Christ’s Power to Recover
Text: 1 Samuel 30:1-20
At this stage in the life of David, the man after God’s own heart is avoiding Saul by living among the Philistines. It’s a period of deep unbelief in his life. The measures he takes to avoid getting killed by Saul show his lack of faith in God’s future purpose for him.
David did what many Christians do today. He made a big decision without doing what he so often did, inquiring of the Lord. Dear believer, learn to talk to God about big decisions in life, such as where you’re going to live. I’ve warned you of this before, but it needs to be repeated.
When he went down to the Philistines, the king Achish gave him Ziklag, and at the beginning of 1 Sam 29 we see David and his men joining Achish against Israel and Saul. But when the princes of the Philistines realize David is with them, they appeal to their king to send him away, somewhat nervous that David would turn on them in the middle of the battle.
So David and his men make their way back to Ziklag, only to discover that while they were away the Amalekites had invaded and raided Ziklag and the area. They had taken the women, children, and all the spoils of the city and what they didn’t take they burned.
v6, v8 – we see the response of the men and David. Note the different response between the mature believer who has experience with God, and those who’s theology has never reached further than their head. Sometimes God is pleased to take away what is most precious to us, and how we respond in those moments shows how much spiritual strength we really have.
Sooner or later our Ziklag will burn to the ground.
Will we speak against our King in such times? Will we find fault with the one who has given His life on the cross for our salvation when our Ziklag burns to the ground?
In such times it is vital to be able to rejoice in unchanging gospel truth. That’s what David did – v6.
I. CHRIST’S POWER TO RECOVER HIS PEOPLE
Note v19
Compare: Matt 18:11 speaking of infants. Lk 18:10 speaking of mature people.
Lk 15 – lost sheep, silver, and son. Turn – Ezek 34:11 The Father has given a people to the Son, and the Son pursues those people. – v8
II. CHRIST’S PURPOSE TO RECOVER THEIR POSITION
David not only recovered the people, but their possessions.
Christ not only engages to recover His people, but to recover their position. It’s wonderfully put in that hymn, ‘Jesus Shall Reign”
“Where He displays His healing power
Death and the curse are known no more;
In Him the tribes of Adam boast, More blessings than their father lost.”
The work of Christ was to sanctify a people and make them holy, so that they would resemble the image of God more accurately.
Q35:What is sanctification? A:Sanctification is the work of Gods free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness”
“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” Col 3:10 “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Eph 4:24
III. CHRIST’S POLICY TO RECOVER USING HIS PEOPLE
Note that David didn’t go alone – v10
Christ works with His people. “For we are labourers together with God” 1 Cor 3:9
“And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mk 16:20
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor 15:58
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal 6:9
Close “If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.” – Spurgeon
