Conform To God’s Agenda 1 Sam. 24:1-7a, 11-12,
16-22 Oct. 26, 2008
Introduction
If we conform to God’s Agenda we must know what it is. Sometimes God will give us a revelation through the Spirit and God will confirm His agenda to us. Many times His ways will be known through His Word from stories like we have in our text. His Spirit directs the action we must take. When we walk with Him His blessings corroborate what His Word promises; and that is; it is good to Conform To God’s Agenda.
1. Conform To God’s Agenda For Your . . Protection. 1 Sam 24:1-7a
A. For Your Protection When Your Enemy . . Pursues You. 24:1-3
1 When Saul returned from
pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness
near En-gedi." 2 So Saul took 3,000 of Israel's choice
men and went to look for David and his men in front of the
Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 When Saul came to the sheep pens along the
road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve
himself. David and his men were staying in the back of the cave,
B. For Your Protection When Your Allies . . Persuade You. 24:4-7a
4 so they said to him, "Look,
this is the day the Lord told you about: 'I will hand your enemy over
to ou so you can do to him whatever you desire.'" Then
David got up and secretly cut off the corner of
Saul's robe. 5 Afterwards, David's conscience bothered
him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. 6 He said
to his men, "I swear before the Lord: I would never do such a thing to
my lord, the Lord's anointed. I will never lift my
hand against him, since he is the Lord's anointed." 7 With these words
David persuaded his men, and he did not let them rise up
against Saul.
Do you regularly thank the Lord for His protection. Do you ever ask for a hedge around you and your family like God gave to Job? I personally believe we may avail ourselves to His protection when we walk with Him. If His agenda becomes ours then His protection will be prevalent in our lives. If an enemy pursues us and we have pursued His ways it is possible for us to depend on Him. David was in the cave that Saul entered but he did not see David. The solders tried to persuade David to use this opportunity to kill Saul, but the Lord persuaded him to do otherwise. In God’s agenda David would not harm the Lord’s anointed. At this time David really tried to honor God with his actions.
2. Conform To God’s Agenda For Your . . Principals. 1 Sam 24:11-12
A. For Your Principals In Confronting Your . . Adversary. 24:11
11 See, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. Look and recognize that there is no evil or rebellion in me. I haven't sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
B. For Your Principals In Expressing Your . . Assurance. 24:12
12
"May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance
on you for
me, but my hand
will never be against you. We can confront our
adversaries when we walk in God’sagenda. We can do this with the
assurance that
God is leading us and will protect us, and a good portion of that peace
comes from the principals He gives. David put his trust in the
Lord and saw the benefits of such a lifestyle. David’s lifestyle led
him to allow the
Lord to build his principals as he walked with God as a man after God’s
own heart. Do you ever notice men and
woman who really walk with the Lord and seek to follow His desires? Are
we those kinds of people?
3. Conform To God’s Agenda For . . Proving Yourself. 1 Sam 24:16-22
A. Proving Yourself Through The . . Actions You Take. 24:16-17
16 When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, "Is that your voice, David
my son?" Then Saul wept aloud 17 and said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you.
B. Proving Yourself Through The . . Acclamations You Receive. 24:18-19
18 You
yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when the Lord
handed me over
to you, you didn't kill me. 19 When a man finds his
enemy, does he let him go unharmed? May the Lord repay you with
good for what you've done for me today.
C. Proving Yourself Through The . . Appeals Made To You. 24:20-21
20 "Now I
know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be
established in
your hand. 21 Therefore swear to me by the Lord that you
will not cut off my descendants or wipe out
my name from my father's family." 22 So David swore to
Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David
and his men went up to the stronghold.
Anyone knowing the Lord’s ways, will appreciate others trying to walk in His steps. These kinds of actions will be blessed by the Lord even in the face of the enemy. Saul noticed the godly lifestyle of David, and acknowledged it; he made the acclamation that David showed more mercy, justice, and was more righteous than himself. Saul saw the agenda of God in David’s actions more than he witnessed them in his own lifestyle. He realized God would make David the king in his place. There was a definite contrast in the life of Saul the king, and David the prospective King. Saul appealed to David that his life and family would be spared. David agreed. His agreement to this request seems to be given easily as he wanted to Conform To God’s Agenda. Amen? Amen!