Exegetical Idea: God deliver the City of Keilah and David from the hands of Saul and the Philistines.
Objective Statement: Every Christian can survive while in great difficulty by following 3 lessons from David’s life concerning, God’s answer, God’s counsel, and God’s refuge.
Reveal the need: By a show of hands how many of you tonight have been in very difficult situation. Have you ever been in a survival zone? Have your back ever been against the wall. Maybe it’s only me but I’ve personally been through some difficulty situation. The truth of the matter is all of us probably at some point have failed at trusting God in every situation of our lives. If were not careful we can loss our faith and trust in God and live a defeated life.
Goal Statement: I want to share with you how to survive great difficulty by following three lesson from David’s life concerning; God’s answer, God’s counsel, and God’s refuge, and if we apply these lesson to our lives we can live a victorious life..
So turn with me now to 1 Sam Chapter 23, we would like to us as a subject how to survive when your “In-between a Rock and a Hard-Place”
Now as we turn to this passage let me remind you that David is running for his life. Saul is intoxicated and obsessed with killing David. He’s protecting the Israelites from the Philistine in chapter 22; Saul win a massive victor he just killed 85 priests in Nob.David however was able to deliver Abiathar from the bloody sword of Saul’s army. So the table is set for God to do something spectacular so as we look at this passage we can discover some incredible survival lesson we can learn for David’s experience.
I. Seek God’s Answer (23:1-5)
A. Concerning the threshing floors (v.1) Keilah was a city in the lowlands of Judah small community of Israelites. The Philistine was threating the very vulnerable city to raids the threshing floor. So this term looting the threshing floors term threshing floor describes as a gangsta term. During the harvest season the Philistine’s would loot the threshing floor. Virtually taking what doesn’t belong to you. That what the enemy does to us now. He tries loot our threshing floor by taking our joy, our peace, our relationships, our marriages. So David get word that the Philistine was attacking the threshing floor. V 2 “David inquires of the Lord”, Even though David was running for his life, back against the wall. Even though he was at a red sea experience. He was “between a rock and a hard -place” yet He put others over himself even at the expense of his life. This is why God loved David so much, “A man after God on heart” But the bigger question for us tonight is are you willing to be faithful to God even at the expense of your life. Would you put others first and yourselves last? 2c. “Saying shall I go and attack the Philistines. The Lord answered him, Go, attack the Philistines and save “Keilah” God gives David permission to Go’ When God gives us the thumps- up we can have confidence and rest that Our God is with us. And then when we are being tested it is important to know that God has the right answer to every situation we faces. When we talk to God we can expect an answer through his word.
B. Concerning fear ( vv. 2-3)
In v. 3 But David men said to him, here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to” Keilah” against the Philistine forces! David men became fear full for their lives. Look at somebody and say don’t be scared. He is the same God that delivered you out the last time he will be that same God this time. If God says go he will give us the power to overcome the enemy any concerning deliverance (vv. 4-5
In v 4, David overcome fear with faith “he inquired of the Lord again” God said Go I will give the Philistines into your hand, v. 5 So David and his men went and fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock, and inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of “Keilah” not only did David and his men defeat the Philistine but they reaped the manifestation from the enemies camp. There are some things in the enemy’s camp that belongs to me. They carried off the Philistine livestock, When God gives the endorse the plan we can expect getting more than excepted positive and prosperous results. Why because there is treasures stored when we have faith in God.
II. Seek God’s Counsel (23:6-14)
A. Concerning Saul’s plot (vv. 6)
v. 6 Now Abiathar son of Ahimelch had brought the ephod down with him he fled to David at Keilah”
Now Abiathar was delivered by David in Nob in chapter 22, Saul has kills 85 Priest. But David delivers Abiathar at Nob. And he fled with David to Keilah, and he brings with him the ephod a beautiful two piece sleeveless garment, held to the body by a curious girdled (ornamental belt and joined at the shoulders by straps. On the straps were placed two onyx stones with the name of six tribes on each stone. On the breastplate of judgment there was a square piece of beautiful material folded in half open at the top like a pouch, and placed over the front of the ephod. It was adorned with 12 precious stones which were engraved the names of the 12 tribes.
When the High Priest made an offering in the Holy Place, where he was not visible to the people, the bells enable them to know he was still alive. On the turban was a gold plate with Holiness to the Lord engraved on it. The High Priest’s official holiness enables him to present the imperfect offering (holy things of God). The ephod is important because it is a priestly garment that when the Priest goes before God he must be anoint, consecrate and sanctified. Some scholars suggest the ephod symbolize “the word of God.” We have a Great High Priest, The King of Kings the Lord, of Lords, who as killed the enemies plot against us. “The battle is not yours but the Lords.” with God on our side we have the victor. What the enemy meant for bad God turns it around for our good. When you are between a rock and a hard place, seek God Answer, seek Gods Counsel,
B. Concerning evil vs. 7-14, Saul finds out that David came to Keilah; he just knew he had David right where he wanted him. But God gives David the perception that Saul was plotting evil against him. I think it is the Holy Spirit working on the inside each of us something on the inside, God not only protects us external but there’s an internal protection. David says bring me the ephod. Someone read vs. 10-14, when Saul finds out that he escapes Keilah, Saul give up the pursuit. When our backs are against the wall and were between a rock and a hard place. When the enemies think they won the battle already. God will confuse the mind of the enemy therefore have to stop the pursuit against us. Because the battle is not yours it is the Lord’s battle.
C. Concerning Encouragement (vs. 15-18)
We are our brother’s keeper every believer should have someone in their lives that can encourage you in your difficult seasons. Jonathan encourages David and then prophecy into his life concerning his kingship.
1. His kingship (vv. 15-17)
2. Mutual covenant (v. 18)
When you are between a rock and a hard place, seek God Answer, seek Gods Counsel,
III. Seeks God’s Refuge (23:19-29)
A. Concerning conspiracy (19-23) someone read 19-23, Saul here is convinced that he has David captured. He’s conspiring with this city to capture David. He even uses the LORD name to bless his conspire. But the ephod does fit right on Saul. Not everyone who say, Lord, Lord, I never know you. Our God is faithful and true to his Word.
B. Concerning his escape (24-29)
They almost have Saul right where they wanted him. When Saul’s find out David and his men were in David stayed in the rock Maon. When Saul heard it he pursues David. Saul and his men were on one side of the mountain, David and his men on the other side of the mountain. They were surrounding David. But, God turns it around for Davids good
SUMMARY
1. Seek God’s answer: God is faithful to his Word in every situation we faces
2. Seek God’s counsel: With God on our side we have the victor
3. Seek God’s refuge: God not only protects us external but there’s an internal protection.
He is our Rock in hard places
Motivate : I want you to commit right now the next time you are in a survival zone trust God.
