Welcome to Palm Desert Church of Christ

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Prayer of Praise

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Communion & Contribution

Scripture Reading

Psalm 142:1-7 NIV

A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.

I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. (2) I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble. (3) When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. (4) Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.

Psalm 142:1-7 NIV

(5) I cry to you, O LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." (6) Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. (7) Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.

David: Shaping a Godly Heart

One Trial After AnotherInvitation Song: #9091 Samuel 23

We’re studying David Son of Jesse King of Israel A man with a God-

shaped heart This is our 9th lesson

and David is still not king, but he will be one day soon

His life is covered in more detail than any other in the Bible

66 chapters tell his life’s story

Most biographies skip 1Sa 23, but God didn’t include filler

David faces one trial after another

He’s been anointed, but his reign has been deferred

David’s Successes:

He killed the giant He had great success as a military leader He was immensely popular with the people He became the king’s son-in-law

David’s Difficulties:

The king tried to have him killed

He lost his wife, mentor and friend

He lost his integrity when he lied and cost High Priest’s life

He lost his dignity, acting insane in enemy territory

In a cave, David saw the light

He emerged as a leader, to whom the distressed came for leadership

He wrote Psalm 142, promising to quit relying on schemes and start relying on God

God’s best training is often done in trials

Psalm 119:67 NIV Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.

Psalm 119:71 NIV It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

There is something about trials that makes us teachable We’re not teachable

when life is in order Flat on your back,

things looking up! Testing not designed

to ruin, but refine People of God know

what it means to be tested in the desert

Moses – 40 years in the desert before ready to lead Israel

Elijah – three years in the desert before Mount Carmel

John the Baptist emerged from the desert preaching

Jesus – before his ministry, spent time in the desert

David spends several chapters in the Desert of Ziph

An extremely inhospitable place Hard to imagine how an army could survive

The desert doesn’t treat anyone like a king You don’t go to the desert because you want

to – but because you have to In the desert God decides whether you have

the makings of a leader It is not heat and rocks that make a desert It is the fact that it’s just God and the Devil in

a struggle for your soul The best example is Jesus - Matthew 4:1-11

God led Jesus into the desert

The tests came from the Devil, but they fit into the purpose of God

God permits trials so we can develop character

Note the timing

After consecration and confirmation God determined it was time for inspection

Before he could ask for disciples, God had to establish his character

Note the tests:

Stones to bread

This questioned God’s testing. It is as though Satan says: “Does God have the right to test you?”

Jesus answer is tantamount to: “God led me here and I’ll wait for him to get me out.”

Temple pinnacle

This questioned God’s timing Temptation for Jesus to offer premature proof of his

deity Jesus had to wait for the acclaim Here, David has to wait till God says he is ready for

the crown

Kingdoms of the world

This questioned God’s terms Does God have the right to make discipleship costly? Devil can give goodies at far less cost than faithful discipleship Jesus doesn’t want it the Devil’s way After success, David spent years in the desert tested by God

Three Tests for Every Leader

1. Trial of Denial

1 Samuel 23:1-6 NIV

When David was told, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors," (2) he inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" The LORD answered him, "Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah." (3) But David's men said to him, "Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!"

1 Samuel 23:1-6 NIV

(4) Once again David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him, "Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand." (5) So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. (6) (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

Trial of Denial: You face this trial when your wisdom is tested

High Priest’s ephod carried two stones that were used to inquire of the Lord

David gets a “Yes” His men’s misgivings

– Philistines have superior weapons

Rather than argue, David inquired again

What if your leadership is questioned? What if people say

“That’s crazy!” Do you get angry?

Depressed? Or inquire again?

David doesn’t take the attack personally.

It’s God’s idea, let God take the heat!

You’re not ready to lead until …

You can handle it when others don’t like your direction

If you have to have your way, resign If you have to yield to the majority, resign You have to have wisdom to accept the fact

that people will not always understand or accept the Lord’s will

Be patient, but hold God’s ground – don’t bow to popular opinion

Three Tests for Every Leader

2. Trial of Betrayal

1 Samuel 23:7-13 NIV

Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, "God has handed him over to me, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars." (8) And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. (9) When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod." (10) David said, "O LORD, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me.

1 Samuel 23:7-13 NIV

(11) Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, tell your servant." And the LORD said, "He will." (12) Again David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will." (13) So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.

Trial of Betrayal: You face this trial when you’re not respected Instead of rejoicing that

Keilah was spared, Saul only thinks of his advantage over David He thinks the Lord

delivered David to him The people of Keilah

should die defending their savior Instead, they plan to

turn him over to Saul

David knows human nature and inquires of the Lord

If the army he once led can turn on him, so can Keilah

The treachery of those you serve is more devastating than the enmity of those you flee

It doesn’t hurt to be hated by the world

It hurts to be betrayed by those you serve

David didn’t retaliate against Keilah, as we might have Have you served,

then experienced ingratitude?

Can you serve God’s people even when they don’t say “Thank you”?

We lead because it’s needed, not because we’re appreciated

Three Tests for Every Leader

3. Trial of Refusal

1 Samuel 23:14-29 NIV

David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. (15) While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. (16) And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. (17) "Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this."

1 Samuel 23:14-29 NIV

(18) The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh. (19) The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon? (20) Now, O king, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for handing him over to the king." (21) Saul replied, "The LORD bless you for your concern for me.

1 Samuel 23:14-29 NIV

(22) Go and make further preparation. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. (23) Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track him down among all the clans of Judah." (24) So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.

1 Samuel 23:14-29 NIV

(25) Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David. (26) Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, (27) a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land."

1 Samuel 23:14-29 NIV

(28) Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth. (29) And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.

Trial of Refusal: You face this when you are rejected

The Ziphites were descendants of Caleb, of the tribe of Judah

David is also of the tribe of Judah

They were David’s own tribe, saying: “We don’t want one of our own being king!”

Remember Jesus saying: “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country.”

What if God’s leaders ask you to take responsibility? Will you honor their

leadership? Or will you refuse to serve?

Leaders: You’ll never have all the people acknowledge you, but you can still lead

Two Lessons for Leaders

Every leader faces discouragement Don’t lose the vision Health and wealth preachers say

difficulty means you’re outside the will of God

The desert is sometimes right in the middle of the will of God

Every leader needs encouragement Don’t refuse the offer God’s tests come back-to-back; one-

after-another David’s trouble was not the Philistines,

but his own army, people, family You can either give up, or let yourself

be built up You need a Jonathan

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Closing Prayer

Please remain for a brief period of fellowship followed by Bible classes from 10:30 to 11:15