"Building a Chruch Through Outreach"
What are You Doing?
ELCOG 6/10/07
Text: 1 Samuel 22:3-5
Have you ever been in a place of life where you just couldn’t figure out what God was doing? Have you ever heard the phrase that God must have something better planed, but you can not figure it out? The deal on the house fell through. The job didn’t work out. The doctor’s report was worse than you thought and the family didn’t agree with you and your decision. Have you ever felt that there were more people against you than for you? Have you ever been able to see the support, but you still couldn’t feel it? Well, if you answered yes to these questions then you will understand the position of David.
I find David’s question to the King of Moab quite interesting. "Will you let my parents stay under your protection until I find out what God is going to do" I need my parents to be safe and right now I just don’t know what God is up to in my life. Isn’t that interesting? David is in essence saying….I don’t know what God is up to. God, what are you doing? David at this point as already been anointed King and he is trying to escape an evil, jealous King Saul.
Let’s have a flash back with David.
*One day David is out in the field tending to the sheep when a servant of Jesse runs to get him because Samuel the prophet wants to meet him. He returns from the field to find his brothers all looking a little confused because they had been passed over for the anointing of kingship. Samuel went to the home of Jesse with this message from God…
1 Sam. 16:7
7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
The Lord told Samuel, don’t judge the people the way the world does. The world looks on the outward appearance. Is the person tall and strong? Is the person of high economic standing? Has the person been trained in the Ivey League? Is the person white? Is the person a man verses a woman? Is the person like me? Do they believe like me? Samuel was told NOT to judge by these standards. God doesn’t look on the outward appearance, but on the inside. The only reason David ever had a chanced to be king is because God wanted someone who was different. Jesse’s sons lined up by birth order, but God was saving the best for last. Jesse thought David didn’t even have a chance. He though so little of David’s chances that he did not even call for him to come to the meeting, but God had a different plan. God was saving the best for last.
That is an important word for some of you this morning. The world left you in the field, but God has sent a message for you to leave the sheep and come to the meeting. God is calling you out of the pasture into the kingdom. God has an anointing for your life that the world doesn’t expect. He is saving the best for last!
Next, in the flash back we see David taking some bread and snacks to his Brothers in the army and David is offended at the giant’s remarks about his God. David is so upset that he wants to fight the giant. He refuses to allow his God to be mocked. So he takes the challenge with a sling shot and 5 smooth stones and kills Goliath.
1 Sam. 17:45
45Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
1 Sam. 17:46
46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
1 Sam. 17:47
47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.
1 Sam. 17:50
50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
1 Sam. 17:51
51Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
David had victory over the giant. He had killed bears and lions and now a Giant all in the name of the lord. Can I remind you this morning that you still have power in your life when you fight your battles in the name of the Lord? The enemy may tower over you in strength and he may be clothed with mighty armour, but you are not fighting this battle with normal equipment. You are coming to the battle armed with the weapon of God.
2 Cor. 10:3
3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2 Cor. 10:4
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
This was a great day for David, but that is not where he is today in this message.
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Let’s continue on our flashback.
In chapter 18 we see that David is successful in everything that he does. The people love him and the more they love him the more Saul hates him. Saul becomes so jealous that he is determined to kill David. Jonathon, Saul’s son warns David and his wife Michal, Saul’s daughter saves David from Saul’s troops and David is on the run.
Let me remind you that David has been on anointed by Samuel and the spirit of God has filled his life. He has killed bears, lions, and giants. He has had victory dances in several battles. He is loved by the people; but not today. Today he is on the run. In chapter 21 David has to tell a lie to the priest in order to get some bread and a weapon. He is starting to seem a little desperate. He is running for his life. On this run he has to wonder, "God what are you doing?"
Then in chapter 21 David, the anointed man of God, the one picked to take over the throne is acting like a crazy man. He has gone from an anointed man of victory to a man telling lies to the priest and imitating a mad man.
1 Sam. 21:10
10And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
1 Sam. 21:11
11And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
1 Sam. 21:12
12And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
1 Sam. 21:13
13And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
1 Sam. 21:14
14Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
Wow, what a difference fear makes. Are you on the run this morning? Have you been through battles that brought you great victories, but over the past few weeks you have been imitating a crazy person because fear had taken over your life? Are you acting out of your character? Are you in the same position that David is in? You are running and asking God. "What are you doing?" You know that you have been anointed and you know that God has helped you kill bears, lions, and giants, but now what. The tied has changed and you are lost and confused. What now? God, what are you doing?
In our text, we see that David is hiding in a strong hold. David is living in dark caves and hiding places to save his life, but one day a prophet comes by to tell David to leave the stronghold.
1 Sam. 22:5
5And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
David was told by the prophet to get out of the stronghold and return to Judah. Judah means praise. So leave your place of fear and return to praise. Leave your place of loneliness and return to a place of praise. You have been acting crazy and you have been hiding in fear. You have been confused to what God is doing in your life, but you need to get out of your hiding place and return to a place of Praise. You need to raise your hands again and worship your deliverer again. You need to stop whispering out of fear and lift up a voice of triumph. You might not know what God is doing, but God is still in control. You might not have all the pieces to your puzzle, but God still deserves your praise. You may be hiding out of the fear of the enemy, but God is still watching over you. Praise Him!
Psa. 126:1
1 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
Psa. 126:2
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
Psa. 126:3
3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
Psa. 126:4
4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
Psa. 126:5
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Psa. 126:6
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
The Lord hath done great things in your life……be glad! If you have been weeping, come out of your stronghold because you are going to come again with rejoicing. He that sows in tears will reap in Joy. I know things are confusing, but come out and praise God, because He is still God!
"God, what are you doing?" Come out and see. God is still able. Just come back to the place of praise!