1 Samuel 23-24; The Matter at Hand

Introduction

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This week, I have been thinking about an introduction for our text this morning. As I pondered and thought about different stories, I kept feeling like I couldn’t get a hold on the right introduction. So I decided put take the matter at hand and put it in the hands of the Lord. I decided to not try to hold onto it but put it in the hands of the Lord.

Need

Instead of trying to hold on to something and making the situation (or sermon worse), we must learn to hand it over to God.

Topic

This morning, we are going to see how David was willing to entrust his life to the hadn of the Lord. We are also going to see how God’s sovereign hand orchestrates all things.

Referent

1 Samuel 23-24

Organization

David’s Hands Save (vs. 1-14)

David’s Hands are Strengthened (vs. 15-19)

David’s Hands Spare (vs. 1-22)

Read 1-14

Sermon in a sentence:

I am handing it over to God.

David’s Hands Save (vs. 1-14)

v. 1 David saves Israelites from the Philistines

David is fighting the Philistines; which is Saul’s responsibility.

Saul’s determination to kill David has literally cost the lives of many of God’s people.

v. 6 & 9 God’s presence is with David

Remember, Saul and Samuel have not exchanged words since chapter 15 when Samuel told the king that the kingdom had been torn from Saul. (1 Sam 19 - we see Saul prophesying naked before Samuel).

God is speaking to David. Saul will not have the same intimacy with God. (1 Sam 28 - the Witch of En-dor)

vs. 4 , 7 , 14 - It is God’s hand who is doing the true saving

God uses David as the means by which he will bring about salvation.

Like David, Jesus would be betrayed by the very ones that he came to save.

When David was going to be betrayed, he did not seek vengeance upon the city. He didn’t burn the town or try to kill those in the city. Instead, he turned to the Lord for his salvation. Likewise, the Lord Jesus did not curse those that crucified him. Instead, he entrusted his soul into his father’s hands.

Dear saints, when those around us betray us or hurt us, how do we respond? Is the instinct to curse those that hurt us. Do we turn the other cheek or pray for their destruction?

Deuteronomy 32:35 “35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’”

David’s Hands are Strengthened (vs. 15-29)

Read 15-29

v. 16 Jonathan strengthens David’s hands

Saul couldn’t find David but his son Jonathan could.

Its not like Jonathan could call David on the bat-phone

Its like the author is once again reminding us of how we first met Saul. The boy that was incapable of finding his father’s donkeys can’t find the shepherd boy either.

Jonathan comes and encourages David in the darkest days of David’s life.

v. 17 - Jonathan’s words are like a knife

The author of 1 Samuel drops us a bombshell here.

This is the last time David and Jonathan will be together.

Encouragement can be one of the greatest blessings you give someone. There are times in the dark night of the soul that people don’t need anything more than for you to be there with them.

I recently saw a video and a former chaplain at a children’s hospital said, “Don’t just do something, stand there.” Are you willing to just stand there with a brother or sister for awhile as their world is falling apart? Are you willing to give an encouraging word or show your support in those times?

v. 21 - Saul really blesses the Ziphites for their “compassion”

Saul is so blinded to his sin. As soon as the name Yahweh came out of his lips, he should have repented.

vs. 27-28 God strengthens David’s hands by bringing about his salvation

We say that God used David to deliver Keilah from the Philistines. Now, God uses the Philistines to deliver David from Saul.

Let us be careful brothers and sisters that we do not disguise God’s blessing or compassion with sin.

We can cover up our sin by rationalizing it. “God wouldn’t have given me this opportunity unless he wanted me to take it.”

David’s Hands Spare (vs. 1-22)

Read 24:1-13

vs. 6, 10 David’s Hands Spare Saul’s life

David is in a life or death situation, yet, he doesn’t take matters into his own hands.

He knows that God will give him the kingdom, but he will not take it by force.

He would have been right to kill Saul, but he knew that this man was still God’s anointed.

We need to be careful how we bring this over to the modern day.

Pastors/elders/teachers/leaders/etc… are not kings in a special time of revelation history

David had 600 men. They were siding with David not the king in power.

Even Saul’s guards rejected Saul’s command to kill the priests.

vs. 21-22 David once again makes a covenant to spare Saul’s lineage

As we will later see in 2 Samuel, David will be true to his covenant. He will not blot out the house of Saul.

Saul was worried about David killing his family. However, like everything else in Saul’s life, the very thing he fears is the thing that he is going to cause to happen. He will be the reason why he and his three sons die in battle.

Saul’s repentance was only temporary. He will once again seek to kill David in chapter 26. Do not allow our sin and shame to be too short. What are you talking about? Don’t let our shame and guilt be a temporary hurt. We need our sin to convict us in a way that we are constantly reminded, not condemned.

Conclusion

As the great theologian Carrie Underwood once said, Jesus take the wheel. Give your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. He knows what to do with it better than you ever will.

Ask the Lord if there is anything in your life that you have not been willing to let go of. Maybe you need to let go of the hurt or pain of the past. Maybe you need to make things right with your brother or sister in Christ. This week, especially as we meditate upon the Lord’s Supper, let us be willing to hand it over to God.