Ziklag-Pressed Down

ZIKLAG- Pressed down

1 Samuel 30:1

Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the

third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag,

attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire,

We come to a time when the great David was backslid and discouraged. How many of you know that even great men can fall or succumb to depression. Martin Luther suffered from depression and used to be in a black mood for some time. One day his wife, Katrina dressed in black clothes and a veil and went into his room. What is wrong, is someone dead asked Martin? Yes, God is dead she replied Martin said what are you saying? She answered that God must be dead because of the way you are acting- get up and do your work and he did!

God had anointed David to be king when he was young, but years of hardship and persecution had led to David losing his way, fleeing for his life, and finally living with the enemies of God. How many of you have had Words from God and how many of you have lost your way. How many of you have become discouraged and have fallen away? How many are lost right now?

The theologians say that during this period David wrote no Psalms. He went over to the Philistines and joined the enemy. He sought shelter from the enemy –don’t we do the same thing we run from God and seek shelter with the world! David behaved badly and cruelly. He and his men used to raid the local tribes and kill everything in the camps - these were not works sanctioned by God.

10 years of hardship, 10 years of discouragement had led David to where he was now! This was a guy anointed to be king- who defeated Goliath, defeated armies, Had, done many great works, now totally discouraged. A great man broken by fear and discouragement, does this sound familiar to you personally?

If you allow discouragement to fester in your heart, it will lead to backsliding and there are consequences to backsliding.

Maybe you are discouraged, life happened and threw you on the ground. David still had the High Priest with him, but he was not consulting God. He had a telephone to glory right there -the Priest, but he did not use him.

He was going through the motions - still religious, but his heart was not in it. Maybe you are there today – coming to church, to cell group – but you are just going through the motions. Like David, discouragement has led to backsliding – and when we are backslid we are in the greatest danger!

Charles Finney the great revivalist lists the consequences of backsliding:

The backslider is full of his own works, but they are dead works, not works of faith and love acceptable to God.

He is full of his own feelings. Instead of sweet peace, rest and joy in the Holy Spirit, he finds himself rocked by unrest, dissatisfied with himself and everyone else.

It is often a trial to live with a backslider. They have forsaken God and in their feelings, there is more of hell than of heaven.

Backsliders are full of prejudice. Their willingness to know and do the truth has left them. The backslider is full of hatred – he holds grudges against all with whom he comes into conflict.

The backslider is full of mistakes. He doesn’t walk with God. He has left the divine order. Mistakes in business, mistakes in forming relationships, mistakes in using his time, his tongue, his money, his influence – everything goes wrong for him as long as he runs from God.

Lust fills the backslider. His appetites he once kept under, now resume control. Sex; drink and unrestrained sin fill their lives.

His own words fill the backslider – he can’t control his tongue.

Trouble fills his life – instead of keeping clear of temptation, he runs right into it.

Foolishness fills the backslider.Having rejected God’s guidance, he does stupid things.

The backslider in heart, bloats with troubles. God is against him and he is against himself.

Care ladens the backslider. He has returned to selfishness, counting himself and his possessions as his own.

The backslider is confused. He walks contrary to God, and God walks contrary to him. Spurgeon says: Without Christ you have no shepherd to tend you, no king to help you – you cannot call in the day of trouble upon One who is strong to deliver. The angels of God, who are the standing army of King Jesus, are your enemies and not your friends.

Anxiety fills the backslider – about himself, his business, his reputation – about everything.

The backslider will dwell in disappointment, having abandoned God and embraced self-determination. God will inevitably disappoint him as he pursues his selfishness.