Scripture: I Samuel 26

I. You have patience if you are a person of faith.

A. David has another opportunity to kill Saul and become king (vs. 8). But David reasoned that it was not his role to punish a servant of God’s (vs. 9). If God wanted to punish Saul, God could do it himself. David had just seen God punish Nabal in chapter 25 without David having to lift a finger to hurt his enemy. So, David would wait again for God to punish his enemy. David had faith that God would take care of Saul. David would be patient. Nothing could stop David from becoming king. He just needed to be patient.

II. You have encouragement if you are a person of faith.

A. How could David go into their camp with nobody noticing him (vs. 12)? Only God could do that. What did that mean for Saul? Saul was going down. If God was fighting for David, there was no way Saul could win this fight. How distressing this must have been for Saul. But how encouraging this must have been for David! God had given David a sign in the midst of his life on the run in the wilderness. God had not forgotten his word to David that David would be king. God will keep on sending you encouraging signs until you receive what He has promised you.

III. You have tests if you are a person of faith.

A. This is the third chapter in a row in which David has a test of faith. David passed all three tests. David would wait for God to judge Saul. Also, in Psalm 63:2-3 David writes: “So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” To be cut off from the public worship of God in the sanctuary was David’s greatest grief in the wilderness. See 1 Samuel 26:20. It was a test of faith for David to be unable to worship God with God’s people in the sanctuary.

IV. You have hope if you are a person of faith.

A. Sometimes, sadly, reconciliation is just not possible. Sometimes, as in David’s case, we need to keep our distance from hurtful people (vs. 22). David then had no hope in Saul. His hope was in God (vs. 23-24). Hebrews 2:10: “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” Jesus knows what it is to suffer. He knows then about the pain you are going through today. He has not forgotten you. Hope in him.

Application:
Hold on to your faith. And more importantly, ask Jesus to hold on to you.

Sources:
The book of 1 Samuel
Commentaries on Samuel by Dale Ralph Davis, Robert Bergen, and Tim Chester

Sermon Discussion Questions

1) Have you seen in your own life that faith often means waiting? Is God asking you to wait at this time for one of His promises to come true?

2) How great is your appetite for the worship of God among the people of God? What happens to our faith when we are not able to worship with God’s people regularly?

3) Are there areas of your life where you feel in the wilderness, and about which do you need to speak to Jesus right now?