Murray didn’t feel the first pangs of panic, until he pulled the emergency cord

Murray didn’t feel the first pangs of panic,

until he pulled the emergency cord

Strength is needed

Back ground note ...

The Old Testament ...

is set in a violent culturedescribes events it does not condone

Back ground note ...

The Old Testament ...

is set in a violent culturedescribes events it does not condone

is laying a framework for justice not violence

1 Samuel 251 Now Samuel died



1 Samuel 271 But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.” David withdraws

1 Samuel 271 But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.” David withdraws

(Behaves badly) 1 Samuel 27

12 Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.”

1 Samuel 281 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel.

Achish and the Philistines prepare to attack Saul

1 Samuel 291 The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2 As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish

David as friend of Achish is at the back

1 Samuel 294 But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting.

David not wanted

1 Samuel 2911 So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

After a debate David leaves

Meanwhile their base has been ransacked and women taken

1 Samuel 301 David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.

Great distress

1 Samuel 303 When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.

1 Samuel 305 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

David unpopular

1 Samuel 306 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters

David’s situationDavid’s situationWrong choices of violence

had caused retaliation


had caused retaliationSuffering personal loss


had caused retaliationRole and position questionedSuffering personal loss


had caused retaliationRole and position questionedReceiving aggression and anger

Suffering personal loss

1 Samuel 306 But David found strength in the LORD his God.

1 Samuel 307 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”

David asks God what to do

1 Samuel 309 David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind. 10 Two hundred of them were too exhausted to cross the valley, but David and the other four hundred continued the pursuit.

Some men exhausted

1 Samuel 30... 18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 20 He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is David’s plunder.”

Everything regained

1 Samuel 3021 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley. They came out to meet David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were.

David returns to the exhausted men

1 Samuel 3022 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David’s followers said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.”

Resentment from those who had fought

1 Samuel 3023 David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us

A different attitude to what we have earned

Given by God

To be shared







TransformedTransformedRedemption and deliverance





Courageous compassion


had caused retaliationRole and position questionedSuffering personal loss


Courageous compassionLeadership

restored

Receiving aggression and anger

1 Samuel 306 But David found strength in the LORD his God.

1 Samuel 306 But David found strength in the LORD his God. Psalm 31: A psalm of David

1 In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.

Finding Strength in GodFinding Strength in GodTurning to God


2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

Finding Strength in GodFinding Strength in God

Asking for help

Turning to God


10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. 11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbours; I am a dread to my friends - those who see me on the street flee from me. 12 I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. 13 For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life.


Expressing feelings

Turning to GodAsking for help


8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.

Finding Strength in GodFinding Strength in GodTurning to GodAsking for helpExpressing feelings

Recalling past deliverance


8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place. ... 21 Praise be to the LORD, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.



Turning to GodAsking for helpExpressing feelings


16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.


Believing in God’s unfailing love




16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. ... 7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.






16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. ... 7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. ... 21 Praise be to the LORD, for he showed me the wonders of his love






9 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.


Seeking God’s mercy


Believing in God’s unfailing loveRecalling past deliverance


14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.”


Believing in God’s unfailing love and mercy

Choosing to trust God



14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.”


Believing in God’s unfailing love and mercy


Not giving up



14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.” ... 6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the LORD.



Not giving up

Not seeking damaging alternatives


Believing in God’s unfailing love and mercyRecalling past deliverance


14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.” ...24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.



Not giving up


Choosing hope not despair



Choosing God’s ways


14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.” ...15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.



Not giving up


Choosing hope not despair




2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

The Strength of God

The Strength of God

Ultimate Salvation

We have hope, not in the eventual success of what we can do to fix the world, but in the accomplished victory of God through Christ, guaranteeing the new creation in which all that is broken will be made anew.Reflections of the Lausanne Theology Working Group 2010

We have hope, not in the eventual success of what we can do to fix the world, but in the accomplished victory of God through Christ, guaranteeing the new creation in which all that is broken will be made anew.Reflections of the Lausanne Theology Working Group 2010


3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

The Strength of God

The Strength of God

Ultimate SalvationGuidance

May the strength of God pilot us;May the power of God preserve us;May the wisdom of God instruct us;May the way of God direct us.

(St.Patrick )


5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, LORD, my faithful God.

The Strength of God

The Strength of God


Redemption


7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.

The Strength of God

The Strength of God


Redemption

Understanding and love


7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.

The Strength of God

The Strength of God


Redemption



11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

The Strength of God

The Strength of God


Redemption


Strength and peace


24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

The Strength of GodThe Strength of God

Ultimate Salvation

Guidance

Redemption


Strength and peace

Hope for the future

May the strength of God pilot us;May the power of God preserve us;May the wisdom of God instruct us;May the way of God direct us.

(St.Patrick )

Documents

Murray didn’t feel the first pangs of panic, until he pulled the emergency cord