The Flex and Fall of Amalekites

Have you ever been in a situation when you were tempted to say, “at least it can’t get any worse.”? I think Job may disagree when all his children were killed. I think Daniel may disagree when his captivity was elevated to the den of lions. I think Jesus may have disagreed when his arrest was turned into a death conviction.

Whenever we find ourselves in dark moments, it is wise to ask if this is pain caused by my own foolishness, if this pain is sent by the evil one to tempt us away from God, or if this pain is just discipline to bring us closer to God.

Job 5:17–18 (ESV) — “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. 18For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.

Transition: This morning we find David in a mixture of reasons 1 & 3 for His pain. He had gotten himself into a mess, but God is about to draw him closer than ever.

David’s Glory begins to flicker (chapter 29)

Other Land Owners saw the Fear of the Lord spreading (29:1-5)

I told you last week that David’s rent-a-Army was a temporary “Tranquility” because Achish was happy with plundered goods and David was happy with the reputation of his might.

We see today that the Philistine commanders realize the reputation of their strength is not spreading. Just as Egypt began to fear the strength of the Hebrews from within, the Philistines develop the same fear.

29:1 - The Philistines are gathering SE of Tel-Aviv (near modern Lod) in Aphek. David’s men are camped near Jezreel (near Nazareth, north of Samaria/Galilee border [the top of the backwards “B” of modern Israel]). So although David is in cahoots with Achish, he finds refuge in land of the Conquest.

When the name between the shoulders become more famous than the name on the chest, conflict is coming. When personal statistics become more important than team victories, jealousy will raise its ugly head.

David kept his word to Achish (29:6-11)

To use a culinary metaphor, The head chef (Achish) is fully pleased with his sous chef (David), but the prep cooks and the waitstaff think the sous chef is getting too much attention. They are worried that he may start his own restaurant and not give them time to prepare. So they run him out of the kitchen on THEIR schedule.

God is sparing David from alliance with Philistines

David’s rent-a-guard is not wicked or disobedient, but it is a distraction from God’s calling on his life. Ever since 27:1 David has gotten himself into a mess.

God is preparing David for something greater, and sometimes the comfortable gets in the way of the best.

When things look dim, they may be about to get Dark (30:1-6a)

As the men approach Ziklag, they see smoke (vv.1-2)

50-60 mile journey so 3 days is about to be expected when moving on foot.

As the men arrive in Ziklag, they find devastation (v.3)

Rather than putting up one’s feet after a 3 day hike, their fatigue causes grumbling to David.

I heard one preacher focus on this scene as evidence of what happens when a man neglects his home. If one is too concerned with his work or his hobbies, he may find himself mopping up a mess that could have been avoided if he had made husbandry and fathering a priority.

In the distress, Don’t Give Up! (vv.4-6a)

We do a disservice to our spiritual formation when we give up too soon. When we claim “this isn’t what I signed up for”. When we imply that a person’s troubles will all go away if they receive Christ, we are just kicking the can down the street, because there is always a conflict between willful submission to Christ and the grip that sin has on our hurts, habits, and hangups.

There is value to lament, to admitting that things are not as they should be.

Transition: So if neither giving up because of pain, nor denial of real pain are the solutions, what should we do when pain’s hurt begins to expand?

When Things are Dark, Turn on the Light (30:6b-8)

David Turns to the person of God (6b)

A couple of weeks ago our worship team led us in a song that included the lyrics, “hereto I raise my Ebeneezer.” We had a brief discussion during sound check to make sure the whole team knew what they were singing. An Ebeneezer was a memorial to an encounter with God. Sometimes we find ourselves in drift and we need to go back to the last place we knew we were in fellowship with God. For the patriarchs that often meant a trip to Beth-el

To avoid chasing OUR IMAGE of God, it is essential that our picture of the person of God coincides with His Word.

David Turns to the truth of God (7-8)

In David’s day that looked like Urim and Thummim

Today that looks like the Word of God. Read it, Know it, Meditate upon it, Listen to it!

When Given a Command, Go! (30:9-15)

David Obey’s immediately with Abrahamic faith (vv.9-10)

I don’t know where I’m going, but God said go!

There is all the difference in the world between reckless presumption and immediate obedience.

There truly are people who are called to the “up and outers” who are far from God, but “God calling you to Hawaii to do beach ministry should really be confirmed by other believers.,

Normally reckless presumption means going in a direction that seems pleasant to us. Faithful obedience means a willingness to overcome obstacles in order to be centered in God’s will.

God supplies inside information who becomes a personal guide (vv.11-15)

When obedience is prompted by faith, God’s confirmation will be undeniable.

They encounter a young man from northern Africa, who dropped both the word Amalekite and word Ziklag in his story. Those words must have been like red meat to David’s men, but rather than kill him on the spot, he becomes a guide into the camp of the real culprits.

In Darkness, Receive Grace (30:16-20)

The men experience easy victory early and often over a group of drunks (vv.16-17)

To David’s men who had already experienced victories in 10:1 battles, David’s men were highly motivated and the enemy were like fish in a barrel.

>>David brought back all (v.19) <<

(v.20) the switch from penniless to wealthy happened so quickly that greed swept into the 400.

Grace is Sufficient for All (30:21-30)

David experienced Grace so He gave Grace (vv.21-25)

Front lines and supply lines both received from the victory.

David is laying a framework for his kingdom. More important than works-based reward, with be a culture of mercy and grace.

David spread his portion among all the places he has been since he began running from Saul (vv.26-31)

David is a Type of Christ (vv.18-19)

David Restores all and brings his people home.

Jesus Redeems all that sin damages and He brings His people to their eternal home!

Conclusion:

Never allow pain to tempt you to give up!

Always turn to God when things seem dark!

As David pointed toward Christ, we have opportunity to reflect Christ!

Receive His Grace

Allow Jesus Christ to heal/restore what is broken

Trust Jesus to bring you home!

Finally, when you have tasted God’s grace, serve the same to others.

Song of Response #116.......... “Take the Name of Jesus”

Benediction: Revelation 1:4 (ESV) —…Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,