Anointed and Alone
1 Samuel 21:1-13/ Psalms 56:1-13
The Bible never flatters its heroes. Here is David, anointed to be king; destined to rule over great lands and wealth, but living in caves on the run begging for food and fearing for his life. Anointed! But alone.
Ever wonder why the promises of God sometimes look or seem to be closed? Head and not the tail? Not there yet. Kids not saved yet. Health not the best.
God tests our faith so He can get us into the place where He can fulfill his promises. Look at David:
1. Fear absolutely drove this anointed man of God into sin.
Vs 10 - 'fled... for fear of Saul."
Vs 12 - 'Sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath."
Fear is always the enemy of faith. This is the battle of the Believer. Faith causes us to grow and triumph and overcome. We believe God, rest in His Word, and enjoy His approval. Once we doubt and question His will or Word, our faith begins to shrivel and shrink until we literally cease to believe - aka: unbelievers because of unbelief. Believers in name only, not in practice or actions.
For David the throne was his, but on the way there he was tested every step of the way. Are we any better? It takes only a moment to make a convert; a lifetime to produce a saint.
David shouldn’t have feared, but he did. Neither should we, but we do. Sometimes in storms, even when we know Jesus is in the boat with us, we can’t see anything but the wind and waves. There He abides calm, cool, collected, and definitely in control, but we get hysterical focusing on the problems. Seems dumb. When will we learn? It’s easy to loose that 20/20 vision and develop a spiritual squint.
We need to let the sunshine burn away the fog.
Looking back at David. When he walked into the Tabernacle alone the priest immediately detected a problem. 'Why art thou alone?' The king's son in law with no attendants, no entourage, no guards?
O that we would just be honest with God. This same thing happens to each of us at times too. That still small voice questions our actions, thoughts, and motives 'why are you like this?'
David lied. So do we when we make excuses or try to justify ourselves or try to compare ourselves with others.
David was found out. Doeg was Saul's chief herdsman. David's heart skipped a beat while he was lying to the priest, in comes Doeg minding his own business, unaware of David being in the tabernacle and hears everything. BUSTED! Oh no! Doeg might tell the priest the truth! He might chase David! Might send word to Saul! Busted!
The same thing happens to us. While we compare ourselves with others, in walks the Holy word of God - Busted! Trying to justify ourselves and in walks the Spirit - Busted! Trying to make up a good excuse and in walks Jesus, who 'for the joy thereof..."
We are without excuse... Romans 1:20 ‘For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:’
So David begins to look for weapons in the house of the Lord. Weapons!? Nothing but Goliath's sword. A trophy. David couldn’t handle Saul’s armor; goliath's sword must have looked like pew....
Trying to protect himself or maybe trying to intimidate Doeg; the whole time looking like a clown. The same with us when we try to use any other help than the Lord. Back on the run, dragging Goliath's sword.
Running for his life, he goes to Gath. Goliath's home town. With Goliath's sword. Like burning a flag. Like spitting on a Bible. Running for his life, attracting more fire with every step. Well, at least he got away from Doeg!
1 Sam 22:20-23,
David's suspicions were right - Doeg did tell Saul and in the king's blind fury, misunderstands and thought the priests were aiding and embedding David the fugitive.
Saul makes Doeg kill every priest and all their families. 86 holy men, their wives and children all died because David feared and doubted God's Word!
One man escaped the slaughter and came to David. When David heard what happened he said 'I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.' David's sin led to a horrible tragedy.
So how about it? Do you come to the House of the Lord for comfort and strength and then realize that the Spirit of God has found you out, that the voice of the Lord is saying to you 'why this, why that?' Have you made excuse so long or justified yourself so long that you are calloused or indifferent? He knows why you are the way you are! He just wants you to confess your fears and doubts. He wants you to repent for questioning his plans and purposes in your life. I panicked! I questioned! I doubted! And instead of running to Him for renewing and strength I let doubt snowball into unbelief!
We are going to stop pretending that all is well. Today. There is no need to cover up something God can clearly see. God is ready to abundantly pardon. It is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom. Hurry to Him so it gets no worse! Doeg has entered. Our excuses and lies have been exposed! You gonna grab a pew and get defensive? Try to find some weapons in the house of the Lord? Run again? WHERE YA GOING? To the caves?
When will we get tired of running? Running to the enemy's camp. David thought he couldn’t trust his own. He ran to the philistines. He was acting retarded. Foaming at the mouth and clawing the doors. Feigning sickness and madness. This is a Christian who is trying to act like nothing is wrong. Nah! I'll go back to my cave.
When we are not willing to face our doubts and fears and unbelief and admit them to be sin; we will not prosper. We will not overcome. We will not conquer. We will not have victory.
If God has put you in some dark trial it is not to drive you crazy or make you run to the enemy for help. He wants to deliver you day by day. He wants you to repeatedly surrender your will and commit your heart to him over and over again. This is abiding. He wants to be your savior today as much as He was your savior the day you first repented.
So this is living by faith. In darkness I radiate sweet confidence. Others are blessed by my being calm in the storm. Demons tremble when we let the Lord be the Lord.
If you are still refusing to admit your failure. Don’t be surprised when you get the news of others who suffer because of your unbelief. Quit acting retarded. Quit looking for earthly weapons. Quit trying to save your own life. Quit living alone in a spiritual cave.
David was a good man in a bad situation. He was destined to rule. He was anointed. He was handling it wrong. But he got better.
He had 86 casualties along with wives and kids. But eventually he wrote the psalm 34 '...taste and see that the Lord is good.' How much are you willing to loose before you taste and see? Your joy? Your testimony? Your kids? Your home? Your sanity? Your eternity? Taste and see! Taste and see! Taste and see!
‘I Will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
