1 Samuel 24
FAITHFUL IN THE DARK
Any
task we do as Christians should be done with wholehearted dedication, for God
is never satisfied with a halfhearted effort. H. A. Ironside learned this early
in life while working for a Christian shoemaker. Young Harry’s job was to
prepare the leather for soles. He would cut a piece of cowhide to size, soak it
in water, and then pound it with a flat-headed hammer until it was hard and
dry. This was a wearisome process, and he wished it could be avoided. Harry
would often go to another shoe shop nearby to watch his employer’s competitor.
This man did not pound the leather after it came from the water. Instead, he
immediately nailed it onto the shoe he was making. One day Harry approached the
shoemaker and said, “I noticed you put the soles on while they are still wet.
Are they just as good as if they were pounded?” With a wink and a cynical smile
the man replied, “No, but they come back much quicker this way, my boy!”
Young
Harry hurried back to his boss and suggested that perhaps they were wasting
their time by drying out the leather so carefully. Upon hearing this, his
employer took his Bible, read Colossians 3:23 to him, and said, “Harry, I do
not make shoes just for the money. I’m doing it for the glory of God. If at the
judgment seat of Christ I should have to view every shoe I’ve ever made, I
don’t want to hear the Lord say, ‘Dan, that was a poor job. You didn’t do your
best.’ I want to see His smile and hear, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’”
It was a lesson in practical Christian ethics that Ironside never forgot! - H.G.B. Our Daily Bread, January 7
http://www.bible.org/illus/i/i-64.htm#TopOfPage
That
Christian shoemaker was faithful in the dark.
As
professional golfer Ray Floyd was getting ready to tap in a routine 9-inch
putt, he saw the ball move ever so slightly.
According
to the rule book, if the ball moves in this way the golfer must take a penalty
stroke. Yet consider the situation. Floyd was among the leaders in a tournament
offering a top prize of $108,000. To acknowledge that the ball had moved could
mean he would lose his chance for big money.
Writer
David Holahan describes as follows what others might
have done: “The athlete ducks his head and flails wildly with his hands, as if
being attacked by a killer bee; next, he steps back from the ball, rubbing his
eye for a phantom speck of dust, all the while scanning his playing partners
and the gallery for any sign that the ball’s movement has been detected by others.
If the coast is clear, he taps the ball in for his par.
Ray
Floyd, however, didn’t do that. He assessed himself a penalty stroke and wound
up with a bogey on the hole.
Source unknown http://www.bible.org/illus/i/i-64.htm#TopOfPage
Ray
Floyd was faithful in the dark. What do I mean by the term "Faithful in
the dark"? I mean that when few
people or no people are watching, something is done in the dark. The two stories I told was about 2 men who
were faithful do what was right even though it cost them and they could have
possibly gotten away with wrong actions.
These were men of integrity.
This
evening we want to look at an incident in the life of David when he was
faithful literally in the dark, the darkness of a cave.
As
you know there will be times of temptation in our lives.
We
will be tempted to do what is wrong.
We
will be tempted to get even with someone.
We
will be tempted to take matters into our own hands.
James
1:13-15 - Let no man say when he is tempted, I am
tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: [14] But every man is tempted, when he
is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15] Then when lust hath conceived,
it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
In
this instance David's temptation would be to take vengeance on his enemy
Saul. He was tempted to take matters
into his own hands and remove Saul from the land of the living.
Saul
knew that his days as king were numbered, and he did all that he could to keep
his power and to destroy David, who was obviously the one who was going to be
the next king.
Vss.
1-2 - Saul
was told that David was hiding at Engedi.
According
to Chuck Swindoll, "Engedi, which means
"spring of the goat," was a perfect hideout for David. I've been to Engedi. It hasn't changed much since the days of David. It
was an oasis in the desert wilderness, where there were fresh-water springs,
waterfalls, lush vegetation, and countless caves in the rocky limestone cliffs,
high above the
"David
and his men took refuge among the rocks and caves at Engedi.
These caves pock marked the cliffs and were ideal places to camouflage their
presence. In battle, the higher location is always superior to the lower, and
that's where David was-on the high ground." Charles R. Swindoll - David, © 1997 by Charles
R. Swindoll, Word Publishing Inc.,
Vs.
3 - Saul comes calling. He was actually in the cave to answer the
call of nature. Perhaps he fell asleep.
Meanwhile,
David's and his men were hiding against the sides of the walls of the
cave. They could see Saul, but Saul
could not see them. Their eyes were
adjusted to the darkness, Saul's were not.
RESTRAINT - Vss. 4-7
One
of the problems with temptation is knowing when
something is a temptation, "a solicitation to do evil", or an
opportunity. Sometimes, what we take as
an opportunity to get even is really a temptation to do what is wrong.
Vs.
4 - The
trouble with temptation is that sometimes, we are encouraged to do wrong by
those who are dearest and closest friends.
In this case David's men's encourage him to get even with his enemies.
"Take vengeance David!" They
even quoted something that was not scripture to encourage David that God had
delivered Saul into his hands.
Worldly
people will often encourage you to take vengeance on those who have hurt you.
We use the saying, "He had it coming to him," and use it to justify
getting even.
David
did cut off an end to Saul's robe.
Vs.
5 - David's
conscience bothered him, even though he did not hurt Saul. I think his
conscience bothered him, because he did something to belittle the king.
Vs.
6 - David
may not have respected Saul for the way he acted, but David respected Saul for
who he was. David viewed Saul as God's
anointed leader, as his master.
David
would not take vengeance on Saul. God
had made Saul King, God would remove Saul from being
King without David's assistance.
David
is example of some New Testament Scriptures.
Matthew
5:44 - But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Romans
12:14 - Bless them which persecute you: bless, and
curse not.
Romans
12:17-19 - Recompense to no man evil for
evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. [18] If it be possible, as
much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
[19] Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:
for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Georges
Clemenceau was twice the prime minister of
Cottin was captured and the death penalty demanded, but Clemenceau asked for
leniency, recommending eight years in prison “with intensive training in a
shooting gallery.”
Today
in the Word, February, 1991, p. 11
http://www.bible.org/illus/r/r-58.htm#TopOfPage
Vs.
7 -
Evidently there was quite a heated discussion, and David won out, persuading
the others to do what is right.
There
will be times when you will have to fight to do what is right. You will have to convince others not to take
action.
This
is what David did here.
Proverbs
25:28 - He that hath no rule over his own spirit is
like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
David
not only had rule over his own spirit, he had rule over those around him as
well.
RESTRAINT
RESPECT - Vs. 8
I
can picture David waiting for Saul to proceed some distance before popping out
of the cave, and saying "My Lord, the King".
He
bowed in sincere respect as to who Saul was.
It
is Biblical to show respect for people.
Romans
13:7 - Render therefore to all their dues: tribute
to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom
fear; honour to whom honour.
1
Peter 2:17
- Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
I
was taught to respect my elders, even when I didn't agree with them. I don't remember the details, but I remember
getting in trouble for not showing proper respect to my grandmother who was
mentally ill.
I
was also taught to respect teachers, policemen, and anybody with any
authority. And as kids we rarely called
any adult by their first name.
Clark Clifford shares this reminiscence of
his former boss, Harry S. Truman:
Every morning at 8:30 the President would have a
staff meeting. One day the mail clerk brought in a lavender envelope with a
regal wax seal and flowing purple ribbons. Opening it, the President found a
letter from King Ibn Saud of
“Your Magnificence,” Truman
repeated, laughing. “I like that. I don’t know what you guys call me when I’m
not here, but it’s okay if you refer to me from now on as ‘His Magnificence.’”
Truman subsequently sent a message
to the United Nations supporting the admission of 100,000 Jews into
This
of course, was not true respect. Let's make sure that we don't respect people
just because we want something, and don't respect them when they displease us.
REPORT - Vss. 9-11
Vss.
9-11 - Saul
was evidently being told by others that David wanted to do him harm.
David
made it clear that this wasn't true.
He
showed him the evidence of the truth.
David
explained how he had Saul "dead to rights". Saul would've been executed by David, if
indeed that was David's plan.
There
is a time when we need to speak up.
There
are times when those who are against do not understand the facts, and the Lord
may give us opportunity to explain the facts.
I
had a very good friend in
I
believe he apologized, but most important, he told his adult sons who also went
to the church that he was mistaken.
Don't
be afraid to confront when an explanation might clear up the problem.
RESTRAINT
RESPECT
REPORT
- Vss. 9-11
RELIANCE - Vss. 12-15
Vs.
12 - David
was dependent on the Lord to avenge Him. He was expecting the Lord to avenge
Him. But David himself would not take
action.
Later
in years when Absaloam was after David, David wrote a
psalm that reflects the attitude of reliance upon God.
READ
AND COMMENT ON PSALM 3
Vs.
13 - David
quotes an ancient Proverb here. "Wickedness proceedeth
from the wicked." This is a allusion to David's innocence, but might also be an
allusion to Saul's wickedness.
Vs.
14 - David
seems to be implying that Saul is wasting his time hunting a dead dog or one
insignificant little flea. Both are
harmless.
Vs.
15 - David
concludes by repeating his words of reliance on God. God is the judge. He will
vindicate David. God alone will give the
deliverance.
I
am reminded of some verses on reliance.
Psalm
62:5-6 - My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my
expectation is from him. [6] He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
Psalm
118:6 - The Lord is on my side; I will not fear:
what can man do unto me?
Psalm
118:14 - The Lord is my strength and song, and is
become my salvation.
Psalm
125:1 - They that trust in the Lord shall be as
RESTRAINT
RESPECT
REPORT
- Vss. 9-11
RELIANCE
- Vss. 12-15
REPRIEVE - Vss. 16-22
This
response on the part of Saul is a good example of
Proverbs
6:7 - When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Vs.
16 - Saul, at least temporarily, was convicted. He weeps
Vs.
17 - He admits that David is more righteous than Saul.
Vss.
18-19 - He admits that David has dealt well with Saul.
Vs.
20 - He admits that David will be king.
Vs.
21 - He asks for mercy on his family.
Vs.
22 - Saul stopped following him for a period of time.
There
is another instance in 1 Samuel 26.
This
time David again spares Saul's life, and again it is night.
David
knew how to be faithful in the dark!
Do
we?
Luke
12:1-2 …Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees,
which is hypocrisy. [2] For there is nothing covered, that shall not be
revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
Before
God, Nothing is done in the dark. He sees everything.
RESTRAINT
RESPECT
REPORT
- Vss. 9-11
RELIANCE
- Vss. 12-15
REPRIEVE
- Vss. 16-22