Distressed? Discontented? In debt? Not anymore!

1 Samuel 22:1-22 Samuel 23:1-17

tNCC, Petaling Jaya14th September 2014

1. David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.

2. And everyone who was in , everyone who was

, and everyone who was gathered to him. So

he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

Psalm 142: 1- 6 “I cry aloud to the LORD…I lift up my voice…for mercy...my spirit grows faint within me…no one cares for my life…I am in desperate need…rescue me from those who pursue me…”

• A bunch of about 400 men who were people in distress; discontented (“bitter of souls”); or in debt

• And David became their Commander!

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time.

9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated.

10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.

11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines.

12 But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

• Adino: killed 800 men at one time.

• Eleazar: fought in a battle with such tenacity that his hand was stuck onto his sword.

• Shammah: when others fled he fought on single-handedly.

13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.

15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David.

But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. 17 “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress & my deliverer…in whom I take refuge. In my distress I called to the LORD. He rescued me from my powerful enemy. With your help I can advance against a troop. People I did not know now serve me…as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.

• David’s continual dependence and faith upon God.

• He knew he was the beloved of God (Ps 33:22 “May your unfailing love be with us…”)

• Focused attention on the Lord rather than himself. “My soul clings to you” (Ps 63:8).

Last words of David v1-7 Exploits v8-39

Now these are the last words of David.

Thus says David the son of Jesse;Thus says the man raised up on high,The anointed of the God of Jacob,And the sweet psalmist of Israel:2 “The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me,And His word was on my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said,The Rock of Israel spoke to me:He who rules over men must be just,Ruling in the fear of God.

4 And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises,A morning without clouds,Like the tender grass springing out of the earth,By clear shining after rain.

5 “Although my house is not so with God,Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant,Ordered in all things and secure.For this is all my salvation and all my desire;Will He not make it increase?

6 But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away,Because they cannot be taken with hands.7 But the man who touches themMust be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear,And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.”

• David knew that the everlasting covenant was not based on his performance but upon God's gracious commitment.

• David makes reference to the coming of a righteous ruler from his house in the covenant.

12 When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’

• Waypoint 1: Gen 3:15. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.

• Waypoint 2: Genesis 12-17 - promise of Seed will come through Abraham, and in that Seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

• Waypoint 3: Genesis 49:8-10 Redeemer will come from tribe of Judah. “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; The scepter shall not depart from Judah…until Shiloh comes,”

• Waypoint 4: 2 Samuel 7 - the Davidic Covenant, from the house of David.

• Waypoint 5: Isaiah 7:13 -14 “Then he said, ‘Listen now, O house of David! …the Lord Himself will give you a sign:’” “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

Promised Seed

Thru’

Abraham

Thru’ Judah

Thru’ House of David

Thru’ Virgin birth

• One will arise & rule the world in righteousness – Jesus.

• V4: And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises,A morning without clouds,Like the tender grass springing out of the earth,By clear shining after rain.

New life

• Light & sprouting grass = new hope & life

• Mankind - not just sinners who need forgiveness but spiritually dead people who desperately need new life.

• Jesus is the only one who can give this new life.

David had the shadow, we have the substance.

• 1 Cor. 15:45 “The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit”.

• Need to internalise the truth about the finished work on the Cross to be truly anchored in Christ.

Still in Adullam Cave? Need not anymore!