‘True security’ (1 Samuel 8:1-22)

In this message on 1 Samuel 8:1-22, Ryan Smith explores the concept of finding security in the Lord alone from the time the people of Israel went to Samuel to ask them for a king to rule over them. They did this to ‘be like the other nations around them’ and in doing so they earned God’s displeasure, even though He gave them what they asked for! (Sometimes we ask for the wrong things!) It’s a challenge for us in this day of much fear about many things – who do you trust in for your security?

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Stand Up and Bless the Lord
00:17 Introduction
00:38 Prayer
04:27 Bible reading: 1 Samuel 8
Song: Be Unto Your Name
07:18 Shorter Catechism Introduction
08:45 Catechism Questions 91-95
10:54 Bible reading: Matthew 6 and Mark 10
Song: How Deep the Father’s Love
Sermon: 1 Samuel 8:1-22
Song: Be Thou My Vision
14:29 Closing

Outline

  1. In their insecurity the Israelites ask for a King (v1-5)
  2. Seeking security apart from God is to reject Him (v.6-9)
  3. A King will take from them & enslave them (v.10-18)
  4. God gives them what they ask for (v.19-22)
  5. God graciously gives them far better than they deserve – Jesus the true and better King!

‘Nabal, Abigail, David and Jesus’ (Guest speaker, 1 Samuel 25:1-44)

From July 2018: When the would-be king, David, was spurned by the foolish Nabal in 1 Samuel 25:1-44, he saw red. In his anger, David made up his mind to put an end to Nabal’s life. If it wasn’t for the actions of Nabal’s wife, Abigail (who in some small way points us to Jesus), David would have fallen into serious sin. Anger does that, which is why the Bible teaches that we should ‘be angry’, but ‘do not sin’ (Ephesians 4:30).

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Immortal Invisible
00:20 Introduction
00:39 Prayer
05:08 Bible reading: 1 Samuel 25:1-22
Song: We Are His People
09:00 Shorter Catechism Introduction
10:28 Catechism Questions 48-52
13:17 Bible reading: 1 Samuel 25:23-44
Song: Jesus Strong and Kind
Sermon: 1 Samuel 25
Song: May the Mind
17:44 Closing

‘Nabal, Abigail, David and Jesus’ (Guest speaker, 1 Samuel 25:1-44)

When the would-be king, David, was spurned by the foolish Nabal in 1 Samuel 25:1-44, he saw red. In his anger, David made up his mind to put an end to Nabal’s life. If it wasn’t for the actions of Nabal’s wife, Abigail (who in some small way points us to Jesus), David would have fallen into serious sin. Anger does that, which is why the Bible teaches that we should ‘be angry’, but ‘do not sin.’ (Ephesians 4:30)

‘The sad, sad end of the life of a fool’ (1 Samuel 31:1-13)

1 Samuel 31 tells us how the Philistines attacked Israel and were victorious, ending both King Saul and his sons’ lives – Saul’s sons in the battle and Saul by his own hand. Saul’s tragic life ended in a sad and lonely death, having refused to turn away from his mad pursuit of David and having failed to turn away from his sin. Saul’s death came about according to the Lord’s own warning to him, but even this did not deter him from this course of action. Saul’s death stands in stark contrast to the death of Jesus, the true King, whose death was not senseless and sad, but secured the salvation of the people of God and brings them real and eternal hope.

‘The view you get from the bottom of the pit’ (1 Samuel 30:1-31)

1 Samuel 30:1-31 tells how, when David returned to Ziklag, he and his men found a calamitous situation. All their houses had been burned to the ground, their goods stolen and their wives and children captured. His men soon began to talk of a mutiny. David, however, found strength in God, sought and obtained His direction, saw God’s sovereign hand providing his needs, and, after all was returned, even became a channel of His grace. Even on his his worst day from the bottom of the pit, David proved that God was near and would not let him go. Jesus went to the bottom of that pit to save His people on the cross – the fullness of grace to the undeserving.

‘Rescued – from the ultimate ‘Catch 22” (1 Samuel 29:1-11)

When David entered the service of the Philistine King, seeking relief from the mad pursuing King Saul, he placed himself into a real ‘Catch 22′ situation’ with no way out. God, however, had other ideas, and, as is told in 1 Samuel 29:1-11, through the unrest in the Philistine camp and the orders of the Philistine King and His own intervening hand, God rescued his servant from a terrible spot. David had to learn, however, that his own poor choices brought all this upon his own head and yet, at the same time, be assured that God held him in the palm of His hand and would not let him go.

‘The King, the witch and the warnings’ (1 Samuel 28:3-25)

1 Samuel 28:3-25 is one of the more difficult passages from the Old Testament, but it is clear that the chapter records how Saul, desperately needing advice about an impending war, consulted a medium who made contact with the recently dead Samuel. The fact that Saul did this shows how far he had slipped from grace. Having rejected God and His Word, Saul had nothing left to cling to. He refused to listen to God, so God stopped speaking to him, illustrating the biblical principle that we reap what we sow, which, in this case again, was to his further demise.

‘Strengthening your grip … on the grace of God’ (1 Samuel 27:1-28:2)

1 Samuel 27:1-28:2 tells us how David under extreme duress, when considering what to do next, made some ‘pressure cooker’ decisions that were all backward steps. Fleeing across the border to the land of the Philistines, he was granted refuge, but ended up in hotter water – enlisted as the King’s personal bodyguard and engaged to fight his own people Israel. David not only forgot some things he should have remembered, but he also failed to keep a strong grip on God and lost sight of the need to persevere.

‘Ever get the déjà vu feeling?’ (1 Samuel 26:1-25)

In 1 Samuel 26:1-25, David and his men had a second opportunity to kill King Saul and end David’s life on the run, but it was David who showed kindness to Saul and spared his life. By that act and by his speech that followed, it seems that David had begun to grow in his understanding of God’s providence, his own sin and his own unimportance. Also, by these actions, David mirrored Jesus who entered the enemy’s camp and won a great victory over sin and death.

‘Of Nabal, David, Abigail…and Jesus’ (1 Samuel 25:1-44)

1 Samuel 25:1-44 tells the story of Nabal the ungrateful who wanted to repay good with evil, David the vengeful who wanted to repay evil with evil and Abigail the peaceful who overcame evil with good. In fact in a wonderful way, by her offering and her actions, Abigail points us to the Lord Jesus Christ who placed himself under God’s wrath that those who believe may be spared it.