“David’s King-sized Avenger”

July 12, 2009 1Samuel 24:1-15.15:1-17   Play AUDIO (mp3)  Play VIDEO (wmv)

  ●    REVENGE LEADS TO RUIN

    ○    bitterness led Pennsylvania paper mill worker to deadly actions

●    SAUL: A JEALOUS, UNSTABLE, DANGEROUS FOE

    ○    fans’ songs drew Saul into anger, jealousy, evil intent (1Sam 18:8ff)
    ○    long series of negative dealings toward David: promises broken, spears hurled (17:25; 18:5,12,15,19; 19:12,23)
    ○    Saul paranoid about David’s intentions, slays whole city of priests and families as accomplices (20:30ff; 22:3,6ff, 18)
    ○    traipsing with thousands of troops after refugee in the desert (23:14,25; ch24,26)

●    TRUSTING GOD TO DEAL WITH OUR ENEMIES

    ○    lapse in security makes even a top official vulnerable (24:23)
    ○    David adamant about not injuring anointed leader installed by God (24:6)
    ○    trust God to be his judge / avenger / vindicator (24:12,15; 26:10)
    ○    God treats us as we treat others (26:24)

●    LOVE YOUR ENEMY, BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU

    ○    will have it measured to us as we measure to others (Mt 7:2)
    ○    Christians to imitate Father’s goodness to even the undeserving, leave room for God to repay (Mt 5:45; Rom 12:19f; Ac 24:17ff; 26:21)
    ○    don’t let others’ evil deeds make us bad trees with bad fruit (24:13; Rom 12:17)
    ○    humility important: honour others rather than being proud (26:20; Rom 12;3,10,16)
    ○    submit to governing authorities, even though they’re not perfect (rom 13:1ff)

●    DON’T THROW IN THE TROWEL

    ○    ornerly neighbour responded better to forgiveness than retaliation