When Tragedy Strikes
1 Samuel 30
1. The Source of _Tragedy_ (v.1-6a).
A. David was repaid for his raiding the Amalekites in chapter 27 by their raiding Ziklag, where he and his men kept their families.
B. David would have felt alone. His men were almost to the point of stoning him, and he and his men had lost everything.
There are three sources of suffering and tragedy for Christians.
1. The Devil (Job. 1:6-22). Sometimes God allows terrible things to happen to us despite our obedience. It can be a test, or there can be reasons we do not understand.
2. The World (Luke 13:1-5). Sometimes, bad things happen because we live in a fallen world. God can allow these things to touch us in order to further His plan. In John chapter 9 verses 1 through 7 we read this: As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
3. Ourselves (Prov. 19:3). People have a great way of bringing tragedy on themselves. We can bring an incredible amount of risk in our lives in order to achieve greater wealth, comfort, or success. Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” The Scriptures say to work hard (Prov. 14:23), but to have discernment and know when to say “when” (Prov. 23:4-5). The greatest joy of riches is the ability to further God’s will here on earth and to be able to share and bless others–there is almost no better feeling!
Our desire for comfort and convenience is truly unending here in the U.S. Plastic has been something that has been cheap, easy, convenient, and comfortable. Researchers are realizing more and more the negative impact plastic has not just on our environment but on our own physical health. As cancer is on the rise in the U.S. in folks under 50, we are realizing the toll convenience is taking on our health.
2. The Source of _Strength_ (v. 6).
A. Christians have a remarkable source of strength in our _God_ (Psalm 73:26).
B. We forget to pray. Whether or not David sinned by leaving Israel to hide in Philistine territory, the text does not mention any prayer on the part of David when he made this decision (v. 1). Many times, we as Christians forget to pray before we make decisions; the Bible warns us to remember to pray (Joshua 9:14).
C. Even when we sin, go our own way, and find ourselves in a mess as David found himself here, we can always come to God humbly. God loves a repentant, humble, meek spirit and he gives grace to the humble (1 Sam. 12:20; Hos. 14:1-13).
D. Walk with God when things are _good_, not just when things are hard (Is. 55:6-9).
3. The Source of Direction: _God’s Will_ (7-8).
Too many Christians go around, living lost–not lost in their sin, but lost in their purposes. They do not know what to do, where to live, what career path to take. Running from their purpose they fall headlong into aimless wandering, too busy to bow their knees and ask God for direction. Not David. David Inquired of God.
Here in verses 7-8, David seeks God’s face through Abiathar the priest and the Ephod.
“It is likely that this wasn’t just any ephod; this was the ephod of the high priest, which had the breastplate of judgment (Exodus 28:15) attached to it (Exodus 28:28). The breastplate had in it a pouch with two stones, known as the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30). When David inquired of the LORD, he probably asked Abiathar to use the Urim and Thummim” (Enduring Word).
• We learn to _pray_ for wisdom (James 1:5-7).
• We learn to _Love_ God’s Will (Psalms 73:25).
• We learn to _Yield_ to God’s Will (James 4:7).
• We learn to _Obey_ God’s Will (1 John 2;5-6).
4. The Source of Success: Obedient Action (9-31).
• David obeyed _directly _ (v. 9).
• David obeyed _fully_ (v. 17).
• David obeyed _wisely_ (v. 22-24).
• David obeyed _generously_ (v. 25, 13 places).
• Christ possibly had this in mind when he discussed using worldly riches to gain friends (Luke 16:9).
“Some wonder why David was allowed to keep the spoil of the Amalekites when Saul was expressly commanded to not keep any spoil from that nation (1 Samuel 15:1-3) and was judged by God for not obeying that command (1 Samuel 15:13-23). The answers are simple: First, David had no specific command from God to destroy all the spoil from the Amalekites, as Saul did. Second, David recovered what the Amalekites took from others, though he recovered far beyond what was taken from his city. Third, David was not acting as the king of Israel representing the LORD’s nation, as Saul did. Simply put, in this case, the rules were different for David” (Enduring Word).
