The Believers Strange Call to Suffering
1 Samuel 23; 1 Peter 4:12
Turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel 23. Well, we have been running for a while with David as he continues to flee from Saul, as David has the promise of God but seems to be lacking the blessings of God. If you have read 1 Samuel 23, you realize that this chapter shows the protection of God to David, but it does little to give David a lot of confidence of ultimate deliverance from Saul, nor that he will some day actually come to be the next king of Israel. Now, we read these narratives always from the perspective of what happens, and knowing what will happen, as we know the rest of the story; whereas David is living these narratives, and has no idea of what will happen next, nor does he have any knowledge of God’s timing. Yet what does jump out at us, at least from the narrator’s perspective, are two things that you may have noticed this week as you read this passage. One, is the suffering that David continues to experience; and two, is the reoccurring protection of God in the chapter.
So, let me first give you the overall storyline of 1 Samuel 23, and then we will go through it carefully and see what the narrator will tell us. The story goes like this, the Cole’s notes edition. David is told that the Philistines are fighting against Keilah (believed to be an Israeli town on the border of Israel adjacent to the land of the Philistines). Next, he fights against the Philistines and frees the people of that town; yet the people of Keilah try to turn David over to Saul, but David escapes. Then, Jonathan, Saul’s son, runs into David and they have this wonderful reunion of their friendship together. But then we read of Saul again, who gets knowledge of David whereabouts, yet God allows another attack from the Philistines to draw away Saul’s attention. Sounds like a pretty simple chapter, yet it is full of suffering, full of the protection of God, a little encouragement, and a few surprises along the way.
One of the things that we enjoy as parents or grandparents when our children are little is to be walking somewhere and you feel that little hand come into yours, as there is that natural attraction to be close to the one who is the protector, there is a safeness that is desired and felt. I remember walking with our grandkids in Wyoming, and anytime you might cross the only main street, you automatically grab that little hand. And as we go through our story, I want you to notice how many times we read the word “hand” in this chapter. Again, remember from last week that David is still out in the countryside running with his band of “down-and-outs.”
And there is nothing in this chapter to really assure David that things will get better, though there is plenty that occurs to continue to draw him towards danger but each time he narrowly escapes, as the Lord chooses to allow David to continue to suffer as He prepares David for the kingship. David must have asked the question “why” many times during these days. I suppose we ask that question because for some reason or another we believe that life should not be the way it is. This would be a question that Job would have asked “why?” And I always enjoy recalling Haddon Robinson’s commentary on the book of Job, as he says that the story of Job is not the way it should be, but it is the way it is, at least this is true from a human perspective.
When we suffer, we may think it is because we have done something wrong, and that could be. We do tend to believe that we should have the ability to relieve suffering. I mean if I have enough money, I can pay to get out of this. If I am fit enough, maybe I won’t get sick. If I work hard enough, I should not lose my job. Or if I parent correctly, I will never have any problems with my children. I believe that sometimes we do not enjoy God the way we should, simply because we have some kind of unreal expectations. In other words, we sort of relate some sort of power to overcome suffering, as we do tend to look at the rich and the famous with the ability to get beyond suffering to some degree, or the smart and the intelligent.
Anne and I always have this joke when we might be travelling somewhere, and we will see a really nice house on a beautiful setting, and always jokingly say to each other, boy, if we lived there, we wouldn’t mind getting up every morning. One of my Mom’s favourite sayings would come if we were at the beach somewhere, or just at some place that was beautiful, on a beautiful day, Mom would often say, boy, it would take a lot of this to upset me. See, the nice house, the beautiful setting, the beautiful day are sort of things that we think about, in other words, this is the way it should be. Therefore, we do not leave any room or even any need for suffering. And though we might try to ward off suffering as best we can, through fitness, money, power at work, even a personality that can sort of grit your teeth and think, I can get through this. And even though we tend to think that those with more power or more money can avoid suffering, we really know inside that suffering is no respect-of-persons. That tragedy could hit anyone, the healthy, those in poor health, the wealthy, the poor, the confident and skilled, and the insecure and the weak.
So, there are two myths out there that I would suggest. One, that if I work hard enough, save enough, and keep fit enough, I can ward off suffering. This would be something that we do not really believe, but we do hold onto to this philosophical idea to some extent, don’t we? The other is probably even stranger to you and me, it is this—there is something negative about suffering. Is that true? We live like it is, as we try to avoid suffering like the plague. In fact, most of our worry and stress likely has something to do with the concern that some form of suffering is going to get me. That I am going to wake up tomorrow morning and have to face suffering!
And I do not want to get things all upside down for us this morning, but there is something that we would have to consider, and that is the Bible is full of suffering. If I asked most of you this morning. is suffering part of the Christian life? You would likely answer, “Yes.” But I don’t want it, and I would rather be the one ministering to someone else who is suffering and not be the sufferer myself. And the reason I make this statement is that we have been following David who will be the next king, yet he is spending a considerable amount of time suffering. And good to hear what the Bible says if we project to the ultimate King and Messiah, Jesus Christ, to understand what is expected for us, especially we who claim to desire to be like Christ. Luke 24:25-26 says:
“O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer.”
Luke 24:25b-24a (LSB)
And later in that chapter it says (vs 46) that the Christ should suffer. Acts 3:18:
“But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.”
Acts 3:18 (LSB)
Or Acts 17, that the Christ had to suffer. Acts 26. that the Christ must suffer. Listen to John Woodhouse’s comment on this:
“This is simply incomprehensible to our normal ways of thinking … If the Christ must suffer, then goodness and suffering are not opposed but linked, for the Christ is the Righteous One! If the Christ must suffer, then power does not ward off suffering but submits to it, for the Christ is the Mighty One!”
John Woodhouse, Looking for a Leader 445
What Woodhouse says here it true. Notice he does not say that we enjoy suffering, because we do not. But he does say that we submit to suffering. For when we view the life of Christ—who is all-powerful—His power does not overcome suffering, but His power actually submits to suffering. Why? Because goodness and suffering are linked together and not opposed to each other. This is why the Apostle Peter was able to say:
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.”
1 Peter 4:12 (LSB)
In other words, this is not something that is hindering your Christian growth, but it is actually something that is being used by God to deepen your spiritual growth. When my sister was going through cancer treatments, I shared with you some of her thoughts. And the treatments have helped and she is doing better. And Lynne had written a few things during this time, and I read one for you a while ago. But she wrote something else that expresses exactly what Woodhouse is addressing here, that acceptance of suffering. This is what she wrote just into her treatments, and she had given me permission to read this to you.
I sit here in the middle of the night, in pain, trying to endure, telling myself it is what I must face, what I must get through to get better. But my mind wonders, are they curing me or killing me? I know their intention is to cure me, but how can anything this hurtful to the body be the cure? And then the bigger question, why must I face and endure this pain? What is it doing for me spiritually? Pain drowns out almost all other concerns. How do I focus on reading my Bible. For pain grabs all your attention. It takes all of your thoughts and all of your energy.
I am not pretending to have pain the magnitude of Job, but like him, I am wondering what is the answer to my question? Is there an answer for today that I can know? What of the challenge poised by Satan, “Job only serves You because You give him all he wants.” When I don’t get what I want, do I continue to believe in the goodness of God? Do I continue to trust Him that this is the best for me although tonight for sure, I am not getting what I want. Some relief, some sleep, that is what I want.
And it is not like I am suffering for my testimony. Suffering for the cause of Christ. No, I am suffering because the world has fallen and is full of sin and disease.
This morning, I was reading about Mary anointing Christ with expensive ointment. A. W. Pink commented that it was a testimony of her deep affection, unutterable attachment and worshipful devotion. How do I demonstrate those characteristics in my life? I think it is by accepting this road God has coursed for me. To commit, even in pain, my deep affection, unutterable attachment and worshipful devotion to Him who is wiser than I and accept that this is the road He wants me to travel and to do so with the knowledge that it ultimately is His best for me.
Isaiah 45:3 speaks of a treasure that can only be found by being willing to go into the darkness. Can I know Christ in a more meaningful way in that darkness? “Know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.” Knowledge of God, isn’t that worth something? Men are willing to delve into so many dangerous and dark places for wealth. To the depths of the oceans, into dark caves, digging into the ground convinced that the wealth to be discovered will make the sacrifice worthwhile. Am I as willing to do the same for spiritual wealth? For the knowledge of God?
Joni Eareckson who knows far, far more about pain than I, said she has never been delivered from pain but in her pain has met the Deliverer. Can I too, meet my Deliverer in a new way? What a waste it would be if God wanted to take me down this road and I experience the pain but never take advantage of wanting to meet Him in it. Maybe, just maybe, in my little world of pain ahead, there will be some treasure in the darkness, and I will be so glad I was willing to go there and trust Him and say, “Thank you Lord for taking me to the darkness, to the secret places, to see and know You!” Totally worth it! Totally worth it!
[She concludes by writing] Psalm 65:4, “How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You!” [And then writes], “I am often reluctant to share my stories. I reread them and they sound more spiritual than I feel. But I remind myself, nothing spiritual originated from within me.”
So, let’s see what David went through in our chapter.
“Then they told David, saying, ‘Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are pillaging the threshing floors.’ So David asked of Yahweh, saying, ‘Shall I go and strike these Philistines?’ And Yahweh said to David, ‘Go and strike the Philistines and save Keilah.’”
1 Sam 23:1-2 (LSB)
Keilah was a town on the edge of Israel that David hoped to save from the Philistines. Good to be reminded here that while Saul as king was to save Israel from the Philistines. This threat was not on Saul’s radar but was on David’s. And good to read of David’s response when this challenge came into his life, he calls on the Lord.
“But David’s men said to him, ‘Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the battle lines of the Philistines?’”
1 Sam 23:3 (LSB)
David’s response was not to argue with the men but to confirm with God.
“Then David asked of Yahweh once more. And Yahweh answered him and said, ‘Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.’ So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines; and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.”
1 Sam 23:4-5 (LSB)
So, what we are learning in this chapter is that David—who is close to the Lord—is hearing from God.
“Now it happened when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.”
1 Sam 23:6 (LSB)
While all the priests wore an ephod—a priestly vest—the high priest’s ephod was more elaborate as it contained what was called the “Urim and Thummim,” which was associated with receiving revelation from God. Yet Saul believed that David was trapped, and he had in his mind to go after David and his men. In fact (vs 7) Saul believed that it was the Lord who had given David into his hand, reference number three. And this may be the thought of many unbelievers, we hear this at times, who would believe that somehow God or some Power is with them or should be, and so, Saul prepares for attack against David (vs 8).
Now David had two concerns: one, was that Saul would come against him and at the same time attack Keilah, the city that David just rescued from the Philistines; or two, that Keilah might turn David over to Saul. As David asks the Lord (vs 11) will the men of Keilah surrender me into Saul’s hand? Well, to the reader’s surprise, it was the second concern that came true.
“Then David said, ‘Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?’ And Yahweh said, ‘They will surrender you.’”
1 Sam 23:12 (LSB)
They likely thought that Saul might do to them as he did to the priests. So, because David was aware of the threat from Saul, he was able to leave Keilah and get away with his men. Therefore (vs 13), Saul quit pursuing him and this section closes with the words (vs 14) that God did not give David into Saul’s hand, reference number six. Now at this point in the story, it would be easy to conclude that, well, David is safe, as the Lord has given him a message, so he knew to get out of Keilah, so that he would not have to face Saul or the people themselves. Yet that would not be fair to David, for he is still on the run. And he may have wondered, Lord, did I not do the people of Keilah a great service? And again, remember, there is no end in sight of the trouble that lies ahead for David. We do not read anything here of any gratitude from the people of Keilah towards David. He may have mentioned to Michal his wife, I wasn’t really expecting anything, but you would think I would have received a gift card or something.
Yet we also do not read any kind of disgruntled spirit from David, unlike many church folks over the years, who have maybe walked out of church mad or were disgruntled by something, with a lot less struggles that David would face. We get a little of this response from the Apostle Paul when he wrote the church in Corinth. He says in 2 Corinthians 4 that he and his team were part of the ministry by the mercy of God, and therefore, they did not lose heart. He said they were afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down; but not destroyed. So, how was church this morning, someone may have been asked at some point? Do you know what someone said to me today? I was afflicted and crushed. Do you know what the speaker said? I was perplexed and driven to despair. Did you know that there was that one person who didn’t even talk to me? I was persecuted and forsaken. Not sure I will stay involved there, for I have been struck down and destroyed.
Well, we can sort of smile about how we may respond to ministry or church, but here is the issue, we are going to suffer. And we might help someone, only to have them defend another who may be against us. We may be called upon by God to go through a struggle that is more difficult than the path of others. We may be struck with an offense, an unfairness, some kind of challenge, financial, health, or loss of position. And we can grumble and complain or realize that like Christ we too must suffer, and understand that these sufferings of David are important, and therefore, not to lose heart. Now, good to be reminded that within these times of struggle God does not just pour hot coals over us without encouragement, for around the corner for David was some cool refreshment.
“Then David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. Now David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. So Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh and strengthened his hand in God.”
1 Sam 23:15-16 (LSB)
Again, we see the word “hand” occur over and over again. We have read that Yahweh would give the Philistines into the hand of David (vs 4). Abiathar had the ephod that was a help to David in Abiathar’s hand (vs 6). Saul thought that God had delivered David into his hand (vs 7). And David wondered if the men of Keilah would deliver him into the hand of Saul (vs 11-12). And now we have the hand of David being strengthened. So, we have the hand of David, Saul, and Abiathar. And I guess the question is whose hand will prevail? As they all are about the power struggle. Whose hand is the strongest? And when it seems that Saul has men everywhere looking for David, always seeming to know his whereabouts, Jonathan strengthens the hand of David. And listen how Jonathan does this.
“And he said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you; and Saul my father knows that also.’ So the two of them cut a covenant before Yahweh; and David stayed at Horesh while Jonathan went to his house.”
1 Sam 23:17-18 (LSB)
What we find in Jonathan’s words are not shallow words trying to cheer someone up. Oh, don’t worry David, you will be okay. In fact, you know what you need David is some time off, some “me time.” David, you should not have helped out the people at Keilah. After all, you’ve got your own troubles. No, what does Jonathan do for David? What does he do? He gives him the truth. David, you will be king over Israel! Woodhouse makes this wonderful observation at this point in the story. He wrote that what Jonathan was basically saying was that while the circumstances of David, as real as they were—were not as fearful as they seemed. Woodhouse wrote that “What mattered more than what was seen … was what was unseen (the invisible hand of God).”
There was a time in the life of William Carey, a missionary to India in the late 1700s into the 1800s when he was struggling. Yet he had a precious friend named Samuel Pearce, who strengthened Carey’s hand in God. This is what he wrote to Carey in a letter: Brother, I long to stand by your side, and participate in all your struggles and attacks, but remember that the Captain of our salvation, Jesus Christ, marches as our Head. Sometimes He may withdraw his presence, but never His power. And the strength of that encouragement from Pearce to Carey was this, it was the truth.
Folks, in all our dealings in ministry and with people. In all the ups and downs in life. In all the promotions and the demotions. In all the increasing bank accounts and the decreasing accounts. In all the pain-free days and all the painful days. In all the great text messages and all the difficult phone calls. In all the encouraging days at church and all the discouraging days at church. In all the thankyous from our children and all the hard conversations with our children. Yes, in all the ups and downs in life, we must never let go of the truth.
Remember when Jesus was heading into Jerusalem. We read that the Son of Man would be handed over to men and that they would kill Him. That was the circumstance that Jesus found Himself on that day. But Jesus then told His disciples on the third day, I will rise again. Remember too that Jesus prayed in the Garden. His soul was grieved, and He fell to the ground on His face. Yet He submitted to the suffering, Father, Your will be done. And what happened? (Luke 22:43), an angel from heaven came and strengthened Him.
When we play 2-pitch, I like to encourage our team. “Team, if anyone can do this, it is Team Green.” Well, Team Green has beat Team Blue and Team Brown, but we got shellacked last week by Team Red, the Red Army. And they were tenacious, they don’t even smile, they are like robots. Boom! Boom! And of course they have they secret weapon too, Cheryl the Greater. But my talk, you can do this, we will beat these guys; that’s all it is, talk, not a whole lot of truth. People need the truth, don’t they? Let’s be truthful with our children. May we be truthful to others and ourselves. And this is why when we teach here, we try as best we can to be plain and direct. I don’t like to speculate, or make up stuff from numbers, and say that this has some mystical meaning. No, that to me would be like catering, as Paul said to Timothy, to inching ears, trying to find things in the Bible that are mysterious, never before seen. Folks, there is plenty in the plain text of the Scriptures to condemn us and convict us, as we do not need to find something strange in the Bible to know that we have offended God and that we need to be rescued, and therefore we need a Saviour.
You know we could accuse Jonathan here of adding to the truth, for Jonathan says (vs 17) David you will be king, and I will be second to you. God never said that. I wonder where Jonathan got that idea? Maybe he saw some sign in the sky, an eclipse or comet. Maybe he misinterpreted an OT prophecy. Maybe some biblical numbers worked out in his favour. Or maybe he just had some wishful thinking. But what does the text say? What is the plain truth? What did God say? David, you will be king. Folks, we need to be readers, with clear understanding, studiers. Who do not take away, who do not add, and who believe and obey what God has clearly said in His Word. So, let’s not try to weave things through the Scriptures. Let’s not go on a wild goose chase to find things that are not there but be quick to listen to the plain truth of the Bible. Otherwise, we will find ourselves at some point going through a great struggle with no clear truth to help us, or any truth to help anyone else, so that we will lose heart. But let us know our Bibles so that when we go through suffering and as others go though suffering, we can offer them hope from God with clear direct truth.
Well, the story continues as David ventures into the wilderness of Ziph and people there report this to Saul. And they tell Saul to come down and they will give David (vs 20) into the king’s hand, reference number nine. And Saul who is grateful for this and strangely says:
“And Saul said, ‘May you be blessed of Yahweh, for you have had compassion on me.’”
1 Sam 23:21 (LSB)
So, Saul comes after him and David goes to the wilderness of Maon. And David is on one side of a mountain and Saul on the other, and (vs 26) Saul’s men were surrounding David’s men about to overtake them, and a messenger comes and tells Saul that the Philistines have attacked. So (vs 28), Saul returned from pursuing David. End of chapter. Just when Sylvester is ready to pounce on Tweedy Bird, Granny’s pet dog Hector causes a diversion, and David is once again safe. You know, there is some irony in this chapter, as it starts out by David saving the people of Keilah from the Philistines, and at the end, it is the attack of the Philistines that saves David from Saul.
I know I keep coming back to this thought regarding these past few chapters and that is the true hero of these stories, as we see the power of certain men and how each of them had people, things, and power in their hand. But we do see the “unseen hand” of God throughout. In this chapter, it should be obvious to us that there is a higher Power, or a stronger hand, though unseen. Alistair Begg says for even the most casual events that occur in our world are actually connected to the purposes of God. Things that are apparently even inconsequential are appointed by God and directed by God, in order to achieve all His purposes, even using the sinful activities of those who are involved. As by now, we must understand that God has been proving Himself over and over again in the life of David to rescue him. As God used Michal, David’s wife, to help David secretly escape. God used Jonathan on various occasions to save David. Remember the one time, when Saul came upon David, the Spirit of God filled Saul so that he was unable to harm David. We could also say that David’s God-given skill enabled him at times and Saul’s lack of skill with his spear helped David escape at times. And Ahimelech aided David when he needed it. And then we saw last week where the king of Moab even helped David. And this week God used the ephod of Abiathar, and finally, God even uses the evil Philistines.
And yet we have also seen David lie his way through some situations, as we know David is growing in his faith, yet will greatly stumble at points. Could we say that David was a good person? Certainly not from the Bible for no one is good, but God, as all of us are sinful and come into the world as sinful. Then could we say that David kept the law of God? Well, he may at times. But any thought that he did was later derailed by James’ teaching when he wrote, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” So, I suppose we would have to say that from that statement that David did not keep the law, in fact, he is guilty of all of it. So, why was David being protected? Well, humanly, we might want to say it was because he was a man of faith, though imperfect. After all, he is listed with a group of men in Hebrews 11 who through faith conquered kingdoms, performed righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
But this is not the reason David is protected. Because the foundational truth was that God had said that David would come to the throne as king, therefore, David had to be protected in order for God to fulfill what He had said. Yes, David believed, he was a man of faith, but he believed in the promise of God. And God had said that David would be king. So, if we project this same faith into the New Testament church we could agree with Paul Washer as he writes …
“True Christianity has only one boast. It’s not about ‘I kept the law.’ It’s not about, ‘I’m a good person.’ It’s not about any of that. If you are a Christian, your only boast is this, ‘Jesus Christ died for wretches like me. There’s only one hero in true Christianity and it is Jesus Christ.’”
Paul Washer
See, the only way in which a person is saved is by the electing promise of God. And the result of that is they place their faith in Jesus Christ, for He is the only One who can save you, no one else can. Mysteriously, it is a work of God that is a real faith in the heart of the believer. And God may use many people in your life, but it is His hand that will bring You to Himself. So, where is your faith this morning? In Michal, your spouse? A loyal friend like Jonathan? Your works, goodness? Your strength, your skill? Some person who has some spiritual help like Ahimelech? Maybe good fortune?
Or is it God in the Person of Jesus Christ. Is it Christ that you are really trusting in? Who though unseen, He guides you, leads you, teaches you, enables you. And who allows you to be tested and challenged and who allows you to go through suffering, as He is preparing you for whatever purpose He wants to use you. Let’s pray. Lord, may our hearts be moved. May our understanding be deepened by the truth of Your Word. May we be men and women who know the truth, think on the truth, and believe the truth, knowing that Jesus Christ is our only hope in life. We praise You this morning for Your love, Your work in us, that though we are called upon at times to endure hardships and experience suffering, we know that this is for our best and therefore may we submit to Your will. We thank You for Your encouragement to us along the way. May You use us to encourage others. And may Your watch care over us, though unseen, motivate us to serve You with all our hearts. And all God’s people said, amen.