WITHOUT THE LORD GOD THERE IS NO HELP

PROCLAMATION

“Samuel said, ‘Why do you consult me, now that The Lord has departed from you and become your enemy?’”  1 Samuel 28:16 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Samuel was dead. (1 Samuel 28:3)  The Philistines were again preparing to attack Israel (1 Samuel 28:1 and 28:4) and King Saul was afraid. (1 Samuel 28:5)  The Lord God did not answer Saul when he called on Him because The Holy Spirit had left Saul (1 Samuel 16:14) due to his willful disobedience and his rejection of The Word of God. (1 Samuel 15:19 and 15:24)  So, Saul consulted a witch to find out what he should do.  He asked her to contact the spirit of the dead prophet Samuel. (1 Samuel 28:11)  Most Bible scholars suggest that it was Satan that she contacted and that they both assumed that it was Samuel by her description of the image which she saw. (1 Samuel 28:13-14)  Satan repeated the words which Samuel had spoken to Saul telling him that his kingdom would be taken away from him and given to David (1 Samuel 15:28 and 28:17) but he did not give Saul any help or advice.

APPLICATION

When non-believers seek help from the spiritual world, who are they contacting?  If The Lord God is not with you, then whose voice are you hearing?  If your advice, guidance, or direction is not coming from The Lord God, then who is it coming from?  Believers know better than trust in man for help. (Psalm 118:8)  Without The Lord God there is no help for us because we know that our help comes from Him. (Psalm 121:1-2)  The devil will deceive many people (Revelation 12:9) but believers know the sound of the voice of The Lord God and that is who we follow. (John 10:27)

TURN TO THE LORD WHEN DISCOURAGED

PROCLAMATION

“But David thought to himself, ‘One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul.  The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines.  Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.’”  1 Samuel 27:1 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

David had just spared King Saul’s life for a second time (1 Samuel 24:11 and 26:23) and Saul had said that he would not pursue David anymore. (1 Samuel 26:21)  However, because Saul had gone back on his word before, David did not believe him and felt that Saul would come after him again, and one day Saul would kill him.   This was a low point in David’s life when he focused on his current situation instead of focusing on The Lord God and remembering all that He had brought him through and protected him from.

APPLICATION

All believers have shortcomings and we all occasionally give in to our human emotions and weaknesses.  There are times when we walk through our own valley of depression and we get discouraged or despondent.  We worry and get depressed when we consider our situation from our limited perspective.  The Bible teaches us not to trust our own understanding but to trust in The Lord. (Proverbs 3:5)  This is the time when we need to remember The Lord’s model prayer.  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)  We need to pray more and worry less.  We need to pray about everything and not worry about anything. (Matthew 21:22)

DO NOT HARM THE LORD'S ANOINTED PEOPLE

PROCLAMATION

“The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness.  The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on The Lord’s anointed.  As surely as I valued your life today, so may The Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”  1 Samuel 26:23-24 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After David had spared King Saul’s life and Saul had thanked him, (1 Samuel 24:18-19) they parted company. (1 Samuel 24:22)  However, later the people went to Saul urged him to again pursue David and he did. (1 Samuel 26:1-2)  When Saul and his army had made camp and gone to sleep, David and Abishai crept into Saul’s camp.  Abishai wanted to kill Saul but David would not let him.  They just took Saul’s spear and water jug and left. (1 Samuel 26:8-12)  When he was safely some distance away, David called out to Saul and told him what he had done. (1 Samuel 26:13-16)  For the second time David had the opportunity to kill Saul but he would not harm The Lord God’s anointed King. (1 Samuel 24:11 and 26:23) 

APPLICATION

There are people in this world who wish to do us harm even though we have done nothing to them, nor have we wronged them in any way.  The Lord God will protect us and deliver us from those evil doers. (Psalm 18:17 and 18:48)  And, as hard as this is for us to do, we are taught to love and to pray for our enemies, those who curse us, those who hate us, those who despitefully use us, and those who persecute us. (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27, and Luke 6:35)  We are not to repay evil for evil. (Romans 12:17)  We are definitely not to lay hands on, hurt, or harm any of The Lord God’s anointed individuals. (1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15)  He will take care of all those who have wronged us.  “Vengeance is Mine, and I will repay, saith The Lord.” (Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30)  We also are not to rejoice when bad things happen to our enemy. (Proverbs 24:17)  Pray for them.

BLESSED FOR HELPING A MAN OF GOD

PROCLAMATION

“David said to Abigail, ‘Praise be to The Lord, The God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me.  May you be blessed for your good judgement and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.’”  1 Samuel 25:32-33 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After the prophet Samuel died, David left Ramah and went to the wilderness of Paran. (1 Samuel 25:1)  There was a very wealthy man there by the name of Nabal.  David sent ten of his young soldiers to Nabal to ask him for food to feed his men. (1 Samuel 25:8)  However, Nabal insulted them, refused to give them anything, and sent them away empty-handed.  When David was told about this, he ordered four hundred of his men to take their swords and go with him because he planned to kill Nabal and all of his men. (1 Samuel 25:22)  But one of the servants told Nabal’s wife, Abigail, what happened (1 Samuel 25:14-17) and she prepared food for David and his men and took it to them. (1 Samuel 25:18-20)  David blessed her for her actions which kept him from killing her husband.  About ten days later Nabal died and David praised The Lord God for avenging him and keeping him from killing Nabal. (1 Samuel 25:38-39)

APPLICATION

The Lord God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to unfold.  He allows people to come into our lives for a reason, sometimes for a season, to be a blessing to us or to provide a lesson to us.  He allows some things to happen to block our plans in order to keep us from unseen hurt, harm, danger, or sin.  Things that happen to us which we perceive as bad at the time, may in fact be a blessing for us and work out for our benefit.  “All things work together for good to them that love The Lord God, and to them who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

JUST BECAUSE WE CAN DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE SHOULD

PROCLAMATION

“Then David went out of the cave and … He said to Saul … This day …The Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave … look at this piece of your robe in my hand!  I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you … I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.”  1 Samuel 24:8-11 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

As David fled from King Saul, he went into the wilderness in the hills of Ziph. (1 Samuel 23:13-14)  Saul continued to pursue David until a messenger told him that the Philistines were raiding his land. (1 Samuel 23:26-28)  Saul broke off his pursuit of David to battle the Philistines, but when he had defeated them, he returned to seek after David. (1 Samuel 24:1-2)  Saul went into a cave to relieve himself.  David and his men were far back in this deep cave and Saul did not see them.  David crept up behind Saul and cut off the corner of his robe, then crept back to his men. (1 Samuel 24:3-4)  After Saul left the cave, David came out of the cave and called to him.  He told him that some of his men had urged that to kill him, but he refused to do so. (1 Samuel 24:10)  David told Saul that he could have killed him, but he didn’t do it.

APPLICATION

Just because we have the ability, and the opportunity, and the desire to do something, that does not mean that we should do it, especially if we know that it is wrong or sinful.  When we know better, then we should do better.  We have the God given ability to choose between right and wrong.   We need to pray for God’s guidance and direction before we act or speak.  The steps of a good man are ordered by The Lord God. (Psalm 37:23)

DAVID PRAYED BEFORE HE TOOK ACTION

PROCLAMATION

“He inquired of The Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go and attack these Philistines ?’  The Lord answered him, ‘Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.’”  1 Samuel 23:2 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

While David was in hiding and fleeing King Saul, word came to him that the Philistines had attacked Keilah, a city in the tribe of Judah.  Before he took action, David prayed.  He asked The Lord God if he should go and attack the Philistines and save the people of God in Keilah. (1 Samuel 23:1-2 and 4)  Only after The Lord God answered him and said, “Go, …” did David take action.

APPLICATION

David knew what he wanted to do, but he prayed and asked for guidance because it was more important for him to do what The Lord God wanted him to do.  We can learn a lot from David.  All of our actions should be preceded by prayer.  “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)  We should pray before we act, and also before we speak.  We should pray to God about everything.  “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)  We should make sure that our lives and actions are in line with the will of God.

BEWARE THE ENEMY IS EVERYWHERE

PROCLAMATION

“So, the priest gave him the consecrated bread … Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day … he was Doeg, the Edomite, Saul’s chief shepherd.”  “But Doeg, the Edomite, … said ‘I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob … he also gave him provisions …’”  1 Samuel 21:7 and 22:9-10 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After Jonathan was convinced that his father, King Saul, really wanted to kill David, (1 Samuel 20:33) he went to the field where David was hiding (1 Samuel 20:35) and the two of them talked and cried. (1 Samuel 20:41-42)  Then David left Ramah and went to Nob to meet with Ahimelech, the priest. (1 Samuel 21:1)  But one of King Saul’s men, Doeg the chief herdsman, was in Nob (1 Samuel 21:7) and he saw David meeting with Ahimelech.  He reported this to Saul (1 Samuel 22:9) who had all the priests and their families, herds and flocks killed because they had aided David. (1 Samuel 22:16-19)  David knew that Doeg would tell Saul that he saw him, which is why he left Nob and went to Gath, (1 Samuel 21:10) but he did not expect that Saul would kill everyone in the city. (1 Samuel 22:22)

APPLICATION

The priests were killed because they would not help the enemy kill an innocent man.  When we as believers take a stand to help or protect the innocent, it is quite likely that we will also be attacked.  Doing the right thing by helping others will not make us popular with the people, in fact, it will probably make us very unpopular.  That is why when we take a stand for that which is right, we need to put on the whole armor of God and pray in order to withstand the attacks that will surely come at us. (Ephesians 6:11-18)  Beware, the enemy is everywhere.