Sermon Tone Analysis

Let the Lord Judge & Reward - 1 Samuel 23:19-24:22

PRAY

One time I stood up for someone in junior high who was being physically threatened by a classmate (the irony was, the guys being pick on this time was as big a jerk as anyone in our class).

Anyway, I defended him verbally, but then got pummeled by the other guy with a cast on his arm, refusing to fight back.... Later in life, I’d think about that and would sometimes in my own mind and spirit have a hard time letting that go.

In those moments I would wish that I had fought back.

So I had done the right thing originally, but then I was doing the wrong thing each time my anger burned within me and wanted to take payback into my own hands.

It’s far from an easy task for us to let go of wrongs committed against us and not seek to take matters of “justice” into our own hands.

But it isn’t our responsibility, it’s God’s.

In God’s word today, he gives us a great example, through David, of the wisdom and patience needed to trust in the Lord to judge and reward… in his way and in his timing.

[map] - reminder of where David has been and where he goes today...

From Wilderness to Wilderness

It is right to trust in the Lord when treated unjustly.

David never did anything for Saul to seek his life.

David certainly did nothing to the Ziphites for their betrayal.

In fact, David only recently rescued Keilah from the Philistines (see ch. 23), and then even they would have turned him over to Saul.

David’s response: Psalm 54 (when the Ziphites tried to give him up…)

Where will your heart focus attention when you find yourself in the wilderness?

(see verses above)

A Place Called Rock of Escape

It is right to trust in the Lord when escape seems impossible.

David and his men are surrounded at this point.

Escape seems impossible.

But God causes an attack by the Philistines, obviously somewhere that Saul cares about and feels threatened by, and he has to temporarily give up pursuing David.

Will you trust God to do in his timing what he knows is best?

Here’s a matter at the heart of trusting God in all situations, especially when you are either treated unfairly or don’t understand the purpose of your suffering: (We have to always keep in mind that…)

Circumstances are just circumstances, and God is a just God.

God cares about justice/injustice and innocence/guilt (even more than you do!).

God cares about your suffering (in fact, I think he feels your suffering more acutely than you do!).

Nothing is outside of God’s caring concern and providential control.

That should give us a place to rest—in God. - Poor David, I mean, this is relentless (running from Saul)… no rest for the weary.

From wilderness to wilderness, from one narrow escape to finding another another cave or stronghold to hide in.

Transition: Have you ever done something and instantly regretted it?

(Thankfully, what David has a pang of conscience about is much less than what he might have regretted!)

David Doesn’t Cave to Retaliation

David responds wisely to his men, showing a great deal of restraint.

(v. 5) David’s conscience pricks him.

- There is great temptation to take justice into our own hands.

(“but I’m just doing what God would want” - say the people who aim to slay entire people groups in the name of their faith!)

David responds respectfully and wisely to Saul, showing again a great deal of restraint.

(v.

9) Why would you listen to anyone who claims that I seek to harm you?

(vv.

10-11) I had a chance, and I didn’t take it.

(vv.

12&15) May God judge.

(v.

13) The wicked do wickedly.

- My conscience remains clear.

(Hint, hint: I can’t say the same for you, o king.)

(v.

14) David expresses his lowliness to emphasize Saul’s unrighteousness (wickedness) in pursuing him.

- A very subtle way of saying it, I may add!

It is right to trust in the Lord for recompense and reward.

Context?

:-)

In our house we say, “Don’t retaliate.”

...Come to mom and dad; let us handle it.

- God says, “Don’t retaliate.

Bring it to me, knowing that I will handle it.”

1 Pet.

5:5b-9

Will you let God determine when and how to judge?

Will you humble yourself and let God decide when and how to reward?

Saul Caves to Contrition (Remorse)

Saul’s truthful (but self-centered, and temporary) confession:

(v.

17) You are more righteous than I, repaying good for evil.

(v.

19) May the Lord reward you with good.

(v.

20) I know you will be king.

(v.

21) Swear to me you won’t kill my offspring.

(Which is easy for David to say yes to bc he has already made a covenant with Jonathan.)

It is right to trust in the Lord when suffering for doing good.

Peter has some encouragement about this in the latter part of 1 Peter 3 and into chapter 4: (There’s a lot in there, so you’ll have to look at some of it on your own.

But let’s jump to the end of 4…)

“We too are tempted to avoid suffering and to get right into the glory, but suffering is God’s appointed means of bringing us to glory.”

(Deffinbaugh)

“I see much less of David’s discernment of God’s will today than I do of Saul’s or of David’s men.

I hear many Christians think and teach that suffering is not God’s will, and that true faith will be rewarded by immediate blessing and the absence of pain.”

(Deffinbaugh)

Will you embrace the tough path with a long view?

(keep an eternal perspective)

[For another reminder of this, see Gal. 6:7-10 on your own, or with your group or family…]

Concluding Thoughts

Prayer