Conflict With Doubt Part 1

During a long flight from King Saul.

David often doubted God knew what he was doing in the race of life is an answer for that doubt robs us of the power to keep running today to face doubt when from the Moody Church in Chicago. This is running to win with Dr. Sir clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line vasculature. Paul said that now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face all but David wished he could see God more clearly. While on the run, you're absolutely right in the month and thought of the verse of Scripture that you reference. We see through a glass darkly, but thank God we do see we don't see as well as we wish we could.

David didn't we don't either. And yet we find at the end of the day, God is there not the end of this broadcast.

I'm going to be sharing with you a verse of Scripture that David wrote when he was running from Saul. The reason that this passage of Scripture is so important to me is that I quoted every single morning and his words that David wrote when he was running from King Saul.

Let me ask you this question. Would you consider helping us in this ministry of running to win when you consider becoming what we call endurance partners. These are people who stand with us regularly with their prayers and their gifts.here's what you do for more info. You go to RTW offer.com when you're there you click on the endurance partner button that's RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 now keep asking yourself this question, what can we learn in the race of life during those dark times when we are running in fear, unable to see God conflict with doubt. Have you ever noticed how easy it is for us to slide into despair. And when we are in despair. It's very easy for us to make a mistake a wrong decision in a panic and we end up doing all kinds of things that we never dreamed we would do. Happens all the time.

Here's a man who is in debt as many people are you know what it's like to get those notices from credit card companies, so what he does is begin to gamble and he begins to gamble on small sports in small amounts but that begins to increase in the more he gambles the more money he loses and the more he loses the greater, he must gamble to try to make up loses. And of course he makes a promise that all that he wants his money back and then he'll quit. Tell me a little story and pretty soon he's in a web of deceit and all kinds even of crimes you and when he's arrested.

Everybody is shocked and he is to he can't believe you have done such a thing, and it began with one of those small steps in a moment of spare when there was no faith but manipulation to get himself out of the mass.

Or here's a young woman who perhaps has decided that time seems to be passing her by opportunities for marriage seem to be limited, and she begins to date a man which in her heart she knows she should not do. But after all times are hard. There's been a crop failure. What did she do she goes against her better judgment, and pretty soon she's in involved in a relationship much more deeply than she ever dreamed all kinds of problems in her life begin to snowball's old story but you know what happened to David to one of the things about the Bible is that it is very honest regarding its characters.

In fact, sometimes when we preach on David, we like to sanitize him. We like to make sure that he comes out the way we would like to see him. Not the way he was. But in the Old Testament. David is painted very realistically, we do not have a man that we can always look up to.

In fact, there are lessons that we have to learn from his life because of his failures and because of his backsliding's and that's the kind of message I'm going to preach to you today in this fourth message in the series on the life of David, so take your Bibles if you would please and turn to first Samuel chapter 21 first Samuel chapter 21 and I need to remind you that there is so much in his life that we are leaving out would be wonderful if we had time to look at his friendship with Jonathan for example, in here was Jonathan who was a son of King Saul. Theoretically, next in line to be king. And yet, being willing to give all that up for a friendship with David and being willing to stand against his father in defense of David.

It is truly one of the most beautiful examples of friendship and all the Bible. Now you're here last time. You know that we emphasize the difference that there was between Saul and David regarding their understanding of the kingdom. David knew that the kingdom belong to God, and that's why he would not kill Saul, though he had two opportunities to do so. If the kingdom is God's. He can give it to whomsoever he wishes and what we need to do is to wait until God's will becomes plain. Even though David was anointed, he did not use their soul's authority. So meanwhile thought that the kingdom was his see come onto that kingdom, and because he believed that the kingdom was his.

He was willing to kill David to make sure that he would keep the kingdom, and even more than that tried to kill his own son Jonathan when he began to see that Jonathan became a friend of David's. You have to understand that the struggle was not just political. It was also a family struggle because David had married Michael Saul's daughter and therefore he was being hunted and founded by his father-in-law soul who six times tried to pin them against the wall and tried to kill them. And David discovers that it's one thing to take care of Goliath. That's very easy.

All that he needed to do is to get that sling in put a stone in the sling and Goliath fell but God very wisely and interestingly substituted soul for Goliath and Saul would not go away were talking about 10 long years of being 100 like a partridge hunting a mouse in the desert and that's why David began to get weary that he was hungry. He looked at his environment and he began to see that there was no hope that he would ever be united with his family didn't look like it and so in a panic, he began to do some desperate things. And today all that were going to do is to paint two pictures of David two pictures. One picture is David in panic as we shall see another one is David in prayer and then we shall get the lessons that are explosive and life-changing for us today. First of all David in panic.

First Samuel chapter 21. Your Bibles are open. He comes to Nob which is north of Jerusalem to and Amalek, the priest, and he comes trembling to meet David and said to him, why are you alone and no one with you and the first thing that David does now as he begins to slide into unbelief and spiritual darkness is number one. David tells a lie he tells a lie. David said to Ahimelech the priest thinking has commissioned me with the matter and is said to me let no one know anything about the matter on which I am sending you with which I had commissioned you and I have directed the young man that to a certain place all lives. He did not have other men with him. He was not on special assignment. All of that was made up because of the pressure of the situation and he said to the priest, would you give me some of the bread that is been consecrated. It was bread that was set replaced.

It was the bread on the table of showbread within the sanctuary was like the bread that we have at communion special bread consecrated bread and what happens is the priest gives him five loaves of bread and David takes it, and at last he has something to eat. Now let me ask you a question.

Did David do what was right in the 12th chapter of Matthew Jesus Christ disciples are going through the fields your member and they are eating grains of corn and the Pharisees say you're not supposed to thrash on the Sabbath day. And Jesus said wait a moment to remember David when he was hungry, he went into the tabernacle area and it is there that he took five loaves of bread from the table of showbread, and Jesus was approvingly speaking of David's actions. Of course what Jesus was referring to is the fact that the bread itself, though it was sanctified. It was much more important to use that bread to save a life than it would be to keep it from David and so he sank.

David did not sin by eating the bread but I don't believe that Jesus Christ approved of the lie that David told within that context. Christ would not approve of that.

You see, it was not the bread the David H that is the problem that was okay. It was the lie that he told and the way in which, in a panic. He did what was wrong and as a result, it did not help him at all as a matter of fact at this began to lead to other kinds of sin. Now, if you have read the book of the day America told the truth, you know that America seldom tells the truth. You know that lying is simply a part of the human race said. Time magazine had an article about speech and lying and it pointed out that most people lie every day. I hope that's not true of you and me, but most people lie every day people lie on applications because they need to get the job.

People lie when they are discovered. When they steal something and they are being exposed when they're involved in an immoral relationship. They lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie to cover their sins and God hates lying says that the liars are outside of the kingdom and the liars are outside of the city of Jerusalem. David told a lie, but it doesn't stop there. Secondly, he believes a lie, he believes it now.

I might say that when all this was going on in the discussion was happening between David and the priest that someone was listening other than God. It says in verse seven. Now one of the servants of Saul was there that day detained before the Lord and his name was Joe get the Edomite, the chief of Saul's shepherds. Some people think that he was really the head of soul, Secret Service, and in a few moments were going to discover that the fact that this man overheard the conversation had an incredible and incredible negative consequence when he told Saul about this, but just hang onto that for a moment. David is told a lie.

Now he begins to believe one. He says to the priest.

Verse eight now is there not a spear or a sword on hand but I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's matter was urgent and the priest said well the sort of Goliath Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Eli, behold, it is wrapped in a cloth behind the aphid. If you would take it for yourself. Take it for there is no other accept it here and David said there is none like it, give it to me yet understand that after David killed the giant.

They took the sword of the giant and they put it there in the temple area is kind of a museum piece to remind people of the greatness of the victory that God had accomplished and now David asks for Goliath's sword. Maybe that wasn't so wrong but a man who had lied is now going to depend upon a weapon to keep him from King Saul and it seems to me that David is far away from first Samuel 17 where he said to Goliath. I come to you in the name of the Lord God of hosts, whose armies you have defied. Now David's going to depend upon the sword he depended upon a lie. And now he depends upon a sword. Now notice what happens next is quite terrifying to us to have such an image of David as being above reproach, except of course for the incident with Bathsheba. Normally people know only that about David's failures but notice it says in verse 10, then the David arose and fled that day from Seoul and went to a kiddush king of Gath. He told a lie. He believed a lie. Now he's going to live a lie David what are you doing in Philistine territory.

What are you doing at the headquarters of word Goliath used to hang out.

He goes to Lachish King of Gath, and the servants of vacation.

They recognize them as David and they say, isn't this the one about whom people dance saying the soul has slain his thousands and David's is tens of thousands, and David took these words to heart and greatly feared a ticking of Gath, so he disguised his sanity before them and acted in sanely in their presence in their hands and scribbled on the door and or the gate rather and let his saliva run down onto his beer maker said to his servants, behold, you see the man behaving like a madman. Why do you bring them to me dry lack madman that you have brought this one to act this way in my presence, shall this one come to my house to see if understand, as David was playing on the fact that the ancient sometimes did not. They did not deal with madman in honor of the gods. They believe that such a person was perhaps under the control of some deranged God, and they didn't want to have anything to do with them.

So Lachish said don't bring them to me just just let them scroll on the gate and let them spit on his beer, but you and I look at this and we say David. How could this be anointed of the Lord King in waiting the one who gave us so many of the Psalms a David what are you doing with that a while. Look in your face with that disheveled appearance and with the spit running onto your beard.

David why are you scrawling on those walls. Surely a man of God surely a man of God should not be doing this, listen to me carefully. David lost his integrity and when he lost his integrity. He lost his dignity, he lost his was in it.

Sir Walter Scott, who said oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive or after this David goes into the cave of a Gollum and many people have somewhat facetiously suggested that the cave of a Gollum reminds them of some independent churches. Notice it says in verse two and everyone was in distress. Everyone who was in debt to everyone who was discontented gathered to him and he became captain over them. How there were about 400 men with him. Thankfully by the way, this is not true of of the church in most churches. It's just that there are some times when there are those who are discontented who gather elsewhere. And David then stated there in the stronghold of buying Getty in the cave of a Gollum and there he was want you to know that when he was acting out and when he was having this experience. David wrote three Saul, he wrote three Psalms Psalm 34 which we shall look at in a moment. Psalm 52 when he received the terrible news that Ahimelech who had helped him and 85.

A total of 85 priests were wiped out by Saul.

Remember I told you delayed was there waiting in the wings and he overheard this conversation between David and the priest, and later on Saul becomes angry. He says nobody's on my side. Where is everybody when I need them. Why don't people cooperate with me in my attempt to destroy David and he went on and on and go egg who was a politician who cared not for truth or integrity go egg told Saul what he overheard and Saul becomes angry. This is chapter 22 verse 17 and the king said to the guards who were attending him turn around and put the priests of the Lord to death because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he was playing and they did not reveal it to me. But the servants of the king were not willing to put forth their hands to attack the priests of the Lord and the king said to Joe egg, the one who had squealed on David turn around and attack the priests backdate. He killed 85 man in unnoticed. David's grief about IFR is the only one who escapes and comes and tells David well David is in the cave. Verse 21 of IFR told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord and David said to a buy a car. I knew that on that day when Joe egg. The Edomite was there that he would surely tell soul I have brought about the death of every person in your father's household. David of course did not do the killing that he felt a sense of responsibility because of what happened. David in panic. We painted the picture for you doing all the wrong things turning all the wrong directions. But now let us look very briefly at David in prayer David in prayer. Turn to Psalm 34. I noticed in Psalm 34 it says in the superscription of the Psalm. A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech who drove him away and he departed want you to notice that a person who loves God is crying to God even when he is going through times of distress even when he's doing something's wrong. He still desires the approval of God. He still trying up to God and I believe that this is the prayer that David prayed after he left and he went to the cave of adult once he was there in the cave and he began to reflect upon what he had done and he knew he had done wrong notice. David begins by saying I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth, my soul shall make its boast in the Lord, the humble show here it and rejoice old and magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together. We've use this Psalm often in worship and probably forgotten its context. Verse 8O taste and see that the Lord is good.

How blessed is the man who takes refuge in him all fear the Lord, you his saints for to those who fear him. There is no want the young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. Let's get to verse 19 many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.

Evil shall slay the wicked and those who hate to the righteous will be condemn. The Lord redeems the sole of his servants and none of those who take refuge in him will be condemn. Praise God.

David's back where he belongs. His back and fellowship with God will at the beginning of this broadcast. I mentioned to you that I was going to reference some verses of Scripture that I quote every single morning.

Now, you already know what those verses are Psalm 34 I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My social make its boast in the Lord, the humble show here it and rejoice over magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together. I quoted those verses this morning. I plan to quote them once again tomorrow morning before I begin my other Scriptures, God was teaching David some lessons that he needed to learn, even as he was running from an enemy you know I'm so thankful for the ministry of running to win. Actually we say that it is in 20 different countries in radio but because of the Internet it goes around the world and you my friend have a part in this ministry I'm holding in my hands a letter from someone listening in Peru.

He says I'm 24 years old and I thank the Lord for allowing me to find your ministry. Your teaching has given me a different perspective and now I can see this life with different eyes lies that I believed in fears that I had been replaced by the truth of the word of God. You my friend have a share in such testimonies would you consider becoming an endurance partner that someone who stands with us regularly with their prayers and with her gifts. Of course, the amount that you give is entirely your decision and you need more info, you can go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or you can call us at 1-888-218-9337. In my mind I like to think of endurance partners as those who join the running to win family because of people like you, we can receive testimonies from Peru and other countries around the world. Let me give you that contact info again go to RTW offer.com. Of course, as you might guess RTW offers all one word RTW offer.com when you're there, click on the endurance partner button or if you wish, call us at 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 running to win is all about helping you find God's roadmap for your race of life far from God. David is a prisoner of doubt. Pastor Erwin lutes has brought part one of conflict with doubt.

The fourth message in a series on growing through conflict study in the life of King David.

Next time we learn more about David's dark time of doubt, this is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the Moody Church