Sermon Tone Analysis

[Scripture reading - Psalm 115:1-11]

PRAY

In Sovereign Hands - 1 Samuel 22:6-23:18

Illust.: When I accidentally took my hands off of my daughter as a baby and let her fall off the table onto the concrete at the swimming pool.

(The word hand is used no less than 10x in the passage that I have sectioned off in 1 Samuel for today… used both literally and figuratively - see v. 6 and v. 17 as examples)

From the example in the lives of Saul, Ahimelech, Doeg, and David (and Jonathan), we are reminded that humans attempt to maintain control by our own hands, but what we really ought to be doing is submitting ourselves as instruments in God’s sovereign hands.

God’s sovereignty is a word to describe that he has all power and authority and control to do all that he pleases according to his divine will.

(Nothing is outside the scope of his control—he either does it or allows it.

Nothing is outside the scope of his authority—all owe their allegiance to him.

Nothing is outside the scope of his power to do his will.)

Now there’s something really important regarding God’s sovereignty that is often overlooked in definitions.

God is good.

He does all that he pleases based on his goodness.

He practices his authority, his control, the use of his power always from the place of perfect goodness.

Part 1 - Saul Slays God’s Servants (22:6-23)

Saul strives to maintain his grip.

… on his kingdom.

Ironically, he’s out of control, he has lost his grip.

Spear in hand - reminder that he’s a threat to his “friends” as much as to his foes.

[Application] Are you wrongheadedly attempting to maintain control by your own hands?

Doeg becomes Saul’s instrument for evil.

… Slandering Ahimelech and Slaying the Priests.

Doeg’s efforts to ingratiate himself to Saul.

[Application] Have you placed yourself as an instrument under the rule of a selfish tyrant?

Ahimelech tells the truth.

… And gets killed anyway.

*Spurgeon Quote*

[Application] (Like Saul’s servants) Will you stay your hand from evil in submission to your Righteous King of Kings?

Can you trust God with the outcome, even if it means losing your life for righteousness sake?

(1 Peter 3:10-18a)

God remains sovereign.

Saul’s design for killing the priests is clinging to power, but God uses it to bring about what was prophesied in a curse on Eli’s house.

(Only Abiathar escapes, who will serve David as priest, even at the tabernacle established later in Jerusalem… but he too will be removed from priestly office under Solomon.)

Their blood is on Saul’s hands.

Doeg did the dirty work, but the blood of the priests is on Saul’s hands.

David owns up to his wrongdoing.

(Owns up to his mistake in carelessly involving Ahimelech, and lying)

The importance of this in friendship and leadership

David and Doeg in Psalm 52

Abiathar finds safekeeping with David.

[Application] Will you seek safekeeping among those who can be trusted to be walking in submission to God?

[REVIEW and implication] Saul fumes and whines and lies… Doeg slanders Ahimelech.

- Ahimelech defends David’s honor and himself.

(all TRUTH) Doeg slays God’s priests.

Abiathar seeks refuge with David.

David accepts the role he has played in this tragedy.

[Meanwhile] God sovereignly uses Saul (and Doeg the idiot… I mean Edomite) to work his judgment on the house of Eli. - God is still good...

Part 2 - David Saves Saul’s Subjects (23:1-18)

While Saul slays his allies (the priests of the Lord), David battles Saul’s enemies (the enemies of the Lord) and rescues Saul’s subjects (God’s people, David’s people).

David inquires of the Lord… and God is sovereign.

… and again to confirm, for his men to take courage.

Saul thinks he has David trapped at Keilah… and God is sovereign.

David inquires of the Lord AGAIN for direction.

The Lord’s omniscience means that he knows not only what WILL happen, but all the possibilities of what COULD happen!

(that’s just incredible)

“And Saul sought [David] every day, but God did not give him into his hand.”

Jonathan strengthens David’s hand in God.

[Application] (Like David & his men, and Jonathan) At the cost of your own comfort, will you fight for God’s program in the world according to his will (for his glory and the good of others)?

Conclusion: God’s Hands & Our Hands

God’s sovereign hands can be trusted because he is GOOD.

Psalm 135 (very parallel to Ps 115)

Our response = submission

Surrender everything to God with open hands.

(relinquish)

Submit our hands to his service.

[Application Review] Are you wrongheadedly attempting to maintain control by your own hands?

Have you placed yourself as an instrument under the rule of a selfish tyrant?

Will you stay your hand from evil in submission to your Righteous King of Kings?

Can you trust God with the outcome, even if it means losing your life for righteousness sake?

(1 Peter 3:10-18a) Will you seek safekeeping among those who can be trusted to be walking in submission to God?

At the cost of your own comfort, will you fight for God’s program in the world according to his will (for his glory and the good of others)?