4.13.40 8.30.2020 Like David we can Leap over a Wall 2 Samuel 22.20 Psalm 18.29

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Entice: David was a heroic figure. He had a memorable entry, a remarkable rise, an egotistical fall, a humble restoration...and now we look at his final farewell.

2 Samuel 22:1–4 ESV

1 And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, 3 my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. 4 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Israel remembered this man, this king, this shepherd, this poet. Today's text was recorded in both 2 Samuel and the Psalter. A heroic farewell written by a faithful, flawed, human...human being.

Engage: This summer we have been looking at the lives of great heroes from the OT. Samuel, Saul and David. Each was famous and flawed. Each served faithfully. Each fell or failed in some way. Ultimately Saul seems to have completely lost any hope of salvation.

David was presented to us most fully. His character is more well-rounded. We see him grow, mature, evolve, and then devolve into sin.

We also see repentance, restoration, consequences and conflict.

Ultimately, David is a heroic hero because he is so human.

Expand: In 2 Samuel 21 and following we have summaries of David's life. Like a quick trip through a scrapbook we glimpse some scenes which have not been covered before. Chapter 22=Psalm 18 is a celebration song-less about David's deeds than the God to whom he was devoted.

Excite:True heroes know how to separate faith from fiction. True heroes know when to stand strong and when to kneel in submission. True heroes know when to make war against evil and when to worship the almighty. When to sing, when to shout, when to leap for joy, when to weep for forgiveness.

Explore: We need heroes who will understand and exhibit the character of God. Men who will desire and demonstrate God’s empowering presence.

Explain: In the midst of celebration, exhortation, explanation and exaltation David tucks in some fundamental insights explaining how God relates to us.

1. He rewards righteousness.

2 Samuel 22:21–25 ESV

21 “The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his rules were before me, and from his statutes I did not turn aside. 24 I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. 25 And the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.

But we are not righteous?

(The ironic tragedy of David's life and our own.)

His rules, His way provides a path we cannot create for ourselves.

2. He reflects our response.

2 Samuel 22:26–28 ESV

26 “With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; 27 with the purified you deal purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. 28 You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

This can be a somewhat puzzling picture for us of God.

God truly wishes a relationship with us and our approach to Him, our conception of Him is largely how He seeks to reach us. (God in our own image?)

3. He renews and give refuge.

2 Samuel 22:29–31 ESV

29 For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. 30 For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 31 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Light for our darkness.

Strength for our weakness.

Guidance for our waywardness.

“ “For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless.” (2 Samuel 22:32–33 ESV)

In 2020 God needs heroes. God needs heroes who understand how much we need Him. His love, His grace, His word, His presence. He is righteous when we are not responding to us as we humbly approach Him providing the renewal and refuge we each and all desperately need.

When a hero comes to town he is a person to emulate. A person to celebrate. A person to follow. Grayville needs hero's. Will you be the kind of hero our city, our state our church needs? Will you be God's man, God's woman, God's teenager? Make your choice today.