## The Life of David - Part 9

## I Samuel 29:1-30:8

Last week we looked at some of the successes and failures of David. After showing restraint toward King Saul, David compromised and joined forces with the enemy. However, he was still an Israelite at heart and became deceitful with King Achish about his loyalty. This charade went on for 16 months, but now was coming to a close. The Philistine army was making ready to do battle against the nation of Israel, and Achish had made David his right-hand man and the "keeper of mine head for ever."

Remember, last week we talked about how that no one can sin without that sin affecting others around them. David had fled in compromise to the enemy and he had brought with him 600 men and their families. Tonight we will see the severe price that was to be paid for this compromise and deceitfulness.

I. Rejected by the Enemy. 29:1-5

A. Preparation for battle.

1. The armies of the Philistines gathered themselves together in Aphek.

2. While observing the troops, David and his men were discovered.

3. Their presence was questioned, and rightly so!

4. Even these Philistine princes knew that David didn't belong there.

B. Achish defends David.

1. Achish says that David has done no wrong since he came there.

2. We see that Achish was deceived by David's "false loyalty".

C. David's reputation preceded him.

1. The Philistine princes were angry with Achish.

2. They told him to send David away and that he could not go to battle with them.

3. They feared that David would use this as an occaision to reconcile with Saul and use the heads of the Philistines to do it!

4. They reminded each other of David's great reputation in battle.

II. Displaced by Achish. 29:6-11

A. Achish reluctantly sends David away.

1. This is a classic manner of firing someone.

2. First, you tell them what a good job they have done.

3. Second, you tell them that if it was up to you, they would get a raise.

4. Finally, you blame someone else for the decision. "BUT...."

B. David set himself up for this fall.

1. He was deceptive from the moment he came to Achish.

2. He was vague about his battles and other escapades to purpose- fully make Achish think he was a loyal servant, even against his own nation, Israel.

3. Now David was totally displaced, he was a man without a country: not welcome there or at home!

C. David is disallusioned at the results of his own deception.

1. Question: "What have I done?"

2. Question: "What is wrong with me?"

3. Question: "Why can't I go to the battle?"

4. Do you think that David was sincere in these questions?

5. Did he really want to go to war against Saul and the very nation he was to one day rule?

6. Or was he continuing to play the game with Achish?

7. In any event, Achish told him that he would not be in the battle.

III. The Harvest Continues. 30:1-6a

A. Ziklag destroyed.

1. The city that they had been given as a home was burned to the ground.

2. They had been travelling for three days as they returned from the battle site.

3. As they approached the city, no doubt filled with anticipation of seeing their wives and their sons and their daughters, what they saw from the distance was the smoke from their smoldering city.

B. Their families captives.

1. The Amalekites had invaded while the city was unguarded.

2. They had taken all of the wives and families captive to be slaves.

3. No one left behind, no one killed, but all had been taken.

C. Their sorrow soon turned to anger.

1. The wept until they could weep no more.

2. Then they began to look for someone to blame.

3. Who had led them into this enemy land to serve the Philistines? Who had deceived Achish to the point that he wanted them to join him in battle against Saul?

4. The men began to talk about stoning David.

D. David paid the price.

1. For 16 months he had relief from the pressure, but it was only a temporary measure.

2. Now it was time to pay up!

3. He had no place to go, no family, no satisfaction, no loyal army, and no peace "...David was greatly distressed..."

IV. What to do when you hit bottom. 30:6b-8

A. "David encouraged himself in the Lord his God." v6b

1. There was no one else to give him encouragement.

2. God had once again removed every- thing and everyone from David

3. The word "encouragement" has the root meaning of grasping or seizing.

4. David got a hold of himself in this situation.

5. He finally started to think straight again, like the prodigal son who "came to himself".

B. He was now ready to pray. v7

1. Now that he was thinking straight again, he recognized the need to seek God's direction.

2. He calls for Abiathar to bring the ephod.

3. Within the breastplate on the ephod, was the "Urim and Thummim".

4. Probably a black stone and a white stone used for decision making.

C. God answered David's inquiries. v8

1. David had not sought God's will in coming to the Philistines, nor had he sought God for 16 months.

2. But, now he prays and finds God ready to answer.

3. When we feel that we are no longer in the presence of the Lord, it isn't God who has moved!

Conclusion: Read the rest of the chapter and you will find that God enabled David and his men to recover everything that they had lost and more! When David changed his thinking, he changed his actions. When he returned to prayer the blessings of God returned to his life. Before we are too quick to jump on David, let's take a close look at our own lives. When will we learn?