"Pursue And Rescue"

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.