## The Life of David - Part 4

## I Samuel 19:1-22:2

Introduction: READ: De. 33:26-27

There isn't one person among us here tonight that can stand-alone. All of us are by nature leaners. We sing 'Leaning on the Everlasting Arms' but in reality we fabricate substitutes to lean on.

Why? Because it takes great faith to lean on God alone. These substitutes are like crutches. They afford some comfort to us, but they hinder our walk. When we lean upon our substitute crutches, they hinder us from walking by faith as we should. God wants us to be 'leaners' but His desire is that we lean upon Him!

When we are content with our substitute crutches, God comes in and begins to work upon us and remove our crutches one by one until all that is left for us to lean upon is God, h1imself. Tonight we want to look into the life of David and see the events that take place as God begins to remove his substitute crutches.

I. Truth about crutches.

A. They become substitutes for the Lord.

1. It seems that they are easier for us to cling to in times of trouble.

2. At least that is what Satan would ha us to believe.

3. As long as we are leaning upon those crutches, we are hindered in our walk for God.

4. Instead of turning to the Lord, we grab at whatever crutch is handy.

B. They keep our focus horizontal.

1. The more we look to other People and other things, the less we will look to God for our strength.

2. The less we look to Cod, the more out of step our walk becomes.

3. Soon we find ourselves walking in the flesh, not concerned with the things of God.

C. They offer only temporary relief.

1. They appear to make life easier at first.

2. Soon they become a burden that we are unable to free ourselves from.

II. David's Crisis Reviewed.

A. Problems as a national hero.

1. The people all loved him.

2. So much so that they elevated him above King Saul in their songs of honor.

3. This brought the jealousy and anger of Saul against him.

B. Problems as a military commander.

1. Saul tried to kill him with a javelin.

2. He was then demoted to a mere captainship in an attempt to have him killed in battle.

C. Problems as a son-in-law to the king.

1. It was a relationship built upon hate rather than love.

2. Saul had hoped that Michal would be a snare unto David, a way to have him destroyed.

3. He then required a dowry of such magnitude that he was sure it would result in the death of David.

4. When all other attempts failed, Saul ordered David to be put to death. 1 Sam. 19:1

III. David's crutches removed.

A. The crutch of David's position. 19:1-10

1. Jonathan had interceded upon David's behalf and Saul had allowed David to return to the palace.

2. Things were apparently much better between them until war broke out again.

3. David led the army to great victory over the Philistines, and this opened up an old wound with Saul.

4. Once again, Saul tried to nail David to the wall with his javelin.

5. David avoided the spear and fled into the night leaving behind his position in the palace.

B. The crutch of David's w1fe. 19:10-17

1. Saul pursued David right to his home.

2. The night before he was to be killed, Saul placed his house under surveillance.

3. Michal informed David of the plan to kill him on the next day, and then she helped him escape.

4. She allowed David plenty of time for his escape by deceiving Saul's messengers.

5. David had to leave Michal for fear that she would also be destroyed in Saul's rage.

C. The crutch of David's mentor. 19:18-24

1. Samuel had been the one who had anointed David at God's command.

2. There was a well-established bond between the two of them.

3. As David described the events to Samuel, they both fled to a safer place.

4. But as Saul's pursuit became more intense, David left Samuel and resumed his flight.

D. The crutch of David's friend. 20:1-42

1. David's complaint (1-3)

a. David now shows some signs of weakening; at this point he is losing emotional strength.

b. He asks Jonathan, "What have I done" "Why is your father trying to kill me?"

c. He tells Jonathan that 'there is but a step between me and death'!

2. The protection plan (4-30)

a. Jonathan was determined to know whether or not Saul truly wanted to kill David.

b. As David hid in the field they made a covenant together that whatever might happen, David was to show kindness to the house of Jonathan.

c. The plan revealed Saul's true intent as Saul tried to kill his own son over an argument about David.

3. The painful separation. (35-42)

a. Jonathan let it be known according to the prearranged plan.

b. They were overtaken by sorrow.

c. David left his dear friend and continued to flee from Saul's wrath.

E. The crutch of David's self-respect, 21:1-22:2

1. David runs to Nob to find help. (1-9)

a. He gets shewbread from the Ahimelech the priest.

b. He also takes a sword, the sword of Goliath.

c. Note: this is another indication that David was getting desperate. He now takes a weapon, with which to defend himself against the attacks of the king.

d. While in Nob, one of Saul's servants, a man named Doeg, overheard all that took place.

2. David flees to Gath, Goliath's hometown and the center of his enemies. (10-15)

a. There he is recognized by king Achish's servants.

b. To avoid being destroyed by his enemies, he acts like a madman.

c. From there David runs to the cave of Adullam and hides out. (22:1-2)

d. David, an outcast from Saul finds that some four hundred other outcasts come to join him.

e. David had reached an all time low di his self-respect. He had gone from the palace of the king to hiding in a darkened cave, fearing for his life.

Conclusion: We are going to leave David here in the cave for now, and come back to him again. We have seen how that God has slowly, but surely knocked the props or crutches out from under him. God wants David to go back to the pastures and valleys where he depended solely upon Him for his strength and protection. It was not easy on David, but God was shaping his character, preparing him for the throne.

1 Peter 1:3-7 God sometimes sends us through the fire.