1 Samuel 22 (Part 1) Bible Study - Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Thank you for the worship tonight.

Thank you for your voice is tonight.

Sometimes when we have music and it's powerful and we have gifted

people, it can almost you can almost distract us from

participating. And so, every time I'm up here

and I hear the voices behind me, it's always an encouragement.

It's always a bomb to my soul. So thank you for singing

tonight. And now we're going to continue

to Worship in the hearing of God's word.

And so if you have your Bibles meet First Samuel chapter 22 as

1 Samuel 22 · chapter mention

we continue in our Bible study in this wonderful exciting

riveting. Portion of scripture in the

library of God's word, we're going to pray again and we're

going to read the first five verses because that's all we're

going to discuss tonight, and it will be enough.

I hope I'm sure that it will be enough especially if we

participate and engage with the text.

So, let's just pray one more time as we, as we come before

God and His word. Lord, we are.

Humbled, we are so, Hungry for your word.

We thank you that we can sit in a place like this and look to

our left and to the right and see people with Bibles and their

hands. And with eagerness in their

hearts to receive your word and we pray that we would sense your

voice. That this Bible study would not

be muddied by opinion. It would not be muddied by the

the the weaknesses of a vessel. That is not depending on you.

But Lord, we depend on you, I depend on you and we ask Lord

for the sake of your name, navigate and lead us through

this. Portion of scripture, the way

you intended it to be delivered, to the Saints.

We give you all the glory and thinks that we have your word at

our disposal. We do not take it for granted,

but more importantly, though, we asked you would help us obey it

to really obey it. We trust in you tonight in Jesus

name, amen. First one.

David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adam.

And when his brothers and all his father's house, heard it,

they went down there to him and everyone who is in distress and

everyone who was in debt and everyone who was bitter insole

gather to him and he became Commander over them.

And there are with them about 400 men and David went from

there to misbah of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab,

please let my father and my mother stay with you.

Till I know what God will do for me, and he left them with the

king of Moab and stayed with him all the time.

That David was in the stronghold.

Then the prophet God said to David, do not remain in the

stronghold depart and go into the land of Judah.

So David departed and went into the forest of harith.

Now last week we touched on first Samuel, 21.

And first Samuel 21 was the introduction to a new season and

David's life up to that point. We heard of David, The Humble

Shepherd of Israel. Then we discovered David, the

the unexpected hero of Israel. And now we see David as The

Fugitive of Israel and in chapter 21, we are introduced to

the first steps of David as an exile as an outlaw.

And as we examine those verses, we came to the humble

conclusion, that David did not prove himself.

As praiseworthy. He was driven by much fear.

He was driven by much anxiety and it showed itself because he

just lied and lied and lied. And we look at that and we think

this, this is not seem like the same man that we witnessed a few

chapters earlier, who stood before towering Philistine and

with a slingshot and simple Faith overcame. and now we see

David fearful of King Saul and I believe that that speaks of the

complexities of our weaknesses as individuals, I just find an

amazing you could stand before a giant and not hesitate to move

forward and to fight him. But when it came to King Saul,

You running away. And you're lying, and you're

sinning, and you're pretending, and you're using fleshly ideas

to try to accomplish things. And we think this is

inconsistent, but we should not be quick to condemn the man

because it describes again, many of us.

There's some perhaps in this room that are that are more

inclined to be fearful about anything, that poses a threat,

even your own shadow scares. You sometimes, whereas there are

others who who are generally courageous, but when it comes to

certain circumstances they they fall the crush their confused,

the thrown into bewilderment but no matter what our disposition

is, no matter what the meter of fear is in your life, it is

God's will for all of us that whatever fear visits us, it

would bow to the faith that you have in the one who is in

control of all things, that's God's will fear.

Should be a foreign feeling to us, but God is gracious.

As we see with David that even though it might be a familiar

thing, he takes his time to work on us until becomes Concord And

is submits to the truth that we are convinced of and David's

going to learn that he's learning that quickly, he

actually learns it. By the end of chapter 21, do you

remember that he wrote to Psalms and light of his Escape of those

men at God? He wrote two songs and those

psalms proved that he had repented that after letting

saliva slide down his beard and after trying to act like a crazy

person so that they can just let him go.

He realizes the foolishness of such a thing and he confesses to

God, Lies have only brought me to this point.

He doesn't say as directly as that, but you know, that he has

turned from his ways and he chooses to trust in God, from

that moment on and though we see it in those psalms we're going

to actually see it in action as we come to chapter 22.

So what do we read? What we read in verse 1.

He escapes gath, he escapes the Philistines and he finds refuge

in a cave in an area called Adam.

And this alone shows us just how desperate things got for David

because there was no other place that promised him security.

There is no other Refuge that he can calculate in his mind that

would be that would be enough for him.

That would be safe for him. That would be a stronghold for

him. So you know where he goes, he

goes into a naturally craved hole in some area and some

Wilderness and he tucks himself in there and the dark cold damp

This of that thing. And it's a sad sight to us,

isn't it? I mean, where's your family?

You can't go to your wife. You can't go to your parents.

You probably question the soldiers that you once worked

with because they're under Saul's rule.

Where do you go? And this man has settled and

it's hard. I have to whether this all by

myself and I'm not guessing, I'm not, I'm not trying to speculate

here because we are told that, we know that David believe that

this point I'm I have to do this all alone and he expresses that

utter loneliness, would, you know, it in a Psalm that he

wrote while in this cave? How many songs did David right

in light of this chapter? Does anybody know?

Two. Some 57 Psalm 142, you have your

Bibles right? Let's go to Psalm 142 and let's

see what he says in that. Psalm in light of this, this is

why again, we read the entirety of scripture because we see the

Glorious Harmony of the word of God Psalm 142, look at the title

of his psalm. In verse 1, it says a masculine

of David when he was in the cave a prayer.

So just imagine David writing this out, crying out to God.

As he is hiding in a cave and look what he says here in verse

4. He's praying to God, he's he's

crying out to the Lord. Look to the right.

And see there is none who takes notice of Me, no, refuge remains

to me. No one cares for my soul.

He's convinced of that and his circumstances seem to prove that

I can't go anywhere as he's traveling from gath, he's

thinking, where can I go? And because of such a destitute

State, he is convinced nobody. Nobody cares for me, and I

believe that although many people have experienced

different levels of trauma. One of the greatest pains you

can know in this life is when you have convinced yourself that

you are not loved. We are relational creatures, God

made us in His image, he is relational within himself and so

you and I need contact with other humans, but not just

contact with, I mean, help. We need to know that we are we

are cared for and we are cherished.

There's healing in that there is there's some sort of anchor in

that. And David here, he believes that

that is not the case. His circumstances have have told

them and convince him otherwise. And so he's in this place where

he's expressing himself to God, no one cares for my soul and I

find that quite fascinating, because as he's expressing, the

lack of compassion of those around him, he's speaking to the

one who cares about him the most He's communicating his ache, but

he's also coming to the one who will love him more than if all

of Israel had come to his help. And that is one of the treasures

that you and I have in Jesus Christ.

That is one of the great jewels of the Gospel.

Yes. Safe from the wrath of God.

Yes, saved for heaven. Yes, saved from hell but also

saved to be brought to God. And every single one of you in

this place tonight, if you have put your faith in Jesus,

genuinely, if you have repented and believed on God, you can

claim a personal intimate relationship with the Risen Lord

and because of your faith, you so honors, your faith that he

has committed himself to you. As he did to David.

He has committed himself, he is bound himself to you, not just

to secure your salvation, but to govern your life and to lead

you, and to shape you and to allow everything that comes

against you to be filtered through his Sovereign purpose,

so that it can only do good to you.

So here's David though, sharing his pain.

He's actually sharing it with the friend of friends.

The one that will care for him the most and that's your

inheritance in mind, in fact. we see that although he believes

this at first, His beliefs are going to change by the end of

the song. Look at the last verse, and what

does he say here? As he pours out his heart?

To God, he says, in verse 7, bring me out of prison that I

may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me

for, you will deal bountifully with me.

That's the beauty of the Psalms because yes there are honest and

yes we see the transparency of a man although he's a man of God

of the Brokenness that he knows. But oftentimes in those psalms

of lament, they end with faith. They end with a trust.

A declaration of confidence in the Lord.

And although you and I listen, you can discover a knowledge of

Christ, not just theologically though that's important.

And I just theoretically and not just through cramming certain

verses together, but you can know, you can discover something

about Jesus, where you tangibly know his faithfulness to you and

it actually heals you and comforts you And Paul himself.

That's not a foreign idea. Paul himself says in.

Second Timothy, everyone has deserted me but the Lord stood

by me. He wasn't just speaking into the

air that he wasn't being poetic. He was like I really sense God's

nearness to me even though my fellow missionaries have

abandoned me those who have served have left me the Lord

stood by me you can you can know Jesus that way.

That's true in the old. That's true in the new, that's

true today, but we cannot limit how God dispenses his comfort.

We cannot be narrow in our understanding of how God

manifests his goodness in your life and mine because God could

have sent a torrent of peace to flood.

The soul of David. But we realize that David here,

recognizes how God is going to embrace him.

And make his comfort known to him.

Did you see it? The righteous will surround me

for. You will deal bountifully with

me. See what David realized, David

made the connection that the actual physical emotional

support that he would know from actual people was a direct

expression of God's goodness. His life.

In other words, the fact that David is going to as we read

have his parents come to him and his brothers come to him.

He sees that as God's direct means of comforting him.

In other words, the righteous in David's life are God's provision

for the relief in this pressing season.

And you and I have to see it that way, we have to understand

that this is how God's work that when you and I are surrounded by

Christ. Honoring God fearing people who

live to reflect his character. That is not disconnected from

God. Loving you, that is not

disconnect from God showing Mercy to you actually caring for

you. So don't limit it to some

mystical Supernatural experience, where you're

showered with almost this coating that You're almost

Untouchable, God can do that. But look what David says you're

going to deal bountifully to me, I'm gonna know you're

overwhelming favor because I'm going to be able to pick up my

phone and call somebody and they're going to be able to give

me some wisdom. Or I'm going to be visited by

some people from church and they're going to, they're going

to bring me food and they're going to sit beside me.

And I see that as you dealing. So bountifully with me, And this

is not just an idea. This is theological.

This is true throughout scripture.

You don't have to turn there but listen to what Paul says about

his friend Titus, he says in 2nd Corinthians 7 6 but God who

comforts the downcast. Now how would you finish that

sentence? But God who comforts the

downcast provides a peace that surpasses all understanding and

he does opens your mind to understand the height the depth,

the breadth of the love of Christ and he dies but it's not

what Paul says. But God who comforts the

downcast comforted Us by the Meaning of Titus.

Titus showed up. Titus knocked on the door.

Titus arrived. And as Titus came, his presence

was a manifestation of God's comfort.

To a downcast people. What I'm trying to communicate

to you tonight, is that you would see God behind those acts

of love. From familiar people.

Hey, you would be able to identify God's personal care for

you through things, that move your heart from those that you

do life with. But you and I just think that

person you and I just have a stir of affection for that

individual, but you would be able to worship God even more.

As you are, able to receive the encouragement and the life

giving gifts of other people in your life.

I hope you see that some of you have have gone through difficult

seasons in life. And so what you did was you

either reached out or someone reached out to you as a minister

or counselor and they sat with you and they listen to you and

they pray with you. Can I ask you something tonight?

Did you Consider that that was God.

Introducing that vessel into your life.

Because God loved you in that season.

Some of you have known the warmth and the healing of the

Simplicity of the Believers presence in your living room.

When you had a difficult week and them just sitting there and

making you laugh brought relief to your heart but can I ask you?

Did you recognize that? That was God dealing bountifully

with you. because my Bible says, it is It is God's doing, it's

not separated from his doing. See God through that.

And you will know worship with a greater intensity that you

didn't know before but this brings up another point that

although God is responsible for the righteous who stand with us

when we can barely stand. Our own, there is a

responsibility that you and I carry.

So let's go back to First same and we're still in verse 11.

And look at verse 1, of chapter, 22, David departed from there

and escaped. To the cave of Adam, we must

read our Bible slowly and when his brothers and all his How's

did, what? What did they do?

They heard it. They heard about it.

And when this news came to them, they went down there to him,

this is for our instruction. Yes, God is responsible for

those people in our lives, but there's a responsibility that

you and I carry, and that is to be so aware of the situation and

the circumstances, and the things that are brothers and

sisters are enduring that when this news becomes known to us,

it moves us to action that should be our reflex as the body

of Christ. That should be our response.

We should be so we should be so intricately woven together.

In RIT that there is an immediate support.

There's an immediate reaction of needing to know what to do to

help. That's the beauty of the body of

Christ. And, you know, there's a there's

a portion in the Old Testament in the book of Exodus.

It's it's after chapter VII given after chapter after

chapter 15, chapters about the Tabernacle being built, and

there's a little verse in there that never ceases to bless my

heart and make me, pray, a certain prayer when I come to

him because Moses receives the instructions for the Tabernacle

and he even received the list of the materials and their costly

materials, he makes it known to the nation of Israel and so

every Go morning, the people of Israel, line up to give to the

Craftsman, the material needed to make this structure possible.

And something happens, at one point the support the

contribution was so great. That the servants come to Moses

and I want you to hear what they said.

You don't have to turn there but just listen to these words in

Exodus 30 65 They said to Moses, the people bring much more than

enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.

So here's Pastor Moses. Standing there.

Receiving instruction from Heaven about how to build this

dwelling place for God, and the people are so excited.

There's so in tune. They're so willing that it came

to the point where the servants approach Moses said, hey Moses,

you got to tell them to stop giving because we have more than

enough and then we re later on that.

He restrains, the people from bringing And every time I read,

I say Lord may this church May. Our church have the same

attitude when it comes to building your house in the New

Covenant. the as we are the temple of God and as God is

building us and and Furnishing us and fashioning us to be the

bride that Jesus purchased That every time there is someone who

is sick, weak broken, missing in need of assistance, the support

would be overwhelming. I'm not talking about financial

giving here. I'm talking about the, the

stones that make up the house of God, not the physical structure.

There's a time and place for that.

I'm talking about as God is building this house, that

whenever we see a piece missing broken that the support the

participation would be so overwhelming that we would say

brothers and sisters. So, and so asked, stop blowing

up their phone. They're doing great.

They're doing wonderful. Thank you.

May that be The culture of MBC. God is able to do it, and that's

what we see with them. They they heard that their

brother Was in some obscure place all by himself and it move

them to action and this brings up the second point of this

verse. Yes, we see.

We see that David realized that in his suffering God expresses

his means of comfort in different ways but we also see

the wisdom of God in suffering. Can anybody hear help us

understand the family, dynamics of David and his household?

What do we know about Dave and his household?

How would you, how would you feel?

If the prophet of God comes? And he says, God has told me,

one of your son's has an important duty to fulfill and

your father doesn't consider you out of all the sun's.

Everybody else comes to the party, but your left into the

field. Would that make you feel good?

No, I'm sure somebody like that would have to go through many

counseling sessions. Actually.

I'm serious. What else?

Tommy? Family Dynamics, what else?

Have we learned up to this point with David and his family that

gives us an idea of what it's like, and his household.

Yeah, so David comes to the battlefield and he provides

goods for his brothers and Elijah, criticizes him, and even

falsely accused him of pride and arrogance.

So those are the two snapshots, the main snapshots that you and

I get of David's family and it makes us realize and gives us an

impression that it's not the most healthy household.

But what happens here? David is in a low place and his

family comes together. His brothers come together.

What does that say about what they did with Saul?

Does anybody know? Who are the three older ones and

what were they doing? Were they serving in Saul's

army? Yes, they were.

So what do they do? They cut ties with him.

Because to now come and support David.

At this point, is to make a declaration, we side with David

and we stand against all. And so the three all this along

with the others and the parents now come to support David.

And here's the beauty of this because I read that, I thought

here's Saul creating havoc in Israel breaking up homes,

causing confusion and chaos. And in the midst of all of that

David's families, coming closer together.

I don't know if they've ever been this supportive of each

other. I don't know if David has ever

seen and observed such love and care and Sacrifice from his

loved ones. But it's happening in the midst

of all of this. Here's the thing, if you and I

really believe that all things work together for the good of

those who love him who are called according to his purpose.

Then you and I by the spirits, help must be able to recognize

the good even in the midst of suffering.

Because while David is, in during a personal trial, God is

healing his family. And so, why why resist a

semester of suffering in the school of God?

When you know that this illustration among so many

proves to us that God is doing a deeper and greater work than we

can perceive? And so, the brothers come.

And the parents come. And yeah, it's a mystery of God,

why why God allows the righteous to suffer.

But here's something that's never a mystery, there's always

sanctifying purpose in it. Always.

And sometimes in ways that we don't realize immediately,

that's what's happening here. But these are not the only ones

that have come to look at verse 2 now.

And everyone who is in this dress and everyone who is in

debt and everyone who was bitter and soul gathered to him and he

became Commander over them. And there are Some of about 400

men. So now we read this interesting

description of this band of men that joined David and the cave.

One thing we hear is that there's 400 and that seems

encouraging in itself, but it's not much when you compare it to

Saul's Army. But what's worthy of our

discussion tonight is is what kind of men they are.

Look at this, distressed in debt, Bitter and soul.

When you read that, you have to be careful.

Not to think that this is just a raggedy bunch of rebels that see

an opportunity to come against all and David's the way to make

it possible. So let's start a coupe here and

let's just gather around them, and maybe we can overtake this

Kingdom. That's not the description of

these men at all. Who thinks you're that?

These men have come to encourage David.

Because we might read it that way, right?

Like God God sent the brothers and God sent the parents.

And look at this. Now, here's another way. 400

men. That makes an exile Journey.

A lot more comfortable. That makes you feel a lot more

safe, but I don't think the primary purpose of this being

given to us. Is to show that David is

receiving more encouragement. I believe it's to show that

these men have come to receive comfort from David.

Could it be possible that this description they were in

distress? They were in debt.

They were bitter and soul was because they've lived under the

rule and reign of Saul and this was the consequence of it.

And so, when they, when they saw David and that they could see

this tension and David fleeing they recognize in the heart,

that's that's the true king. That's the one that God's really

chosen. That's one was really able to

bring Israel to God's intent for us as a people.

And so, we're going to follow David.

We're going to choose to stay with him, even though it will

cost us very much. And that is the case that is

exactly what's happening. So let's let's look at another

important element of personal suffering here. but even though

he's in during a certain trial, God is allowing that this season

of suffering to actually minister to other people.

So while David is being comforted, it doesn't take very

long until God uses David to be Comfort to others.

Because of there's anybody who can help a group of men who are

bitter distress and in debt because of a king, it's this

man. It's this man.

So here's the thing suffering of any kind.

Listen, very carefully tonight for the sake of your

encouragement, suffering of any kind.

If it's physical, emotional mental, there is nothing that

you've endured that will be wasted.

There is nothing that you've endured that as sabotage your

usefulness to God. God will use all of that

suffering, all of that pain, all of those tears.

With circumstances that were beyond your control to

immediately, recycle it, if not, then then soon enough to

actually bless and uplift and build others.

Because that's what the Bible says the same.

Paul who said, God, who comforts the downcast as comfort Us by

the coming of Titus. You know what he said, he said

in that same book early on So that we may be able to comfort

those. Who are in any Affliction with

the comfort, with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

And second Corinthians 14, we were comforted by God, not just

for our sake, but for the sake of others, so that we can share

that same comfort with those who are in any Affliction.

So, here's the beauty. When you suffer, God, intends to

recycle that suffering in order for it to be a weapon to Aid and

to assist others who are suffering.

And this is what I often tell people who are sit with on a

personal level that needs some counselor.

Anything I tend to say, especially when they are

responding with with a desire to obey and Trust in God's wisdom,

one day, though, you may not be a pastor one day, you will sit

on this side of the room and you will look into the eyes of

another desperate soul and you can tell them, God brought me

through the same thing. You'll be able to bring you

through it as well. So these four hundred men come

David early on said the righteous will surround me, not

just for the sake of being built up himself.

But now he's about to, he's about to build up, 400 guys that

are just tired or tired of living under the reign of Saul.

Do you see the prophetic imagery here?

Do you see Jesus in this verse? Do you see the description of

such men paralleling? The description of the soul that

comes to Christ. Do you not see it?

How often it is for people to come to this point in life.

Distressed aware of their bankruptcy in the soul, bitter

and spirit, bitter with life bitter because they realize that

they are a terrible master of their own existence.

They then began to explore the possibility of Jesus, actually

being the true king of kings and the Lord of lords.

You see these men come to David to find relief and the same

description of men today. Come to the son of David to find

that same relief. I can't tell you the amount of

people that I have even had conversations with And some of

them have converted to the faith.

And some of them have come very close, but we're not convinced

enough. When they only have realized the

lack of satisfaction that comes. From living for themselves.

Do they then entertain Jesus Christ as Lord?

And that's that's I believe one of the main ways in which a

person truly surrenders to Jesus Christ when you have learned, I

can't do this. This world has nothing to offer

me. I I can't find pleasure.

I can't find Joy. I can't find peace.

I can't find a security in my eternal destination.

I can't arrive. There I am exhausted, I am

distressed. I find myself no matter how much

I give, no matter what kind of projects I create the matter.

How much I change my luck, no matter how much I change my

house, no matter how I changed my car, my friends, my

destination, my place of a dress, no matter how much I

change. Why am I still empty?

It's been years. It's only then where the gospel

begins to sound very attractive. Not for all, but for many, and

let me tell you tonight, why many people do not forsake, the

reign of Satan and of the Flesh, and of the world, because they

still believe. That's all has something to

offer them. They still believe that living

as the Lord of their own lives, will promise something greater

than bowing, your knee, at the foot of the cross.

Can I prove that to you in this text scroll down to verse 7.

We're not going to be there tonight, but look how saw speaks

to some of his other men when he realizes that people are leaving

his ranks and saw said to his servants who stood about him

here? Now people have Benjamin, will

the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and Vineyards.

Will he make you all? There's of thousands of

commanders of hundreds. What a liar.

What a manipulator. What a deceiver and saw here is

a picture of Satan who Whispers false promises in the ears of

men, including those who have grown up in the church so that

they would not come to the conclusion that Jesus Christ is

Worthy. He is worthy.

To be crowned as the Lord Of My Life.

That's what it really is down deep inside.

There's something still out there.

There's something I still have to explore.

There's something I still want to Endeavor to accomplish and I

just believe that Jesus will ruin my plans.

You know what I appreciate about ministering to youth talking

about high school early, High School, Middle School, is how

honest they are, how honest they are.

And I can't tell you the times that I've talked to Youth and

how they've told me, I'm just scared that Jesus is going to

ruin my plans. He's going to give me a wife

that I don't want as though. God works that way.

He's going to give me a job that I don't want he's going to call

me to a place that's too cold. I've had these conversation.

I'm looking like You're going to destroy your life.

Not only are you going to destroy your life?

Now you're going to destroy your soul for all eternity.

I've even had a conversation with one person who said let me

just try it out, I said that's not how it works.

It's not how it works. You hope that it works that way,

you think that you are so Sovereign that you can determine

the consequence of your sin. I said you will come out with

scars for sure. But you might never come out at

all and be totally destroyed. And we, as people should love

people enough to tell them that, because this is what Satan is

telling other people look, look at what you're going to miss out

on. Look at where you going to

forsake, look at what I'm able to give you.

And sometimes it's not Satan directly obviously he

masquerades as an angel of Light, he uses people, he uses

false teachers. And these men do have come to

the conclusion that Saul is a liar.

Salt is a liar. And so, look at this other point

here. They choose to pledge their

allegiance to David. When it was the least

convenient, it was David wasn't on a throne.

David and I have this impressive Army know.

He was he was at zero. You can say he was all by

himself and yet they so believe that Destiny of God for David.

They sold believe the hand of God, the anointing on him that

they came to him when there is nothing profitable for them and

choosing to do so at least initially.

In fact that this put them in greater risk, you have a

demented man who's ready to kill his son-in-law.

Surely he's willing to kill all of us and yet still they truly

believe in the heart of hearts that he is worthy.

God is worthy. This plan that God has for David

and for all of us is more precious than our own lives.

So we will surrender to the purposes of God in David.

And we will come to him. If this is the attitude, towards

a man for a temporary Kingdom, how much more the Christ and how

much more his eternal Kingdom and how much more the

willingness to follow him. Even if it doesn't benefit you

one bit in the physical, even if it doesn't promise you, one

thing in this world, he is still worthy to be followed in a cave.

As these men illustrate. So they do.

And we read in verse 3 and David went from there to miss pay of

Moab and he said to the king of Moab, please let my father and

my mother stay with you till I know what God will do for me.

What do you see there? What do you see here?

I see another element of suffering.

I see another ingredient of How To Suffer.

Well, I see a man who was pressed by great anxieties who

is constantly looking over his shoulder because at any time saw

can can appear with a band of men with arrows and Spears.

And yet, in the midst of all of that, he has a concern.

And what's his concern, the well-being of my parents,

They're elderly, they can't travel with this robust.

Youthful band of men, And so even before David moves on in

his Exile, he sets it as a priority to take care of his

parents. He suffering he is suffering,

but here's the thing about suffering suffering should never

make us selfish. That even though you and I might

be in during certain things that you might be fighting a private

war, that others do not know about in your mind, in your

heart as you lay in bed, all by yourself.

Even though such things may be real, and sometimes

overwhelming, they never should encourage us to neglect our

duties. Never.

There are some unique moments and Urgent circumstances that

would cause you to receive help and that give it out as much.

But I'm not speaking about those circumstances.

I'm speaking about how you and I will through many tribulations

enter the kingdom of God. And through those tribulations,

we must still be aware that we can still be of help to others.

And there are still responsibilities.

That God has called me to. And David realized that there

was a law written in the book of Exodus that you shall honor your

father and mother. So I'm going to take care of

them. And he does.

And that's the essence of obedience.

It doesn't feel good all the time.

It's not convenient, but there's a duty to fulfill.

And even though we are enduring something God supplies, the

grace in the strength, to still be faithful to his commands.

And that's what this man does. And you know what's amazing here

is that his character shining because it reflects the

character of God, he's honoring his parents.

And we just heard that his father didn't give him the best

treatment as a Young Man. Because the essence of honoring,

your parents is not, it's not I fry and tooth for tooth.

The faith element of honoring. Your parents is that even though

they might have not honored me, even though I can find many

faults even though I can point back to moments where they've

really hurt me. God commanded me to honor them.

And so I will honor them. And what is honor?

Look like, it doesn't look like you just overlooking their sins.

It looks like you despite what they've done to you, to still

love them and love. Is to care for them and their

need to provide the basic necessities for them as they

come to a place in life where they can't take care of

themselves. And so, David says, before we

even move on, guys, I know we have a plan.

I know we're trying to figure this out.

My mom and dad need to be at a different place because it's

going to hurt them more if they come.

And so what does he do? He goes to Moab, but look at

this. Look at the quality of his care.

He doesn't just go to Moab and drop him off at a hotel.

He goes, Goes to the king of Moab, Royal Treatment.

No pun intended. I'm going to take you to the

king of Moab, the most secure place, the most profitable, the

most The most safe place for my parents and he goes and he

offers an invitation for this King to take care of his parents

and it worked she when you and I obey God's commands, we don't

try to do the bare minimum. We don't just try to quiet our

conscience and do something poorly.

We try to do it with the greatest effort.

And the greatest strength and the greatest option and that's

what he's doing with his parents.

Why did he go to Moab? So if you remember in Ruth, we

read a mini genealogy and and David is related to a moabite is

named Ruth. And so, he's hoping that as he

goes to this people group, though, they are not the people

of God that because of his his mixed-race, they would be able

to relate and, and provide some assistance, and it worked.

So he goes to the moabites and he asked for help with his

parents. and God honored that But look at his faith.

Where's the faith of David? The faith that we did not see in

chapter 21 and verse 3. Look what he says to the man

What does he say? It's right there.

Till I know what God will do for me.

Unashamedly telling this Pagan king, would you take care of my

parents until the true God? Reveals to me, the next step.

This is a this is a different David than the one who came

before the king of gath and shook, like a crazy man and let

saliva out of his mouth, he learned, he truly repented, he

knew personal Revival and faith in God, he comes to this King.

He says, would you take care of my parents?

Until God shows me the next step and I'll tell you why, that is

so encouraging and exemplary for us.

He's not just speaking in generalities here until God

shows me there. There's a man about to find you.

There's a king chasing you and you're willing you're willing to

stop in your place and wait on God, to give you the next step.

That's trust, that's Trust. And so already, we are convinced

that from chapter 21 to this chapter, he has made a great

development in his trust in God. I'm not going to move until God

shows me what to do next and you're going to see that faith

strengthened will be couple of episodes where he falls back

again, but you're gonna see him strengthened and strengthened in

his trust in God. And he does, he does here.

And God Honors that Faith because God is so pleased with

faith. That is heart is moved by that.

It's moved into action. Look at verse 4.

He left them with the king of Moab and they stayed with him

all the time. That David was in the

stronghold. Then the prophet God said to

David, do not remain in the stronghold, the part and go into

the land of Judah. This is this is a blessing and

I'll tell you why. Because David here, although as

we read in the Psalms he was living in the unknown, it was a

very dark place. He could not even believe that

people loved him. God was watching him the whole

time. God was observing him.

God was providing means of comfort to him.

And finally at the right time when the faith was there, when

that trust remained. God showed him where to go next.

That is. a promise for you and I That you and I can trust that

his leadership is perfect. It may not be convenient, it may

not be free from challenges but it is perfect.

It is absolutely perfect. And in this case with David, It

was Supernatural a true, Prophet comes and tells them what to do

in your case in mind. Can God do it.

Supernaturally. Absolutely.

But oftentimes God does a providentially and it's just as

impressive. He loves circumstances to come

doors to shut doors to open. And we say, ah, but one thing

that he will guarantee you and me is that he will never leave

us. He will never abandon us.

You always move us forward as we continue to trust in him.

And here's where the faith is shown even more, God says, what

do not remain in the stronghold depart and go into the land of

Judea? Why is that a troubling command?

Why is that troubling command? It was safe there.

Are you sure you heard from God? God, this is a really good

place. I got 400 men and not only is it

safe here. He's telling him to go back to

the land. Where Saul is ruling and

reigning. Go back to Judah.

Wouldn't you tell me to go a different direction?

Maybe further this way? No gold back to the area that

would make you more vulnerable and observable.

And David doesn't hesitate. He goes, He departs into that

area. And here is here's a lesson

about obedience as you heard it before.

It doesn't always appease. Our senses doesn't always

satisfy reason doesn't contradict reason, but it

doesn't always satisfy what we think is best our own

calculations in our own ideas of how to bring about the best

result of something. God will put us in circumstances

and situations and dilemmas, where there is a clear word of

how to deal with it. But there will be a pressure it

within and outside to do it differently sometimes.

Even sinfully and the faith is, will you trust me in this?

Will you trust me? And David has learned from

chapter 21 when I try to do it my way I lied.

I pretended to be insane and it brought me know where I'm going

to trust God even though to the watching eyes.

They look insane. It may look simplistic.

It may look silly, I'm going to trust the word of God, and

that's what he does. He goes into that place and it's

in that place. Where, as next week we come,

we're going to see We're going to see how his faith is going to

be tested even more. His leadership is perfect

brothers and sisters. It's absolutely perfect, but

it's not free from challenges. It's not free from emotional and

even physical pain, but it is free from unnecessary grief.

It is free from unnecessary, shame and regret.

But challenging chapters, you signed up to follow Christ.

It's inevitable, it's promised and David understood that at

this point of his Exile. I've learned that it's not going

to be easy, but if I'm holding onto his hand, I will be safe.

And he does, he goes, let me end with this thought.

David had how many men? What else did David have?

I'll tell you what. He had.

He had God's spirit on his life. Saul, we're going to find out

have thousands of men. Thousands.

He had a palace. He had chariots, he had

Authority. But he didn't have the spirit of

God. Numbers and resources.

Are not the Criterion of God's blessing, on a Ministry, or on

the minister. If we looked at this in the

flesh, we would see David with 400 raggedy guys.

Depressed, face, fallen in a cave, wandering, and then we

would look at saw in his Palace. And all the weaponry.

You know how many people would would estimate that?

Here's a man who is successful for God.

And here's a man who is questionable.

He had all the while God was with this group and not with

this group. How do you measure success?

Do not be fooled by packed stadiums.

Do not be fooled by YouTube views.

Not be fooled by even the money coming into a certain Ministry.

It's the spirit of God. It's the fruit of the holy

spirit. It's the people who represent

that Ministry. Is the people that represent

that church, that movement and the character that they hold in

The Obedience of the word of God that determines.

If they are truly successful and truly have favor in the eyes of

God, don't forget that. With all that being said, oh, we

can go on, but we'll hold off until next week, so let's pray.

Florida. It might be very well.

True. That there are some in here who

are enduring a trial, a Dark Night of the Soul, Lord there,

maybe even some in here who who feel the absence of the love and

the care of people in their lives.

But Lord, you are able to stand by us in a way that it is

recognizable. As Paul as Paul wrote about.

But you're also able to surround us with the righteous that is

nothing less, but the same love that you would show if you had

manifested your goodness in our hearts, help us see, even the

people in our own lives. Those who are truly righteous

and love you that are in our lives.

Help us see that this is an expression of your care for us.

Lord help us at the same time. If we are suffering to not think

that our lives are being wasted, even though our bodies might be

decaying, even though our resources might be drained, even

though their must there might be much pain.

Oh God, it's never to sabotage our ministry but only to make it

more effective and to enhance the mercy and the love in our

own hearts for other people. Hello.

We think about how suffering or great trials in life.

Carries its own Temptation. That's the temptation of being

so focused on ourselves that we fail to honor our own duties.

And to fail to tap into the strength that you can give us as

Paul experienced that he preached in the midst of much

conflict. He's still preached.

He still served the church. Help us to know that strength to

still be in attendance, to still be, prayerful to still be

faithful to our Ministries, even though we are enduring great

trouble. And Lord we ask as all of us can

relate to for reminder, that you are faithful in your leadership

that at the right time, you will make the next step perfectly

known and your perfect way. And all you asked us to do is

remain faithful where we're at until that comes though.

We are blessed by the word of the lord.

We are blessed by David's life up to this point.

We thank you for the provision of this story and the

Application, it carries for our lives.

We give you glory tonight. In Jesus name, we pray.

Amen.