A somebody becomes a fugitive
Thesis: When David does the right thing for God and becomes a somebody Saul gets jealous and forces David to become a fugitive.
Introduction:
David has the Spirit of the Lord on Him. He defeats the giant Goliath – He brings a great victory to Israel. Saul hears the praise for David Saul has killed his 1,000 and David has killed his 10,000. Saul hears this praise, and the evil spirit stirs him up. He becomes jealous and his heart is prompted to strike out at the hero.
So, he reacts in anger – he throws a spear at David to kill him (3x)!
Saul sees David as a threat not a blessing – he sees him coming for his crown – why?
Reality Check - When an evil spirit is leading our lives and influencing our interpretation of life, we will always be in opposition to the people led by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God will always be seen as a threat not an ally! The truth is the Spirit of God always sends demonic spirits into fits of rage and slander.
Reality Check: When the Spirit of God departs a person, they are wide open for evil spirits to invade because it’s the Spirit of God that keeps demon spirits out of a person’s soul and heart.
Jesus said this about demons: Matthew 12: 43 “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Saul who once was filled with the Spirit of God – anointed by God – prophesied for God is now void of God’s Spirit because of sin and rebellion against God. The result of his sins and rebellion is demon spirits torment him – WHY – because the Spirit of God departed. It’s the Spirit of God which keeps you free from demons and evil – it’s not your self will – it’s the Spirit of God. It’s what happens in the spiritual realm!
From my research Saul attempted to kill David 14 times! Sauls attempts become known to Johnathan who knows the feeling – of having his own father try to kill him– remember because when he won a Battle for Israel and indirectly disobeyed a vow Saul made was told by his own dad, he must die for breaking it – but the fighting men of Israel refused to follow the insane order of Saul! But here he is again with David, and I think this is why Jonathan and David connect as good close friends – the same man tried killing both! For no reason but rage, anger and jealousy!
Let’s recall 1 SAMUEL 16:14-23
David’s Introduction to the Court of Saul V. 14. With the rejection of Saul on the part of God, the Spirit of Jehovah had departed from him, and an evil spirit from Jehovah had come upon him, who filled him with fear and anguish. The “evil spirit from Jehovah” which came into Saul in the place of the Spirit of Jehovah, was not merely an inward feeling of depression at the rejection announced to him, which grew into melancholy, and occasionally broke out in passing fits of insanity, but a higher evil power, which took possession of him, and not only deprived him of his peace of mind, but stirred up the feelings, ideas, imagination, and thoughts of his soul to such an extent that at times it drove him even into madness. This demon is called “an evil spirit (coming) from Jehovah,” because Jehovah had sent it as a punishment, or “an evil spirit of God” (Elohim: v. 15), or briefly “a spirit of God” (Elohim), or “the evil spirit” (v. 23, compare 1 Samuel 18:10), as being a supernatural, spiritual, evil power; but never “the Spirit of Jehovah,” because this is the Spirit proceeding from the holy God, which works upon men as the spirit of strength, wisdom, and knowledge, and generates and fosters the spiritual or divine life.
In essence our text is saying God’s Spirit departed Saul and then an evil spirit asked God as it looked at the empty shell of a king can I invade him? God said go for it he rejected my way! This evil force then seeks to wreak havoc on the plans and purposes of God and to wreak havoc on the people of God. God allowed the evil spirit to invade Saul!
David plays in the court of Saul and the demons flee and Saul finds peace from the anointed music. But soon Saul is so jealous of David he throws two spears at him trying to kill him in the court room as David has been helping him find peace.
Case in point: Music calms the savage beast!
This has been literally proved: a musician was brought to play on his instrument while they were feeding a savage lion in the tower of London; the beast immediately left his food, came towards the grating of his den, and began to move in such a way as to show himself affected by the music. The musician ceased, and the lion returned to his food; he recommenced, and the lion left off his prey, and was so affected as to seem by his motions to dance with delight. This was repeatedly tried, and the effects were still the same.
It has been said: “Music hath charms to sooth the savage beast.” But even after a while this did not work for Saul – he was so consumed with evil – all common sense left him – he could only do that which was evil – he could not lead a nation influenced and possessed by evils thoughts and action. Hear this word “Evil cannot do good – let me say it again Evil – and I mean it this way - that which is opposed to God - can never do good for anybody! It cannot lead a nation or make the right decisions for its people!
Lets look at our texts for today!
Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 18
1After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. 3And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
Jonathan recognized the Spirit of God on David to be the new king!
5Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the people, and Saul’s officers as well.
6When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. 7As they danced, they sang:
“Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
We have the problem rising in Saul – the demons are telling him David is a threat to your power and crown – Anger started taking over – evil drove the anger and jealousy and evil thoughts took over Saul’s soul and spirit. He soon would lash out at David with a spear – the demons said “He must die- note- if David died by the hand of Saul, then Jesus could not come through his lineage to save the world.
8Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
10The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.
12Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul. 13So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. 14In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. 15When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.
17Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD.” For Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!”
18But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” 19So when the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.
20Now Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased. 21“I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”
22Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and his attendants all like you; now become his son-in-law.’”
23They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I’m only a poor man and little known.”
24When Saul’s servants told him what David had said, 25Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.
26When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, 27David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.
28When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, 29Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.
30The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.
In this chapter I count 3 attempts on Davids life by Saul – in total if my count is right – I see 14 attempts on David’s life by the hand of Saul.
1 Samuel 19:
1Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David 2and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. 3I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”
4Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. 5He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The LORD won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?”
6Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death.”
7So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.
8Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.
9But an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the harp, 10Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.
11Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed.” 12So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped. 13Then Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats’ hair at the head.
14When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michal said, “He is ill.”
15Then Saul sent the men back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so that I may kill him.” 16But when the men entered, there was the idol in the bed, and at the head was some goats’ hair.
17Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this and send my enemy away so that he escaped?”
Michal told him, “He said to me, ‘Let me get away. Why should I kill you?’”
18When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. 19Word came to Saul: “David is in Naioth at Ramah”; 20so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men and they also prophesied. 21Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. 22Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Secu. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?”
“Over in Naioth at Ramah,” they said.
23So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. 24He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay that way all day and night. This is why people say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
We end this chapter seeing the protection of David by “The Spirit of God!”
But you may have this Question circulation in your head: “Does God send Evil spirits on others? When God’s spirit departs a person God does He allow evil spirits to go in and take residence! Answer: Yes, He does!”
Lessons to learn from our chapters today!
I. When you become a somebody for God you become a target.
a. Saul become jealous of David’s success – setting himself up to self-destruct and kill himself in the end.
i. Earthly Wisdom-Those who study bees tell us when a honeybee drives its barbed stinger into flesh, it becomes so firmly imbedded that the only way the bee can escape is to leave the stinger behind. This, however, is sure to cause the death of the bee. It receives such a wound that it cannot possibly recover. So it is with us. Sometimes we sting others because they are a little better than we are. Being jealous of them, we not only leave the sting in those who happen to disagree with us, but the act brings about spiritual harm to ourselves. If our zeal embitters others, it will multiply bitterness within our own hearts. Thus, when others feel the bitterness of our zeal, they will surely conclude that we do not possess Jesus Christ who descended from heaven to give us new life. (Illustrations of Bible Truths).
1. Saul stung David but, in the process, killed himself!
ii. Beware of Jealousy - Mrs. Wesley was extremely jealous of her husband. His work set him in the position of friend and counselor to many women. Among his helpers and in the institutions that were springing up under his care, women were employed, and each one was for his insanely jealous wife an object of deadly suspicion. Wesley on his part was apt to be tolerant, in a masculine and broad-minded way, of the facts and relationships of some women, which other women, even the best, would hardly forgive. Sally Ryan, for example, the housekeeper at one of his orphanages, was a woman with a past. She was at this time only thirty-three, but she had three husbands living and was separated from them all. Wesley was in constant correspondence with her, a fact which kindled his wife to fury. She stole Wesley’s correspondence to satisfy her doubts. She would travel one hundred miles to see who his companions were at a particular stage of his preaching tour. Her fury threw her sometimes into paroxysms of mad violence and sometimes into acts of almost incredible treachery. She not only stole her husband’s letters to satisfy her doubts, but she tampered with them so as to give them an evil sense and put them into the hands of his enemies to be published. Beware of jealousy. It can make the light of God in your heart so dark you see only evil, never good, in everyone.
1. Yes, John Wesley’s godly wife became jealous at one point in her life – she had to repent of it and get right with God!
b. Saul feared how successful David was in everything he did – He saw the Spirit of God on him!
c. Saul knew he could lose the Kingdom because of the anointing of the Lord on David.
d. The people liked David and Saul did not like that he had the popular vote!
e. Saul was gripped by an evil spirit:
i. Evil spirits will always cause the following actions in a person:
1. Jealousy
2. Hatred
3. Anger
4. Fear
5. Tormented mind
6. These spirits will cause you to commit murder
7. These spirits will cause you to persecute and slay the innocent of God
f. How does somebody deal with somebody like Saul? You know how you deal with difficult people!
i. David – fled
ii. David – loved
iii. David would not touch God’s anointed
iv. David – sought counsel
v. David sought God
vi. David cried out to God
vii. David did not allow the Bait of Satan (The Spirit of Offense) to take root!
viii. David served as a servant leader
T.S. - Somebodies need to know that times can become tough, and they need to know who they can lean on for help.
II. What should a fugitive do and not do when he is under pressure and on the run for doing God’s work?
a. Do you run to your spouse (I Samuel 19:9-18)?
i. You should but don’t be surprised if a non-loyal spouse lies about, you and does not go with you when you’re on the run.
ii. A loyal spouse would have gone with David.
1. Not stayed in the cush of the Palace – Michal wanted to stay in her cushy comfort zone of the palace.
iii. A true loyal lover is one that stays with you through the good and the bad of life.
1. A true a loyal spouse is one who will not lie about you to others.
b. Do you run to the Prophet of God (I Samuel 19:18-24)?
i. Yes, The Lord did a miracle to deliver David but for some reason David left and went to Jonathan.
ii. Why did he not stay with Samuel the Prophet?
1. He seemed to be under God’s protection there supernaturally! Why did he flee?
a. A weak moment of fear? Not trusting God’s protection?
c. Do you run to your godly friends (I Samuel 20)?
i. Do you seek advice and help from them?
1. Good godly friends are essential in this life.
2. They will be open and honest with you!
ii. David sought the help of Jonathan – who at first did not believe what David was saying. He checked it out only to discover that His father threw a spear at him. His eyes were open, and he helped his friend escape.
1. This is true friendship!
a. Once again Jonathan knows the feeling of being on the end of Saul’s rage of wanting to murder people for no reason!
i. 1 Samuel 14:43-48
b. Share the story of Band of Brothers – the lifelong friendships which are formed in war and near death experiences.
2. How do you know when you have an intimate friend?
a. Swindoll gives us four-character traits of true intimate friends from his book “DAVID” (53,54):
i. An Intimate true friend is willing to sacrifice (I Samuel 18:4)
ii. An intimate true friend is a loyal defense against others (I Samuel 19:4,5).
iii. An intimate true friend will give you freedom to be yourself (I Samuel 20:41).
iv. An intimate true friend is one who is always encouraging (I Samuel 23:15,16).
d. Do you run to the priests God’s representatives at the tabernacle of God (I Samuel 21:1-9)?
i. Yes, you should but do not lie to them. David lied to Ahimlelech?
1. David here collapses from the pressure of being a fugitive.
a. Before you want to crucify David – put yourselves in his shoes – he is running for his life – Like Harrison Ford in the movie the fugitive.
2. He deceives the priest and gets Goliath’s sword and some food.
a. He now has a weapon and food.
3. The result of this encounter and lies cost the priests at Nob their lives in (I Samuel 22:6-23)
a. You cannot blame David for this, Saul takes the responsibility.
i. It shows how low a person can go who once knew the Lord and now is possessed by demons driving him to kill over and over.
b. Pastor Roe shares some insight about this horrible act of Saul:
i. Why does Saul leap on this thing so desperately? Who is Saul angry at? God. Who rejected Saul? God. Who chose David? God. Who sent a spirit of evil to harass Saul? God. Who won’t answer Saul when he inquires of Him? God. Saul is angry at God. But how can you strike against someone who is invisible? You can’t!
ii. So, how do you get even with God? By picking on someone who is the visibility of God, the priests of God, and one other person.
iii. What is David? Gods anointed. What does the word anointed mean in Hebrew? Messiah! Saul is after the Messiah and Saul is after God’s believing priests. He is going to wipe out both, if he can.
iv. Who is Satan after? Who are his primary targets? Over 2,000 years ago he tried to get one of them, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, God’s anointed. And who has he been trying to destroy for the last 2,000 plus years? God’s priests, you and I, the believers.
v. Do you see who has taken possession of Saul’s thinking process now. This is not a physical battle. This is only the playing out of the action that has been going on in the spiritual realm. Saul is playing the role of Satan’s tool down here, and he does not even know it. Saul has become spiritually blind (I add, and it will kill him!) (7).
1. Paul warns us over and over in the New Testament - We are in a spiritual war between Good and Evil – it’s playing out all around you – it’s on TV- In newspapers – at town halls and talk shows – but hear me it’s spiritual not physical!
2. Paul said Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
e. Do you run to your enemies for help?
i. I do not recommend this, and God did not send David to do this – He was smart he played insane (I Samuel 21:10-15)?
ii. David discovered that this was not a good move – he became fearful for his life, so he acted insane – I love the king’s response, “This guy’s insane get rid of him we have enough insane people around here!”
1. Think about his comment for a moment – it makes me chuckle!
iii. Yes, the pressure is getting to David-He is in over his head!
1. This is why you stay connected to God even on the run!
iv. Swindoll states, “Oh, man! That’s David! Our champion! Foaming at the mouth, scratching on the gate, looking like a madman as the foam dribbles into his beard, David hit rock bottom “(66).
1. Great picture of Davis – Bear slayer – Lion slayer – Goliath Slayer – Philistine slayer – can you picture it?
f. Do you run to God and wait for direction (I Samuel 22:1-5)?
i. Yes, you run to his refuge and wait on God!
1. You hit the jackpot if you choose this method of seeking help in times of trouble!
ii. This is the first thing David should have done - and continue to do.
1. This is what you should do! Run to God first – seek help and direction!
iii. When David arrived at the cave, we are told in Psalms that he penned Psalm 142 as he cried out to God.
1. Let’s look at Psalm 142: A maskil (song) of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.
a. 1 I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. 2 I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. 3 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. 4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. 5 I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. 7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.
2. David comes to his senses and cries out to God for help!
a. Let me say it again – You must do this first!
3. Can you feel his pain-his hopelessness-his despair.
a. Can you hear it – it’s a real emotion to be betrayed and hunted like an animal!
4. But our hero still has his most important quality – A man after God’s own heart!
a. He tried the other people but ran back to God!
b. I am not opposed to getting counsel and help from others but go to God first and foremost.
5. So, he now runs to God for help- He cries Lord deliver me!
a. God will for years – God will deliver him 14 times from being killed by Saul.
6. In this Psalm he remembers that God is his refuge “I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge my portion in the land of the living.”(5).
a. Why does David become king of Israel? Because he knows who the king maker is. It’s God!
b. We need to remember it is God who rises up national leaders!
i. He brings them up and he takes them down!
ii. My confidence is in Jesus not in a man or a woman!
iv. David also wrote Psalm 57- falling prostrate before the Lord in the dark cave. Swindoll states, “He is still down, but at least he’s looking up. He’s no longer just looking within” (76).
1. Psalm 57:1: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness. 4 I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. 6 They spread a net for my feet- I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 9 I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
2. David looks to God for peace and contentment.
a. Who do you look to for peace and contentment in life?
b. He finds it in praising and worshipping God
3. This is how you get calm in the midst of the storms of life – you connect with God – sing to God – pray your heart out to God.
v. He also wrote Psalm 3 when he fled from his own son who was trying to kill him: Psalm 3:1–8 (NIV84)
1 O LORD, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.” Selah
3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD;
you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
4 To the LORD I cry aloud,
and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not fear the tens of thousands
drawn up against me on every side.
7 Arise, O LORD!
Deliver me, O my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the LORD comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people. Selah
1. Which helps us to understand why we all need a refuge. Swindoll gives us insight:
a. We need a refuge because we are in distress and sorrow accompanies us everyday.
b. We need a refuge because we are sinful and guilty - it accuses us daily.
c. We need a refuge because we are surrounded by adversaries and misunderstanding assaults us.
(page 81)
T.S. - We learn that a fugitive needs to run to God because The Lord is their refuge, even if the rest the human race abandons you go, to the refuge. Then wait on God.
III. When you are under pressure- pray- but don’t be surprised by how God answers your prayers and who he sends to your aid (I Samuel 22:1-5, Psalm 34).
a. David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. 3 From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” 4 So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold. 5 But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
b. How would you like to lead what God sent David to lead (Verse 2?)
i. His family- You know the family where Dad forgot he had another son. You know the one where the older brother accuses David of having a conceited and wicked heart.
1. I am sure they came with positive words for David.
ii. They were the distressed – depressed – in debt –and in trouble
1. The Hebrew word -matsowq- means everyone who was in distress- ones disabled by their anguished hearts and emotions.
a. It means as Swindoll states, “What a group! ‘Everyone who was in distress’ came. The Hebrew word here, zuk, means not only ‘in distress’, but ‘under pressure, under stress.’”(74)
i. All those who hated Saul and his leadership!
2. So here came hundreds of stressed-out people to help David – I am like the King in Gath – I don’t need more insane people running around here -send them away!
iii. The ones in debt-nasha- those taxed heavily and under huge credit card debts.
1. These where the ones who Swindoll states, “Could not pay their bills.”
2. So we have all the ones who cannot manage money and are under extreme agony because of their financial state in the current administration – the garbage of society came to David.
iv. Then the discontented ones, and angry ones
1. The word here is -mar nephesh -meaning they where the bitter ones-the angry ones.
a. Not only depressed – stressed out people but angry people!
2. Swindoll notes,” …means to be in bitterness of soul, to have been wronged and mistreated.”
c. Can you imagine this scenario- they start showing up in groups- David starts to notice that his cave is filling up with the malcontents of Israel. I am sure he looked at God and said “Really Lord!”
i. The rejects, the complainers – I’m sure he started jumping for joy!
1. No I don’t hink he did!
ii. Believe it or not these where the future leaders of the nation of Israel – the one’s who would later on be called “David’s mighty men of valor.”
1. Here this God took the rejects of society and turned them into the Might Warriors of David!
2. Can I get an Amen to God!
iii. David was not alone God sent him men who needed to be trained and raised up for the Lord!
iv. How in the world do you lead a bunch like this?
1. Ritter gives us some insight from Psalm 34 how David did this (3,4):
a. Many believe that this Psalm was penned in the cave after the 400 malcontents showed up.
b. He led them in praise- Psalm 34:1
c. He assured them of God’s protection- Psalm 34:7
d. He drew their attention to the Lord so they would trust him.
i. To the distressed – Psalm 34:8
ii. To those in debt – Psalm 34:9
iii. To the discontent – Psalm 34:18
2. Ritter also gives us helpful advice on how to help people like this, “ When presented the opportunity in the refuge of preparation, seize the opportunity to pour your life into people. God brings them into our lives for the purpose of being influenced for His glory and purpose. Discouraged people don’t need critics. They hurt enough already. They need encouragement. They need a word. They need a place to heal and a confidant; a comrade in arms, a caring, willing, and available someone (4).
a. Amazing how God heals us as we help others!
3. Ritter also reminds us of Psalms 78:72 “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”
Conclusion:
Summary:
a). Don’t be deceived into thinking that when you become somebody in God that everyone will like you and you won’t have to duck or run for cover because spears are being thrown at you.
b). When you become a fugitive on the run always run to God your refuge and wait for his direction.
c). When he answers your prayers don’t be surprised by who he sends. He knows what’s best for you and who can help you. He also knows that you can help them.
David went from a somebody to a fugitive and he was in good company because there was another King who did the same.
Altar call- This fugitive is the King of Kings and he is here today to be your mighty refuge in life- you only have to let him do so!
