David is Beloved and Successful

What is the secret to success? The world might say that status, power and good looks are vital. King Saul has all of these, yet by I Samuel 18 he is in sharp decline.

David, on the other hand, is loved by almost everyone and all that he does prospers. The reason is that God is with him. Because of David’s success and popularity Saul becomes jealous and tries to destroy him, even using his own daughter as a pawn in his schemes. The LORD, however, has departed from Saul so that his attempts to destroy David fail. Saul, in his foolish jealousy and anger, serves as a warning to us.

What matters most in our lives is not the approval of men, or even worldly measures of success. The most important thing is that God, Who opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, is with us.

We may have troubles (or even Sauls) in our lives, but we live in confidence that the LORD is sovereignly working out His good purpose in and through us.

The Friendship of David and Jonathan

This week we resume our series in I Samuel as we consider the most famous friendship in the Bible between David and Saul’s son, Jonathan. On one level, many of us have more friends than ever – at least according to Facebook. On the other hand depth and commitment in friendship is rare, especially among men. David and Jonathan exemplify the love, loyalty and devotion friends should have for one another.

It is my hope that through the teaching of the Word of God we will be encouraged to be a friend and to cultivate God-honoring edifying friendships among us. Of course we know that earthly friends will sometimes let us down. What a blessing it is to know “The Friend of sinners’ Jesus Christ. May we respond to the Lord’s anointed in faith and love.

Defining and Defending Marriage

This Sunday we will take a break from our series in I Samuel, though our subject is not entirely unrelated.

As you probably know the California Supreme Court (by a vote of 5-4) recently overturned the law (which had been passed by over 60% of the voters eight years ago) which ‘only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in the state of California’ and ordered the statewide recognition of same sex-marriage. This November Californians will have the opportunity to vote on Proposition 8 which would overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling by amending the state constitution to say that ‘only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in the state of California.’

My purpose in this sermon will be:

1. To positively set forth God’s plan for the family, which is revealed in creation. Gen. 2:18ff
2. To explain how our culture’s slide into immorality is a judgment from God. Rom. 1:20ff
3. To offer help in the gospel to all kinds of sinners (even homosexuals). I Cor. 6:9ff

David Slays Goliath

This Sunday we will complete our study of the battle between David and Goliath. We saw last week that this is much more than a story of a little guy beating a big guy. David is the anointed of God who faces a God-hater who curses God and His people.

David is a picture and type of Jesus, the anointed (Christ) of God who conquered Satan, sin and death for us. While we can in some ways follow David’s example, we are more like the people of Israel who desperately needed a Champion to fight for them. Christ is our Champion who fought our fearsome enemy as our representative.

Last week was the buildup to the battle. This week’s text begins with a war of words as Goliath blasphemously engages in trash talk while David speaks with full confidence in the LORD. The battle itself is over very quickly. In the aftermath the army of Israel gains their courage and smites the terrified fleeing Philistines.

Our focus in application will again be how David is a type of Christ who leads us victoriously to victory. We will also look upon David (and Christ) as examples of how we can face God’s enemies without fear.

Satisfaction for the Thirsty

Spurgeon called Isaiah 55 a chapter of gospel invitation. He preached from this passage at least eighteen times.

Isaiah 55 pleads with the lost to abandon their worthless idols. The Lord offers abundant pardon and rich kingdom blessings to those who turn to Him.

Isaiah 55 also speaks to believers who sometimes waste their time and money seeking to find joy and satisfaction in worldly things instead of finding their fulfillment in Christ.

Isaiah 55 also points to Christ who offers Himself as our spiritual food and drink.

Liberty and Love

Are you strong?

Last week Paul began his discussion of the issues over which Christians differ by encouraging all of us to accept one another without judging in these difficult matters.

In this week’s text Paul focuses upon those who consider themselves strong - because they believe they have liberty to do things in which the weak cannot participate without violating his conscience.
Rather than looking down on the weak, the strong should forego the use of his freedom for the sake of those who don’t enjoy the same sense of freedom.
In so doing he is living out the gospel by imitating Christ who gave up His rights for us.