God's Merciful Kindness

Fatih Community family, due to flooding rains we have decided to cancel all our services for tonight. Many would stop right there but not me. 

I still want to feed your souls. So here is what I am going to do. What I would have taught in person tonight from the book of I Samuel I am going to teach through writing right here. 

It is hard to believe we started our journey through I Samuel in August of 2014. For nearly eleven months we have studied the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David. It has been a fascinating journey. 

Though a bit ambitious my intention tonight included finishing chapters 29-31 and wrapping up the book. So here goes. 

A few weeks ago we spent time discussing the truth that not every good idea is a God idea. David sought refuge among Achish and the Philistines. Nowhere does the scripture say God led David to do this. Saul chased David like a fugitive. I can see the logic in David hiding among the enemies of Israel. That still does not mean God initiated this move. 

Serving as a backdrop over chapters 29-31 are two verses found in the seldom read Old Testament book of Lamentations. "The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease. For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness." [Lam 3:23-24]

In chapter 29 David is in a pickle. The Philistines gathered for war against Israel. David had pretended to be an ally with the Philistines for several years. The truth is when he went out to raid he raided the enemies of Israel and killed everyone so nobody could be a witness to his exploits. Achish thought David went out to fight against Israel. David put himself in this predicament. Now he is put to the test. 

If David went out to battle against Israel he would be fighting against God's chosen people and sinning against God. If David did not fight the Philistines would turn on him and no longer offer him or his men refuge. In essence he would be a wanted man in two countries. 

David's good idea had turned sour. The mercy and lovingkindness of God is amazing. With no way out of his own created mess, God steps in and provides the way of escape. While King Achish trusts David the rest of the military officers do not. They send David home. God had mercy on David and provided the only way out of his dilemma without bloodshed. 

Has God ever done that for you? Have you ever crated a mess of your own choosing? Choosing good ideas over waiting for God's ideas is foolish. I am sure we all have. I give God praise today that HIs mercies are new every morning and His compassions do not fail even when we put ourselves in impossible situations. 

In David's case, God's purposes for David to be the next King of Israel trumped David's unwise choice. God's merciful loving kindnesses are new every single morning. Instead of getting what David deserved or what we deserve God over and over again deals with us in grace and mercy. What a liberating and comforting truth to grasp. 

In chapter 30 David and his men return to Ziklag. They found the town they had taken refuge in had been burned and all the women and children were taken captive by the Amalakites. 

As if this were not bad enough, the 600 men who followed David turned on him and wanted to stone him. [I Sam 30;6] informs us that David was greatly distressed. The word distressed has several meanings. It can mean to bind, tie up, restrict, trouble, or afflict. I don't know if the men went so far as to tie David up to stone him or if they just threatened him. David not only grieved the loss of his two wives but on top of that he faced the bitter anger of the men who blamed him for their fate. 

We learn that David inquired of the Lord in this crisis moment. He needed to hear from God about what to do. It would appear that David had learned something from the previous chapter.

Once again the merciful lovingkindness of God is splashed all over this chapter. Let me give some examples. First of all, the men did not stone David. Next God speaks to David in detail about what to do and what God will do for him. We learn later in the chapter that the Amalakites did not kill any of the women or children. When David and his men raided towns they destroyed everyone and deserved the same plight. Once again God shows mercy in that none of the captives were harmed. God showed mercy later in the chapter when an Egyptian who had been part of the Amalakite raid got sick and left behind. He showed David and his men where to find their enemy. 

When David inquired of the Lord as to what to do God spoke some specific things into David's life. He told him to pursue the enemy and that he would overtake them. He also told David all would be rescued. ALL. Everyone one of the women and children would be recovered. 

I love what David did next. He strengthened himself in the Lord. The word strengthened means he grew firm, encouraged himself, he secured himself in God and held fast to God. How many times do we face adversity and hopelessness and need to get away to strengthen ourselves in the Lord. Not in the counsel of others, in alcohol or some other destructive behavior but we need to find our strength in God. I love that truth. I need to be reminded of that time and time again. We do that by lingering in His presence and allowing Him to minister to us. 

David obeyed and they did overtake the Amalakites. David and his 400 men fought from twilight until the evening of the next day. What speaks to me is David had God's assurance that all would be rescued. Did David get tempted to quit once his two wives were recovered. God assured him all would be rescued. David fought until that promise became reality. 

Do we do that? Do we fight, pray, labor, serve, believe until the promise of God is fulfilled or do we give up too soon? What has God promised you? What has God assured you He would do? Do you believe it? Are you acting on that belief even now. I think we too easily give into adversity. 

We are prone to quit and give into despair rather than inquiring of the Lord and strengthening ourselves in Him. It is easier to give up rather than to persevere to the promise of God. 

Finally in chapter 30 we have the conclusion of God's prophesy in Saul's life. God said he would tear the kingdom fromSaul and give the kingship to David. In chapter 30 Saul and all his sons die on the same day in battle against the Philistines. Without David ever having to fight against Saul to be King, God once again showed his merciful lovingkindness in David's life. God dealt with Saul and opened the door for David to become the next King. 

God still opens doors for His people. He still moves closed doors out of the way to put His people in the middle of His plans to carry out His purposes. This once again is a full display of the merciful kindness of God being displayed every morning. Great is His faithfulness.