Thrive Amid Adversity

Introduction: The Righteous can thrive in adversity because they understand several principles. Adversity has always been a part of our human experience. The challenges of life faced properly can help us grow. Maintaining faith in God helps us solve problems and overcome adversity. Have you ever thought about the last 150 years? This church had survived and thrive through the Cholera pandemic, yellow fever epidemic, Russian Flu, Spanish Flu, Hong Kong flu, HIV/AIDS, Swine Flu, SARS, Ebola, MERS, and Covid-19. It has survived and thrived through the War in Mexico declared in 1846, Spain declared in 1898; Germany World I War declared 1917, World War II declared in 1942, the Korean War of 1950-1953; the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1973; the Persian Gulf War of 1991 and a hundred different economics challenges. Its still here and you and I must endure to the end.

As we come to celebrate with you, I want to remind you that “The Righteous Can Thrive in Adversity.” What an interesting Psalms this is, as David the sweet psalmist of Israel, a man after God own heart, is rocked to his core. David considered his service to King Saul and of Israel a high honor and the privilege of a lifetime. He makes a choice not listen to temptations presented by his advisers to desert his post and hide in fear. This event occurred early in the life of David. Up unto this point his life had been almost a fairytale but it was true.

David’s story is very familiar to most of us. We remember him as a common shepherd tending his father’s sheep. This son of Jessie, horned his skill as a musician in obscurity, His reputation as a great protector of his father’s sheep, confronted danger, killing and bear and a lion were accomplished in secret. We become familiar with his qualities, musical skills, and extraordinary anointing as he moved from obscurity into the presence of King Saul. Probably, nothing pushed David to the forefront as did his noted battle with Goliath. Who could have imagined that one battle could change so much? That single victory moved David from a common class to royal, he marries the Kings’ Daughter, moves from the field into the palace, and elevates his Family to a tax-free status. David is living the dream! The privilege to serve in Saul’s army and defend his nation must have been simply awesome. Can you imagine, being promote from the shepherd’s field with no military training to become the son-in-law of the king, the king’s personal armor bearer and a commander in the king’s army.

David has almost forgotten what it felt like to be overlooked by his father and brothers. Now he is treated more like a favorite son and his value appreciated. King Saul became more than David’s king, he was a father figure to him. David admired Saul’s stature, his vision and wisdom. So, David served King Saul with all his might. Whatever task was required of David, He excelled. With every successful deed, David’s popularity grew. David became the subject of legends. Psalmist sang his praise, the people celebrated him, the soldiers admired him, and the army Generals highly respected him. David was living the dream. He was larger than life!

Little did he realize that his newfound popularity would stir up so much envy, jealousy and opposition. King Saul, his mentor and friend would become his chief adversity. Saul who became from such humble beginnings, honesty and just acts was now jealous. Jealousy is cruel to the grave. David had willing place his life on the line for Saul again and again. David who celebrated Saul repeatedly, is now being threaten by Saul. Saul is trying to take David’s life without a cause. Even Jonathan, Saul’s son recognized that Saul’s attitude had changed towards David. Saul was full of rage and anger against David, Jonathan began asking his father why? Sometimes there is no reason, it just craziness. There is no reason other than envy and jealous. That alone is more than enough to create great opposition.

David’s advisors came to him, out of love and concern saying, we know that you trust in God, and understand that you are not the kind of person to run away from your responsibility or a fight, but let’s be reasonable. When people lose their faith, many will call it reasonable, or commonsense. Yet David responses as a child of God should, Psalm 11, “In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”