Good morning!
We are going to jump ahead a bit in the story of David during our time together on Sunday, but I wanted to highlight something that happens in 1 Samuel 22 that often gets overlooked.
David is on the run from Saul and it seems like he is all alone. He first heads to the nearby town of Nob where a priest gives him food and Goliath’s sword. Then he goes to Gath, of all places, hoping to blend in with the Philistines. The ruse doesn’t work and David realizes he’s made a huge mistake. To avoid being killed he pretends to be insane (1 Samuel 21:13) and escapes.
From Gath he goes to a town called Adullam, where he hides in a nearby cave. Adullam is on the border of Philistia and Judah, so David probably thought that Saul wouldn’t look for him there.
This is a very dark moment in David’s life. He’s on his own, separated from his family and seemingly without a friend in the world. Many scholars believe that this is when David wrote Psalm 57 which begins this way:
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
David goes on to write that his enemies are like ravenous lions with sharp teeth (their weapons) and sharp tongues (their words). Indeed, Saul and his men were not only trying to physically harm David, they were also spreading untrue rumors that David wanted to kill Saul.
Remarkably, the Psalm then turns from a lament to a praise. David writes in verse 7-10:
My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Even at one of the lowest moments in his life up to this point, David is able to give God praise and rest in the truth that He is faithful. Although David makes plenty of mistakes in his life, it is here that we get a glimpse of why he is a man after God’s own heart.
And God is indeed faithful to David, because 1 Samuel 22:1-2 tells us this:
David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.
“Somehow” the people found out where David is hiding without Saul hearing about it, and not only does David’s family come join him, 400 other men do as well! David will rarely feel “alone” for the rest of his life after this.
If you are in a season where life isn’t going the way that you would like I would encourage you to take refuge in God. Talk to Him. Cry out to Him. He wants to hear from you. Psalm 57 and many other Psalms show us that it is OK to cry out to God with our concern, cares, and worries. Then praise God for the truth that He is faithful and ask him to send others to encourage you.
Here’s what’s happening:
- Men’s Breakfast is on Saturday 4/27 at 8 am at Hometown Kitchen. This will be the last breakfast for the spring. We will start the breakfasts again in September.
- Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner is this Sunday evening. If you are participating, you should have received your instructions for the meal on Sunday. Please see Mary Lois Kreider or Becky Myers with any questions.
- We are currently creating a new website for the church. A photographer will be worshiping with us on Sunday to take some candid photos for the new website.
- The Russellville Junior Grange is hosting a chicken BBQ fundraiser on Saturday, May 4th. The Reyburn family is in charge and they are looking for some volunteers to help out. Prep work for the BBQ starts at 9:30 am at the Grange. Please see Jessica Reyburn if you are able/willing to give them a hand.
- “Meet the Derrs” Sunday for the youth will be on 5/5. Thomas will be giving his testimony during the morning worship service. After the service all of the youth and their parents are invited to head downstairs for lunch. Please bring a hot and a cold dish to share. We’ll have lunch together and then have a time of “Q &A” with Thomas and LeAnn. We’ll look to wrap things up by 1pm.
- We could use some help maintaining the flower beds around the church property this spring/summer/fall. If this is something you would be willing to help with, please see Gary Barrett.
- We’ve put together a brief survey to allow folks to give us some feedback regarding the 10-year vision that I presented in January. You can participate in the survey by going to the church website (www.andrewsbridge.com) and clicking on the survey link halfway down the page, or just click here. If you prefer, paper copies of the survey are available.
On Sunday we will be in 1 Samuel 24, which is the one of the wildest moments from David’s time in exile! David is on the run and hiding in a cave when he is presented with an unbelievable opportunity to retaliate against Saul. We’ll look at why what he was really presented with is an opportunity to have victory over temptation.
Blessings,
Scott