In the Secret Place • 1 Samuel 23
43:53 Teaching begins
Notes
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will dwell in the shadow of the Almighty.
You read that and think, that sounds great. Security and peace in God’s presence. Let me live there. Where is it?
That’s a secret. Secret? Yeah. You have to learn the secret. Okay, how do you learn the secret? You have to go through difficult times and lose the support of people around you.
May I pass on that?
You would be crazy to want to go through difficult times. That sounds painful. I want everyone to appreciate me and like me. I want to be saved, but well before anything dangerous happens. I want a smooth boat ride, no waves.
But there’s something better than having a smooth life with no problems.
That is learning how to live with God so that no problem moves you. You can stand in any situation, and be faithful to God, so that He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That’s ultimately what we want to hear from God.
So today we get to see people failing David, betraying and attacking him, and yet God is teaching him and encouraging him to live in the secret place with God.
I’m reading in 1 Samuel 23.
1. God sends David to save Keilah, vv. 1-14.
A. Somebody finds David and tells him, “The Philistines are attacking Keilah.”
B. David inquires of God.
1. The explanation of the method is in verse 6: Abiathar had come to David with an ephod. This was a priestly garment that had in the breastplate the Urim and Thummim, the Lights and Perfections. It was a way for the priest to inquire of God. Last week we saw the prophet Gad tell David guidance from God. This time God speaks through this method of the Urim and Thummim.
2. God says go for it, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.
C. David’s men, there are six hundred men now, are not too crazy about looking for trouble. Really, they are thinking, “We’re in trouble ourselves. Let’s just look out for ourselves, huh?”
D. David asks again what does God want? God says go for it, I will give you victory. This is not about what does David want, or what do the men want, it is, what does God want?
E. David and his men triumph over what I consider to be a larger Philistine force. They had livestock with them, to draw wagons, or siege machines, because Keilah had city walls. Though the Philistines came to rob and destroy they lost gear, livestock, and many lives.
F. Saul thinks God is helping him. When it seems to go as I want, I can believe that God is with me, blessing me. But Saul is not with God, so God is not with him. It’s only when you are with God that He is with you. If you live contrary to God don’t expect Him to bless you.
G. David finds out that Saul is coming and inquires twice. Is Saul coming? Will the men of Keilah surrender me? After all the good I have done them, will they turn on me? God says, “Yes, they will if you stay there.” So David escapes.
H. That’s hard. David risks himself and his men to save a city, the city won’t reciprocate. But the discipline is to serve the Lord, in obedience to the Lord. Colossians 3:22-24 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
2. God sends Jonathan to encourage David, vv. 15-18.
A. In Romans 15:5 God is the One who gives perseverance and encouragement. God knows that we are finite, that we have only so much courage, so much strength, and then we run out. The heart is exhausted and then we are in trouble. We might have physical strength, but if we become exhausted of courage and hope we will still give up. God knows we need fresh hope, fresh courage, fresh strength in our hearts.
B. God gives encouragement through people, through His word, through truth.
1. It has to be true to be encouraging. Just to say, there, there, dear, it will all turn out fabulous doesn’t encourage because how do you know that? You’re just saying things without substance. It has to be true to encourage.
2. God’s word is true and eternal. You can use what God has said to encourage because God is the one who makes His word come to pass.
3. When God’s word comes through people it has the added benefit of love. Love is always encouraging. When we are exhausted of love we easily lose trust and hope.
C. David knows Jonathan loves him, he knows Jonathan knows the God of truth, and Jonathan only tells David the truth.
1. Jonathan doesn’t attempt to explain why this is happening. There is no encouragement in explanations. That’s why God doesn’t give explanations.
2. Jonathan says absolutely Saul my father will not find you, that is, to kill you. Absolutely not. Because God has anointed you to be king over Israel. That means God wants you to live to be king. He knew in advance that Saul would be unreasonable and paranoid and stubborn and hang on to the kingdom. He knew Saul would call out the army and pursue David. Against all difficulties David is still going to be king because God is going to make him king. The end.
3. Even my father knows I’m going to be second to you, and there’s nothing he can do about it. It’s going to happen.
4. All David can do is say, yeah, you’re right. This is not my idea, it’s God’s idea, He’s the one who has to make it happen. That is strengthening. This is God’s idea, He has to make it happen. I’m not going to trust in being king, I’m going to trust in God. It’s whatever He wants.
D. They make a third covenant before the Lord. They commit to each other their friendship and support in the Lord. He is the foundation of their friendship. He can take the stress and strain of responsibility and obligation so that they can support one another. It’s encouraging to have the Lord in your friendships. God is encouraging David greatly when David needs it.
3. God saves David from betrayal and capture, vv. 19-29.
A. Here is betrayal. The village of Ziph is in the tribe of Judah, they should be loyal to David who is in their tribe. But they inform on him to Saul. He tells them keep watching him. Let’s be thorough and get him this time.
B. Saul is out with his army and they encircle the hill that is between them and David. He’s going to get him this time.
C. Except a messenger rides up and says, “The Philistines are attacking! They’re making a raid right now. You have to go and help right now!” And David escapes to Engedi.
D. Now, God saved David out of betrayal and attack.
1. Just that morning some Philistine commander puts down his coffee and says to his second-in-command, “Get the men ready. We’re going to make a hit on Israel today.”
2. The second-in-command says, “You really think that’s a good idea, sir? I mean, we had a bad time in Keilah.”
3. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Keilah was hard. But I’ve got this feeling. I’ve been thinking about it all night. We gotta show Israel we’re not afraid of them. We have to make a hit on them today. Right now.”
4. Before David needs it God is preparing things and using the Philistines so that right when Saul is about to capture David, he can’t. The hand of Saul my father will not find you, said Jonathan.
5. Now that save was right to the second. If God had delayed any longer David would have been caught. But we’ll never know what would have happened. God is seldom early, never late. This is a discipline. We want to be saved with a large margin. We never want to be in danger. But God wants us to trust Him right up to the last minute because then you know: I have to keep my nerve and wait for the Lord only. Saul waited for seven days for Samuel, it didn’t look like Samuel was coming so Saul offers the sacrifice. Right after that Samuel comes and says what are you freaking out for? Here I am! What’s the problem? Saul didn’t like waiting till the last minute. Remember Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus was sick. They sent a messenger: Lord, he whom You love is sick. Jesus stayed two days longer where He was. When He showed up they say, “Lord, if You had been here our brother wouldn’t be dead.” And then Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. God is seldom early, never late.
4. So what? God disciplines us to look to Him for guidance, encouragement, protection and saving. God is teaching us to live in His secret place.
A. This is a secret place that we have to learn about from God. Paul had to learn it. Philippians 4:10-13 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have been initiated into the mystery, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
B. God is really doing us a favour.
1. He wants to lead us away from depending on people. We expect them to return our kindness, our effort. We want people to supply our needs, to understand us. The truth is, people are unstable as water.
2. God is also freeing us up from our circumstances. You’re not courageous because everything is calm. You’re courageous because you know that you’re in God’s hand no matter who is against you. If He wants you to live, He’ll save you. If He wants you to die, then you say, “Receive my spirit, Lord Jesus.”
C. When you live in God’s secret place you are encouraged by the Lord so you can look for someone who needs encouragement and give them what you learn from the Holy Spirit. You become like Jonathan. The Lord Jesus Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” As you do this you will be encouraged by the truth. Proverbs 11:25 The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. The truth you give out is going to encourage your own heart.
D. Psalm 91:1-2 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.”
Let’s pray.