I. FACING THE TEMPTATION TO FLEE
A. People may be used to advise us wrongly (v. 1-3).
1. They were undermining David’s confidence in the Lord.
2. Just like Rabshakeh did to Jerusalem in Hezekiah’s day.
3. People who cannot see things from a spiritual perspective will advise us from their point of view (perhaps unintentionally).
a) They use good logic (v. 2-3).
b) ILL. You cannot tithe & give to missions: you cannot afford it.
c) ILL. You cannot tell the truth – you will get into trouble.
d) ILL. You cannot use the old-fashioned methods of soul-winning and preaching to reach people you need to change with the times.
B. When it is Not Wrong to Flee
1. To flee as a bird to your mountain was obviously a request for David to abandon his responsibility to be king one day & to escape it all. To flee means to put yourself outside the will of God in order to find security.
2. David later went into hiding from Saul, for he did not tempt God by putting himself in a place of danger:
a) He was still trusting in God for protection: 1 Sam 22:23, “Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.”
3. Godly men have fled to save their lives:
a) Paul was let down a wall by night at Damascus.
b) John 7:1, “After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him."
c) Prov 21:31, "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD."
d) Cities of refuge were places to flee.
e) The devil tempted Jesus to cross the line from trust to tempting God by jumping off the temple.
4. Fleeing may be God’s way of testing or chastising:
a) David’s running from Saul was no doubt used of God to draw David close to Him.
b) David was forced to flee from Absalom during the coup. Most likely a chastisement for his wrong dealings with Absalom.
c) God offered David as one of his punishments: “wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee?”
C. When It Is Wrong to Flee
1. When you go outside the will of God to protect yourself.
a) Which David did in I Sam 27:1. This was wrong because:
(1) The prophet had told him to go to Judah.
(2) Putting himself into an idolatrous land – which he himself saw as wrong (26:19).
b) Many Christians go outside God’s will because of financial reasons.
c) Nehemiah was asked to stop building the wall b/c of enemies: “Shall such a man as I flee?”
2. When you are governed by fear:
a) This was a lapse of faith – “I shall now perish” vs. “with me thou shalt be in safeguard.”
b) When your actions are governed by fear instead of faith it becomes sin.
(1) ILL. Marry unwisely for fear of singleness.
(2) Psa 56:4, "In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."
(3) Prov 29:25, "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe."
(4) Psa 56:3, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."
II. HOW TO COMBAT THIS TEMPTATION
A. Remind yourself of your resolve to trust God (v. 1).
• This helps you to see that this is a faith/trust issue. This is a test of your faith.
B. Remind yourself that God has not abandoned his throne (v. 4a) – no matter how much the governments of men have fallen.
C. Remind yourself that God allows trials for the righteous (v. 5)
• That we are never out of His watch-care (v. 7b)
D. Remind yourself that God will not allow His enemies to go unpunished (v. 5b-6).
