Scripture: 1 Samuel 30
I. You strengthen yourself in God by remembering that you will suffer but God will lead you to victory.
A. David suffered by enduring the loss of his home, his goods and his family (vs. 1-2). David was grieved by his many losses, but he was not surprised by it. See Jesus’ words in John 16:33. David remembered though that he was going to win. God had promised David that he would win (vs. 8). God has also promised that Jesus will win and you will win with him. Psalm 110:1: “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” God gives victory, this I know, for the Amalekites tell me so.
II. You strengthen yourself in God by remembering God’s promises and God’s character.
A. David is surrounded by his angry soldiers. They want to stone him (vs. 6). He must wonder if he were going to die. But David remembered the promise that God gave him. David was going to be Israel’s next king. What a promise to give you strength! Because of God’s promise David could preach to himself, “Don’t be afraid. God has promised to give you the kingdom. And God keeps His promises.” David then is reminding himself of God’s faithful character and of God’s promises in this weak moment. Where your strength fails, God’s strength will take over.
III. You strengthen yourself in God by remembering God’s providence.
A. When we reach vs. 11, we read what seems like a random and totally insignificant detail about finding an Egyptian. It just happens that this Egyptian was the servant of an Amalekite (vs. 13) and he saw the Amalekites burn Ziklag with fire (vs. 14). And he knew where these Amalekites had gone. There are no coincidences. There is only providence. God the king directs all events and circumstances for His glory and our good. And God directed this Egyptian straight to David so that David and his men could get their families and their things returned to them.
IV. You strengthen yourself in God by remembering God’s grace.
A. David and his men get their entire families and stuff back (vs. 18-19). But some soldiers did not want to share the spoil (vs. 22). David though says that all the soldiers will share alike. Why? Grace. David’s mind and his heart are consumed by the grace of God. God doesn’t give good gifts to us because we deserve them for all of our hard work. God simply gives undeserved gifts of grace to us because that is His heart. 1 Corinthians 4:7: “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”
Application:
Find your strength in God in a time of weakness by His grace.
Sources:
The book of 1 Samuel
Commentaries on Samuel by Dale Ralph Davis, Robert Bergen, and Tim Chester
Sermon Discussion Questions
- What kind of suffering did David endure in 1 Samuel? Did this suffering drive David away from God or toward Him?
- How can we better remember God’s promises and God’s faithful character? What do Bible reading and prayer do to help us remember?
- How have you seen God’s little providences make a big difference in your life? And how often does the grace of God give you what you need? Is it just at the beginning of the Christian life or does grace give you what you need throughout the Christian life?