There is a Place in the Kingdom for You

Broad overview-zoomed out study of a contrast of good bad leaders in God’s kingdom, and God’s sovereign role in this picture. (However this zoomed out view is presented as stories of real people and their real life struggles of faith, and sin and following God a zoomed in picture of boots on the ground if you will.

Prayer

We saw how God removed the corrupt priest, and replaced him with Samuel. We saw how the people demanded a king modeled not after God, but after the other kings of this world.

Just a brief recap of where we are in our series Prophets Priests and Kings

We saw how the King of world, Saul fell and God lifted up His Own King David. One who stand on faith, and loyalty to God, and a man after God’s own heart.

Right now, David isn’t king yet. he has been anointed, but he I he is far from the throne. Saul, the king the people wanted doesn’t like David. He has been throwing spears at David, throwing spears while David tries to soothe Him.

So David is on the run. Last time we talked about how God provided for David, feeding him and providing some weaponry. But even that seemed to be part of this bigger prophetic picture as later Jesus would use that very incident to call attention to struggle he was facing as he confronted the Pharisees.

Much of the rest of the Book of 1 Samuel is consumed with this epic chase through the wilderness as Saul goes after David, to eliminate him. This chase seems to go on. It takes up about a third of the book of 1 Samuel. It almost makes us grow weary.

SO much of the rest of the Book of 1 Samuel is consumed with this epic chase through the wilderness as Saul goes after David, to eliminate him.

Have you ever seen a 1993 movie staring Harrison Ford called the Fugitive. The entire movie is actually one long chase scene. There are other action movies like that. They just move from one chase scene to the next. I don’t find those movies very relaxing. When you watch one of those movies it can be exhausting as you are on pins and needles watching the long chase.

If we get exhausted watching movies like that. Or if it seems long and repative to page through this montenous chase scene at the end of 1 Samuel imagine what it was like for David.

A Kingdom Hopper

Today we come to these seeming insignifcant rather brief stories of David in Gath, and then as he hides out and his mighty men join him. But, in these two stories, David has written 4 different Psalms. During the struggle is when God is most revealed, and it when we learn the most about God. In we have and . And in , we have and . So as we get started, let me ask you a question.

Have you ever questioned your call? When I use that word call, I am not only talking about a call to paid or full-time ministry. God’s word tells us that we are all called.

First off, all of us all of us are called to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are all called to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross in payment for your sins, and rose three days later. We are called to believe that and to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit.

We are also called to various ministries in our families and our place of work. We are called to share the gospel with our family and with our friends and with our neighbors.

We are called here to this body of believers. We are called to various positions in the church. We are called to to use the gifts God has given us to further his kingdom.

So when I ask if you have ever questioned your call, what I am asking you, is first, have you ever questioned your call to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Have you ever wondered, has it ever crossed your mind that somehow, because of something you did, have you wondered to yourself, does God still love me, or is what I am going through punishment for something I did? Am I indeed forgiven? Are these spears whizzing by head because I have somehow did something and God is getting back at me?

Or have you ever stepped up to serve the church in a certain way, sacrificed, gave your heart and soul to the ministry, whether in the kitchen or in the classroom or on the property, and then a spear whizzes by your head, and you begin to wonder, Is this what I should do? So you think maybe this isn’t what I should do.

Are these spears whizzing by head becasue I have somehow Or have you ever stepped up to serve the church in a certain way whether in the kitchen or in the classroom or on the property, and suddenly spears whiz by your head, and you begin to wonder, Is this what I should do?

And you flee. You flee the kingdom. This is what David did. Saul was trying to kill David. He was throwing spears at his head, so David fled. He made a stop at the priests, and picking up provisions, some food and Goliath’s sword, and he fled the Kingdom. Leaving the jurisdiction of Saul entirely and headed right into the kingdom of the enemy.

1 Samuel 21:10 NIV

That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.

1 Sam 21:10Our text says to Achish king of Gath.

Our text says to Achish king of Gath.

How desperate must David have been? Here he was the battle hardened commander who has killed many Philistines and he heads right into enemy territory?

1 Samuel 21:11 NIV

But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: “ ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

1 Sam

And not only is he in enemy territory, he has with him the sword of Goliath, their champion. He is his hometown. The magnitude of this staggering.

Unfortunately due to recent world conflicts this scene gets played out all too often across the globe, as some of our soldiers get trapped in enemy territory, be it Afganistan or Iraq. Have you seen the movie Blackhawk Down? It retells the story of an American Helicopter that crashed in Mogadishu, trapping our soldiers in a brutal clash with militants. But none of these horrible instances of being trapped with the enemy is voluntary. David voluntarily enters into the kingdom of the enemy.

How bad to things have to be to flee into the hands of the Philistines?

Is that what we do as Christians? Sometimes, I think we can be tempted to. I get it the Church can be frustrating, the Church can even be hurtful, and sometimes that hurt can be so deep that we flee. We sometimes the flee the kingdom entirely into the hands of the enemy.

We maybe turn to our favorite temptations, of sex or alcohol or drugs. We may pull away for prayer, and reading God’s word. We may pull away from Church entirely. But perhaps at some point when we are in the clutches of the enemy we may wake up and come to our senses.

1 Samuel 21:12 NIV

David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath.

David realized he needed to do something, and to do it quickly. The enemy has surely recognized him and if he doesn’t come up with a plan he will be killed. SO he acts like a madman. He fakes insanity.

And it works! Achish sees David acting insane and He lets him go, and he does so with a bit a comedy as well.

1 Samuel 21:15 NIV

Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”

The kingdom, outside of God’s kingdom apparently has plenty of madmen. Isn’t that they way it is today outside of God’s kingdom. As you exchange stories with co-workers and neighbors living outside of God’s kingdom and they share their lives with you, you wonder, is that other kingdom so short of madman that I need to be a part of it?

Now here is another temptation for kingdom hoppers. It is really easy to take credit for what God has dome to bring you back. To say, You know, What a Brilliant plan I came up with to fake my insanity to be protected. What a great guy I am for managing to avoid the temptations outside of the kingdom and make my way back.

But David doesn’t do that. No, He gives all credit to God for the protection and the provision. During this period of Kingdom Hopping, David learned a little something about the Lord.

our call to worship was one of 2 Psalms written during this short little episode of kingdom hopping. And if you look at the title of it says.

He learned that the Lord cares for those wounded. He learned that the Lord protects and delivers from fears, and troubles and difficulties.

And David takes those things that he learned about the Lord, and he put them on paper He prayed them to the Lord in a Psalms actually , and . Listen to some of the Language David uses here to give credit to the Lord.

Psalm 34:4 NIV

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Ps 34

Psalm 34:1 NIV

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

Psalm 34:4–8 NIV

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:17–22 NIV

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Ps 34:17-

Had David had these things solidified in his faith PRIOR to fleeing the kingdom, he maybe wouldn’t have found the need to flee. But God....Being rich in Mercy and slow to to anger, shoed himself to David even when David was outside of the kingdom, and God used this to show David exactly how much he is loved and cared for and protected.

Do not let fear or pain or hurt or discouragement lead you to be tempted to be a kingdom hopper. God has not abondoonded you. Place your faith in Jesus, turn to him for your strength God is using the challenges to show you who is. Let the Character of God draw you back to His kingdom.

Let the Character of God Draw you Back

SO David comes back

David comes back. He comes back and goes to the cave at Adullam to hide out for a while.

1 Samuel 22:1–2 NIV

David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

In God’s Kingdom-He provides what we need

It would have been a really nice story if God would have provided at least a decent group of men to be around when you are hiding in a cave from someone. It would have been nice to have some people with money, some people with influence, some people in a good place with a good attitude.

But not these people. These were the ones with nothing to lose. They have nothing else, no where to turn. They would rather be in cave with a fugitive.

DId they know David knew the Lord? Or were they that desperate that they would come just to escape their circumstances?

I don’t know if they knew this going in

Instead, David is stranded in a cave with the discontented, the distressed those in debt. Why? Why wouldn’t God give him blessings? Why wouldn’t God send David a swordsman, and a treasurer. Why wouldn’t God send David people on fire for His cause, people with food, and a plan. Why this motley bunch?

Is this some kind of punishment for not walking rightly with the Lord? Is this punishment for David’s kingdom hopping, or is this just the way the Lord prefers to work?

Could it be..... that the Lord takes delight in showing His Glory, and His power through the weakness of man? Could it be that the Lord will show wonderful he is, by sustaining and preserving David through this weak, and no good group?

Perhaps this another instance like that in Judges chapter 7 Where the Lord defeated Midian with an army of 300.

Judges 7:2 NIV

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’

Judges 7.

Perhaps it is an incident described in the New Testament in

1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

God’s kingdom is not made up of the Proud, the self-sufficient, the sinless. It is not made up of the ones whop have their act together, the perfect people, the strong, or the knowledgable.

Instead God’s kingdom is made up of those are weak, those who are tired. It is made up of drug addicts and alcoholics, and adulterers, and liars and thieves.

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 NIV

1 Corinthians 6:9–12 NIV

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

Those descriptions fit each of in some way to some extant or another. And when we have had enough of living in the kingdom of the madman. Chasing after wealth and power and prestige, and sex, and fufilling our desires and pleasures with the next great piece of entertainment, when we get tired of living like that. We stop searching for a better kingdom, we need to come not to the cave, but to the cross.

We need to come to the cross of Jesus Christ, because when we do...When step into His kingdom, Something happens.

When we step into this Kingdom with a heart of repentance asking Jesus to forgive us for the ways in which we have abandoned His kingdom He takes us back.

1 Corinthians 6:10–11 NIV

nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Look at the next verse

1 Corinthians 6:11–12 NIV

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

ANd that is what we WERE. But no longer.

Even so. Even after salvation we can still be prone to kingdom hopping. But as you hear the voice of the Lord calling you back God will show himself faithful, and merciful and will have you back, and supply you with all you need to serve Him.

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 NIV

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

But when

When we leave the kingdom of the world, and come into the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ He fills us with the Holy Spirit to supply us with what we need to fulfill the mission he gave us. He supplies the gifts we need. He helps us to complete the ministry we have been called to complete

:4-11

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 NIV

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

What started as a group of distressed, in debt discontent men, they later become David’s Mighty Men. Because when they are in the presence of the King, serving in His kingdom, God provides the power. What was weak is now strong.

In God’s Kingdom-Follow His Word

One final point, when you are back in the king

Once Davis is in the cave, God calls him back to full obediance to his word. David decides to well, bring a little of the kingdom with him.

1 Samuel 22:3 NIV

From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?”

1 Samuel 22:3–4 NIV

From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

David wants to keep his parents safe. Perhaps because David’s great-grandmother was a a Moabitess Ruth, there was some sort of connection here, but whatever the case, the Israelites were prevented from making treaties with Moab, yet David turns to them.

The prophet Gad, remember a Prophet is the way the word of God reaches his people calls David back fully to the kingdom.

1 Samuel 22:5 NIV

But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

It doesn’t matter where you are or where you have been the Lord Jesus Christ calls all of us. He calls us to Him. He calls us to lay down our affiliation with the kingdom of this world, and He calls us to a life of service to Him.

1 Samuel 22:5 NIV

But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

Today, we have God’s written word, we have the prompting of the Holy Spirit to draw us back to live and serve in God’s kingdom.

Notice God commands us to full loyalty in His kingdom.

So if you reach discouragement or fear, or doubt in your call, do not flee the kingdom. Let the Character of God draw you back. God will provide what you need to serve him, iot may not look like it at first but trust in the Holy SPirit to supply you with the gifts you need to serve, and finally listen to God’s word, follow the Holy Spirit as they point to full loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ.

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