DAVID: AS THE STORM APPROACHES, TRUST HIM

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

1 Samuel 24:1-7 (CSB) When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness near En-gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand of Israel’s fit young men and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave, 4 so they said to him, “Look, this is the day the Lord told you about: ‘I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.’ ” Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 5 Afterward, David’s conscience bothered, him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “As the Lord is my witness, I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed. I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7 With these words David persuaded his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul.

Throughout the period of time from David’s anointing by Samuel until the time he became king, Saul sought to kill David a number of times. Throughout 1 Samuel 18-26, we read many different accounts of Saul’s attempts, even after Saul promised he would not hurt him in chapter 24. Can you imagine the fear that must have coursed through David’s veins knowing the king of Israel, and 3,000 of his soldiers, were out to kill you? Yet, David remained strong and encouraged.

Psalm 57:1-11 (CSB) Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me, for I take refuge in you. I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings until danger passes. 2 I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me., 3 He reaches down from heaven and saves me, challenging the one who tramples me. God sends his faithful love and truth. 4 I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among devouring lions—people whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth. 6 They prepared a net for my steps; I was despondent. They dug a pit ahead of me, but they fell into it! 7 My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident. I will sing; I will sing praises. 8 Wake up, my soul! Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn. 9 I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10 For your faithful love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches the clouds. 11 God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth.

1. When the enemy approaches, take refuge in God 

Vs 1 Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me, for I take refuge in you. I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings until danger passes.

• As David sat in the cave, he recognized the imagery of the cave itself as a the picture of God’s protection
• Although just outside the cave the enemy was near, he knew the grace of God was enough to bring him through

2. The refuge starts in prayer 

Vs 2 I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

• David’s journey of seeking refuge in the “shadow of God’s wings” began with an earnest prayer; crying out to God from the midst of the fear 

3. It continues in trust

Vss 3-4 He reaches down from heaven and saves me, challenging the one who tramples me. God sends his faithful love and truth. 4 I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among devouring lions—people whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

• Prayer is not the weapon you need if you cannot trust the one you are calling on
• David was aware he was surrounded, yet his trust in God was all he needed to survive
• God brought him from loneliness and despair to encouragement and support

1 Samuel 22:1-2 So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When David’s brothers and his father’s whole family heard, they went down and joined him there. 2 In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

4. It is confirmed in worship

Vss 5-11 5 God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth. 6 They prepared a net for my steps; I was despondent. They dug a pit ahead of me, but they fell into it! 7 My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident. I will sing; I will sing praises. 8 Wake up, my soul! Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn. 9 I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10 For your faithful love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches the clouds. 11 God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth.

• The only way to fully trust God in times of your greatest fear is to recognize God is greater than our problems
• There is nothing we face God cannot overcome

Application 

1. If David faced intense attacks after being anointed as the next king of Israel, you can be sure you will face them as well
2. Prayer is our greatest weapon against fear, anxiety and attacks 
3. Never forget the greatness of God. Nothing is too hard for Him. (Jeremiah 32:27)