Reverence for God Teaches Us How to Wait

I want it now.

I want it now.

Intro: Waiting is a sign of maturity. We learn to wait because of God’s promises.

David is waiting on the promise of the Lord to be king. He will wait for the Lord to do it and not try to do it in his own way.

Lead into text: David is fleeing for his life as King Saul is after him filled with jealous rage. Saul hears that David is in the wilderness of En-gedi and Saul goes after him. Saul goes into the cave that David is in...

1 Samuel 24:4–7 NLT

4 “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’ ” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe. 5 But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” 7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way,

4:4

It is Good to wait

Waiting on God will eliminate mistakes and regrets.

If David acted on his first impulse he would have regret. He felt remorse from cutting off the corner of Saul’s robe. His conscience bothered him because of this act.

Your conscience reveals your sin.

Conscience confirms your actions intentions.

David teaches us to respect God’s will.

David would lead by example how to fear God’s will.

David kept his men from attacking Saul as well. David is moving on the Lord’s promises and is waiting on the Lord to move. He knows the Lord will make him to be king and David wants to go about it the right way.

David shows us how to wait on the Lord.

We should trust in the Lord for our life. David shows how the Lord is our best defense. Why should we wait on the Lord?

The Lord is just in all his ways.

The Lord blesses those who obey his commands and seek his way.

The Lord keeps his promises of his Word.

Therefore David knew that his innocents would be revealed and he waited on the Lord. This allows him to face is adversary in the confidence of the Lord.

David stand with a clear conscience.

With a clear conscience David can stand and tell the truth.

He stays in humble position trusting in God.

1 Samuel 24:8–11 NLT

8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him. 9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ 11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.

1 Samuel 24:8–15 NLT

8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him. 9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ 11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me. 12 “May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. 13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you. 14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea? 15 May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”

1 Samuel 24:8-15

This powerful speech by David teaches us...

Trust God as we face opposition and adversarial issues.

Speak truth and live truth so your words and actions line up.

Confess to your own action in the situation (David has Saul’s robe see vv.10-11)

1 Samuel 24:10–11 NLT

10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ 11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.

David showed us how to wait

Listen for God’s voice and not mans.

Show mercy and love instead of revenge.

Children of God I encourage you to speak love and not hate. Look to build and not destroy. Look to show mercy and grace as God has lavished on you so generously.

Let God be the judge...

David could have taken matters into his own hands and the result may not have been the desired result. Therefore David submitted to God’s will and trusted God to be his advocate in time of trouble. He trusted God to be the Judge

1 Samuel 24:12–15 NLT

12 “May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. 13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you. 14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea? 15 May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”

1 Samuel 24:12-

Healing comes over time

David and Saul are suffering from a broken relationship because of sin. Sin kills and destroys. The fact the David surrendered to God’s will in this situation gave room for a broken relationship to be repaired. David changed his actions and reactions trusting God to do the rest. David’s trust in God to change the atmosphere presents itself in Saul’s response to David.

1 Samuel 24:16–21 NLT

16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. 17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. 18 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. 19 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today. 20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”

1 Samuel 24:16-

Saul is confronted with his sin and repents...

Saul confess by saying, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil”.

This is a principle to trust God for his word that vengeance is the Lord’s for his children.

2. Therefore we are to turn away from evil and do Good.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 NLT

15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

1 Peter 3:11 NLT

11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 NLT

5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

Saul recognizes David’s mercy toward him and kindness

1 Samuel 24:18–19 NLT

18 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. 19 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.

Saul realized God’s movement in David’s life.

1 Samuel 24:18

David sparing Saul help Saul see God is favoring David.

When we let God lead we can see where he is leading us.

Healing restored by covenant of promise

1 Samuel 24:

1 Samuel 24:20–22 NLT

20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!” 22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.

David is man of his word and looks to keep his word.

Saul see the goodness of David and pleas to his side of David.

God restored what was broken when humility and reverence is given to God.

Find healing as you wait.

What has you broken and what steps do you need to take?

Pray and seek direction from God over direction from others.

See how the word lines up with the direction you are taken to make sure it is of the Lords.

In every decision seek love, mercy and gentleness as God would have you to show.

Through all theses steps trust God fully and openly with an open heart.

Wait on the Lord...

While you are waiting , wait with anticipation that soon the Lord will return. Wait with great expectations that all the promises will be filled.

James 1

James 5:7 NLT

7 Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.