1 Samuel 18:1-19

God’s Presence Makes a Difference

The unforgettable story of Great Britain's 400m runner Derek Redmond, whose hamstring snapped during his event but was determined to finish the race at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.

Derek Anthony Redmond didn't win a medal at the Barcelona Olympics. In fact, the British 400m runner didn't even make it past the semi-final stage. But it was his determination to finish that will live forever in the minds of millions.

As the gun signaled the start of his semi-final, Redmond charged out of the blocks, making good speed over his first 250m. At that point his right hamstring snapped. He pulled sharply up as the rest of his field ran away from him, leaving Redmond on his knees and crippled, his Olympic dream over. What followed, however, is one of the most memorable moments in Olympic history. Redmond got back to his feet and tried to finish the race. In an act of true courage against adversity, Redmond could only hop on one leg towards the finish line. Pain etched on his face as each step became more painful than the last, Redmond would not give up. He had promised himself and his father, that he would finish the race 'no matter what,' and he would keep that promise. Half way to the finish line on one leg and crying with desperation, Derek was joined by his father Jim. The moment Redmond crossed the finish line brought sixty-five thousand spectators to their feet in a standing ovation, many also in tears. Few can remember that Steve Lewis of the USA won the semi-final. But no one who saw it will ever forget Derek Redmond's courage and his Father’s supportive presence on that day as they crossed the finished line together. His Father’s presence made a difference in that very important race of his life.

The passage we have read today highlights the importance of God’s presence in the life of David.

The key passages in this narrative is found in verse 14 “David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him.” and also in verse 12 “The Lord was with David but had departed from Saul.”

“The Lord’s presence accompanying David made Him prosperous and loved by most people and he became a blessing to people. While the Lord’s absence in Saul’s life made him bitter and jealous and he became a tyrant king.”

In this narrative we find the continued rise of David in the eyes of all Israel people. Slowly God is putting David in the spotlight so that he can fulfill his calling in serving God as the King of Israel and of delivering Israel from the enemies.

Truly no one can hinder God’s plan and purposes, even a skilled giant or even the most powerful man in Israel (King Saul).

God’s presence made a difference in how David responded to the things around him even the unfavorable ones - David did not received the reward promised for defeating Goliath, he experienced jealousy and bitterness from Saul, threatened to kill him twice, betrayed by not giving her the wife promised to him.

2 ways we can respond to the unfavorable situations that we will experience as we fulfill God’s calling in our lives:

I. Submit to God’s will (vv.1-9)

David’s triumph over Goliath made him a star and hero among the Israelites and he caught the attention of King Saul, and in fact he should receive a reward as promised by Saul (17:25).

A. David was kept by Saul to live with Him and was not allowed to return home. (vv.1-4)

David submitted to Saul’s action of retaining him. David was dutiful and obedient to Saul on the task assigned to him. We can’t read anything about Saul giving rewards to David as he promised.

David did not retaliate because he knew that the God who had anointed him as the next king is at work to bring about His purpose of making him the next king.

Jonathan submitted to God’s will as shown by stripping his royal robe and giving them to David as a sign of recognizing David as God’s choice to be the next king of Israel.

B. David was successful in His role but his success made Saul angry and suspicious at David (vv.5-9)

David was given a high rank in the Army and this pleases the people and Saul’s armies. David became a successful leader in the Army.

The women sings songs about David’s victory and portraying David as greater than Saul.

Saul was angry and jealous of David because he was more loved by the people and so he saw David as rival to the throne. Saul already knew that God has promised to take the throne from Him but he could not bring himself to submit to God!

Contrast Saul and David’s heart.

When the heart is right with God, he will prosper and become a blessing to people (v.5; vv.14-15)

When the heart is not right with God, his mind will be preoccupied with evil thoughts and lies (vv.9-10, v.15c, v.19)

In the NT we find that God’s presence accompanies every believer in Christ through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is one of the gifts of salvation by which God’s very presence, in the person of the Spirit, indwells the church corporately and Christians individually, drawing them into the life of the triune God.

John 14:16–18 16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

1 Corinthians 3:16 “16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

God’s presence convicts the heart to respond in away that is offensive to God.

God’s presence encourages the heart to respond in way that is pleasing to God.

God’s indwelling spirit during Pentecost enabled the Disciples to preach the Gospel to thousands of people from different nations. God’s indwelling spirit empowered the Apostles to go out of their comfort zone, and died a martyrs death knowing that death is not the end of life, but a beginning of eternal life with Christ in paradise.

Application:

Be filled by the Spirit and submit to the conviction of the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 NLT

18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

“Being filled with the Spirit is living in the conscious presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, letting His mind, through the Word, dominate everything that is thought and done.”

Submission to God’s will should result to a dedicated service to God.

II. Serve God with complete dedication (vv.10-19)

Here we see David’s dedication and trust in God.

David did not retaliate nor run away despite Saul’s maltreatment and threat (v.10-11).

David did not run away from his calling to save Israel despite the opposition from Saul.

David had to endure Saul’s erratic and evil behavior.

He know that he has to be in that place in Saul’s side if he were to be the next King and serve God as His appointed King.

David was dedicated to fight for Israel (not for Saul) in his given role and lead the people in triumph like a King (unlike Saul). David was successful unlike Saul.

Saul’s kingship is not to serve God but himself for he tried to Kill God’s choice to be the new King after him.

Saul devise a plan or a trap to get rid of David - assign him to the frontline of the battle as commander(v.13), and to fight the Philistines to become the King’s Son-in-law (v.17) , but later betrayed by Saul (v.19).

The key to David’s success is that the Lord is with him. “In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him” (v 14; see also v 28). Even more significant is verse 12: “The Lord was with David but had departed from Saul”.

Because David was dedicated to serve God, he was focused on God’s calling for Him that he endured and he did what was right despite being wronged by Saul. and because God was with David, David was under God’s protection and provision. God provided David success that Saul could not achieve.

Application:

Serve God even if you don’t feel like it.

Do your work bearing in mind that you are working for the Lord.

Colossians 3:23–24 NIV

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Conclusion:

Let us not forget that the Holy Spirit is living in the heart of every believer. God’s presence is with us wherever we go and He sees everything we do and He sees everything we see.

So let us continually submit to Him and faithfully serve Him!

Aiming at God’s Glory in Everything

Wherever man may stand, whatever he may do, to whatever he may apply his hand, in agriculture, in commerce, and in industry, or his mind, in the world of art, and science, he is, in whatever it may be, constantly standing before the face of his God. He is employed in the service of his God, he has strictly to obey his God, and above all, he has to aim at the glory of his God. - Abraham Kuyper