“Desperate” - 1 Samuel 21

On July 30, 1945, the battle cruiser USS Indianapolis was returning from a mission delivering enriched uranium to allied forces in the Pacific. It did not make it home. A Japanese torpedo hit the cruiser on its way back. It sank in minutes. In only 12 minutes, 300 of the 1,200 men died. Nine hundred went into the water, enduring four days and five nights without food, without water, and under the blazing sun of the Pacific. Of the 900 men that went into the water, only 316 survived the lack of water and the sharks. One of those who survived was the chief medical officer, who recorded his own experience. He wrote:

There was nothing I could do, nothing I could do but give advice, bury the dead at sea, save the lifejackets, and try to keep the men from drinking the water. When the hot sun came out, and we were in this crystal clear ocean, we were so thirsty. You couldn't believe it wasn't good enough to drink. I had a hard time convincing the men they shouldn't drink. The real young ones…you take away their hope, you take away their water and food, they would drink the salt water and they would go fast. I can remember striking the ones who were drinking the salt water to try to stop them. They would get dehydrated, then become maniacal. There were mass hallucinations. I was amazed how everyone would see the same thing. One man would see something, and then everyone else would see it. Even I fought the hallucinations off and on. Something always brought me back.

Sometimes when we are desperate we do desperate things. Definition - feeling, showing, or involving a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with. Sometimes we get into these kinds of situations where we do become desperate and do the unthinkable… Lying, stealing, cheating, eating gross things, desperate for a date for prom, for attention, for money, for acceptance... some sell organs, let a medical researcher inject with salt water to observe severe pain, a 5th grader took $20 to let someone stab him in the hand with a fork. Snorted wasabi for $2. It goes on.

The following are some examples of desperate people doing desperate things in America….

The following are some examples of desperate people doing desperate things in America….

For example, one grandmother in Florida has been accused of trying to sell her newborn grandson for $75,000. In another incident, a Vancouver, Washington woman has been charged with trying to sell her newborn baby in front of Taco Bell. She was only trying to get somewhere between $500 and $5000 for her baby.

In another incident, a Vancouver, Washington woman has been charged with trying to sell her newborn baby in front of Taco Bell. She was only trying to get somewhere between $500 and $5000 for her baby.

In fact, some desperate Americans are now purposely committing crimes just so that they can be arrested and receive free medical care. Yes, you heard that correctly. There are 50 million Americans without health insurance and some of them are now purposely breaking the law so that they can go to prison and receive the care that they need. Liver and kidney transplants.

Yes, you read that correctly. There are 50 million Americans without health insurance and some of them are now purposely breaking the law so that they can go to prison and receive the care that they need.

In the old days, thieves would usually only focus on items of high value. But these days it seems like there is nothing that they will not steal. There have been reports coming in from all over America of thieves stealing air conditioners, drain covers, hair extensions and even embalming fluid.

When people get desperate, they will often do things that they never even imagined that they would be willing to do. In Utah recently, an unemployed 28-year-old man starting running advertisements in which he actually offered to serve as “human prey” for hunters for the bargain price of $10,000. For an additional $2,000, he said that he would be willing to allow hunters to “hunt” him down while running around naked.

When criminals become desperate, they often lose all common sense. In the San Diego area recently, one desperate thief actually tried to rob a 7-11 convenience store while dressed in a Gumby costume. In the Cleveland area, two young boys that had set up a lemonade stand were robbed in broad daylight. The crooks got away with approximately 12 dollars. In Oklahoma, thieves recently broke into a church and stole “arts and crafts supplies meant to help teach bible stories to children”.

#13 In the Cleveland area, two young boys that had set up a lemonade stand were robbed in broad daylight. The crooks got away with approximately 12 dollars. In Oklahoma, thieves recently broke into a church and stole “arts and crafts supplies meant to help teach bible stories to children”.

#14 In Oklahoma, thieves recently broke into a church and stole “arts and crafts supplies meant to help teach bible stories to children”.

It is amazing how much this kind of mentality and exercise has made its way into the church. Yearly paradigm shifts, compromise of essential doctrines, compromise of church traditions, blatant disregard for the scriptures, favoritism, fear, spiritual abuse, immorality, legalism, control, the list goes on.

Have we ever been so desperate that we have done things we know we should not have done? Have we done some of the unthinkable? Things we might be ashamed of. What is it that leads us to that? It is called unbelief. Is there hope for our desperation and unbelief today? Yes. We will take a look at this in our passage today.

David went to see Ahimelech the priest in Nob for help. Ahimelech became very nervous when he saw that David was alone and asked why. David told Ahimelech that he is on a secret mission and he is to say nothing to anyone. He says that he is not alone and that his men will join him later. I’ll make it quick… we need food. Can we get some bread and anything else you got? Well, said Ahimelech, we do not have regular bread, but we have holy bread and if you and your men have not slept with a woman recently then you can have it. The bread of the presence was only to be eaten by the priests, but some exceptions can be made for exceptional situations like death. It is ok if you guys eat it in a levirate way. We can only eat the bread if we are ritually clean. If you are at least ritually unclean by not having sex, then ok. Sex makes you unclean for the day. There is no need to worry; my men keep themselves pure when we are on campaign. Ok, thanks for the food, but do you also have any weapons? Now Ahimelech was probably suspicious now, but it was David… the slayer of Goliath. We don’t have any weapons because we had to leave so fast that we did not have time to get any. Uh huh… Ahimelech is probably singing to himself… there a’int no way to hide your lying eyes. Ok well all we have is Goliath’s sword. You can have that. Nice ok I’ll take it. Then David goes to King Akeesh in Gath. Huh? What was he thinking? Going to Goliath’s town with Goliath’s sword looking for sanctuary? Well as you might have guessed, the people were not happy about it when they recognized him. David became afraid. He began to act insane. He started scratching doors and drooling on his beard. The king said, don’t bring him here… get rid of him. You just can’t make this stuff up.

1 Samuel 21:8–9 NLT

David asked Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword? The king’s business was so urgent that I didn’t even have time to grab a weapon!” “I only have the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah,” the priest replied. “It is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. Take that if you want it, for there is nothing else here.” “There is nothing like it!” David replied. “Give it to me!”

The Grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.

1. Desperation to Deception

2. Desperation to the Deranged

Desperation to the Deranged

3. His Devotion to Deliverance

His Devotion to Deliverance

The first thing we will look at today is how desperation can lead to real deception and we will witness how when desperation increases so does the lying. The second thing we will see is how our desperation can also lead to deranged behavior. Doing the unthinkable. Finally, we will see that even though our desperation leads to disobedience, Christ and his devotion leads to deliverance.

Though life in a sinful world with sinful people may come to a real state of desperation causing insanity, irrationality, and even deception, it is the grace and provision of Christ that will bring the provisions that we need, the repairs that we need, the freedom that we need, and the praise that will result from it all.

I. Desperation to Deception

- Sometimes when we get desperate, we may struggle with being truthful.

But thou shalt not bear false witness was for our benefit.

A. David in his desperation, in fleeing from the wrath of Saul, went to Ahimelech for help and was less than honest. He lied about the mission and the men, why and when, now and then. And let’s be honest… they were not even good lies. Clearly we see fear in David and even the desperation that results from possible self-pity.

B. What in the world did I ever do to Saul. All I have ever done was for the best of the King and the people. Why? It is amazing how this kind of thinking can lead to desperate and deceptive things. Fear leading to Lying is one of them. But a couple of things here.

C. We may be quick to pass judgment on the lies of many of the saints in scripture. Thinking that the lie is an immediate cause for judgment of God. And a huge smear of their character. Now some will say that David should not have received any of God’s provisions here because he lied. There should have been no grace for him. He lied. Like Abraham, like Jacob, like Rahab, like even Jeremiah. But they still received the grace of God and still prospered. Yet we are quick to judge?

D. The text here neither justifies nor condemns what David did here. Either way we see that in the end, David does receive what he needed and with as bad a lie, it had to be the grace of God. Especially, in that he receives the bread of the presence and the fine sword of Goliath. He was not only given, but given the good stuff. The best bread and the best weapon. Why?

E. The answer is… why not! I am not saying that lying is OK, But know this… If we believe that God’s provisions is really given because of the sins that we don’t commit, then make no mistake of it, we would not receive bread either. Let’s not be so quick to judge. Sure David lied, but we do the same things and sometimes, even worse. If we all got what we all deserve, then no one would be here for no one stands before the Lord! The very reason we are here today is because God does not give us what we deserve. Every breath we take, every move we make is a gift from our Almighty Lord and Savior. Let us not be so quick to judge.

F. Instead, stand with Jacob…

Genesis 32:10 NLT

I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps!

I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.

I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.

G. When the crisis is over, when the dust settles and when life is over… we will know that we do not receive our daily bread and other provisions because we were godly people, but because Jesus is a gracious. We are no who we are, David is not king, because of what we do, but because of who He is.

H. Something quick about lies that I think is being demonstrated here. I do not think that David lied so that he could get what he wanted. It was not against Ahimelech. (Seems to be the thrust of lying in scripture) I think he lied because he was protecting Ahimelech. If Saul were to come, which he did, Ahimelech would not have to lie to him to protect David or save himself in aiding him. He did it for Ahimelech’s sake.

I. Again I am not saying that lying is OK. It should be avoided at all costs. But sometimes it needs to be done for the benefit of others. Would you tell people who are wrongly exterminating people where women and children are hiding, because you don’t want to lie? Having to lie or watch your child get a bullet in the head? Would you tell your aunt who just buried her husband and wanted to do something nice for herself and got her hair done… you think it is hideous. She asks you if you like it? Your friend likes a girl and he asks you to ask her what she thinks about him. She said he is a complete loss, he is very ugly, no class, no sense of style and should jump off a bridge for no one will ever like him. I am way to good for him and it will never happen ever. You go back to your friend… What did she say? Not interested at the moment. She already has a boyfriend. Kids saying out loud that aunty has a mustache. But it’s true. No…

J. We have got to remember that the laws that God gives to us are for our benefit as mankind. It is for our benefit. The law is for our good. It was created for man, not man for the Sabbath. And it was this actual event that Christ used to make his point about how the Law was to help us not hurt us.

Matthew 12:1–8 NLT

At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.” Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

Matthew 12:1-

K. So we must always remember that thou shalt not bear false witness was made for man not man for it.

II. Desperation to the Deranged

- Sometimes our despair and desperation in the end does glorify the Lord.

A. Are you nuts? What were you thinking? Going to Gath where you killed their champion and killed so many of their soldiers? It’s like fish jumping into your cooler, a cow walking into the meat grinder, Frodo with the ring walking in the front gates of Mordor. What are you thinking? Are you that desperate? This is what happens when people get desparate... they don’t want to live? Singing I don’t want to live without your love, I don’t wanna face the night alone I could never make it though my life…

B. But follow me. It is not that foolish. It is the last place Saul would go to hunt for David. David might be able to stay without being recognized. Maybe they would see it as defection and maybe there would be a chance for mercy and to rub it in Saul’s face. He could be killed, but he knows he will be killed if he goes home. It did not work. And David became afraid and panicked… we do strange and deceptive things when we are desperate. He pretends to be insane … and got out. It is understood also at that time of a curse coming on a person who kills a mentally deranged person. So maybe not that crazy. But more important…something wonderful.

C. Look we need to see… In his weakness, desperation led to unfortunate events… we maybe think him foolish and got lucky. But we find that in foolishness, desperation and confusion. We find a wonderful illustration used by Christ to show the beauty of the law and its place in the live of man AND!!! A Psalm was born. This is how Psalm’s are made. In depression, in despair, in desperation.

D. David writes . Sometimes in our desperation and despair we learn and the Lord is glorified, magnified, and dignified. That is why we can be assured that all things will work together for the good of those who love God and are called…IS this not our chief end… to glorify God.

E. David does not say he is lucky… He said God is for Him. He learned and He glorified. After this event David writes . A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech (Akeesh’s other name), who sent him away. He praises!

Psalm 34:4–8 NLT

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

III. His Devotion to Deliverance

- He will will bring the provisions that we need, the repairs that we need, the freedom that we need, and the praise that will result from it all.

A. Yes we fall into the same. We become fearful when we face struggles; at times we simply panic and in desperation we do that which is sin. We deserve to be judged for our faithlessness. We deserve condemnation. But if it all rested on my righteousness, I would be condemned. But it is by grace that we can stand today. This is the gospel. For what the Lord did for David, David writes that he will do the same for us..

Psalm 34:17–19 NLT

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

B. We learned and now we glorify! We learn and now we glorify! Yes we do sin in desperation. We deceive and we do the deranged, but we can find hope in Christ today.

C. This is the Gospel of Jesus… We also should praise! He has delivered. All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. He has rescued us from hell, death, and the grave. He heals our broken hearts and he gives life to our mortal bodies. Like David he has delivered us. He delivered from madness, from deception, from derangement, disobedience, from from condemnation, from Hell.

D. Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures...

E. When we are desperate and irrational… the Lord is patient and kind and saves us from our bad ideas and actions. He will bring us through. For His Love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord.

K. Even in David’s desperation there was folly, but in the end it turned to praise by the grace of God. A psalm written that has comforted and inspired many for centuries. A beloved psalm that even directly prophesied about the messiah...

Psalm 34:20 NLT

For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!

Psalm

John 19:36 NLT

These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,”

v. 20… .

L. His grace is unbelievable. When life gives us lemons, make lemonade. I don’t like lemonade. We need more… don’t we. When life gives us lemons… He gives us the water of life. And now we will never thirst again.