Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20020630.htm

1 AND 2 SAMUEL: GOD'S SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN OVERSIGHT
Part XXXIV: Learning The GREAT PRICE Of Stepping Outside Of God's Will
(1 Samuel 29:1-30:6a)
  1. Introduction
    1. God has specific plans for every believer, a divine will for each one's life and ministry, Romans 12:1-2.
    2. However, a believer can step outside of that divine will by disobedience as we have learned in Saul's case. Yet, the price for doing so is enormous, even breathtaking, and 1 Samuel 29:1-30:6a displays that high price in DAVID'S life when he stepped outside of God's will. It offers a great warning for us:
  2. Learning The GREAT PRICE Of Stepping Outside Of God's Will, 1 Samuel 29:1-30:6a.
    1. David had stepped outside of God's will in leaving the land of Judah to find peace in Philistine territory:
      1. We have previously learned that after an unsuccessful stay in Philistine territory before, David was directed by the prophet of God, a man named Gad, to stay in the land of Judah, cf. 1 Sam. 22:5.
      2. However, upon repeatedly encountering Saul who pursued him to kill him, and regardless of God's repeated help, David faithlessly left Judah for Philistine territory, 1 Sam. 27:1 with chapters 24 and 26.
    2. In the end, this decision cost David much peace, and that to a breathtaking degree, 1 Samuel 29:1-30:6a:
      1. First, David's stay in Philistine lands led to his coming into a hard position with God, 28:1-2; 29:1-2:
        1. Since David had to get along with the Philistines while living in their territory, he felt he needed to make a treaty with king Achish to supply him spoils of war in turn for a city in which to dwell; accordingly, David acquired the city of Ziklag for turning over spoils of war to Achish, 1 Sam. 27:5 with Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament, p. 453.
        2. However, this also meant David was to join Achish when he went to war even against Israel.
        3. Thus, when such a situation arose, David found himself cornered between wishing to preserve his life at the price of fighting God's people, Israel, or of standing for God's people at the cost of fighting the Philistines in their own land, cf. 1 Samuel 28:1-2.
      2. However, God graciously used the distrust of the fellow Philistine lords of Achish to give David release from following Achish to make war with the people of God, 1 Samuel 29:1-11.
      3. Nevertheless, David's sojourn in Philistia as a Hebrew "loner" led to a tragically painful situation for his family, his followers and their families, and for his own welfare, 1 Samuel 30:1-6a:
        1. While at first following Achish toward the battle lines with Israel, David and his men left Ziklag, the city where their families dwelt, and that left them open for attack from marauding bands, 30:1a.
        2. Hence, such bands took advantage of the absence of David's forces while he was first trekking with Achish, and they attacked and captured the people and goods, and burned Ziklag with fire, 30:1a,b.
        3. When David's men returned and saw what transpired, and that David's two wives, Ahinoam and the godly Abigail were captured, they wept with overwhelming grief, 1 Samuel 30:2-3, 5, 4.
        4. On top of it all, the men with David spoke of stoning him as they felt his agreement with Achish had led to their departure from the city and the tragedy that had come upon their families, 30:6a.
Lesson: Because David stepped outside of God's revealed will for his life, (1) not only did he lose out on God's blessing regarding his ASSOCIATIONS with the UNGODLY, but he came to odds with God on David's RELATIONSHIP with ISRAEL, with his RELATIONSHIP with his FAMILY, with his RELATIONSHIP with the FAMILIES of his FOLLOWERS let alone with his RELATIONSHIP with his STAUNCH followers themselves. (2) David ALSO paid a HIGH EMOTIONAL and MENTAL price for his disobedience, resulting in his WEEPING until he could weep no more, and in his experiencing great FEAR of even his own BEST SUPPORTERS.

Application: (1) The will of God is the place where we find God's blessing (a) not only regarding our relationship with HIM, but regarding (b) ALL relationships we have with ALL OTHER PARTIES, not to mention (c) our livelihood welfare! Hence, we must LEARN the VALUE of HEEDING the Lord at EVERY level of life. (2) If we find we are outside of God's will, and are beginning to suffer its consequences, we must SWALLOW any PRIDE we have left and REPENT to avoid further damages!