1 Samuel Chapter 21:1-12

Were brought up in a culture of the society would tell you truth is a subjective thing you know there's the there's the were told as little children, there's the bad lives.

And then there's the little white lies like the little white lie zero and sees the little white lab. Okay. And in this situation where you see that this is his wife is placed in danger because of this law, and as followers of Jesus were told over and over in Scripture that was supposed to be lovers of truth now is that mean we should love the Bible absolutely because the Bible is absolute truth, but it also means we should be lovers of truth welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today were blessed to have Mr. sister suggested studio Pastor Neal is assisting pastors here to help us out with the program today. Hey Bob, great to be here with you today. Thank you.

Listeners grab your Bible open it up the first Samuel chapter 21. Talk about honesty and Pastor David to be sharing about great place to be a blessing in your relationship… And then, as David McGee shares first by first going through first Samuel chapter 21 first Samuel chapter 21 you what's happening. This is David has been anointed king, but is not been placed into the position of being king and Saul started getting really paranoid and freaked out is now in a want to kill David even though David is his best leader and God is given the victory after victory through David and now David is going to be kind of on the run for next probably for 5 to 10 years something like that name is going to be on the run to see the night that some interesting things are going to come out through him being on the run. So first Samuel chapter 21 verse one that David came to knob to him that the priests and Amalek was afraid when he met David and said that him, why are you alone and no one is with you and David is a leader in the Army. David is also the son-in-law of the king and Indian outbound self is troubling to this priest and we need to make sure that counterpoints to the fact that you know there is safety in fellowship. There is safety in fellowship. I'm sure it before but watching years ago watching this wild kingdom something someone those animals are there is a zebra that was off to the side and and the lion run into the hurt a zebra but he went and got the one zebra that was off to the side. I think a lot of when we are not in fellowship, we open ourselves up to attacks of the enemy is were separated from her brothers and sisters to be careful.

Artichoke don't hear this. Some of you will like it. Some of you may be in my family will like it.

I thought it was funny… This guy was going deer hunting and kicking down into the kitchen and his wife are sitting there camouflage and he said what you know and she said well there with you. We never been there before.

Assuring you with an so you know he goes and puts her in the deer block the place in the tree were you wait on the deer because of their blood and and but in the deadlines and wears what you do receive their shooting and yell for anything. Can you know she she would come back else and she's not sure there so he walks away in about five minutes later years some shots so he starts walking back to the deer blind and then hear some more shots and he hears his wife scream again with my dear Sir, start running back to the deer blind at that point you and emboli running back. He hears some more shots doing for my dear. So finally gets her and he sees us cowboy with his hands up in there and and she screams again, generally for my dear in the Electors and Mama get away from your dear. Just let me get my set off of it first. Is nothing new person and so David said that Ahimelech the priest. The king is ordering me on some businesses said to me, do not let anyone know anything about the business in which I send you what I have commanded you. And I have directed my young men do such and such a place now.

We were talked about the fact that Saul was trying to kill David and David here is his line is not among business for Saul and will really find out the next chapter is that because David wide to the priests.

He put his life in danger.

And you know we we need to be careful in this area because were brought up in a culture in a society that will tell you truth is a subjective thing you know there's the there's the were told as little children, there's the bad lives. And then there's the little white lies like the little white lies are okay and see the little white lies are not okay first life lesson off about lies hurt people and damage relationship lies hurt people and damage relationships and in this situation were to see that this priest is his wife is placed in danger because of this law, and as followers of Jesus were told over and over in Scripture that were supposed to be lovers of truth now is that mean we should love the Bible absolutely because the Bible is absolute truth, but it also means we should be lovers of truth itself.

At first John 318 says my little children, let us not love in word and in time, but indeed, in truth, then part of Zechariah chapter 8 verse 19 is therefore love truth and peace, love, these things love these things there. There is one possibility and and it is really remote but understood out there because I thought of it when I read this verse, but it says the king is ordering me on some business in.

David was talking about God, his king, there may be some truth in the what he say it's interesting if you think about this if perhaps he was talking about God's reread the verse.

So David said that Ahimelech the priest. The king is ordering me on some business and said to me do not let anyone know anything about the business and what you sent, or what I've commanded you, and have directed my young men to sit in such a place. It's possible I'm not sure I buy into that.

But it is a possibility. So I thought I would. I would throw it out there. Verse three now therefore, what have you on hand give me five loaves of bread in my hand or whatever can be found in the priest answered Dave and said there is no common bread on hand. But there is holy breath is the young men have at least Themselves from women not only explain what's going on here on the Shabbat they would replace the show bread the bread literally in Hebrew, the bread faces the bread went before the face of God that would replace the 12 loaves after seven days, and then the priests were entitled to eat those 12 loaves now the priestess and while we don't have any regular bread, but we have the show bread and if your men have kept themselves pure than they can have that now understand when you are out doing military things. There was a a ritual purity that you were supposed to engage in other words, soldiers that were out were not supposed to have sexual relations out will see later on in the life of David comes into contact with this man named Uriah and Uriah.

Even though he's off the field of battle and and actually with his wife still decides he's not can have relations with her because of this military ritual purity. Verse five then David answered the priest and said eventually women have been kept from us about three days since I came out in the vessels of the young men are holy and the Brad is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.

So the priest gave him holy bread, for there was no bread there, but the show bread which had been taken from before the Lord in order to put hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away again.

It's the legal bread they take the bread out the new bread and the priest, which was the the bread but again this is a is this interesting passage. It is so interesting that Jesus added commentary to it that some of you may be familiar with. So do me a favor keep your finger right there for single 21 in turn with me over to Matthew chapter 12, which is in the New Testament is the first book of the New Testament to see what was going on when Jesus referred to this because this is going to help shed some light on what's going on in this chapter, I love the saying the best commentary on the Bible is about as you look at cross-references it will reveal other thing about other things about the Scriptures that you're looking so in Matthew chapter 12 and will read one 214.

At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath and his disciples were hungry and began the plot cans of grain and to eat.

When the Pharisee sought to send them look your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath, but he said to them, have you not read what David did when he was hungry.

He and those who are with how he entered the house of God and make the show bread which was, not lawful for him.

The nor for those who were with them, but only for the priest have you not read in the wall than on the Sabbath the priest in the temple profane the Sabbath. The blameless, I say to you that in this place. There is one greater than the temple, but if you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice you would not of condemned the guiltless for the Lord. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath now was continual because it it it enlightens them further verse nine felony and departed from there he went into their synagogue, and behold, it was a man who had a withered hand and asking since is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath that they might accuse him. Then he said to them what man is there among you who has one. She and if it falls into the pit on the Sabbath will not lay hold of it lifted out how much more value then is a man than a sheet.

Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath when he said them.

Stretch out your hand and he stretched it out and is restored as whole as the other, then the Pharisees went out and plotted against them how they might destroy him in Jesus in this passage is really same to the Pharisees eat.

You guys are getting you guys are getting, you know, the letter of the law, but you don't know the spirit of the law to because they look to these disciples that were hungry and instead of saying a note will see these guys Williams 70 they looked at him and said you know what they really shouldn't be collecting food on the Sabbath.

Now go back to first Samuel 21. That's the same thing that this priest in first Samuel 21 understood there was a hungry man. Men standing in front of this Brad.

The law suggested that he needed to only only the priest could eat this bread was the concept here that love is over, the law love is over, the law mean in some reckless way that so many people these days hold to ritual and don't love other people. I don't think that impresses God because if you remember a lot of a lot of us may think that this is an New Testament concept what Jesus said back in Leviticus 1918, it resist.

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord that is back in Leviticus now Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 2237 Jesus said to him is to either guess is he a what's the greatest thing in the law.

Jesus said that you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the Shema that here is in the Hebrew verse 38 this is the first and great commandment in the second is like it you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Those two things, and yet we have severely overcomplicated everything and but it really it really does break down. That's an amazing thing. There's a there's some people to talk about the love gospel and they don't mean that the positive thing is a you know when you present the gospel. He can't just talk about the love of God. You gotta talk about how hot hail Helen doesn't and all these things and no one we need to understand Jesus took different approaches with different people never notice he didn't have this formula to be careful of developing a formula because some people like the woman at the well. John eight Jesus said where you can never, he went straight to the point also and Johnny. He slammed the Pharisees heart say in your of your father the devil, that's fairly confrontive to religious leaders to Jesus used a different approach. Different people and I think saying hey you got it you got to do this and you gotta do that.

Did Jesus die that we would not go to hell. Absolute absolutely should that be part of the discussion part of the top but you know, a lot of times people are very familiar with the fact that they're going to hell very familiar. The fact that there without hope. Without peace they want to know the answer they want to know the answer and so be careful about any ministry that says in there, they're out there later we got to do the do this slam of the law, make him feel like a worm, and after that talk about love the Lord. But the Bible says is the goodness of God that leads us to repent understanding I'm condemned on the law. That's an important thing to do.

But you know what Jesus now. Jesus knew that the people who didn't understand that were the religious people.

They were the ones that need understanding of what your center your center and you need saving from your sense and it's amazing to me that you find more pride in churches, the need doing barrooms not really convicting statement but you find more pride in churches and you doing Boris what his people barrooms understand their centers and and they understand that you're desperate for the grace of God, and they're not live in right saying they're living right but then you know people in church are minutes I found it like we earned it. Hopefully there's nobody in this room right now. It thinks they earned the grace of God. I know that I've never done anything to deserve God's unmerited favor in his love for me. I just hadn't done anything that's worthy of, but the love of God pursued me to the point and I ran and ran and ran and finally I just exhausted myself that came to the Lord.

Wonder how many stories like that there are in this room we need to understand because Jesus talks about this love thing and John talks about this love thing they were supposed to love one another. If we say we love God and don't love one another reliant a lot of times we think will packages be if I could just be left alone on the island that I could live out the Christian life and be a strong believer know know you would have your biggest problem on the island with you is the reality that's a reality to see your biggest obstacle to loving other people is not other people is not other people and Jesus spent a lot of time with this and and and the priest is understand this because the priest can look at them and said carrier beginning to show bread and not only did the priest give the shewbread the David but Jesus for our say later on, says he did a good thing. This is why did so that we wouldn't miss what was going on. I think we need understand this, you know, practical example of this that I was her last baptism. There were some Xmas and be baptized. We believe in baptism by immersion at the Greek word baptism means completely immersed and were told the Bible that Jesus came out of the water if he came out of the water. Guess what we know he was in the water. You gotta be instant before you come out of it's amazing.

I saw a picture that John sprinkling Jesus and the world is that by this. This man was involved in the automobile accident he was going to baptize the day before his whiskey baptize is involved in an automobile accident, and then for a little while we work sure if he was gonna pull and that that is a class today we prayed about it and I was ready and that brother was going to be passing away. I was ready to take a bottle of blue up there I go back to cannot immerse them in the bed obviously not but would God understand absolutely absolutely no praise God the brothers, recovering and as he recovers will will be one day will get them all away in the water.

A man that I think that's what what is going on here because I can be hard coordinating actively in the Congo Oleander didn't get but as I really Jesus now. Everyone understands the get religious and the moment you really start getting religiously start losing love and you got to be really careful and I'm not talking about it and let me make sure were balanced. I'm not talking about we wink at sin or anything like that. Jesus said turn the other cheek. He didn't say look the other way and I think sometimes we can get so engaged in an religion that we lose love and I think that we need to be careful of that because my love will try out over doctrinal direct differences when I'm talking to Chris Irenaeus help at how Christians have love that argue you go to another believer, are you Christian. I what's immediately the first thing you start, since his what denomination are you at any innocent woman to be wise a question they would argue all your that denominational or whatever. I think that grieves the Lord over seven now certain men of the servants of Saul was there that they detained before the Lord and his name was the Lagunita Mike, the chief of the herdsmen who belong to Saul Edomites go back to Esau all sorts of problem because of Esau still in the world today and the lag is going to be a big big problem and now this is interesting to see next it in the next chapter will see that know it really wasn't a man of God really wasn't following the Lord, but is in the house Lord will lead times as a solar Judas in the house. Lord and David said Ahimelech is a nine-year-old hemisphere or sword fry brought me there.

My sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste. So the priest said the sort of glass.

The Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley and Eli there it is wrapped in a cloth behind the e-file. If you will take that take for there's no one that no other except that when here and David said there is none like it, give it to me this is awesome because I think it and I met innocently counters her with this is not good is getting the last sword and I can see part of that but I like the fact that the sort often represents the word of God and what David says there is none like it, give it to you understand him much. We need this book in our lives. Yes average American has nine of these in his own Yemeni Bibles that average Third World pastor has in his zero.

We have nine any terms of the problem. There's think about what what did the sword of Goliath mean the David in the midst of this running sauce chasing soft on a killing and he sees us sword of the line and I think he remembered. He looked at that sword went yeah you know what guys will see me through.

He remembered his former victors to understand how important that is understand. Whenever you share your testimony and what God has brought you out of that you remember how much you've been changed already and and what happens through this form of victories. Not only are you filled with plays with the person you're talking about is filled with faith twice good to talk about live in the past but remember those victories because God is continuing to change and there can be more balanced energy to be more victories we need understand verse 10. Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul went to a shish the king of gas and certain sebaceous of them is is not David, the king of the land, the denouncing of him to one another and dances saying Saul a Salinas thousands, and David is 10,000 verse will not David took these words to heart was very much afraid of patients, the king of God. David is he's he's worried he's concerned he's afraid and what is he do he goes to gas.

He runs right in the danger, think about David's walking into gas Goliath was from gap is walking into gas with the sword of one of its most famous citizens and I guarantee you there were some people there that I was enough sword for he placed himself in danger, you realize we do that in mind, all was asleep out on the concrete on the street because it was feeling good is warm himself in the sun, I believe, and there is a spot you get up yesterday there want because I laughing as believers we have to do that sometimes in an and when that happens to you notice it when I say if sooner or later it's gonna happen.

Everybody in this room and you have to make decision at that brilliantly make decisions now that we do not we do it will literally Toby Roy Horsley or related delivery. Reuter router Reagan is bumps or what you, man were meant to be really friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now own Legion.

A short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again.

Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous.

Congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you prayed that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit crossed the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

You can also write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life before we go.

Have you been listening to the teachings to the book of first Samuel we can pick some of these teachings, it will encourage your prayer life pastor Neil, can you tell us more about we all hunger for a deeper connection with the Lord and pastor David shares through past living examples how to have that deeper connection. So when you give a gift today we are going to send you for your generosity praying through first Samuel. It's a four CD series that will encourage you in a deeper relationship with the Lord. And as you step out on faith and give a gift to cross the bridge today will send this in appreciation for your generosity. Again, please visit crossed the bridge.com to give today and get your copy of praying through first Samuel we would also like to encourage you to grab pastor David Staley each day you wake up perfectly past work of God's life lessons to consider a daily reading plant in the fall to meditate on your day heart. And it's easy. It's free to sign up today on cross the bridge.com folks. Thanks for listening into the next time. As David McKay continues teaching verse by verse through first Samuel