Message 24 April 2016
King David Series # Bountiful Adullum
“I cried unto the Lord
with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. I poured
out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was
overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked
have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld,
but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my
soul. I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in
the land of the living. Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver
me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of
prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for
thou shalt deal bountifully with me.” Psalms 142:1-7 KJV. Ref. 1 Samuel 21, 22:1
Circumstances and evil
forces can squeeze one into a negative mode and mould. David went through harsh
situations but demonstrated ability to refuse, resist, and reject anything contrary
to God’s promises. He was a prayer warrior. In prayer giants died before he
killed them. He had personal victories in the sheep cote. National victories against
Goliath and in national Army, Destiny victories against Saul in the caves and
wilderness and family victories against Absalom
The narratives of in the
books of Samuel and the Chronicles present the outward exploits of David in his
professional and public lives. He almost appears to be a superman winning every
battle. However to understand the inner experiences
of David one has to read the Psalms. He personally
wrote 73 of the Psalms in the book of Psalms and compiled the remainder. In the
Psalms he reveals his fears and struggles and exposes his doubts at times. The
Psalm reveal how he would sometimes feel overwhelmed. How he would be tempted
to give up but would remember God’s faithfulness. How he often felt alone and encouraged
himself in the Lord. In Psalm 142 we
read of David at the cave of Adullum. A picture of him when he arrived there
feeling as if all was lost. Not sure what had gone wrong. He had served Saul
well and risked his life many times yet he has had to flee for his life. He had
been let down often already. When he should have won a wife by killing Goliath
he still had to bring 100 foreskins for her. His family who were to be exempted
from paying tax still paid tax. Now he had run from the comfort of his home and
abandoned the wife of his youth. For the promised riches he got increasing
dangers. He had appealed to Samuel and
that did not work. He was friend to Jonathan, Saul’s son and was married to his
daughter but that also did not save him. He had run to the priests but found no
help. He even ran to hide under the covering of Saul’s enemy Achish. That also
failed dismally and he had to pretend he was mad to be ejected to nowhere. His helpless wanderings landed him at the Adullum cave. He was at this point alone in the cave with
no clue about where to get his next roof, bed, bath and meal. Psalm 142 reveals his
struggles in prayer to God.
- He cried to God (1a). He used the God given Gift of crying. That is
how babies communicate with parents and get help without saying a word. He
realised crying was a universal language that could really express what
was going on to him.
- He cried aloud with his voice (1b). At times silent cries are just not
enough. David supplicated (begged) God to intervene (1c)
- He complained so much that complains gushed out of him (2b). This kind
of crying is only possible when someone is recklessly lying prostrate with no care about who is
watching. Maybe he said Lord you started this I was at peace in the sheep
cote. Where are you in all this? Is this how you deal with your own? I didn’t
ask to be king after all. Why are you allowing them to have their way?
What wrong have I done to deserve this? And the like
- He described his trouble to God (2b). His problems were so heavy he
thought he knew them better than anyone else including God. He narrated
and described them to the all-knowing God. It was his way to say Lord I
will appreciate what you will have done when you get me out because I
fully understand how deep I have sunk.
- He was overwhelmed within (3a). He had absolutely no confidence in himself or anything
else.
- His faith was so stretched but however realised it was also a test
he had to pass. It exposed to God his path. His was the path of God. In it
God watches over his footsteps (3b). How you respond to trouble shows God
and yourself the real path you are on.
- He felt as if landmines and booby traps had been laid everywhere.
He had no place of safety (3c). He had nowhere to run. Sometimes you are too
strong for the almighty God. You have all the answers and options and god doesn’t
know how to help. Under Saul he had a variety of options but they all
could not take him to his destiny. David had reached the dead-end of all
his human options and only God was the remaining place to run to.
- He looked on his right hand where he expected the trusted people
but there was no one to help him. It seemed no one cared about him and (4). He
felt rejected, abused, and abandoned. He was left to die but was not ready
to die.
- He explained his crying. It was not vain crying,. He did not waste
tears. He cried out of faith (5). His cry was directed to God because he was
the only refuge and shelter left.
His only portion on earth. All else seemed lost. So he cried to the Lord, I have one hope – attend to my
prayer.
- He felt humiliated. Reduced from one mighty general they sang about
to a vagabond living in caves (6a). He now felt weak and vulnerable facing a
situation stronger than him. He was being chased after by enemies he was helpless before (6b). Helplessness
is ripeness for God’s help.
- He felt like his soul was in prison (7a). The soul is the seat of
emotions such as joy, praise and confidence. He could not find these nor
express them. They were in a prison. He cried for God to free them. He was
the sweet Psalmist who had grown up knowing no other strength but praise
to God. It worked in the sheepcote, before Goliath and now when he needed
it most in the wilderness it had been imprisoned by fear. He cried ‘Bring
my soul out oh Lord that I might praise your name’. Immediately he
received a revelation (7b). The way to release your soul from prison is a revelation
of God. He caught a glimpse of a
future when God intervenes – The righteous would assemble and surround
him. God would deal bountifully with him. God’s relationship
with his people is with the motive to bountifully benefit them. He neither
leaves nor forsake. He does not put to shame those who trust him. None of
their tears and prayers go to waste. When you reach your lowest God is
about to take you to your highest.
The definition
of bountiful includes
- large in quantity; abundant, plentiful, ample, bumper,
superabundant, inexhaustible, prolific, profuse, teeming, copious, prodigal, considerable,
vast, immense, great, liberal, lavish, generous, princely, handsome, luxuriant,
rich
That’s your portion. With
God above the clouds the sun is shining. Beyond your sorrow joy awaits. In your
perplexity there is revelation. In your pain is peace. With the rain comes the
harvest. Reach out and touch him by prayer. It is estimated that people use less
than 10 per cent of brain capacity. The same can also be said of capacity faith
and strength, capacity to love, to forgive, and to receive and express spiritually.
It’s time to reach out
from your Adullum situation. God heard David’s prayers. David expected the righteous to surround him. However before long he was
surrounded by social misfits that he had opportunity to turn to might man of valor. He did it so well before long they became
a formidable army of 600 mighty men. He will hear the cry of your heart and
voice too. The answer may not come in
the form you want. It may come as raw materials, a connection, an opportunity, an action step, an
unexpected person but praise God it comes. God gives the wisdom to turn resources at your disposal into a treasure beyond
measure. Even if you consider yourself to have nothing, to God none is a resource.
Message by Dr. Kurai
Chitima.
Faith Ministries –
Johannesburg Faith Life Center.
First Floor Dhando House,
66 Eloff Street Extension,
Village Deep,
Johannesburg,
South Africa
No comments:
Post a Comment