.
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?
With his words, David paints a picture of his worship. Think of a circle. Fear on the outside ring with a shield of “I shall not be afraid”, with a layer of “I will put my trust in You”, with praise to God in the center. Here in the middle of it all David finds a place to worship and it’s under the trust and protection of God. His response? What can mortals do to me? Incredible. Here’s the list of all mankind might do to me but You are God and if You are for me who can be against me? It almost sounds like Paul read the old testament when he wrote in Romans
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
While David is in Gath he pretends to be insane. It says that he scribbles on the doors of the city gate and has slobber all over his mouth and beard. The king sees David and says
“Look! You can see the man is crazy,” Achish said to his servants. “Why did you bring him to me? Do I have such a shortage of crazy people that you brought this one to act crazy around me? Is this one going to come into my house?”
David is able to avoid danger and even make his way to Moab where he can protect his family and rally 400 men to stand with him against Saul. Here we get another Psalm from David.
Concerning David, when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech, who drove him out, and he departed. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will boast in the Lord; the humble will hear and be glad. Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him from all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him! You who are his holy ones, fear the Lord, for those who fear him lack nothing. Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing. Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is someone who desires life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry for help. The face of the Lord is set against those who do what is evil, to remove all memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit. One who is righteous has many adversities, but the Lord rescues him from them all. He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken. Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. The Lord redeems the life of his servants, and all who take refuge in him will not be punished.
David responds to his circumstance with blessing and exaltation of God. He sings of how God has heard his prayer and how his face is radiant with joy. There is nothing about acting crazy to avoid death that screams joy to me. Here he is surrounded by his enemies and what does he say? The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them. Even when he is surrounded his enemies it is the Lord that encamps around and protects him. That is something worth singing about. How do we worship when our life is on the line? We do it without fear knowing that God is near to those who have put their trust in Him.
Saul desperately wanted to catch David and kill him but could not find where he was. It wasn’t until Doeg the Edomite spoke out and told Saul where David had gone. Doeg willingly lead Saul to Nob where David had recieved the sword of Goliath and bread from the priests. When Saul and his men got to Nob Saul accused the priests of conspiring against him. He ordered his servants to kill the priests but when they would not do it Doeg stepped in and killed the 85 priests along with all the women, children, babies, oxen, donkeys, and sheep that were in the town. He killed everything. When David heard his heart was heavy. He knew Doeg was there the day he came to Nob and felt responsible for what had happened. In response to this David writes another Psalm.
For the choir director. A Maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite went and reported to Saul, telling him, “David went to Ahimelech’s house.” Why boast about evil, you hero! God’s faithful love is constant. Like a sharpened razor, your tongue devises destruction, working treachery. You love evil instead of good, lying instead of speaking truthfully. Selah You love any words that destroy, you treacherous tongue! This is why God will bring you down forever. He will take you, ripping you out of your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah The righteous will see and fear, and they will derisively say about that hero, “Here is the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, taking refuge in his destructive behavior.” But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God; I trust in God’s faithful love forever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done. In the presence of your faithful people, I will put my hope in your name, for it is good.
Worship is not something done for selfish gain. It is done because God is worthy. David lived a life of worship and it put him in the crosshairs. He could have lived selfishly and been comfortable doing it, but he knew doing what was right was more important than doing what was easy.
No rest for the weary. David soon after this was led by God into battle against the Philistines. Even though Saul was still chasing him, David went and protected the city of Keilah from the Philistines. The defense of the city announced to Saul the location of David and his men. David prayed and asked God if the city he defended would provide refuge for him or hand him over to Saul, and after the Lord told David he would be handed over if he stayed, David fled to a cave narrowly escaping Saul’s army. A Philistine attack delayed Saul and gave David enough time to hide and write another Psalm.
For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. When he fled before Saul into the cave. Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me, for I take refuge in you. I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings until danger passes. I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He reaches down from heaven and saves me, challenging the one who tramples me. Selah God sends his faithful love and truth. I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among devouring lions— people whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth. They prepared a net for my steps; I was despondent. They dug a pit ahead of me, but they fell into it! Selah My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident. I will sing; I will sing praises. Wake up, my soul! Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your faithful love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches the clouds. God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth.
Here David once again finds refuge not in a cave but in God. The weapons of Saul surround him yet David tuns to praise. “God be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth.” Despite his situation he is confident in that the Lord is a good shepherd. He says, “ My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident. I will sing; I will sing praises. Wake up, my soul! Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.” Why? because God’s faithful love extends past the clouds into the heavens. From David’s view God’s love stretched upward to heaven, but what he didn’t know is that soon God’s love would stretch downward from heaven as Jesus would come and die on the cross for sin. This everlasting love would have His arms stretched out and nailed to a tree taking on all the shame and guilt and pain of God’s wrath only to be raised again on the third day in victory over sin and death. The love of our God truly is cause for worship.
This chapter of Saul’s pursuit of David would end with an act of mercy. As David hid in the cave Saul came in to relive himself. Not knowing he was in the cave, Saul stood defenseless against David. Sword in hand David crept up behind Saul, but rather than end the pursuit and take Saul’s life, David simply cuts the corner off of Saul’s robe. Rather than lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed and take his rightful place on the throne David chose mercy and spared Saul’s life. Listen to the fifth Psalm David writes.
A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer. I cry aloud to the Lord; I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him; I reveal my trouble to him. Although my spirit is weak within me, you know my way. Along this path I travel they have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see: no one stands up for me; there is no refuge for me; no one cares about me. I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my shelter, my portion in the land of the living.” Listen to my cry, for I am very weak. Rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Free me from prison so that I can praise your name. The righteous will gather around me because you deal generously with me.
David cries out to the Lord for mercy, to be delivered from the hand of Saul and to have freedom from the prison of his circumstance. And in a moment the Lord answered the prayer and put Saul right into David’s hands. Sometimes God answers our prayers exactly how we ask them and in doing so shows our hearts that we wanted something different all along. In that moment David realized that his comfort was not worth Saul’s life, and even though he didn’t deserve it, David recognized that Saul needed mercy just as much as he did. David realized that God was in control. That his circumstance was not bigger than God’s love. He chose mercy and forgiveness rather than judgement. I love the story of David because it reminds me so much of the story of Jesus. Even when Jesus’ attackers mocked Him and beat Him, He chose mercy and forgiveness.
How does God lead us in worship when times are difficult? How does God lead us to worship when we don’t feel like worshiping? What does it look like to worship when your life is on the line?
From the mouth of the cave David told Saul what had happened. He showed Saul the corner of his robe and the mercy he had shown him. Saul was broken by the character of David, stopped his pursuit of David, and went home.