Having sung again from what we might call David's prayer journal, Let's turn now to the narrative focused upon the life of David, 1 Samuel chapter 21, beginning at verse 10. And we'll read through chapter 22, verse five. Page 312 in most of the pew Bibles, 1 Samuel chapter 21. David continues his flight and has just recently begun. We begin our reading at 21 verse 10. And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish, the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, is not this David, the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances? Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David took these words to heart, and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them, and pretended to be insane in their hands, and made marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, Behold, you see, the man is mad. Why have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?" David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about 400 men. And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, please let my father and my mother stay with you till I know what God will do for me. And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. Then the prophet Gad said to David, do not remain in the stronghold, depart and go into the land of Judah. So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth. So far the reading, the grass withers, the flower fades, the word of our Lord endures forever. A dear congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we would look at the 150 Psalms, in God's inspired song and prayer book. Many of them are written with unknown circumstances, even many of them with an unknown author. There are only about a dozen where we have a prescription telling us more precisely the circumstances of their writing. And of those 12 to 14 Psalms, at least two, if not three or four of them, relate to this short period in the life of David. And as we would look at that inspired prayer journal, and as we would look in our text, especially in 22 verse three and five, we see that while David is far from perfect, he does leave for us an example of faith. And this is part of David's faithful example. Part of the faithful example of David is what David does not say. For not once do we read of David openly questioning God. We know that David was a sinner. We see hints of doubt and desperation and Some have described a couple of the Psalms. There's even some tone of anxiety. Certainly he speaks about his crushed spirit. We might say this is a time in David's life when the fear of man was at least a temptation. Certainly it's a time in David's life when there are measures of desperation in his behavior. And so we might say it this way, David is perhaps conceiving of sin, which should not be done, but David is not giving birth to sin. David is not allowing sin to control him. Specifically, David is not allowing a questioning spirit that would question God himself to control him. And therefore, considering this text is a helpful place for us as God's people to reflect on the ways of God and the care of God, as it is also a passage which clearly directs us to our one perfectly dignified Savior, Jesus Christ. And so here's a place that reminds us that we must not question God. That is our theme. this morning. Do not question God. And we'll first see not questioning God's control, not questioning God's concern, and then not questioning God's command. So first, not questioning God's control. And for David, again, this would be a great temptation. We might call this an out-of-control time in his life. David himself does not have control over many things, and he's going to pretend to be out of control. And so what is David doing here? Well, Israel is dangerous, Saul is after him, and so the first place he goes is the nearest city of the land of the Philistines, and that's the city of Gath. But while Gath is the nearest city, doesn't David remember that this is the very hometown of Goliath? And doesn't David think about the fact that he's wearing the sword of Goliath that he just took from the temple in Nod? What is David thinking here? What is David thinking? First of all, does he really need to leave the Promised Land at all? And second of all, if he is going to leave the Promised Land, why go to the hometown of Goliath wearing Goliath's sword on his back? is David thinking? Well, probably he was trying to stay out of the limelight, to fly under the radar. The text The language of 14 in the beginning of verse 15 has this language of, you brought him to me. And that might hint at some capture. And indeed, if we read the prescription to Psalm 56, that's exactly what we read there, that David wrote that song, composed it when the Philistines seized him in Gath. And so we might say it this way, David's hoping to go unnoticed. But once again, we come back to the fact that this is the hometown of Goliath. He's wearing the sword of Goliath. Did he really think that was going to work? And so the result is that David ends up in the house of Achish, the Abimelech, the prince or king of Gath. Akish is considering making David his mercenary. When we read, come into my house, at the end of verse 15, that's a Hebrew expression for making someone your servant, making someone your mercenary. He's perhaps thinking about the fact that at least we have this common enemy named Saul. But of course, the counselors of Akish are saying, what are you thinking, Mr. Prince? Remember, this is, you know, Saul might be our common enemy, but Saul has slain his thousands. David has slain his ten thousands. And they're not saying that with a tone of awe. They're saying that because he's killed their fellow countrymen. They want nothing to do with David. And so he pretends madness. a desperate attempt to escape. What a strange scene. People of God, we can be thankful we have the prayer journal of David at this time. There are no explicit confessions of sin in those inspired Psalms written at this time. But some have noted there is a tone of anxiety in those psalms. There is an acknowledgment of weakness, at least. In short, we can say it this way, David's days in Gath are not the most composed time in David's life. While we can see that the madness of David is nothing like the madness of Saul, when Saul is mad it's the madness of anger which overtakes him and makes him murderous, when David is mad, it's a controlled madness that he pretends, and it's to try to preserve his life. So we can see it's different than the madness of Saul, but certainly it's not the most dignified behavior. And we can ask a question like this, did the Apostle Paul behave this way in his persecutions? No, by no means, the Apostle Paul was singing hymns of praise to God while he was in prison with chains. And this is a different picture here. David is drooling and scratching doors. How then do we summarize this? Well, one reformed minister said it this way, and brothers and sisters, I think this is a good statement for us to chew on. Quote, David keeps doing strange things and God keeps protecting him, end of quote. Have you ever behaved questionably? Have you ever looked back at a not so composed time in your life and asked yourself, what was I thinking? You see, people of God, we are weak. We will act in unwise and in questionable and even in sinful ways. May we never lose sight of the one who is never questionable. the one who is always wise, the one who is always in control. May we never stop trusting in God. You see the contrast between the Apostle Paul's composure and facing times of desperation and persecution compared with David. Well, this is nothing when we compare either of them to the perfect captain of our faith. Turn with me please to Acts chapter eight. Acts chapter 8, and this is the passage where Philip, the deacon, who's also Philip the evangelist, he comes across the Ethiopian eunuch, and the Ethiopian eunuch is reading from the scroll of Isaiah, and we'll read Acts chapter 8, verses 32 to 35. Acts chapter 8, verses 32 to 35. Now the passage of the scripture that he the Ethiopian eunuch was reading was this like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent so he opens not his mouth in his humiliation justice was denied him who can describe his generation for his life is taken away from the earth. And the eunuch said to Philip, about whom I ask you, does the prophet say this about himself or about someone else? And then Philip opened his mouth and beginning with this scripture, he told him about the good news about Jesus. The good news is not about David. The good news is not about Isaiah. The good news is not about the apostle Paul. The good news is not about you or me or anyone else. It is only about Jesus. It is only Jesus who, like a sheep, He was silent before His shearer. He opened not His mouth, enduring the very trial of God's wrath upon sin and the humiliation on the cross as He paid for our sins. This is the good news. This is God who is always in control, who is always willing, who always knows what he's doing, even that willing sacrifice on the cross. This is God not to be questioned, but believed and trusted and loved. Now let's come to our second point, not questioning God's concern We see that David has at least some measures of a fear of man. He is acting questionably. David is not allowing these things to control him. You see, he's giving himself over to God's control. And giving ourselves over to the control of God is the first step in growing in the fruit of self-control. And having the fruit of self-control, may we be able to see with trusting hearts God's loving concern that he has for us in all circumstances. Certainly for all these struggles, these weaknesses, these fears, these questionable and strange behaviors, David has not lost sight of the great care of God. And so we have David's wholly inspired prayer journal, Psalms 34, Psalms 56. Also Psalm 57 and 142 mention that they were written while in the cave that that may very well be the cave of chapter 22 verse one, and so we may have four psalms from this brief period in David's life. And we're gonna pick out just a few phrases from these psalms. So if you turn with me to the psalms, first to Psalm 56, first to Psalm 56, and then if you remain in the psalms, we're gonna pick out a few phrases from David's prayer journal here and see what this teaches to us. The first thing we see is that David is not questioning that God is concerned for him. David does not question that God is concerned for him. And we see this especially in Psalm 56 verse eight. You have kept count of my tossings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? David knows that God is concerned for him. David knows the covenant love of God will never forsake him. Second, David is not questioning that he needs God's concern for him. Psalm 56 verse one opens with this, be gracious to me. Psalm 57 opens with this, be merciful to me. You know, the Lord Jesus Christ, when he was in the garden of Gethsemane, he sweated drops of blood, he prayed, Take this cup from me if possible. But Jesus never had to pray for God's grace or God's mercy. Perish the thought. Jesus was perfect. He did not need grace or mercy. He had no sin. So while we don't have some explicit confession of sin, we have this general confession of David's weakness and dependence upon God. David does not question that he needs God's concern for him. There is no hint of self-dependence from David. Or now let's take the words from Psalm 34, turning back just a little bit to Psalm 34, verse 18. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. David knows his weakness. He does not pretend that he can go on without God's care and concern. We are weak people of God, but God is strong. Indeed, it is in the times of our weakness that by the influence of the Holy Spirit, we may most learn God's strength. Certainly, whatever situation we are in in life, the most important part of knowing our own weakness is always, always being ready to confess our sins and our need for God's salvation. Third, and here remaining in Psalm 34, David does not question that God will remain concerned for him. There is a language of his lasting trust in God and we see this especially at the end of Psalm 34 where in Psalm 34 verse 20 to 22 David prays, he keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. And let us note, people of God, as we turn back to the narrative of our text, that God's care is being worked out in tangible ways here in David's life. God provides a restored relationship with his brothers. This is no small thing. Now, God's providence His spiritual brother, Jonathan, has basically been taken away from David. They'll only see each other briefly one more time. But do you remember his brothers? His brothers who were jealous of him, who expressed that jealousy on the battlefield before Goliath? Well, what is going on with that? Are they going to be able to accept their younger brother? Well, God uses this time of David being persecuted to restore his relationship with his blood brothers. And so they are the first to come to him and to be willing to serve their younger brother David. This is a mercy of God, that though his great friend Jonathan has been taken from him, God is restoring his his brothers to him and removing their jealousy and bringing them as as willing servants to him that the narrative of scripture as it goes on would indicate that that this continued. Indeed it's it's probable that some of the brothers of David are counted among his mighty men many years later. Also God provides more than just his brothers There's a whole band that joins with him. Some have called this David's Merry Men, from the caves to the forests. And right now that loyal band, those who have suffered under the regime of Saul, who are willing to gather and serve under God's anointed king, David, right now that number's 400, and that number will even increase to 600 in the near future. And knowing God's concern for his own soul, David is quick to look for how to care for others. This is part of the movement of the Christian life. We should know God's care for us and that this would move us to be caring for others. And he does this by following the fifth commandment. He's going to care for his parents. their his band is in the cave in verse one they're going to be in the forest in verse five now children maybe you know staying a night in a cave safe cave with some friends or you know, spending some nights in the forest with some friends. That maybe sounds like fun, you know, for a little bit younger. In fact, you know, maybe you can do that when you get a little bit older, and maybe some of you have done that. That might be kind of a fun adventure. It's not really a big problem for younger people usually, but is a cave a good place for aged parents? And remember, David's the youngest. His parents are probably quite elderly. Mr. Jesse and Mrs. Jesse know a cave and a forest and life as fugitives on the run. This is not a good place for aged parents. And so David, who has been blessed by his faithful parents As Psalms in a couple places tell us, now he's going to be a blessing for them. He's gonna care for them. He sends them to Moab. Jesse's grandmother, Ruth, was from Moab. And it's possible that they'll be taking shelter with relatives who still remember Ruth. Brothers and sisters in Christ, knowing God's care for us, May we be quick to care for others. But this also takes us into our third point, not questioning God's command for while the parents of David are allowed to seek asylum in Moab, that is not David's calling. He may leave his parents there, but himself being the anointed king of Israel and being a young man who can face these trials and live through the caves and the forests, God says to David, through the faithful prophet Gad, go back to the land of Israel. Now, Herod, It's within the borders of the tribe of Judah, as we see in verse five. So this is the place in Israel where David is most likely to be supported, but still it's under the rule of Saul. And people of God let the quick obedience of David stand out to us. The same David who knows that his life is in so much danger, who was so desperate that a short time before he was running to the hometown of Goliath with Goliath's sword. When God gives him a straightforward command, David gives immediate and straightforward obedience. Immediate obedience is a lesson which should be taught with patience to even our youngest children. And the lesson of immediate obedience is a lesson for all of us to remember for our whole life on this earth. People of God, may we never say, I will obey God tomorrow. The time for repentance is now. The time for obedience is now. Now, people of God, the Christian religion is much more than the do's and the don'ts that God gives to us. At the heart of Christian religion is the doing not of ourselves, but of Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Savior. We are not saved by our own work, we are saved by the work of Jesus Christ alone. But Christianity is not less than do's and don'ts. for Jesus the Christ is also Jesus our Lord and Jesus must be our Lord. And so while we don't have the same direct prophecies and commands as David did in his life, we don't have a faithful prophet named Gad who would step in and give us a straightforward command in some issues like this. People of God, we read the Ten Commandments every Sunday. Are those complicated? They're straightforward. And people of God, there are still many straightforward, direct commandments that we have as God's people. Let us think about this. What about the Lord's Supper? Are the commandments there complicated? Take, eat, drink. Speaking about the Lord's Supper, 1 Corinthians 11, there's a number of commandments there as well, including straightforward commands like this, to examine oneself before coming to take, eat, and drink. It's not complicated. It's not optional. It's not easy. Examination of self is not easy. But confessing our sins, and trusting in God is something that even those who are very young can understand. And then when we have the maturity to discern the body and to examine ourselves, we would confess and we would come and as professing members we would take and eat and drink, remember and believe. Those are all commands. beautiful commands given to us by God to nourish and strengthen us. People of God, may this be true, that we would be led by God's commandments wherever we are. And as we come to our conclusion, let us observe that David is in many places. But let's turn back to his prayer journal one more time to Psalm 57 verses seven to nine. Psalm 57 verses seven to nine. David's feet go from Nob to Gath to Adalim to Mizpah to Herod from Israel to the land of Philistines back through the land of Israel and to Moab and then back into the land of Israel. He's going all over the place. But his heart is not going all over the place. Psalm 57, written from the cave, quite possibly the cave in Adalim. What does he say about his heart? 57 verse seven, my heart is steadfast, oh God. My heart is steadfast. I will sing and make melody. Awake, my glory. Awake, oh harp and lyre. I will awake the dawn. I will give thanks to you, oh God, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations. In other words, wherever I am. Wherever my feet are taking me, my heart will be steadfast. The old King James says it this way, my heart is fixed, oh God, my heart is fixed upon you and people of God. Here is the key to not questioning God, that wherever our feet go, whatever our, Psalm 34 verse one, whatever our circumstances are, that our heart would be fixed. upon God. For while we are weak and questionable, God is never questionable. He is the Lord God Almighty. May we always trust Him. Amen. Let us pray. Our great father in heaven, wherever our feet may go, may you fix our hearts upon you. And we know that it is only with our hearts captured by you.