July/31/ 2022 Filed in:
DavidDAVID
Part 3
Harps and Spears
1 Samuel 18: 6-7“When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.[a] 7 This was their song:
“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!”
1 Samuel 18:8-9 “This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” 9 So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
1 Samuel 18:10 “The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, 11 and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.”
Psalm 55:12-14 “If an enemy were insulting me I could endure it. If a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is YOU, a man like myself, my COMPANION, my CLOSE FRIEND with whom I once enjoyed SWEET FELLOWSHIP as we walked with the throng in GOD’S HOUSE.”
3 reasons people throw spears…
1. FEAR
1 Samuel 18:10-12 “The next day an evil[a] spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul.”
2. ANGER
1 Samuel 18:8 “This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!”
3. JEALOUSY
1 Samuel 18:6-8 “When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.[a] 7 This was their song:
“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!”
8 This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” 9 So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
James 3:15-16 “For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.”
What do you do when others throw their spears at you?
1. TAKE A BREAK
I Samuel 19:9-10 “But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit[a] from the Lord suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp, 10 Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night.”
2. TALK TO A FRIEND
I Samuel 20:1 “He went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How did I sin against your father? Why is he trying to kill me?”
3. TIME WITH GOD
1 Samuel 21:1 “David went to Nob to see Ahimelech the priest.”
4. GET BACK TO WORK
I Samuel 18:13 “ David faithfully led his troops into battle. 14 David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him.”
July/24/ 2022 Filed in:
DavidDAVID
Part 2
Valleys and Victories
1 Samuel 17: 3 “The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with THE VALLEY between them.”
1. In the valley we feel UNDERUTILIZED
1 Samuel 17:17 “Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18 Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them. 19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”
2. In the valley we feel UNDER-APPRECIATED
1 Samuel 17:26 “David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 27 They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”
28 When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
3. In the valley we feel UNDER-RATED
1 Samuel 17:31 “ What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him. 32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” 33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
Just because God has SAID it about you doesn’t mean everyone will SEE IT in you.
3 things to remember in the valley…
1. The valley will REVEAL your true IDENTITY.
1 Samuel 17:39 “I cannot go in these,” … “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
2. The valley will RELEASE your greatest VICTORY.
Your valley time might be God’s opportunity time.
3. The valley will REQUIRE your full DEPENDENCY
1 Samuel 17:45-46 “David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.”