A Missing Person Report

The Missing Person

1 Sam. 27:-28:2

A woman went to the police station with her next-door neighbor to report that her husband was missing. The policeman asked for a description. She said, "He’s forty-five years old, six foot three, has blue eyes, blonde hair, an athletic build, is soft spoken, and good to the children." The neighbor protested. "Your husband is five foot three, chubby, bald, has a big mouth, and is mean to your children." The wife replied, "Who wants him back?"

I’d like to report a missing Person this morning in this chapter of the Bible. Since it’s only 14 verses, let me read it to you and you tell me who’s missing. (read 1 Sam. 27:1-28:2). Who can tell me who is missing in these verses? That’s right- God is missing.

That’s a little odd, don’t you think? God missing from an entire episode in the life of David- supposedly a “man after God’s own heart?” But when you think about it, it’s not so odd, because God seems to a Missing Person in a lot of folks’ lives. For some God seems to be missing because we have forgotten Him; for others it seems He has forgotten us. At times you might not mind His absence much; at others His absence is a lonely aching emptiness filling your mind and heart. But chances are, you’ve shared the experience of David during this chapter of His life: God seems to be a Missing Person.

When God seems to be missing there are some important truths you need to keep in mind- some truths that can help you make it through those dry spells and dark nights when you wonder where God is. Let’s talk about some of them this morning: when God seems absent

I. IF YOU DON’T HOLD ON TO FAITH, YOU WILL FALL INTO FEAR. (28:1)

Mark learned a verse in VBS: Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. One stormy night the electricity suddenly went off. "I’m not afraid," Mark assured his mother as she groped in the dark for candles. Expecting him to quote the verse she asked, "And tell me why you aren’t afraid." A small beam of light suddenly lit up her son’s face, as Mark said proudly "’Cause I’ve got my flashlight."

When God seems missing, it’s like walking in the dark with no light; it can be scary. At least, that’s how David felt. During his last encounter with Saul, David rattled off a brave speech about trusting the Lord to be his protection (cf. 1 Sam. 26:24.) But after awhile, his faith begins to falter, and he stumbles into fear. You can almost hear the anxiety in his words in v. 1: I’ve got to get out of here, or Saul’s going to get me! That doesn’t sound like a man who is trusting God to take care of him, does it?

God promises David he will be king, and that He will protect him. Why does David’s faith falter? Why doesn’t he hold on to God’s promise and forget about Saul? I might ask you and I the same question. Why do we forsake our faith and fall into fear?

One reason is we let our situation become bigger than our Savior.

You focus so much on what is happening to you that you forget Who has promised to be for you. When you are battling a problem for as long and hard as David has been running from Saul, you begin to wonder where is God? Why hasn’t He done something about this? It is so easy to get so discouraged that you loosen your hold on your faith, and fall into fear.

This is when you have to hold on to your faith that God. He always keeps His promise to be with us and to be for us- even when He seems to be absent. One person who really knew what it was like to face those kinds of situations is the apostle Paul, who once wrote these faith- strengthening, fear-dispelling words:

Romans 8:31-32, 38-39 31 … If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?...38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When God seems absent you either hold on to your faith, or you fall into fear.

You will hold on to your faith, that no matter what your situation, God is with you, and God will help you. When life gets stressed, and the pain piles on, God is with you. When enemies threaten, and your strength feels small, God is with you. When you’re sick and tired, and wonder why you even try, God is with you. He will keep His promise to you.