Havasu Christian Church
Series in I Samuel
October 6, 2024
I Samuel 22:1-5
“David’s misfit army”
INTRO: When we last saw David, he was running for his life from Saul. We saw the consequences for his lies, and the lies of others. We saw consequences for those around him and for him as well.
This week, we find David hiding in a cave. He’s hiding out, but apparently it’s no great secret where he’s at. While he’s hiding, things are happening.
1 Samuel 22:1–5 So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him.
2 Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him.
3 And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.”
4 Then he left them with the king of Moab; and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.
5 The prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.
- What did David do for his family?
- It could be that David got word to his family to come to him.
- It could just as easily be that it’s no big secret where David is; people just aren’t telling Saul.
- He hides them with the king of Moab.
- “Any enemy of Saul is a friend of mine.”
- It’s politics…
- I’ll do you a favor today, and you’ll owe me one…”
- “Anything I can do to sow discord in my neighbor’s Kingdom is good for me.”
- I’m safer if they are weaker.
- Why was David’s family on the run?
- Saul had already thrown a spear at his own son for being David’s friend. What might he have done to David’s family?
- It would seem from the text that David’s brothers and their families stayed with him, and didn’t stay in Moab.
- They are a small community, living out in the middle of nowhere.
- What did David do for the misfits who showed up?
- He took them in.
- Those in distress…
- Maybe they are distressed because of what they see being done to David.
- Perhaps some of these men are ones who have served under him in battle.
- Those who were in debt and wanted a fresh start.
- There are always those who are looking for a way to get out of repaying what they have borrowed.
- It would be nice to think that all these men were cheated, but I doubt it.
- The malcontents.
- Another word choice would be “bitter.”
- The Orthodox Jewish Bible translation reads “bitter in spirit, discontented.”
- These are men whose lives are not going as planned!
- These men flock to David.
- He became their “Captain.” Their leader.
- Soon, there are about 400 men.
- There are probably women and children with them as well.
- Imagine the encampment of Robin Hood and his Merry men.
- They even have a priest!
- The son of Ahimelech, the High Priest.
1 Samuel 22:20–21 But one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.
- How is this like God’s Church?
- We are family.
- When trouble arose, David’s family came together and helped each other!
- I’m sure there was some complaining from David’s brothers… “If David hadn’t gotten in trouble, we’d all be at home right now!”
- But they stuck together!
- David also looked out for his aging parents.
- As our older brothers & sisters age, we need to be there for them even more.
- The care that this church showed for my mother was a great example of this!
- We are here for each other.
- In time of physical need.
- They worked together to do what was needed to stay warm, fed and housed.
- So should we.
- Sometimes, it’s financial
- Other times it’s manpower.
- We give this gift, but we should also allow others to help us as well.
- In time of sorrow.
- Sometimes that’s very hard to do.
- Recently, Valley Christian in Bullhead City had two funerals in one week.
- One of those funerals was last Sunday.
- They took care of their people, and still made it to the Singspiration.
- We comfort one another
- But we also allow others to comfort us!
- We encourage each other.
- To do this, we have to,
- Be around
- Pay attention
- We correct each other.
- This too can be difficult, but if we really love each other, we will correct each other… in love, not anger.
- Like David, we, as individuals and as a Church are called to care for the “misfits.”
- Augustine is credited with saying “The church is not a hotel for saints, it is a hospital for sinners.”
- He may have gotten some things wrong, but he sure did get this one right!
- Of course, that’s because he kind of ripped off Jesus.
Mark 2:16–17 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
- Those “misfits” (sinners) soon become family.
- They come to believe that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
- He’s the Messiah… the One that God sent!
- They repent of their sins.
- They turn and go the other way from how they were previously living.
- They confess to others that they believe that Jesus is Lord & Savior.
- This is a one time act, and also a continuing commitment to share this news all of our life.
- They are buried under the water in baptism
- This is an act of submission to what Jesus has said for us to do.
- They rise out of the water, a new creature!
- They are changed in the heart.
- They begin living their life for Jesus!
- They are adopted as a child of God!
Conclusion: We can be like David and his band of “Merry men.”
- Come together with Jesus as our “captain.”
- Care for “the family.”
- Care for “the misfits.”
- Remember, you were (and maybe still are) a misfit too!
- Love each other anyway!
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