WEEKLY EVENTS:
- Sundays at 10:00 am: Prayer Gathering
- Sundays at 10:30 am: Worship Service
- Wednesdays at 6:30 pm: BIble Study in the Fellowship Hall
COMING UP:
- June 21st @ 9:00 am - Father's Day Breakfast
Sermon Notes for May 18, 2025
David Is In a “Pickle” - 1 Samuel 29 & 30
"In a pickle" means to be in a difficult, awkward, or challenging situation that can lead to feeling overwhelmed. That is where David finds himself in these 2 chapters. Sometimes it may be unavoidable, but in David’s case his failure to rely on God and his deceit has put him “in a pickle”.
With the Philistines – 29:1-11
He is there without God’s approval – Are you living with God’s approval?
He is only trusted by Achish - David has deceived him
David is his own worst enemy – Rom. 6:12 ; 7:15-25
He is recognized by the Philistine commanders as a Hebrew
They don’t trust David - By the songs sung about him
He is sent back to Ziklag – God intercedes for David
Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
God has promised to make David king and no one can stop Him, not even David
He insists he is loyal to Achish, not Saul – still practicing deception
David does not recognize his sin
With the Amalekites – 30:1-31
God commanded Saul to utterly destroy them but he didn’t (1 Sam. 15:3)
They destroy Ziklag and took the people captive – sometimes God uses extreme measures to get out attention
David was in the wrong place at the wrong time – gone 6 days
The men with David wept with great grief
David is distressed because they spoke of stoning him -
David strengthened himself in the LORD his God – repentance?
He inquires of the LORD - Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.
The LORD answers – in spite of his sinful decisions
David pursues the Amalekites in faith and obedience
He rescues an Egyptian – an act of compassion leads to help
He defeats the Amalekites – except for 400 young men who fled
He recovers all the people alive and recovers all the spoil from the Amalekites
He silences the wicked and worthless men in his army – grace overcomes works
He distributes his wealth as a gift from the LORD – generosity
How can you get out of a “pickle” of your own doing?
Repent; Trust; Obey; Serve