A Somebody Becomes A Fugitive
Series on the Life of David- Sermon 2
Thesis: A somebody can become a fugitive but they must remember to run to God because He is their safe refuge.
Texts: I Samuel 18-22
Introduction:
Have you ever been on top of the world? Life is going in your favor. You have won some major victories. You have gained fame in the eyes of everyone around you. The crowds are talking positively about you saying, “What a man!” “Did you see her drop that giant!”, “What a mighty warrior!”, “He is awesome-I want to get close to him!’, “He is fearless in the midst of battle!” “He has got his act together!” , “I will follow him because he is a man of God!”, “He has great wisdom and insight!”, “She has a great family and I want to belike her!”. You are on top of the world! But then something blind sides you and out of nowhere it all comes crashing down. The talk of admiration, and respect turn to hatred and jealousy and disrespect. Your victories are now becoming twisted into defeats. Your life turns from beautiful to ugly:
Holwick states, “Do you ever have a day when everything goes wrong? Everything blows up in your face. Boss is mad at you, wife is grumpy, car acting funny…(1)”
It’s like you go from somebody to a fugitive. You are on the run hiding out dodging insults, spears, attacks and the like. It’s no fun. It’s as we all say, “Not fair!”
Lord what happened? “I was on top of the world and now I’m running for my life!”
Well welcome to the realm of reality!
Last week we left off with our hero David, “A Nobody Who Became a Somebody” on top of the world in Israel. He had defeated Goliath, had won honor and prestige, become exempt from taxes, people where singing about how mighty he was. He becomes a leader in the Israelite army, he is winning numerous battles, he has developed close friendships like with Jonathan. Life is looking great and he is thinking man this is incredible! A few months back I was nobody in the fields and today I am the man! I achieved fame and fortune! But as quick as it came in a few short days the picture changes from being somebody to becoming a fugitive on the run and having everything he gained snatched away unfairly. Not only his wife, friendships, mentors and family but his very life is being threatened. It’s become a person’s worst nightmare. He had his wildest dreams fulfilled only to be turned around into his worst nightmare.
Illustration: Video Clip of the Fugitive
Believe it or not – God was still in control and he was teaching David his most valuable lessons in life. Sometimes the most valuable lessons of life come from hard times.
I. Watch out when you become somebody because you may have to duck and hide ( I Samuel 18,19).
a. Reality sets in on our hero David and we learn a lesson that because you are somebody usually means you come under fire.
i. David comes back from battle a hero only to come under the direct fire of a jealous evil king ( I Samuel 18:8-16)
1. Twice he ducks a spear ( I Samuel 18:10,11)
a. Just because you are somebody does not mean you won’t have to duck.
b. Illustration- Have Brian come in twice and throw a spear at me.
2. He has to endure jealousy ( I Samuel 18:9)
a. Just because you are somebody does not mean everyone will like you or your successes.
3. He is unjustly accused ( I Samuel 18:17; 19:30-32)
a. Just because you are somebody does not mean you won’t be unjustly accused of things you have not done.
i. People will lie about you.
ii. People will say you did things you did not do.
iii. People will question you motives and interpret things the wrong way.
4. Just because you’re somebody does not mean you won’t be alone when things go wrong in your life ( I Samuel 20:42b –21:1)) “Then David left, and Jonathan went back to town. David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he met him, and asked, ‘Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”
a. Prophet – His mentor Samuel
b. Family- His family did not leave with him at this point in time –he’s on his own.
c. Spouses- she helped him escape then lied about it to her Father King Saul- She said, “I helped him because he threatened to kill me if I did not.”
d. Friends- Jonathan and David had to part company because of Saul’s jealous rage toward David.
e. Leaders- Samuel somehow departs from David’s life during this time.
f. Others- Even his enemies did not want anything to do with him.
5. Whenever you receive a position of leadership expect opposition and learn through the trial.
a. It comes with the territory.
b. Just remember you in good company.
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?
a. 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.
b. Do you run to your friends ( I Samuel 20)?
i. Do you seek advice and help from them?
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 where open and he helped his friend escape.
1. This is true friendship!
2. How do you know when you have an intimate friend?
a. Swindoll gives us four character traits of true intimate friends 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).
c. 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 your on the run.
ii. A loyal spouse would have went with David.
iii. A true loyal lover is one that stays with you through the good and the bad.
iv. A true a loyal spouse is one who will not lie about you.
d. Do you run to the priests God’s representatives (I Samuel 21:1-9)?
i. Yes you should but do not lie. David lied to Ahimlelech?
1. David here collapses from the pressure of being a fugitive.
2. He deceives the priest and gets Goliath’s sword and some 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.
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 really 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 really angry at God. But, how can you strike against someone who is invisible? You can’t! 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. What is David? God’s 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. Who is Satan after? Who are his primary targets? 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 years? God’s priests, you and I, the believers. 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).
e. Do you run to the your enemies?
i. And play 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!”
iii. Yes, the pressure is getting to David-He is in over his head!
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).
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!
ii. This is the first thing David should continue to do.
iii. When David arrived at the cave we are told in Psalms that he penned Psalm 142 as he cried out to God. Lets look at Psalm 142.
1. David comes to his senses and cries out to God for help!
2. Can you feel his pain-his hopelessness-his despair.
3. 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
4. So he now runs to God for help- He cries Lord deliver me!
5. 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? Because he knows who the king maker is.
iv. He 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. He looks to God for peace and contentment.
2. He finds it in praising and worshipping God
3. This is how you get calm in the midst of the storms of life.
v. He also wrote Psalm 31 Which helps us to understand why we all need a refuge. Swindoll gives us insight:
1. We need a refuge because we are in distress and sorrow accompanies.
2. We need a refuge because we are sinful and guilt accuses us.
3. 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 he 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. How would you like to lead what God sent David?
Illustration of youth acting like these 400 individuals.
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. The distressed –and in trouble
1. The Hebrew word -matsowq- means everyone who was in distress- ones disabled by their anguished hearts and emotions.
2. 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)
3. So here came hundreds of stressed out people
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
iv. Then the discontented ones, and angry ones
1. The word here is -mar nephesh -meaning they where the bitter ones-the angry ones.
2. Swindoll notes,” …means to be in bitterness of soul, to have been wronged and mistreated.”
b. 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. The rejects, the complainers – I’m sure he started jumping for joy!
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.”
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.
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 – This video will reveal to you who that was:
Show Jesus video clip!
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!
