“Making a Point” - 1 Samuel 26
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 8 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Years ago, Monroe Parker was traveling through South Alabama on one of those hot, sultry Alabama days. He stopped at a watermelon stand, picked out a watermelon, and asked the proprietor how much it cost. "It's $1.10," he replied. Parker dug into his pocket, found only a bill and said, "All I have is a dollar."
"That's ok," the proprietor said, "I'll trust you for it."
"Well, that's mighty nice of you," Parker responded, and picking up the watermelon, started to leave.
"Hey, where are you going?" the man behind the counter demanded.
"I'm going outside to eat my watermelon." "But you forgot to give me the dollar!"
"You said you would trust me for it," Parker called back.
"Yeah, but I meant I would trust you for the dime!"
"Mack," Parker replied, "You were't going to trust me at all. You were just going to take a ten-cent gamble on my integrity!"
Understanding trust and forgiveness would be tremendously helpful for us today, especially Christians. Though we cannot go through all of possible implications of trust and forgiveness there are a couple we would like to clear up today. Do we recognize the difference between trust and forgiveness and do we trust that there is forgiveness? One more time. One of the common problems we face today is the inability for us to tell the difference between trust and forgiveness. When a person has been offended many times the offender will ask for forgiveness, the offended will forgive the person, but is having a hard time trusting the offender. So, many times the penitent offender will accuse the offended of not forgiving. The reality is trust is seen now more like a gamble. And if it is understood as forgiveness… ah then there is the confusion.
Forgiveness is a command from the Lord and must be given. However, trust must be earned… trust must always be earned. But on the other hand, why do we still struggle with trusting those who have more than earned it? Even those who have never let us down. Why do we struggle trusting our Lord? Especially, not being able to trust that there is forgiveness for us? We act as if trusting the Lord is more like gambling. A ten cent gamble is one thing, but He wants me to gamble my whole life, thats different. So we continue to struggle with these issues… Not able to tell the difference between trust and forgiveness and not trusting that there is forgiveness. The answer for them both is what we will explore in our passage today.
Last week, David was, by the grace of God, thwarted by Abigail from a murderous rampage after her husband Nabal had offended the King of Israel. What we also saw was the wrath of David being appeased by Abigail with principles that we could apply in our own conflict resolutions. But more important, we see that these principles were used by our Lord to appease the wrath of God. Today… we get a little déjà vu.
Some of the Ziphites went to Saul to tattle on David telling Saul where he was. Saul took 3000 of his green berets to hunt down David. Once again Saul decided to camp right where David was hiding. Saul was asleep in the middle of a ring of soldiers surrounding him who were themselves asleep. Abashai asked David to let him kill Saul right there with his own spear and end it already. He again proclaimed to David that the Lord has given Saul once again into his hands. No we shall not kill him. He is in the Lord’s hands. But take his spear and the jug of water beside Saul’s head and let’s get out of here. No one saw them leave because it was the Lord that put them all into a deep sleep. Once David was at a safe distance he called out to Abner who was the captain of Saul’s army and told him to wake up. He began to taunt Abner in his failure to protect the king and how he and his men should all die because they failed to protect the anointed one of the Lord. Where is the kings spear and jug of water? Saul awoke and heard the voice of David and called out to him. David confronts Saul with his offense of the law of God before the Lord Himself. He then offers an offering for the sin that has taken place and a curse for those who have taken David away from the blessing of the Lord urging David to go serve other gods. He expresses his humility before him comparing himself to but as a flea. Saul repents once again. He urged David to come home with him for he has been terribly wrong. David told Saul to send someone up so that he could retrieve that infamous point making spear praying that the Lord will show him kindness they way he showed kindness to Saul. Saul then blessed him. But David did not go back with Saul. He went on his way and Saul went home.
Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime? But now let my lord the king listen to his servant. If the Lord has stirred you up against me, then let him accept my offering. But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the Lord. For they have driven me from my home, so I can no longer live among the Lord’s people, and they have said, ‘Go, worship pagan gods.’ Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the Lord? Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a single flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains?”
1 Samuel 26:
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.
1. Between Trust and Forgiveness
Between Trust and Forgiveness
2. Trust that there is Forgiveness
The first thing we will examine today is the difference between trust and forgiveness and how we tend to confuse the two. And finally, we will look at how we struggle with trusting the Lord that there is forgiveness for us.
Thesis: In our times of desperation we can be tempted and drawn into difficult decisions concerning trust and forgiveness, but it is the Word of God that serves as our foundation for wisdom in living and the evangelization of this world for the glory of God trusting that there is forgiveness.
I. Between Trust and Forgiveness
Do we realize that there is a difference between trust and forgiveness?
A. The déjà vu give reason for us to notice something very important. Let us note that there is a difference between trust and forgiveness. And in our lives as Christians, making this distinction is often necessary and helpful for our general life and for discerning tactics and ways of the world.
B. Let’s think back and try to remember 2 chapters ago… or two weeks ago. We studied another situation like this one. David spared Saul’s life. Saul repented and poured out blessings on David. But was David going to go back to the palace with Saul? Obviously, David had forgiven Saul. But there was no way he was going to go home with Saul.
C. Forgiveness is a command for sure. We are commanded to let go of our resentment and anger toward someone or something and to not demand or bring restitution or retaliation to the offense. Forgiveness is commanded. Right?
Matthew 6:
But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
E. Forgiveness is one of those things that is not an option. Absolutely not.
Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
F. I think we all understand this point and is what’s demanded and rightfully demanded of us as children of Christ. But what about trust? Though forgiveness must be given, but trust still should be earned or earned back. Christ does not desire us to be a fool!
G. This is why David did not go back home with Saul the first time… because here we go again. Saul is looking to kill him once again. Saul is guilty of a false repentance singing I’m never gonna dance again guilty feet have got no rhythm. And in this passage, Saul asks David to go home with him. But he does not. Though he let go of his offense, anger, resentment, and does not require and restitution, retaliation or payback, he was not going to put his life and the life of his men in the hands of an untrustworthy man. The Lord desires us to be forgiving not foolish.
Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble
is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in people.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
Psalm 118:8-9
H. Even Jesus, forgiving as He was, was not foolish with the untrustworthy
But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.
I. Now we know that the Lord can bring tremendous change in the life of a person, however, unlike Jesus, we do not know what is in the heart of a man. All we can go on is what is based on the fruit we see. And if we see nothing that could signify change, then why should we be foolish? Even if we knew. We know human nature.
J. This is a distinction that needs to always be identified especially when dealing with abusive relationships. Or abuse in general for that matter. For example, the abuser almost always demands that trust be a part of forgiveness. Those who give false repentance almost always sees trust as a part of forgiveness. The motivation is not brokenness of sin and humility before a Holy God, but the reinstatement or protection of their position or standing. The unrepentant betrayer demands trust with forgiveness. So that they can put everything and not have to deal with shame and urge the other to never bring it up again. The concern is not for the betrayed party, but for the inconvenience of the betrayer. When sin is done and there is not a clear distinction being made then, like Saul in this situation, repentance may be in question. It can be very telling in regards to true forgiveness.
K. On the other hand, this distinction should not be used as an excuse to never move toward restoration. Yes, trust must be earned, but the opportunity to earn it. The implications of the Gospel give us a real hope for not just forgiveness, but the restoration of trust and even developing a trust that becomes more that it was before.
L. What do I tell you all this? But all of this illustrates how sin and deception can slip into our lives by sin and deception of the world. Think of the many ways the world and all of its temptations continue to apologize for offenses and begs us to trust them, it will be different next time.
M. Like the cheating teenage boy and how they get the girl to stay. How alcohol begs us to give it one more try. How the casinos promise that the slot machines will be looser next time. How success asks us to forgive, forget, and trust that it will be different next time. Abuser and victim. And finally, we say we can’t forgive ourselves and we can’t trust ourselves and how many times does “yourself” ask you for forgiveness and asks you to trust yourself next time and its never different. All of this is displaying, like Saul, false repentance. Seen clearly in confusing trust and forgiveness.
N. The world tells us not to worry in sins, believe and trust in yourself. But the scriptures say.
Proverbs
Those who trust their own insight are foolish,
but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.
O. When it comes to the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life… our trust must always be in the Lord and never in the world no matter how much it may metaphorically ask for it.
This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength
and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
P. Christian all of us who have been born of God will overcome the world. Those who will overcome the world are those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. And how can anyone believe if no one preaches to them, and how can they preach unless someone is sent. And how is it that we are to preach? David shows us.
II. Trust that there is Forgiveness
This is the declaration for the evangelization of the world.
A. In this passage of Scripture, David shows us how we preach the gospel to another. The first thing David does is approach Saul with humility. Approaching Saul with a flea kind of humility. Evangelize with humility! First of all.
B. The second thing he does is show how Saul is not fulfilling the law of God. v. 18 And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands?
“If a malicious witness comes forward and accuses someone of a crime, then both the accuser and accused must appear before the Lord by coming to the priests and judges in office at that time. The judges must investigate the case thoroughly. If the accuser has brought false charges against his fellow Israelite, you must impose on the accuser the sentence he intended for the other person. In this way, you will purge such evil from among you.
Deuteronomy
C. Now that Saul has been face to face with the law, David directs sin to the offering. To the sacrifice that is to be given to the Lord for even those who broke the command of the Lord and did not know it. Leviticus. The sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. This is the Gospel. Family we in all humility present the law of God they come face to face with their sins, and the Gospel of Jesus. This is how we approach a world, drugs, relationship lost in darkness displaying false repentance if there is any repentance at all.
III. Conclusion
A. We present what we receive today. We have all fallen short of the glory of God. We have all be deceived by the world. We are all guilty at some point of loving the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.
B. Some of us may even be guilty today of mixing trust and forgiveness in hopes of restoring place and position instead of grieving for sin. Many of us may be guilty of a false repentance. Maybe not toward other people, but maybe it is to the Lord. Do we now ultimately confuse forgiveness and trust when we approach the Lord. Thank you for forgiving me and now let me take my rightful place, success, progression and blessings? Are we so sure that we are not to start all over again? Are we guilty of falsely repenting before the Lord today? Let’s be honest? Take a good look at your life and the promises we have made to the Lord and how we broke them so easily.
C. Today we have all grievously sinned. Believer and unbeliever alike. And the wages of sin is death… but there is a free gift of God of eternal life and it is one given through Jesus Christ. Glory Hallelujah. Jesus came into this world to seek and save that which was lost. Jesus came to bring life and life more abundantly. He came into this world to be the sacrifice like the one that David brought, but this one would be one for all time. He gave us his pure and blameless life to pay for our sin. This is the Gospel of Jesus.
D. Jesus died for our sins and he was buried and he was raised on the third day…
E. Today I pray that our repentance will be true in all humility and we will rejoice in victory for we have been forgiven by a God whom we can give our whole heart and trust for he cares for us more than we could ever imagine.
F. Today I pray that we will not ever see our blessings and victory as something future, a Saul declared for David. I pray that we will see that we have already been blessed and we are already victorious in Christ and in Christ alone.