1 Samuel 29 Bible Study (The Philistines Reject David) | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Well, two weeks ago, you and I together, we examined the lowest and arguably the darkest point of Saul's life as it is described to us in first Samuel chapter 28. And in that chapter, we not only see the lowest point of Saul's life, but we actually are given the last detailed account of his life before his ordained death that will be described to us at the end of this book. But after reading that chapter and looking into his strange encounter with the deceased prophet, the prophet Samuel, We also have been left in suspense concerning David's situation. Where was David at the time when Saul was working with a witch in Endor, trying to channel and communicate with the dead. Do you remember?

Where was he? Was he in a cave? Oh no. Nobody knows. It's only been a couple weeks.

Where was David? Oh, thank you. He was among the Philistines. Residing comfortably, presumably flourishing in the territory of his enemies, and the enemies of God. And what we think David is doing there, is believing that he is actually safe.

Safe outside of God's will, and whatever misconception and false security he might have been experiencing, it would all be rudely interrupted by a command from the king of the Philistines, to have him and his men join the Philistines to fight against the nation of Israel. And what was David's response in first Samuel 28 before we we went into Saul's final chapter before his death, well, let's look back in first Samuel 28 verse two, just to refresh our memories. David said to Ahish, very well you shall know what your servant can do. And Ahish said to David, very well. I will make you my bodyguard for life.

Now David's answer seems to be too ambiguous to make a strong conclusion of what he meant by this. But hopefully this chapter, chapter 29, will give us some clarity, and I believe that that clarity will give even greater indication of just how miserable and horrible the condition of his spiritual life has come to after many months being where he was not supposed to be. What will you do David? That should be our answer. That that should be our anticipation as we approach this chapter, and what we will learn is that as much as David might have had a plan in his mind, it will be met with God's providence that will challenge him for his good.

It's a very short chapter. We will cover all of it by God's grace. And so let's begin in chapter 29 beginning in verse here one. Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek and the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Ahish, the commanders of the Philistines said, what are these Hebrews doing here?

And Ahish said to the commanders of the Philistines, is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years? And since he deserted to me, I have found no fault in him to this day. Now let's just stop there, because there's enough there in verse one to meditate upon. Verse one, we are told that there is a face off between the the Philistines and the nation of Israel. And this verse is more than just a description of the battle line between these two ancient foes.

This first verse is actually the description of the means by which Saul will meet his frightful fate with death, which was God's judgment upon him. If that's the case, then verse one should disturb us to a certain extent. More specifically, the posture of the nation of Israel should be a little disturbing to us in light of what we know about Saul. More specifically, in light of what Saul knew about what was about to transpire. Did Saul know what was going to happen to him?

Going into war with the Philistines? Yes or no? Yes. Did Saul know what was gonna happen to the people of Israel when they were gonna go to war with the Philistines? Look back at chapter 28 verse 19.

Verse 19 of the previous chapter. This is what Samuel says. This is what he prophesies over Saul. Moreover the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. That is not to say that they're gonna be in heaven with him.

That is to say that they're just gonna be in the grave with him. They're going to meet him in the place of death. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines. It's set. It's been determined.

It's been prophesied. When you go to war with this nation, you're gonna lose. You're gonna die with your sons and not only that, but the people of Israel be under subjection to their enemies. Now with all of that into consideration, to me reading verse one is a little heartbreaking. Because my question is, if Saul knew what was going to happen, then where is the leadership of this man?

Where is the leadership of this man who's been made aware of the future fate of his own life and the life of his people? In other words, where's the brokenness? You heard it during the break while while we were worshiping. Where where's the humbling of yourself? Where's the fasting?

Where's the call to repentance? Where's the desperation of seeking God? It's not there. It's not there. Even though this man has been told point blank, you're going to die tomorrow, and your people also are going to be slaughtered.

He just positions himself as though he didn't know anything. And I wonder if it's because Saul is so out of touch with God, and he's so uninformed about the character of God, that he could not even come to believe that the Lord would respond with mercy if he had but just humbled himself before him. That's what I think. I think Saul does not know who God is, and therefore he does not respond accordingly. He doesn't respond appropriately to the warning that has been given to him.

And he's just gonna resume and move forward. It's quite disturbing. And Saul's failure here to desperately cry out to God, I believe is an image. It's an illustration of the wicked today. Of people who hear about the warnings of their own fate.

The judgments that will come upon them because of their disobedience and denial of the gospel and their refusal to respond to that warning appropriately. They just are able to move on with their lives. Whether it's because they don't believe that it's going to happen, whether it's because they don't understand that God is merciful, they can't register that. Regardless, Saul here is at fault, because he should have known who God was. He should have taken this warning seriously, and he doesn't act.

But Saul is a leader. So I see another another illustration here from a leadership standpoint. That Saul has been given the revelation of the future of his own people, and it's not a good one. It's dire. It's deadly.

It's judgment. And yet still, Saul as a leader refuses to disclose to those people what is about to happen, and keeps it to himself. So it is with many preachers today, who understand what God's word has to say, but refuse to call upon those who will experience this judgment from God for whatever fear. Fear of making them fearful, fear of losing their love and their loyalty, whatever the case may be. Saul here is a is an example of a man who's been given insight about the fate of man outside of Christ, and refuses to tell them what they need to know in order for that to change.

It's amazing how you see New Testament pictures and Old Testament stories. And so they they just line up, They set up their post, and they're going to go to war, and that's kind of the overview of what's happening. And then we zoom in for the first time, in a few verses to David. We haven't seen David since he said, very well you will see what your servant is able to do. And now all of that happened, and we come back to David.

And where is he? He's marching with the Philistines toward the ranks To to apparently get ready to fight with them against the Lord's anointed and the Lord's people. But what do we see here? In verse two and three, we see two verses that give us two comments that give us the condition of David's testimony as a servant of the true God. So when the Philistines were preparing to go to war, they were reviewing their ranks and they made a very good observation.

What are the Israelites doing here? What is what is this band of men who are surrounding around Ahish? Why are they on this side? And this disturbed them, and rightfully so. And so they come to the king, and they rightly ask, hey, what are these Hebrews doing here?

And I read that, you know what came through my mind? That's the question that David and his men should have asked themselves. What are we doing here? Such simple self examination could have saved David and his men much unnecessary heartache. If they had just asked themselves that question at one point where there is no evidence of such a thing, they could have, they could have actually realized we're not supposed to be here.

And I think it does Christians much good in their journey with Christ to pause once in a while, if you can't do it every night as you lay your head on your pillow. Where am I? Where am I? Where am I with the Lord? Where am I with God's people?

Where am I in my pursuit of him? Where am I in my pursuit of holiness? Where am I in these different areas? Lord, search me and know me and see if there be any wicked way into me. Where am I?

Am I supposed to be where I'm supposed to be? Am I veering off a little bit? Am I headed towards the wrong direction? And and that I move from where I was supposed to be to a place where I'm not supposed to be and that doesn't necessarily have to be physical location. That could just be the the posture of your heart.

Where am I? And what we see here is that this question from the Philistines implies that as children of God, just like the Hebrews, our spiritual identity calls for a separation. It calls for a consecration from certain places, properties and people. When Jesus Christ is crowned Lord over your life, and you get up from the throne of your heart, and you give him that rightful place, something will come alive in you as him being Lord of your life, and there is a distinction that is made by the Lord in your life. It's not popular.

Right? What I'm what I'm saying here is not popular. And where we get into trouble is like when David, we allow our own judgments and our own estimations to blur the boundaries that have been clearly marked by God's word, that draw those distinctions for us. Right? David David, because of his emotional condition, because of his fear, because of temptation, he he blurred those lines and he physically crossed the border that he shouldn't have crossed.

And so will it be with you and I, if we do not uphold the scriptures and say this is what will determine where I go, who I'm with, what I do, what I own, what I give. That's holiness, and it's a joyful thing. It's a wonderful thing, because you and I are ambassadors of Jesus Christ. And I'm seeing more and more that this kind of this kind of preaching and this kind of discipleship is becoming less and less popular, And now we have this idea, whether we realize it or not, where the idea of the culture, where we can determine our own reality and our own experience is now seeping into Christendom. And so now you have people who, we can apply it this way.

Who do not see the clearest commands in scripture that we must be accountable to a group of believers. We must meet regularly with the Church of Jesus Christ in a local setting. And week after week after week, there's somewhere else. And so I would ask I would ask the question that the Philistines asked in this way. Why are you not here Christian?

God commands you to be, whether it's here or elsewhere. Why are you not here? It's not the same as people who are looking and praying for some place, but can't find a body of believers that love the Lord. I'm talking about people who are totally convinced that I can be a lone wolf, because they had in their own judgments or because of past hurts, whatever the case may be, have blurred the lines through their filter and said, well, God will understand. No, he doesn't understand actually.

His word is clear. It's it's so clear. Or there are those who find themselves in places and among people who deliberately and intentionally entertain and engage with sin. And the Philistines questions to Achish is the question I would ask the believers, what are you doing there my brother? What are you doing with them, my sister?

The question is totally appropriate. It's totally appropriate, and it's healthy. It's holy. I've always used this this phraseology to help people not be afraid of holiness. Are you afraid of health for your body?

Anybody in here doesn't want to be healthy? No? Didn't think so. People pay money to be healthy. People pay dietitians.

People pay for trainers, so that their bodies can be healthy. Holiness is health to your soul. Why are you afraid of it so much? You pay the guy hundreds of dollars a month to tell you what to do. He yells at you at the gym.

And a preacher who truly cares about the health of your soul would tell you how to be holy, because he loves you. God loves you. What are you doing here? Hebrews, why are they among us? But the second insight about the state of David's soul is found in Achish's response to this inquiry.

Look at verse three. Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, is this not David the servant of Saul King of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years? Was it days and years? Does anybody remember the precise time? I heard somebody whisper.

How long has David actually been in the land? Look back at chapter 27 verse seven. The answer is right there. And the number of days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was what? It's behind me, isn't it?

No. In the country of the Philistines was a year and four months. What does he say? Days and years. People have a tendency to exaggerate, don't they?

That's all I have to say about that. They have a tendency to exaggerate. Days and years. And then he goes on to say, and since he deserted to me, I have found no fault in him to this day. Question, is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Good thing? Bad thing? Tell us why. Very good. Did you hear the answer?

Well before I explain it, who would say this is a good thing? I have found no fault in him to this day. Bad, good, bad. Consensus, bad, bad. Bad.

Not good, not good at all. And the reason why it's not good is precisely what our brother just explained. Are you telling me that a ruler who hates the true God, worships false gods, hates the people of the true God, has absolutely no criticism for a man like David, who's apparently after God's heart. That's concerning. That is concerning.

We can The equivalence of this is is working closely with someone else, an employer or co coworker for years and years and years, and they've observed your life. They would been with you even settings outside of the workplace, and they they cannot come to the conclusion that you are a born again follower of Jesus Christ. Wouldn't that concern you? That would concern me. And in fact, I sometimes tell people, if somebody was hanging out with you day and night for an entire week, and they could not come to the conclusion that you are a follower of Jesus Christ, serious red flags.

Could we say even a whole day? I would say even a day. What what marks us? What's something needs to be different there, and apparently David after a year and four months blended in so well among the Philistines. Is this ruining anybody's image of this man after God's heart?

It's amazing how the scriptures are honest with us. It's a sad commentary to say the least. I remember doing my internship at an advertising agency as my final kind of assignment, final course before I graduated. We had to be in the advertising agency day in and day out working there for a minimum of three months, and I was there for four. And I was extremely zealous.

I was I was still fresh out of the oven, born again. And I was trying to find ways to turn the conversation, to talk about the Lord. It was not working. It was it was it was very uncomfortable for me even. It was making things difficult.

So Lord, find a way. I'm only here for a few months, you can find a way, so find a way. And I believe one way was presented on a consistent basis. Every single Monday in that workplace, we got together in a circle and no more than a minute each, every person told what they did for the weekend. Every Monday.

And so Monday after Monday, this person was still hungover. That person went to this new club. That person did that. Some people went out, did nice things, good things. And I just thought to myself, this is my chance every single Monday.

And so as it came to me, 22 year old college kid, tell us about your weekend. Well, Friday night we got together and prayed, had bible study. Saturday night we did evangelism, and Sunday morning we had church, and Sunday night we had a young adults meeting. And the stares that I got, like, as though they saw an alien land into their office space, week after week after week. And that was it.

And that opened up conversations. How is a young guy like you not not doing what other young people supposed to be doing on the weekends? Little snippet here, little snippet there, little testimony there. They should see a distinction, eventually. I'm not one of those who who unrealistically thinks that you should go to every public place, stand on a table, I'm a Christian.

That doesn't help anybody, nor does it help your testimony, unless the Lord leads you to do that. But very rarely, we have to be sensitive. We have to be wise. Wise as serpents, innocent as doves. But this this is a specific scenario.

After apparently days and years, Ahish could not make a distinction with David. In fact, he thought he was one of them. That's how low David has come with his walk with the Lord. He camouflaged in a in a wrong way. Look at verse four.

But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, being Ahish. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, send the man back that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord, being Saul? Would it not be with the heads of the men here?

Is not this David of whom they sing to one another in dances. Saul has struck down his thousands and David his 10,000. The interaction between Ahish and his commanders is a great example for us to consider when determining how discernment plays an important part of the Christian life. Discernment is very very important for many reasons. Because there are wolves out there in sheep's clothing, and there are so many warnings throughout the New Testament of the people who would come within the church, and even into your personal life with evil intentions.

And how you and I are able to be safe, is to acquire something called, discernment. Where you are able to pick up on the warning signs that would make you preemptive and protect yourself and protect the church from that which would try to destroy and harm. And what's amazing here is that when you compare Ahish with the commanders of the Philistines, you see a contrast. I see Ahish as somebody who's very gullible. He kind of takes things at face value.

He doesn't consider the elements on beyond the immediate. Whereas the commanders are able to process the dangers ahead, the past of about David and what he has done, and it bring all those things together to come to to come to a decision that would be the most effective and protective. And it reminds me here. Right? It reminds me here of what Jude warns us about that there are certain people in verse four of Jude, who have crept in unnoticed.

There are people who want to creep in to the church, and that's not a physical kind of being unnoticed. The unnoticed there is the intentions of the heart. And there are people in our lives that want to creep in to do harm, and in the context to lead them into a perverted idea of grace. That's what Jude was talking about. And in this case, you can almost say that David, David was the one who crept in to the camp.

Who crept into the camp. Because as much as Ahish could say, I found no fault to him, about him to this day. David was lying to him throughout that time. Was he not? Whenever Achish said, where did you get the spoil?

Oh yeah, we we dealt with these Israelites here and then the He was trying to convey that we were actually killing Israelites, and in reality he was killing allies, Tahish. You and I need discernment, and it seems strange that we are learning that truth, that valuable truth from the Philistines, wicked borrow the wisdom of God and don't give them credit for it? Right? There are many ways that you and I can protect ourselves from the dangers of others who have evil intentions, who come in with a satanic agenda or a fleshly agenda, that include your expense. And that's so important that the scripture encourages and instructs us to acquire this.

This quality, so that we can we can travel through life and navigate through it in a way that we see safety and victory. And so I want to show you just one way, one way that you in your life, in your Christian journey, can know safety as you acquire discernment. It's not just praying. That's important. It's not just knowing your Bible.

That's very important. Those are the primary ways, but let me show you another way. You know this verse. Many of you have probably memorized it. In Proverbs eleven fourteen, where there is no guidance a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

But in an abundance of counselors there is safety. And you can argue here, that in this scenario with Ahish, his counselors were the commanders of the Philistines, who had an eye, who had an ability to calculate in a way that was able to help Achish evade something that he could have walked into to his own demise, potentially. Do you want to know how you can be safer in this life? And I can tell you, in many years of pastoral ministry, there are evil people out there. There are wicked men and wicked women.

Satan hates the children of God. And if he can wound you or lure you away from the will of God, he will do it and he's very creative. So then we need to have a discernment. And one way that you and I can know safety in life, get an abundance of counselors. Now we quote this, we kind of shoot it off easily.

We kind of just say it and we don't realize the full implications or the instructions of such a verse, so that we can we can draw the most out of it. Here's one, in Proverbs eleven fourteen, but in abundance of counsels there is safety. Nowhere in the book of Proverbs, are we encouraged to only have one advisor in our lives. I challenge you, read the book of Proverbs and what is always commanded and encouraged is a multiplicity of counselors. Many men and women in your life that can have their eyes upon you.

Now why do you think that is? Why why is that one person enough to speak into my life? You minimize blind spots when you have more eyes. And so when you have different vantage points, different life experiences, speaking into the same situation with that balanced acquirement of advice, you come to a safer conclusion in a decision that you wanna make. Yes.

Any other reasons? Sure. We work together as a body and so we need to be dependent upon a plurality of people. I would say so. Yes.

That pretty much really summarizes it. Different experiences, different minds working together for your good, for God's glory, get an abundance of counselors. Acquire such thing. Pray and ask God for such a thing in your life. And that's why I believe in part, God in his wisdom instructed the church, the local church to not just have a Moses figure, one man on the top that makes every single decision.

No. There is a plurality of elders that should be there, that share that leadership position for what purpose? Well well each vantage point is being contributed. The blind spots are are eliminated at a greater degree when you have more people involved, and I would say, if there is a safety with abundance of counselors, then safe is the church with a plurality of elders. So that's another important component about a local church.

But not just local church, we're talking about you as an individual. Is it just important to have a multiplicity of elders or counselors rather? Shouldn't we go further than that? It's not just the amount of counselors, it's the quality of them as well. You can be seeking advice from four different people whenever you make a serious life decision, but they can be so out of touch with God that they lead you to your own harm.

All of them. No? Yes. Can I give you an example? I told you earlier I was reading through the book of second Chronicles, another verse stood out to me.

And it is this. It's about King Ahaziah and look what we're told here in second Chronicles twenty two four. Look what's told about him. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done. For after the death of his father you ready for this?

They were his counselors to his undoing. So Isaiah had counselors, advisors. He had a board, but they consoled him. They advised him to his own destruction. So you can't just take Proverbs eleven fourteen in isolation.

You must consider the totality of scripture. God, don't just bring people that are willing to speak into my life. Bring me people who walk with you that can speak into my life. That's all the difference. So let me give another layer to you.

As you prayerfully ask the Lord, especially in the majority of the demographic of this place, seeking the Lord about your future, do not just seek people who might even have a title in ministry. Look for people who walk with God. Who really walk with God. Not I go to church on Sunday and I can't wait to go out. No.

Who really really know God. Who love His word. Who have a prayer life. More than that. Who really love you.

Whose motives are not muddied by jealousy or insecurity or envy, but you've learned over time that that such a person really loves me. You want to know how one way somebody really loves you? They will give you an unbiased opinion. Seeking an abundance of counselors doesn't mean you check off the box because you go to people that you know will tell you what you want to hear. That's to your own undoing.

Somebody who loves me like Jesus loves me. Do you know how Jesus loves you? For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son. No, that's not the only way He loves you. Whom I rebuke I love.

Jesus said. You know the people I look forward to speak into my life? The people who love truth more than they love me. Who love righteousness more than how I might feel in a moment. Who say I'll say this because I love you.

That's not the way you should do it. You're doing it wrong. Be careful of this and that. And if you do that, if God graciously presents those people into your life, and I know he will because he does not withhold any good gift from his children, you will know safety in this life. I like how the ESV puts it.

It repeats this instruction. It repeats this insight down later in the book of Proverbs, and it says, those who have an abundance of counselors, there is victory. Not just security, but victory. How true it is. And Ahishir, as strange as it sounds, had that abundance of counselors who spoke into his life and he he evaded something?

Potentially, we don't know. Look at verse five. Is not this David of whom they sing to one another and dance as Saul has struck down his thousands of David his 10 thousands? Question for you. We're coming to the the end of this book very soon.

How many times has this song about David been referred to up to this point? Think. The song, Saul has struck down his thousands and David has tens of thousands. How how many times has this been brought up so far? Less?

Three three three. Yes. Yes. You got it. Good guess.

But it's actually three. The first time in first Samuel 18. The second time in first Samuel 21, when David initially came into the land of the Philistines. Remember? Then they said, isn't this the one that they sang about?

And he falls to the ground, he pretends to be insane. And then the third time here in first Samuel 29. I find it interesting that, this hit song apparently reached the radio stations of the Philistines. Right? But more than that, every single time that this song about David is is brought up, it is always in connection to some kind of trouble.

What happened when the first time it was brought up, introduced to the nation? Saul was filled with raging jealousy. What about the second time? It was how David was identified and he felt deeply insecure, fearful that something was gonna happen to him when they realized that this guy is here in our camp and he's all alone. And lastly, the song is brought up when there is great suspicion about David.

And I find that very interesting when we consider something about the praise of man. When meditating on this point, I couldn't help but think about the series of problems that introduce themselves when we experience the praise of others. People shouldn't covet that thing, man. People shouldn't long and yearn for public admiration and acknowledgement, because you have no idea what kind of headaches come with it. The responsibilities that come with it.

The temptations that come with it. If you want a glimpse, just take a little peek into Hollywood and see how people handle praise. And David here, every single time this song about him surfaces in the scriptures, it's always tied to an issue. That recognition that David had, though it was for a good thing and a great thing, was packaged with problems. And I want to say this, men who covet, women who long and yearn and desire and even pray for visible success are unaware of the risks that come with it.

Notice I said visible success, because you and I should crave to be fruitful for the Lord. You should pray, Lord, make me as effective as I can be. Allow me to touch as many hearts as possible. Lord, I want to do as much damage to the kingdom of darkness as possible. But that success is not the same as longing for the approval of others for what we do.

Totally different. Have you ever considered perhaps that God is hiding you and is hiding many of his servants from the eyes of others in order to protect you and others from the dangers that come with it. Have you ever considered that? We should believe that those who faithfully serve God on a larger platform and have a wider public influence, also have a grace from God to do it. There's a grace that comes with it.

And I want to show you an example of that, because this is a very real thing in our day. It doesn't just happen for leaders. Every single person in here is invited into the temptation of being someone. And guess what? All you need is an email and a password to do it.

People are doing stupid things to try to get famous. Like, stupid and they're running out of ideas clearly. Cause some of the things I go viral, I'm like, that's viral? What is that? But so many people are are being magnetized to this idea of, I just want to be recognized.

I want to be known. I'll find I'll find fulfillment if I'm famous. And that even translates into ministry. Don't covet it. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into.

If God does give someone a platform, if God does give somebody a wide reach, he also gives a grace to that person to endure it. That makes sense. Go to Genesis 11 with me in this Bible study quickly. I want you to see an example of what I'm saying. Genesis 11 verse four.

What do we read here? This is about the Tower Of Babel. Now look at this. This is an amazing comparison. In Genesis eleven four we read, then they said, come let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens.

And now what do they say? And let us make a name for ourselves. That's what people wanna do today. Right? The same spirit of Babylon is here today.

Let us make a name for ourselves. Let's become known. Let's let's make something for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth. What ended up happening to them? Not good stuff.

You go to the next chapter in Genesis, in Genesis 12, and what do you read in verse one and two? Now the Lord said to Abram, go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you and I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you and do what? Make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. See the difference? See the difference between those who are building a tower?

Let us make a name for ourselves. Totally self absorbed selfish ambition. Nothing to do with God. Everything to do with them, and here's God commissioning Abraham and he says, I'm gonna make your name great. I'm gonna do it.

And the reason why I'm gonna do it is so that you will be a blessing. Not so that you can feel better about yourself. Not so that you can get more dopamine dumps when you go online and you see how many people love you and praise you. None of that. Because I want you to be a blessing.

I'll make your name great. A wise preacher said this, and consider for yourself if you're a serious servant of God who is sometimes visited by this idea that if you're not famous, it means you're not fruitful, you're not effective. If people don't love you and praise you and invite you, it means that you're not really filled with the spirit of God. Whatever the conclusion people come up with, realize this, it is your duty to take care of the depth of your ministry and it is God's job to take care of the breadth of it. It is your responsibility to take care of the depth of your ministry and it is God's duty to make sure that it has the appropriate breadth.

Isn't that freeing? No. I hope it's freeing. Just just serve the Lord. Let him be pleased with you in whatever context he's put you in.

Yes, seek to to reach out. Don't don't stay quiet. Don't put your lamp under the bed, but don't covet something that God hasn't given you a grace for. David had much trouble when it came to that song. And people want articles written about him and books written about him and songs written about him.

Well look at David. Every time the song came up it was associated with some kind of headache. So we read on as we come back to our main text in verse six and seven, as we close very soon. Then Ahish called David and said to him, as the Lord lives you have been honest and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day.

Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. So go back now and go peaceably that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines. So now David is hearing the praise from Achish. Achish was defending him and now he is speaking directly to him and he's telling him, you're honest. Did you see that?

The Lord lets you have been honest. Everything but. You have been honest. Like, was there any conviction in this man as he was hearing this? I've been lying to you for a year and four months.

And this man looks at him and he's just like oozing over him. You've been so honest. And he goes on to shower him with all this praise, and it seems honorable, but we heard earlier that David did not merit that honor. He lived he lived as a liar, as a hypocrite. Double standard.

But as much as as much as that is true of David's case, there is there is a desire in the believer, at least there should be, to receive the respect of those who who do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. How many scriptures in the New Testament are given towards Christians? That they should have good standing with the world. How many how many instructions are we given that we should live in such a way that they cannot blame us for anything and And if anything, at the day of the visitation of the Father, they will praise him, because of those who have represented him. And so David, unfortunately, doesn't merit this praise, but you and I should see this in a different light and it is this, that something about who we are outside of these walls would cause would cause the men who don't believe in our God to at least be open to him.

Did you notice how Achish starts when he begins to speak to David? I'm gonna give it a few seconds. Just look at the first verse and tell me what stands out. What stands out? As who lives?

Is though Are those capital letters? As Yahweh lives. What's Yahweh doing on the lips of a pagan man? How how is he even invoking the name of the true God? I don't know.

And many people give different reasons why he's doing this, but in our case maybe that because of our lives lived out before those who observe us, they would be open to the God that we serve. As the Lord lives. Does anybody remember the final qualification for an elder in the local church? This is important for you whether you're in this place or you're in a different local church, and and you're supposed to look out for for a true and genuine pastor at one point, or at least consider who a pastor will be over your life. What's the last qualification for an elder according to first Timothy three?

Yeah. Did you hear that? Does anybody know this? That they should have a good reputation with outsiders. You know what that means?

Unbelievers. I personally have never heard this, maybe you have. I've never heard of this. I've never heard of a church that when seeking for an elder or a pastor, calls the unbeliever as a reference. Have you?

Can you imagine that? Can you imagine somebody who is who is being considered for an elder role? The church calls that man's workplace and says, hey, we're Maranatha Bible Church and we're looking for so and so to be a potential elder and we just want to know what's his attitude like at work? How does he treat people? How does he work under tense situations?

Amen. That's the qualification. I'm not coming up with it. That's what God says. They have to have a good reputation among outsiders.

It's quite fascinating how much this means to the Lord. And it turns your stomach to see that this Dagon worshiping Achish invokes the name of Yahweh when speaking to David, because this man wasn't really living it. But in our case, maybe because we really live it. So what happens? Verse eight.

This is shocking. This is where it gets a little controversial. This is where a kind of debate can spark up. Look how David answers. And David said to Achish, but what have I done?

What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king? Now I'm curious to know and and this is this is difficult because you have people who have who have two different opinions about what's taking place here. You have some, who find it just way too difficult to believe that David is genuinely disappointed that he has been rejected from participating in this war against his own people. I understand that. Then there are others who say, just let the words speak as they as they do.

This is a plain revelation of where this man's heart has gone being in this place for so long. You may be on either side regardless of it, neither are good. Neither are good. Whether whether David is is pretending to be disappointed, so that he can like, seem convincing as he pulls back and he's like, I didn't want to be in this position in the first place. Or whether he's actually agitated that he can't go forward, both are not good, are they?

Not good at all. But what if he was actually genuine? What if he was actually so disturbed? Imagine being so disconnected from God that you found yourself cast down because you couldn't sin the way you really wanted to. Imagine being so upset that your compromise was being interrupted by God's providence.

That is you wanted to tread on deeper waters of the flesh. God was trying to get your attention in one way or another. I want you to see how the heart can be so warped when a man like David spends so much time away from God. When you spend time outside of an intentional pursuit of God, godliness, being with God's people for sanctifying reasons, there's no telling how the heart can become so black. We would think that David would be able to see how this is actually God giving him the way of escape.

What do we learn from this? This is God's providence. Is it not? Think about it. We've we've studied this book in-depth enough to see that this is just another episode of the sequence of times that God's hand came into the situation to rescue David out.

Is it not? Think about how refreshing this could have been. If if David if David here, after being told you are going to war, he not only has to not fight against Saul, he doesn't have to fight against the Philistines not to fight against Saul. Do you know what I mean? It's like the the best case scenario for you.

Not only do I have to fight against my own people, but I don't have to fight against these people to try to get out of it. I can just I can just slip out. But the difference between God's remember God's providence in David's life in so many ways. The difference between the past interventions and this one, I believe, is that in the past God seems to have manifest his providence when David was walking in obedience. Right?

Is David walking in obedience here? Very difficult to say yes. And yet at the same time, God opens a door with a light above it that says, a merciful escape. How? Well again, it's that principle that you and I heard a few Bible studies ago.

The promise in the New Testament that there is no temptation. Too great, too fierce, so severe, where there is not a way of escape. God has ordered in the laws of the universe concerning humanity that with every single temptation, God will provide a way to get out of it. So so none of us can call God a lie and say it was too tempting. It it was too confining.

None. Nothing of that sort. But at the same time here, I can't help but entertain the possibility. Just just this isn't dogmatic here. This isn't like, it's not it's this or nothing else, but just think with me here at this Bible study, that maybe God was merciful to David, because on more than one occasion David has been merciful to Saul.

David wrote something in one of his Psalms. You know what he wrote at one point in Psalm 18 verse 25? Turn there as we close this bible study. Psalm 18 verse 25. And as we go there, actually, before we go to verse 25, let's scroll back to verse one.

Psalm 18 verse one. To the choirmaster a psalm of David, the servant of the Lord who addressed the words of the song to the Lord on the day when the Lord rescued him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. So that's the context. David has experienced not just deliverance from his main enemy Saul, but from all his enemies. And you scroll down and you look at verse 25, and what do you read?

With the merciful, you show yourself, what? Merciful. With the merciful, you show yourself merciful. Blessed are the merciful, why? For they shall be what?

Shown mercy. What David is writing here is a principle of divine administration and it can be summarized in this. You ready? That God offers a certain level of mercy to those who are in this life merciful to others. I want you to never forget this truth.

It's very important. Mercy means many things. Mercy includes showing compassion and forgiveness and reserving personal vengeance or punishment upon somebody who deserves it. Mercy goes beyond that, I believe. It's much more broad in its understanding.

Why? Because you see throughout the Gospels, men in their physical ailments or in their suffering and their distress. Son of David have what? Mercy on me. And Jesus acted, because he is a merciful God.

In what way? By alleviating suffering. By lifting people's burdens. By showing care and compassion. By giving attention to those who are desperate for certain attention.

David has been merciful many times. Could it be just a thought to entertain even in conversation afterwards? Here's God extending mercy to a man who has been merciful. Would you like God to be merciful to you in this life? Be merciful to others.

Be merciful to others. Be understanding. Isn't God understanding with you? How many times have you failed and you've come to God and ask for mercy, and he's given it to you? Why would you reserve it from somebody else?

What this verse tells me, if I just read it simply and not try to explain it away, if I just read it simply by honoring the context and the totality of scripture, is that God will look at my life, yes, a forgiven sinner, yes, the cross absorbed all of God's judgment, but as I live practically, as a as a representative of Christ, if I wanna know mercy following me all the days of my life, then I better be ready to give it to others. Here's mercy. I will shower you with mercy. Don't be unforgiving. Don't lack compassion.

Don't give people an idea, because you've done this, I will make you be punished for it. I will do whatever I can to shame you, embarrass you, ruin your reputation, make life miserable for you because of what you've done to me. God is merciful to those who show mercy. Remember that. Let's pray.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Lord we thank you for this precious study how when David was in deep trouble, your providence gave him a way out. Thank you Lord that you did not abandon David even though he abandoned a part of his heart to his flesh. Lord we ask that we would be equally as merciful as you've been to us. Forgiving those who have hurt us, extending kindness to those who might have extended pain.

You expect mercy to flow from our hands and our lips. Would you find it in us? And Lord, when we lack the motivation or when our our flesh would argue otherwise, Lord, just dominate our hearts. Dominate our hearts. We thank you for this Bible study.

We thank you that you've spoken clearly to our hearts. And now Lord with what we've learned in this short chapter may it be applied to the chapters of our lives. We bless you and we worship you. We give you all praise and glory and honor. And Lord, even as we sit in our pews and reflect on what we heard, May what we reflect upon give us the clear answers to where we are today with you.

We wanna be where you want us to be. Thank you that your word aligns us and puts a light to our path to help us see where we're going. We bless you Lord for you are the living God. The God of David is our God, and we give you all glory and praise. In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.