November 4, 2007  •  Pastor Randy Smith

Recently I was made aware of a new children’s movie entitled, The Golden Compass set to hit the cinemas in early December. Verified by Snopes and Truth or Fiction, all the information I am about to tell you appears to be accurate.

Starring Nicole Kidman, the movie is the first of a three part series based on the trilogy of books by Phillip Pullman entitled, His Dark Materials.

In this movie, “A streetwise girl…travels through multiple worlds populated by witches, armor-plated bears, and sinister ecclesiastical assassins to defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God.” For another synopsis, “In the trilogy, a young girl becomes enmeshed in an epic struggle against a nefarious Church known as the Magisterium. Another character, an ex-nun, describes Christianity as a ‘very powerful and convincing mistake’… In the last book, a boy and girl are depicted representing Adam and Eve and they kill God, who at times is called Yahweh.”

In another’s words, Pullman is deemed “the most dangerous author in Britain” and the writer “the atheists would be praying for, if atheists prayed.” To his own admission, he desires to bash Christianity and promote atheism. He left little doubt about his intentions when he said in a 2003 interview that, “My books are about killing God.” Although it is hard to find a comment more distressing than that, I was also very troubled by another comment Mr. Pullman made through a character in one of his novels: “Every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling.”

It saddens me that many share Pullman’s belief about the mission of the church and the purpose of God. When many consider the church, God is portrayed as the celestial kill-joy supported by the caricature of the angry fundamentalist preacher waving his Bible and pounding the pulpit with the repeated theme of every sermon being: No fun! Happiness is sin! Forsake the best things of life! Conform to a life of misery!

If a five-year-old with only three piano lessons under his belt attempts to play Beethoven and butchers the piece, only a narrow-minded blockhead would conclude that Beethoven was a horrible composer. Likewise, despite the fact that incompetent preachers have misrepresented the living God and exploited His people (both of which are very true), should we conclude that Yahweh is defective and deserves to be eliminated? The thought is absolutely ridiculous!

When we let God speak for Himself, we find for those in Christ Jesus that He loves us more than we could ever imagine. We find that He wants us to experience a greater sense of happiness. And we find that He wants to release the shackles that bind us to spiritual slavery and oppression to bring true freedom and deliverance! If anything, I believe many Christians, still engulfed by their doubt, sin and poor theology, are experiencing far less joy than their God-desired potential and have yet to enter the domain of “abundant life” as promised by Jesus Christ (Jn. 10:10).

No, God is not about “control, destruction, (and the) obliteration (of) every good feeling.” According to His promises in the Scriptures, He is about freedom, life and the fulfillment of our deepest desires!

That is why last week I pleaded with you to adopt a healthy fear of the Lord. You see, my friends, when we put the Lord first, we put to death the never-satisfying, self-seeking desires to live for ourselves. God becomes the source of our existence, and with our lives fully secured in His arms, the pitiful results of fearing man come to an end: The endless jockeying for position, concern over the opinions of people and the exploitation of others to fulfill our own self-esteem.

True freedom comes when we are able to forsake the slavery to sin and become all that God intends for us in Christ (Rom. 6:1-23). True freedom comes when we can be emptied of self and filled with the Spirit of God, now equipped to love people more than use people (Phil. 2:3-4). True freedom comes when we know we are loved by the Creator and that the Creator has become our Father, always operating with our best interests in mind (Rom. 8:28).

This morning as we prepare for the Lord’s Table, I would like to show you how God is for His people. Today we will see how God is for their physical and emotional safety as we examine chapter 23. Next week, as the Lord permits, we will see how God is for their spiritual safety in chapter 24. I have entitled today’s message, “On the Winning Team – Part I.”

1. GOD IS FOR YOUR PHYSICAL SAFETY

Despite all the superficial needs the psychologists woo us to fulfill, the Bible says we only have two basic needs (cf. Mt. 4:4). One is for spiritual forgiveness. The other is for physical, or we could say biological well-being. Obviously without food, water, oxygen and shelter we will die. Both of these needs are met by our heavenly Father. Second Peter 1:3, “Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

He provided for our spiritual needs by sending His Son to be the payment for our sins on the cross, and He provides for our daily physical needs through the benevolent love He has for His children. I would fail as a father if my children always had to wonder where their next meal is coming from. That is why Jesus said, “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Mt. 6:31-33)

While David ran through the wilderness and hid in caves, God provided for his physical needs. Furthermore we see that God kept this man alive until His purposes for David were fulfilled. As David said in Psalm 27, “The LORD is the defense of my life” (Psm. 27:1; cf. 54:4; Isa. 54:17; Jer. 1:19).

Permit me to summarize the story recorded at the beginning of chapter 23: While playing cat and mouse with king Saul, David was informed that the Philistines (Israel’s arch nemesis) were attacking those in Keilah (a city lying in the foothills of Judah). Specifically, they were plundering the threshing floor and making off with their food (23:1). After inquiring of the Lord (23:1-4, 6), God commanded David to deliver the Keilahites and assured him of a successful military victory (23:3, 5).

So the people of Keilah live to see another day thanks to the bravery and sacrifice of David and his fighting men. But all the ruckus in Keilah was also picked-up on Saul’s radar. David was exposed. Saul had finally zeroed in on David and was prepared do away with his foe once and for all. Only one problem – David was still in the city and with urban conflict, any warrior knows that finding your enemy can be nearly impossible. Yet the solution for Saul was simple. His message to the Keilahites was loud and unmistakable: “I will destroy your town, but surrender to me David and nobody gets hurt.”

What would the Keilahites do? On the one hand, they no doubt heard how Saul recently butchered in cold blood eighty-five priests from Nob (recorded in chapter 22, verse 18). Yet on the other hand, they were aware how David recently saved their city. How would you like to be on Keilah’s town council? What would they do? David obviously needed an answer to that question much more than we do!

Beginning in verse 10 (chapter 23), “‘Then David said, ‘O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account. Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.’ And the LORD said, ‘He will come down.’ Then David said, ‘Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?’ And the LORD said, ‘They will surrender you.’

The only option for David was escape. Verses 13-14, “Then David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the pursuit. David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph.” Now here is the point I am driving, “And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.”

David was preserved by God. As one commentator said, “(He) escaped Saul, but never escaped the shelter of the Most High” (Davis, 1 Samuel, 239-239). God had His protective arms wrapped around His child.

This account shows that God cares for our physical lives. As I said a few weeks ago, we are all immortal until His work for us on this earth is completed. As much as God controlled our birth, He controls our death as well (Psm. 139:16b). Sovereignty and love are married together as He sustains us until the appointed time. So as one Christian man said to his would-be murderer who waved a gun in his face, “You can’t pull that trigger unless my Master permits your master to accomplish this evil act.”

So David is delivered and makes his way to Ziph, but his reputation as a fugitive goes with him. The Ziphites were quick to rat-out David. No doubt they wished to somehow profit from their betrayal of David’s position (cf. Psm. 54:1c). In verses 20-21 they said to Saul, “Now then, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to do so; and our part shall be tosurrender him (David) into the king’s hand.”

Based upon the intelligence report, Saul pursues David. The author of this account chronicles the drama with the hunt reaching a climax in verse 26. “Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain; and David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to seize them.” What a nail-biter!

Once again we think David is done, right? Wrong! Once again God’s hand would not permit the hand of Saul to succeed. Verses 27-29, “But a messenger came to Saul, saying, ‘Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.’ So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape. David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of Engedi.” While it appeared that the rock would be the grave, it actually proved to be David’s place of escape.

David wrote Psalm 54 to commemorate this occasion. “A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, ‘Is not David hiding himself among us?’ -- Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your power. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me and violent men have sought my life; they have not set God before them. Selah. Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul… For He has delivered me from all trouble, and my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies” (Psm. 54:1-4, 7).

David was delivered once again and this time ironically by God’s use of David’s enemies! The Philistines, the very people who were David’s foe at the beginning of the chapter, actually become David’s indirect saviors at the end of the chapter.

Considering the providence of God demonstrated at Ziph, do we think we can comprehend the mind of God (Rom. 11:34)? Do we even have any idea how many times God saves His children through the normal events of providence? We many never know, but I hope we can all testify to the times we felt threatened and God came through to deliver us. Oftentimes He does wait to the eleventh hour to teach us and remind us that He can be trusted in the midst of our pressures. One author said, “True, the darkness is still there, but perhaps part of it is the shadow of the Almighty (Psm. 91:1)” (Davis, 1 Samuel, 244).

2. GOD IS FOR YOUR EMOTIONAL SAFETY

We just witnessed how God provides for our physical safety, now I would like to use this text to show how God provides for our emotional safety. I believe this is the one that concerns us the most living in our society today. I am not aware of any of us shedding blood for the Gospel (unless it was possibly trying to control an unruly kid in the nursery!), but I am aware of many of your emotional heartaches.

Before I continue, I do want to be clear that God often permits us much emotional distress whereby we might grow in faith and be weaned from our own self-reliance. However, He knows just how much we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13) and always comes through with the encouragement we need at just the right time.

Of this providence, one pastor said, “As a wise, skilled pharmacist mixes medicine, our heavenly Father wisely mixes exactly the right measure of bitter things and sweet, to do us good. Too much joy would intoxicate us. Too much misery would drive us to despair. Too much sorrow would crush us. Too much suffering would break our spirits. Too much pleasure would ruin us. Too much defeat would discourage us. Too much success would puff us up. Too much failure would keep us from doing anything. Too much criticism would harden us. Too much praise would exalt us. Our great God knows exactly what we need. His Providence is wisely designed and sovereignly sent for our good” (Don Fortner, Source Unknown).

As we just witnessed, there can be no doubt that David was distressed physically. But what we can often overlook is the emotional trauma that this man faced. Let’s consider the events that could have led to high levels of stress, frustration, despair, withdrawal and depression. Put yourself in David’s shoes.

One, Keilah, the city you just risked your life to defend, without delay is prepared to betray you into the hands of your enemy at their first opportunity. Two, the city you just saved from the attacking Philistines should have been defended by king Saul, but he is too busy seeking to defeat you. So you do his dirty work, and the thanks you receive is only more hatred and jealousy on his part. Three, Saul is running around killing innocent priests, but the people in Israel seem to be taking his side in this conflict. Four, the townspeople of Ziph are prepared to turn you in to seek Saul’s favor, but these people are from your own tribal community of Judah. Five, you were promised by the Lord to be the king of Israel, but you are running for your life as a misunderstood fugitive.

Heart-wrenching situations indeed, yet at the right time, God sustained David emotionally (Psm. 55:22)!

First, verse 6 informs us that “Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.” Remember, Saul was left without God’s Spirit (16:14) and the guidance of a prophet (15:34-35). However, David received God’s direct guidance and encouragement from Abiathar. (Maybe we should realize Saul was in a sadder state than David.) Ironically, it was Saul who drove Abiathar to David (23:20) when he murdered all the other men from the priestly line and Abiathar fled to David for safety (23:18)!

We might not have a personal prophet or priest in the sense of another human, but we do have something or should I say Someone in a sense that David never experienced. We have Jesus our Prophet, Priest and King standing at the right hand of the Father (Ac. 7:55-56) functioning as our intercessor (Rom. 8:34) and advocate (1 Jn. 2:1). Additionally, we might not have a personal prophet, but we do have as Peter said, “the prophetic word made more sure” (2 Pet. 1:19). Around the clock we have access to the voice of God for our guidance and encouragement as it is revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures.

A second way God sustained David emotionally was through the encouragement of another person. And again if you want more irony and witness for the mysterious ways of the Lord, it was none other that Saul’s son who brought David words of hope, strength and consolation. Amidst all the infidelity and disloyalty David experienced, standing unmistakably in the middle of the turmoil in chapter 23 are verses 15-18.

“Now David became aware that Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God. Thus he said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.’ So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD; and David stayed at Horesh while Jonathan went to his house.”

I find it so remarkable that this whole account is about Saul not being able to find David, but when David needed a word of encouragement from the Lord, Saul’s son is able to seek him out. And might I stress that verse 16 says, “Jonathan encouraged him in God.” Jonathan was God’s instrument to bless David and that blessing occurred as God and His promises were at the center of the conversation. Again, it comes back to God’s Word, just different means to bring it to our attention.

Oh that the Christian church would get our eyes off ourselves and look for ways to minister to people through the gift of encouragement. Not encouragement through a sports victory or new haircut or recent purchase, but rather to be a mouthpiece of God as we bring the promises of God to the people of God through the Word of God. For these are the words that truly satisfy and minister to our hurting hearts. People do not need us as much as they need God during these trying times. May we be faithful, like Jonathan, to encourage people in God! It only takes two ingredients: an awareness of the needs of others and an ability to appropriately communicate the Scriptures.

Listen to Dale Davis’ comments: “We best encourage not by being cuddly with people but by reminding them of the promises of God. Encouragement from God for the people of God comes from the Word of God. I am not depreciating the helpfulness of the personal touch or care, but in an age that wallows in ‘caring’ and ‘sensitivity’ on every hand believers need to know that solid encouragement comes not from emotional closeness but from God’s speech” (1 Samuel, p. 239).

It is always through God’s Word as He bears it upon our heart that our Savior comes to us in our emotional difficulties.

This would be the last time the two dear friends (David and Jonathan) saw each other, but their final encounter achieved the peace they both desired before their departure (23:18). But as Jonathan departed, he stood in the shadows of One greater than himself. His ministry pointed to the greatest encourager and greatest lover of our souls, Jesus Christ.

Listen to a few testimonies:

In the mid 1800’s, the Scottish minister Andrew Bonar, made the following entry in his journal: “Spent an hour in my old retreat in the wood of Dunsinnane, the place which I used to call the ‘Wood of Ziph,’ where God has often strengthened my hands, my divine Jonathan meeting me there” (Marjory Bonar, Andrew Bonar: Diary and Life, p. 203).

Jonathan Edwards longed for the same “divine Jonathan” when on his deathbed he asked, “Now where is Jesus of Nazareth, my true and never-failing Friend” (Iain Murray, Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography, p. 441).

It was the closeness of the Lord that encouraged the Apostle Paul when he awaited execution. In 2 Timothy 4 he wrote, “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me… But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (2 Tim. 4:16-17).

This morning we witnessed how God is for our physical safety. And we witnessed how God is for our emotional safety. Next week as the Lord permits we will witness how God is for our spiritual safety as well.

So when we hear an author say, “Every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling,” we know that both the author and the churches that propagate this teaching are wrong. Churches are to accurately represent God as He has revealed Himself in the Holy Scriptures. And according to the Scriptures, God cares and God provides and God delivers and God sustains and God encourages! As Paul said in Romans 8, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things” (Rom. 8:31-32; cf. Psm. 84:11)?