Sermon Tone Analysis

Bible Verse

Context

To understand this text, you must understand the background and its context

David is on the Run.

He is anointed, but he is on the run

The oil has been poured, but he is on the run

The kingdom is his, but he is on the run

The favour has been proclaimed, but he is on the run

He is on the run despite knowing that God has ordained him!

David is on the run.

Do you know what it feels like to be on the run?

Escaping from one problem only to land in another.

To be pursued relentlessly to the point of giving up.

Sadly this is the story of many Christians today.

They are on the run.

They know they are Christians, accepted by Christ, and heirs of the kingdom.

But they are on the run.

Running from life difficulties, from:

1. Financial difficulties

2. Economic difficulties

3. Political difficulties

4. Work difficulties

5. Family difficulties

6. Marital difficulties

7. Children difficulties

8. Parental difficulties

9. Health difficulties

10.

Difficulties of confusion in the mind

11.

Difficulties in their general well-being

12. Spiritual difficulties

13.

Difficulties because of lack of peace

14.

Difficulties because of lack of joy

15.

Difficulties because of lack of love

16.

Difficulties due to loss

They are on the run.

What is most tragic of these individuals is that the very place they come to seek refuge and comfort, i.e. the church, they find themselves on the run again, only to seek another church because of difficulties due to a lack of empathy or understanding in church.

Paul, writing to the Corinthians, to the Thessalonians, and to the Galatians, states that the church is a place where we come to be comforted and give comfort:

It is a tragedy that many “pastors” and “men of God” use the platform of the pulpit to rain unwholesome words on these people, calling them “church hoppers” or crudely “church prostitutes” because they are on the run.

These are the proverbial David!

David has been on the run as a fugitive.

The bad news is that your enemies will harden their hearts and pursue you, but the good news is that there will be a means of escape.

The bad news is that the enemy will be hot on your heels, but the good news is God will part the red sea for you to walk on dry ground.

The bad news is that the enemy of my enemy will be my friend, and you will land in a precarious situation, but the good news is that situation will not consume you, for there will be a divine orchestration created just for you to escape the situation

But what is the significance of this story you may ask.

You are looking for some good story.

Just wait and be patient with me we will get there

To get the flesh of this story we have to consider, carefully, the text in full.

The first thing we notice in this text is that the Amorites attack David’s dwelling - ZIKLAG

Ziklag

The first thing we will be looking at is Ziklag.

And in our text, David returns to Ziklag after being rejected for battle by Philistines princes.

On returning to Ziklag, he notices that his possessions have been destroyed, burnt and stolen, and the people are having none of it.

So instead, they want to stone David.

Then David requests the ephod be brought to him, and he consults God using the ephod.

But pay close attention as this is where the story gets remarkable.

Ziklag is quite interesting.

Where is Ziklag, how did he get to Ziklag, and what is its significance?

To understand and appreciate the importance of Ziklag, we have to backtrack.

Ziklag is a town belonging to the province/kingdom of Gath which belongs to the Philistine territory

This is very interesting.

How on earth did David land here?

And if you are very careful bible student, you should be screaming… “THIS IS NOT GOOD!”

Because David killed Goliath, the champion warrior of the Philistine, whom he, David called… “THE UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE”

Now David is in big big trouble!

- [Control Tower, We Have A Problem]

But before we get to worried for David, let us see his situation

David on the Run

David has spent most of his adulthood running from Saul, the king who is hell-bent on killing him.

Nob (Judah): 1 Samuel 21:1 “1 Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest.

And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one is with you?””

Gath (Philistine): 1 Samuel 21:10 “10 Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.”

Adullam (Judah): 1 Samuel 22:1 “1 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam.

So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.”

Moab (Moabites): 1 Samuel 22:3–4 “3 Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” 4 So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.”

Hereth (Judah): 1 Samuel 22:5 “5 Now the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go to the land of Judah.”

So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.”

Keilah (Judah): 1 Samuel 23:8 “8 Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.” 1 Samuel 23:10–12 “10 Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.

11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand?

Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard?

O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.”

And the Lord said, “He will come down.”

12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will deliver you.””

Ziph (Judah): 1 Samuel 23:14 “14 And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph.

Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.” 1 Samuel 23:19–20 “19 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.””

Maon in Jeshimon (Judah): 1 Samuel 23:24 “24 So they arose and went to Ziph before Saul.

But David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.”

En Gedi (Judah): 1 Samuel 23:29–24:1 “29 Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi. 1 Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note!

David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.”” (1 Samuel chp 20 - 26).

Hachilah (Judah): 1 Samuel 26:1–2 “1 Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” 2 Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.”

What is most shocking of this event is that David, was more often than not, running and hiding in his home town, Judah (name the places highlighted)

Now home is a place where you ought to feel safe and protected, but this was not the case for David.

This is not the case for many as:

- People run from home due to Domestic abuse

- People run from due to a nagging husband or wife

- Children run from home due to uncaring parents

- People run from home because the home is not home

Isn’t it sad that where you call home is often unsafe, and you have to keep running!

Choices