3 July 2005
1 Samuel 30:1-8 (KJV)
by
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker, Taegu South Korea
BIG IDEA: BELIEVERS should always ENCOURAGE THEMSELVES, SEEK GOD’s GUIDANCE, and DO AS HIS WORD says.
REFERENCES: 1 Samuel 29:1-11 (The Dismissal of David from the Philistines Army); 1 Samuel 30:1-31 (Raid on Ziklag); Luke 23:34 (The Symbol of Christianity); Ex 14:14 (KJV) - The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace; 1 Kings 27:1-12 (David at Ziklag and his raids on the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites); Proverbs3:6 ( In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths); 1 Sam 27:8 (MSG); Lev. 13:46 – NIV ( Lepers outside the gate); 2 Kings 5:27 (Believed to be Gehazi and his sons who went from Elisha’s presence); 2 Kings 7:1-10 (Story about the 4 Lepers – Why sit ye here and die); Ephod (ay-fode’)—Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary– GARMENT OR IMAGE - The ephod is frequently mentioned in close connection with the sacred oracle. When Saul or David wished to question Yhwh through the oracle, they commanded the priest, “Bring hither the ephod”
- 1 Sam. 14:18 & 1 Sam 23:9 & 1 Sam 30:7. This connection between the ephod and the oracle may also be seen very clearly in the combination of Urim and Thummim with the ephod in the official robes of the high priest. E.A.I. (Expository,Application, Illustration type sermon); Psalms 23: 1-3a
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 1 Samuel 30:1-8 (KJV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: 1 Samuel 30:1-8 (KJV)
III. READ THE TEXT: 1 Samuel 30: 6b – KJV (… but
David encouraged himself in the
LORD his God).
&
1 Samuel 30:8 – KJV (And David
enquired at the LORD, saying,
Shall I pursue after this troop?
shall I overtake them? And he
answered him, Pursue: for thou
shalt surely overtake them, and
without fail recover all.
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to ENCOURAGE THEMSELVES, SEEK GOD’S GUIDANCE, and DO AS GOD’S WORD says.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “Pursue & RESCUE”
INTRODUCTION:
It has been said that the Christian Doctrine of a Loving God presumes that life is bitter, NOT SWEET.
“Someone else has said that the symbol of Christianity is a CROSS. The man who said, “Father, forgive them; for they know what they do” (in Luke 23:34) was in terrible pain when he said it.”
Now, before we are empowered to OVERTAKE OUR enemy; and before we blessed to RESCUE, AND take-back what belongs to us; We HAVE TO ENCOURAGE ourselves, SEEK GOD’S GUIDANCE, and DO AS GOD’S WORD says.
*****TAKE 5 BEATS******
MOVE 1: In our Scripture this afternoon, we find ourselves about 400 years after the rule of Judges … into the book of 1 Samuel.
a. As you may recall, the book of 1 Samuel is divided into 3 sections: Chapters 1-7 gives us an account of the life of Samuel – the last of The Judges and First of the Prophets.
b. Chapters 8-15 provides us with the story of King Saul (Man of the Flesh) while chapters 16-31 gives us an account of DAVID, A MAN OF FAITH.
c. For who can ever forget DAVID - the GIANT SLAYER?
d. For don’t you remember, it was David (13 Chapters earlier) in 1 Samuel 17:43-51 KJV who had single-handedly defeated Goliath – the Philistines BIG MAN who defied the Army of the Living God …
******TAKE 5 BEATS******
MOVE 2: Now, 13 chapters later, David has ESCAPED THE DEATH GRIP OF KING SAUL BY RUNNING TO KING ACHISH OF THE PHILISTINES.
a. KING ACHISH gladly accepted DAVID, PROVIDED HIM PROTECTION, AND A SANCTUARY from KING SAUL in Ziklag.
b. FOR YOU SEE IN THE EYES OF KING ACHISH, David and his warriors had fled Judah to COME to Gath (or Philistine).
c. And he was under impression that DAVID was now ANTI-ISRAEL, and could ultimately become a force multiplier for the Philistines and the COUNTRY OF GATH.
d. This he thought because DAVID was on the run from SAUL.
e. As a result, David and his soldiers found GREAT FAVOR with King Achish.
******TAKE 5 BEATS******
MOVE 3: Yet, prior to our Scripture this afternoon, in 1 Samuel 29:1-11, we witness, FIRST HAND , the DISMISSAL of David and his warior soldiers’ from participating in the Philistines WAR against the Amalekites and others.
a. In fact, the BIBLICAL HISTORY tells us that when the Princes of Philistines learned of their Kings intent to have David and his WARRIOR soldiers to fight along side them – they angrily protested.
b. They OPENLY requested that their King (King Achish) NOT trust David to be loyal to him and their nation in a time of WAR.
c. For they said, Is not this David, of whom they dance and sang one to another: Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
d. … He shall NOT go with us to BATTLE.
e Therefore, David and his WARRIOR SOLDIERS were Dismissed and SENT BACK to THEIR SANCTUARY –in Ziklag.
*******TAKE 5 BEATS******
MOVE 4: My brothers and sisters, at first glance, it appears from reading the STORY OF DAVID … that everything seems to always go against him. AND VERY LITTLE – IF ANYTHING – APPEARS TO GO IN HIS FAVOR.
a. HE WAS TESTED AND PROVED BY STRUGGLES AND ADVERSITIES.
b. AS A RESULT, HE LEARNED TO PUT HIS TOTAL TRUST IN GOD.
c. FOR IT WAS DAVID who said, PSALMS 18:2, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; ….
d. IN OTHER WORDS, DAVID LEARNED EVEN AS A SHEPHERD TO PUT COMPLETE TRUST IN GOD … FOR I CAN HEAR DAVID SAYING:
e. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalms 23:1-3 (KJV)
*******TAKE 5 BEATS******
MOVE 5: YET, FROM THE OUTSIDE – LOOKING INSIDE , NOTHING SEEMILY WENT TOTALLY IN DAVID’S FAVOR.
a. IN OUR TEXT this afternoon, when David and his warrior soldiers RETURNED TO ZIKLAG ..
b. from having been DISMISSED TO SERVE ALONG SIDE KING ACHISH.
c. THEY FOUND ZIKLAG UP IN SMOKE.
d. AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE Amalekites had BURNED, AND raided their VILLAGE.
e. AND had taken all of their WOMEN AND CHILDREN. IT DIDN’T MATTER TO THE ENEMY HOW YOUNG OR OLD THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE.
f. THEY STILL HAD PLANS OF SLAVERY FOR THEM. AND IF THE OBVIOUS WAS ENOUGH FOR DAVID TO GO THROUGH.
*******TAKE 5 BEATS****
MOVE 6: THE WARRIORS THAT HE HAD BATTLE ALONG SIDE IN MANY WARS AND CAMPAIGNS AND RAISE UP AGAINST HIM – DESIRING TO STONE DAVID.
a. BECAUSE THEY BLAMED HIM FOR THE LOSS OF THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
b. SO DAVID GREATLY DISTRESSED , IF YOU WILL, WITH HIS HEAD HUNG DOWN - ENCOURAGED HIMSELF, SOUGHT GOD’S GUIDANCE, AND DID AS GOD’S WORD SAID.
c. Therefore, I submit to you THIS AFTERNOON, that there are three things that we SHOULD ALSO DO BEFORE WE CAN SUCCESSFULLY OVERTAKE OUR ENEMIES; RECOVER, AND TAKE BACK WHAT BELONGS TO US.
d. THE FIRST thing, that DAVID DID that we must also do is ENCOURAGE OURSELVES … IN THE LORD.
e. FOR IT WAS DAVID who said, in Psalms 119:11- KJV, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
f. Charles Spurgeon – a great preacher once said – DAVID’S … HEART WAS KEPT BY THE WORD OF GOD, BECAUSE HE KEPT THE WORD OF GOD IN HIS HEART.
g. In other words, all that DAVID had received from SUNDAY SCHOOL, BIBLE STUDY JOY NIGHT, and SUNDAY SERVICES – HE KEPT.
*******TAKE 5 BEATS*******
MOVE 7: As a result, the WORD OF GOD SAYS IN VERSE 6: And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters:
a. BUT DAVID ENCOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD.
b. So the First Thing that we should do in the midst of adversity is ENCOURAGE OURSELVES.
c. Now, the SECOND THING THAT DAVID DID in the midst OF ADVERSITY IS SOUGHT GOD’S GUIDANCE.
d. FOR YOU SEE, IN THE PAST, SOMETIMES, DAVID HAD RELIED UPON HIS OWN UNDERSTANDING.
e. AS A RESULT, ZIKLAG WAS BURNED DOWN AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE.
f. THIS TIME DAVID HAD MADE-UP IN HIS MIND THAT HE WAS GOING TO INCLUDE GOD IN HIS DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
g. FOR IT WAS DAVID, in Psalms 91:10-11 KJV, THAT SAID … There h. shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Psalms 91:10-11 (KJV)
******TAKE 5 BEATS*******
MOVE 8: DAVID’S SON – SOLOMON – SAID IT BEST when he said: In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov 3:6 (KJV)
a. SO DAVID WENT TO HIS PASTOR (Pastor Abiathar) , WHOM HE BELIEVED WAS A MAN OF GOD AND SOUGHT A WORD FROM THE LORD.
b. For the Bible says that “… David inquired of the Lord, saying SHALL I PURSUE afther this troop? Shall I overtake them. And he answered him, PURSUE; for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail RECOVER ALL.
c. So, the SECOND THING THAT DAVID DID that we should also do is SEEK GOD’S GUIDANCE.
d. FINALLY, THE THIRD THING THAT DAVID DID, in the midst of adversity, that we SHOULD ALSO DO IS … DO AS GOD’S WORD SAY.
*******TAKE 5 BEATS*******
MOVE 9: DON’T ADD TO HIS WORD … JUST BE OBEDIENT.
a. FOR IF WE ARE WILLING AND OBEDIENT, THE SCRIPTURES THAT WE SHALL EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND…
b. FOR DON’T YOU REMEMBER, IN REFERENCE TO OUR ROLE MODEL AND SAVIOR – JESUS CHRIST; PAUL SAYS …
c. THAT JESUS WAS FOUND ….in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross Phil 2:8 (KJV).
d. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IN OUR TEXT THIS AFTERNOON, DAVID ENCOURAGED HIMSELF,
e. … SOUGHT GOD’S GUIDANCE, DID AS GOD SAID.
f. AS A RESULT, HE PURSUE THE ENEMY; AND RESCUE ALL THAT THE ENEMY HAD TAKEN OUT OF HIS SANCTUARY.
*******TAKE 5 BEATS*******
CELEBRATION:
Therefore, we OVERTAKE THE ENEMY;
and before you RESCUE, AND take-back what belongs to US;
WE HAVE TO SEEK GOD’S GUIDANCE; AND HEAR GOD SAY …PURSUE.
