The Anchor Church

How often do we take things into our own hands? After all don’t they deserve it!

When David was holed up in a cave in Engedi, he had the chance to deal with the guy who had been on his case.  He was encouraged by all those around him to seize the moment and take what has his to take – the throne.  To deal with Saul – how sweet would that have been! 

But he didn’t.  Instead he chose a better path.  He chose to not be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good.  He chose to allow justice to be God’s decision.  He faced his enemy and this is what he said..

Your Majesty, why do you listen to people who say that I’m trying to harm you? You can see for yourself that the LORD gave me the chance to catch you in the cave today. Some of my men wanted to kill you, but I wouldn’t let them do it. I told them, “I will not harm the LORD’s chosen king!”

Your Majesty, look at what I’m holding. You can see that it’s a piece of your robe. If I could cut off a piece of your robe, I could have killed you. But I let you live, and that should prove I’m not trying to harm you or to rebel. I haven’t done anything to you, and yet you keep trying to ambush and kill me.

I’ll let the LORD decide which one of us has done right. I pray that the LORD will punish you for what you’re doing to me, but I won’t do anything to you.

An old proverb says, “Only evil people do evil things,” and so I won’t harm you.

Why should the king of Israel be out chasing me, anyway? I’m as worthless as a dead dog or a flea. I pray that the LORD will help me escape and show that I am in the right.

How often do we make the choice to put the world right ourselves – to serve up revenge – and how often do we choose to do right?

The message to go with this can be found HERE

We can often lean on those things which provide a stable life allowing them to become the central focus.  So what happens if family, employment, friendship and wealth are ripped away?  David was confronted with this reality through 1 Sam. 18 – 21.

The very things he had accomplished through God’s grace and empowerment was all but lost. Saul pursued David with murderous intent, fuelled by envy and distrust which caused David to flee and leave those things he treasured. 

How do we cope then in times of uncertainty?

• Take one day at a time (Matt. 6:34).
• Learn to trust God (2 Cor. 1:3-9).

 Remember the promises that God has given us and when all seems lost lean on Him – Jeremiah 29:11  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”.

You can get the sermon to go with this HERE

Have you ever been at one of those low points when the world seems to be against you. 

David was as such a low point in his life, he had lost pretty much everything he valued in life and took refuge alone in a cave.

In his confusion and desperation he poured out his heart to God in Psalm 142.

I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me.

Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.

Soon he was joined in his cave by 400 others who were at low points in their lives too and they needed his leadership.

David accepted his new situation and would make the very best of this new direction that God had for his life.  He became their Leader and transformed these 400 bedraggled people become a mighty fighting force.

It was not always easy but he could not help but praise God and he wrote about it in Psalm 57 & 34.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.  Psalm 34 v 7

When we are down God is closer than we think…

You can find the message that goes with this HERE

Do issues in your life seem so big that you can’t imagine life beyond the problems?

When Saul was confronted by Goliath’s taunts (1 Sam. 17) he wasn’t sure which way to turn. We learn from previous chapters that he started to focus on himself and other needs rather than where his ‘success’ came from. The end result saw him lose his crown and relationship to Yahweh, relying on his own methods to battle his fears (1 Sam. 25) by offering a reward to battle his foe.

David on the other hand was prepared to offer himself to defeat the enemy of God’s people. I appreciate the way David confronted the foe not with battle armor but with the knowledge that God would protect him as He had done previously. David had a pure heart, devoted and reliant on God’s strength and protection.

So what are we to do?

No matter what stands before us, we must battle our giants with a pure heart devoted to carrying out Gods plan for our lives. Sure, sometimes things can get uncomfortable but take comfort that God continually draws close to those who are in distress (Jer. 31:1-3).

Darryl

PS you can follow the message that goes with this HERE