New Year Reality Danny W.

Davis December 31, 2013 Text: 1 Samuel 30:1-6 Introduction Greeting Introduction (Sherry & Boys)

There is, as a preacher, the temptation to stand before you this evening do several things. I could talk to you about the prophetic and the coming of Christ. Or, I could pump you up with some inspirational quotes and promises of a great year. Or, I can do what I believe the Lord has sent me to do, talk to us about the reality most of us will experience in 2014. I want to look at these realities of 2014 by traveling back a few hundred years. Lets go back to a time when David was king of Israel. Lets journey to a time when Philistines were a constant thorn in the flesh for Gods people. (TRANSITION) Lets turn to 1 Samuel 30:1-6 READ The Context The first 15 chapters of 1 Samuel focus primarily on 2 people: Samuel (the prophet) and Saul (the king). Around chapter 8 of 1 Samuel, Israel moves from a God-led nation to a monarchy. Saul becomes the first king of Israel. Saul begins his reign well but in time the power goes to his head and he begins to fail God in major ways. By the time we get to chapter 16 the focus of Samuels writing is on David, the one who rule in Sauls place. From chapter 16 on we read of the ups and downs of the relationship between Saul and David. Saul attempts to kill David (cf. 1 Sam 18) and David flees for his life. While on the run David found himself in the territory of Gath ruled by King Achish. Eventually the enemy began to become suspicious of David. When David is confronted about why he is

there he pretends to be crazy and escapes from the territory (cf. 1 Sam 21:10-15). Later David, his men, and their families returned to the territory of Gath. By this time David had had two opportunities to kill King Saul but did not. King Achish heard that David and Saul were now enemies. Because of this Achish believed he could trust David. David ask the king for a place to take refuge and the king gave him the town of Ziklag. The problem though is David is trying to play both sides of the fence for his own gain. To Achish he declares himself and enemy of Israel by pretending to attack Judah (cf. 1 Sam 27:812). But in reality he was raiding the southern camps of Judahs enemies. He was, in essence, working toward establishing his own way to become the ruler when Saul is off the scene. The Philistine armies declare war on Israel and her king, Saul. Achish is so convinced of Davids loyalty he makes him his own bodyguard. This puts David in the meeting in the town of Aphek where the Philistines are planning their war strategy against Israel and Saul. But other Philistine rulers are not so convinced of Davids loyalty. They finally convince Achish to move David and his men to the rear of the army. David protests at this action but the Philistines do not trust him. So, he and his men are sent back and not permitted to go in battle against Israel. (TRANSITION) This is where we come to our text for tonight. David and his men are returning to the town of Ziklag to be with their families and wait out the end of this war. The Story 1 David and his men travelled 50 miles in 3 days from Aphek to Ziklag. Weary from the journey these men must have been anxious to see their families to hold their children. They had been on the run with David for some time. As they grew nearer the town the smell of smoke was in the air. But something was different. This was not the smell of cooking fires. This was not the smell of fires used to bake bread. The smoke was thicker heavier than that. Their pace quickened. Their hearts beat faster. They came closer and closer to the place where their children and wives lived. When they could finally see the town it was on fire. Houses and furniture were burning. But there was a strange silence. The women were not wailing. Children were not crying for their mothers.

The men began combing through the town looking for their families but they were gone. While David and his men were away preparing for battle, the Amalekites invaded Ziklag. They burned it to the ground. And because there were no men there to defend the town the women and children were taken away captive. David and his warriors are in distress. They had lost it all. They had lost their children. The Scriptures tell us that none of the women or children had been killed. But we get the benefit of reading the story after it had happened. While it is happening these men are confused and distraught by the event. They wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep (v. 4). But David had another problem. After the weeping ended the trouble began. The same men who a few moments earlier were prepared to walk into battle with David are now READY TO STONE HIM. each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters (v. 6) The situation was tense and David was the enemy. He was surrounded by hundreds of battle hardened warriors. They would have no problem picking up the first stone and getting the process of death started. FIRST APPLICATION As we prepare to enter into a new year there are some things from this biblical narrative that can help us. 1. In 2014 you will encounter things that will confuse you. Think about 1 Samuel 30:1-2. David comes back to Ziklag only to enter into a horrible time of confusion. There are going to be things that happen in each of our lives this year that will not makes sense. The sudden death of a loved one Accidents Sicknesses bad diagnosis from the doctor Friends and family may walk away Some who have lived for God many years will surrender their faith

All these things and more may come to us this year. And when they do we may feel confused and out of sorts. 2. In 2014 you will face things bigger than you. Think about what David is facing in 1 Samuel 30:3-4. His wives and children are gone. His town his place of refuge has been burned to the ground. And now the men who once declared their undying loyalty to him are picking up stone preparing to kill him. 3. In 2014 you will have things happen that you will not understand. In the midst of this horrible scene the Scriptures tell us David was greatly distressed (1 Sam 30:6a). distressed to be bound, to be vexed, to be in straits In other words, David is confused by this enormous problem. After all, he is a man after Gods own heart. He has been the one anointed to be King of Israel. He has held back his own wrath and spared the life of Saul. He deserves better!? I think David was probably wondering why all this was happening to him. Some of it was because the Amalekites were paying revenge on David raiding their towns. But still his own men were turning on him and he was about to be killed. (TRANSITION) Thankfully the story does not end with confusion, enormous problems and misunderstanding. And neither does your story for 2014. You might face all these things in David faced in 2014 but lets learn from David what we can do in the midst of the chaos. The Story 2 With Applications 1. The first thing you can do is REST in 2014. Look at 1 Samuel 30:7-8 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, Bring me the ephod. Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the LORD, Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them? Pursue them, he answered. You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue. When David is confronted with confusion he immediately seemingly instinctively he goes to the source of peace. DAVID PRAYS!!

Folks, there are a lot of choices we will need to make in the coming year. But one choice we MUST MAKE is the choice to PRAY. When everything around us is falling apart and the enemy has come in like a flood we have to raise up a banner of prayer. We need to pray in the Spirit. We need to pray over every decision BECAUSE WE CAN REST IN THE CONFIDENCE THAT GOD HEARS AND GOD ANSWERS! The enemy will not win if we will but pray and truly make Jesus the Lord of every aspect of our life. Think about it this way. The very same men who in verse 4 had wept until they had no more strength are now PURSUING THE ENEMY. When we pray God will give us the REST we need to do His will and live in His strength. 2. The second thing you can do is HOPE in 2014 When I use the word HOPE I am not talking about the way we use the word in todays vocabulary. Most people think of HOPE as something like a wish. I am not telling you to wish upon a star. Biblical HOPE means, a strong and confident expectation. Look at 1 Samuel 30:9-15: As David and his men were pursuing the enemy they happen upon an injured Egyptian slave. This slave had been left behind by the Amalekites who had raided Ziklag. This slave led them to where the enemy AND THEIR CHILDREN AND POSSESSIONS were. Believers here me! We can enter this year knowing this And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) As you face the confusion of this life and all of its many problems DO NOT LOSE YOUR HOPE. We have a God who is able to supply. We have a God who is able to deliver. We have a God who is able to redeem the best out of very bad situations. Expect God to move. Be confident that God is on your side. Repent when needed. Trust always. And know that God is able!!!!

3. The third thing you can do in 2014 is have JOY Look at what happens when David prays in the face of confusion and insurmountable problems. 1 Samuel 30:16 He [the Egyptian slave] led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. 17 David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. 18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 20 He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, This is Davids plunder. CONCLUSION I am not promising you riches or plunder! I am simply saying that in 2014 we can have JOY in knowing that God is with us. When we are faced with the enemys onslaught and feel like we are going to go under. We lift our voices in prayer to the God who is able. We REST in our relationship with Him. We HOPE in His ability to do abundantly more than we can ask or think We JOY in the God who loves us enough to restore the joy of our salvation. 2014 is going to be a great year! How can I say that? Because I can join in with the Apostle Paul as he wrote to Timothy(2 Timothy 1:6-12) 6I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy lifenot because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.