1 Samuel 19:1-24

Cooperating with God In Times of Injustice

Main Point: God’s Providence in time of injustice and evil for the preservation and sanctification of His people

Sermon Purpose: To encourage the believers who have gone through betrayal, evil actions, and injustice to continue doing good deeds and to trust God because God is sovereign to work in every situation to preserve and sanctify those who love God.

Being a Christian, we do good deeds to others because that is our new way of life - to show the love of Christ by doing good to others, for God’s glory.

Sometimes a good deed can result in the opposite of what we expect—an evil reaction.

People we have served seem to have forgotten our faithfulness, and gratitude has faded from their memory. They have forgotten the fruit of our labors, and it has become all about what might inconvenience them. You were there for them at their point of need, but now in your need, they reject your request. It seems like a cruel joke. How could they forget your love and loyalty?

What do you do when you are repaid evil for good?

That is the question that David might have in his head when King Saul, the man he served faithfully and loyally has the evil intent to take his life out of jealousy and envy.

Saul’s heart is not right with God (jealous, insecure, malicious, self-serving) and it shows by how he repeatedly attempted to take David’s life but God protected David by using Jonathan and Michal.

You don’t have control how people will treat you but you have the control how you would treat them back.

Remember the words of Jesus:

Matthew 5:43–45 NASB95

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

The question is not, “What is the right thing for them to do?” The question is, “What is the right thing for me to do?”

Romans 12:21 NLT

21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

3 ways to cooperate with God in times of injustice and persecution since God preserves and sanctifies His people.

I. Listen to godly people

I. Saul planned to kill David and told Jonathan and His servants to kill David (v.1) The heart that is not right with God is inclined to doing evil.

II. Jonathan warned David about Saul’s plan and told David to hide and be on His guard while he convinced Saul to change his mind (vv.2-5) - Jonathan mediated for David. He stood in the gap to defend the innocent David.

III. Saul listened to Jonathan and vowed not to kill David (v.6)

David was delivered because God used Jonathan to do what is right as Jonathan is a godly person.

Timeless Truth: God provides godly people to us - Christians in the church, work place.

God provides people/friends who will be of help to us when in need and to defend us from persecutors.

Godly peoples draws wisdom from God and would give you advise that does not contradict to the Word of God.

Illustration: The ungodly friend would say, “bawsi dayon, ayaw pagansi…kini ay mao ni imong buhaton…”.

It is important to have godly people around us to help us.

Reflection: Can I show the same faithfulness and conviction like Jonathan to defend those who are wronged?

Application:

Develop relationship with godly people in the church and in your workplace.

2. Be that godly person who stands and defends those who are wronged and persecuted.

- A love of a friend is tested in troubled times.

- We are to preserve the reputation of our neighbor.

We are to refuse to give or receive gossips or slander about a brother or sister.

Transition: Listening to godly people is one of the ways to cooperate with God in times of injustice and persecution. As you listen to the guidance of godly people, think of how you can apply them in your situation.

II. Learn to respond evil with good.

David stayed in the court of Saul (v.7)

- He served Saul again. He did not think of taking revenge. David did not hold a grudge against Saul and continued serving and fighting for Israel.

War and David’s great victory over the Philistines (v.8)

Because of David’ victories, Saul had a change of heart (demon oppression) and attempted to kill David and then sent someone to kill David (v.9-11a)

David escaped with the help of his wife Michal (vv.11b-18)

- He did not fight Saul’s men

- He did not say, “I will kill you before you kill me”.

David was delivered because God used Michal to do what is right despite Michal’s questionable character.

God can used anyone to fulfill His purposes.

David composed Psalm 59 as his prayer and thanksgiving for God’s deliverance.

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies.

For the choir director; A Psalm of David, when Saul sent men and they watched the house in order to kill him.

Psalm 59:1–3 NASB95

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me. 2 Deliver me from those who do iniquity And save me from men of bloodshed. 3 For behold, they have set an ambush for my life; Fierce men launch an attack against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord,

Psalm 59:16–17 NASB95

16 But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress. 17 O my strength, I will sing praises to You; For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness.

David was able to avoid retaliating and avenging because David believes that God sees his situation and that God will deliver him (that’s why he said “I shall joyfully sing of your lovingkindness in the morning”)

Jesus was the perfect example of overcoming evil with good:

1 Peter 2:23 NIV

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

In submitting Himself to the evil of His captors, He conquered sin, Satan, and death

The Gospel is a reminder that good overcomes evil.

Jesus overcome our sins by his goodness and mercy, and grace - dying for his enemies. He died on the cross on our behalf.

You can’t overcome evil with good without Christ in your life because you have the sinful nature in you and it is the natural response for man to curse those who curse you and hate those who hate you.

You must repent and believe in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will dwell in you to convict you and comfort you so you can overcome evil with good. So you can forgive the unforgiving. You can love the unlovable. You can be kind to those unkind.

Application:

Respond to evil by copying the character of Christ who is in you.

Remember that God is alway watching and evaluating your choices and He honors those who honor Him.

Transition: Learning to respond evil with good is one of the ways to cooperate with God in times of injustice and persecution. As you learn and grow in responding evil with good, you are being sanctified into Christ-likeness. Learning to respond evil with good will not happen automatically, you need to look to God for help and grace!

III. Look to God

David escaped and came to Samuel at Ramah (v.18).

- David went to Samuel the Prophet, to tell Samuel about what happened and to listen to what the Lord will say through Samuel. David looked for God’s direction.

Saul sent people to search and kill David but was unsuccessful because God intervened (vv.19-21)

Saul went to David to kill him but God intervened again (vv.22-24)

- Saul seemed to forget that David was under God’s protection.

The Holy Spirit intervened and made Saul and his men unable to arrest David because they were immobilized in a trance-like behavior -

The Spirit of God came on Saul to take away his self-control and turn his hostility to prophetic praise.

Even the will of the king is subject to the Lord’s will.

And Saul stripped off his clothes. The aggressive, angry king is humbled, even comically humiliated, before the power of the Lord. Saul’s action here is under the compulsion of God’s Spirit.

God’s will is greater than man’s will.

God intervenes to rescue His people.

Reflection:

When experiencing injustice and persecution, do I look to God for guidance and comfort?

Will I trust God to accompany me in my time of troubles?

Application:

A. Look to God for guidance and strength. Don’t look for guidance from the world.

B. Look to God by reading and meditation on His Holy and Living Word.

Conclusion:

Injustice and persecution is expected even if you are doing good deed to others. But Be encouraged and continue doing good deeds for God’s glory because God is sovereign to work in every situation to preserve and sanctify those who love God.