THE GOD OF TURNING POINTS
First Samuel, Week Seven
PSALM 57
To the God Who Accomplishes All Things
Read the psalms not only with David in mind, but
always pressing further, with your own life
circumstances prayerfully in the forefront of your
mind…because they’re poetry, and this is how poetry is
to be read: we feel it before we intellectually digest it.
1 SAMUEL 25
The Inspirational Abigail
Abigail’s Theology
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Don’t be distracted by a worthless man
I am an accessory of restraint sent by God
Place the guilt on me as a substitute
Forgive me on the basis of your future Kingdom
Allow me to do good towards you
Abigail brought peace into an emotional and potentially
destructive situation by laying down her pride,
presenting herself as a servant, and speaking gentle but
bold truth that shed light into darkness…
(She did not defend, excuse, lay blame, insult,
condescend, or manipulate, or nag her husband.)
Abigail is both a rein upon David's folly, as well as a spur to his faith.
1 SAMUEL 26
David Spares Saul
David is best off when that impulsivity and his emotions
are driven by his theology, not the other way around.
If we don’t trust God to provide our significance and
security, then we will be on a ruthless hunt to find these
things for ourselves, practicing no restraint in our search.
Invictus
Outofthenightthatcoversme,
Beyondthisplaceofwrathandtears
BlackasthePitfrompoletopole,
LoomsbuttheHorroroftheshade,
Ithankwhatevergodsmaybe
Andyetthemenaceoftheyears
Formyunconquerablesoul.
Finds,andshallfind,meunafraid.
Inthefellclutchofcircumstance
ItmaFersnothowstraitthegate,
Ihavenotwincednorcriedaloud.
Howchargedwithpunishmentsthescroll,
Underthebludgeoningsofchance
Iamthemasterofmyfate:
Myheadisbloody,butunbowed.
Iamthecaptainofmysoul.
My Captain
Outofthenightthatdazzlesme
Beyondthisplaceofsinandtears
Brightasthesunfrompoletopole
Thatlifewithhim!Andhistheaid
IthanktheGodIknowtobe
Despitethemenaceoftheyears,
ForChristtheconquerorofmysoul
Keepsandshallkeepmeunafraid
Sincehistheswayofcircumstance,
Ihavenofear,thoughstraitthegate
Iwouldnotwincenorcryaloud
Heclearedfrompunishmentthescroll
Underthatrulewhichmencallchance,
Christisthemasterofmyfate
Myheadwithjoyishumblybowed
Christistheconquerorofmysoul.
“David would have made a poor space-age evangelical;
he would never have been content with his study Bible,
prayer list, and a quiet cave.Yahweh's face (or presence)
was especially seen in the sanctuary (Psalm 63:2); yet
David was being driven away and cut off from
tabernacle and sacrifice, from priest and festival. He was
being shut out of the land and sanctuary where Yahweh
met with his people. To be cut off from the ordinances
of public worship is David's most severe grief. Would
that cause me anguish? Christians have surpassed David
in privileges but few have approached him in appetite.”
–John Woodhouse
1 SAMUEL 27
David Flees to Gath
“The text will not allow us to view Saul with only contempt
and save nothing but admiration for David; the text resists
every attempt to make David the mirror of all virtue.”
–Karl Gutbrod
“God’s servants are dipped in Clorox so they will be infallibly
sin-free and attractive to you.The living God does not have
clean material to work with!”
–D Ralph Davis
“There is a way which seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.”
–Proverbs 14: 12