God’s Providence
5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. —Matthew 5:7 (NET)
God stopped:
1. David from going to war (1 Samuel 29).
2. A civil war in the nation of Israel (1 Chronicles 12).
3. The Amalekites from murdering David and his men’s families (1 Samuel 30).
This is God’s Providence at work.
God will provide; God will see to it – God will take action.
The almighty and everywhere present power of God, whereby, as it were, by his hand, he still upholds heaven and earth, with all creatures, and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, all things come not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.
That we may be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and for what is future have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature shall separate us from his love, since all creatures are so in his hand that without his will they can not so much as move. —Heildelberg Catechism
Right now, God is moving in your life to encourage you, redirect you, and point you to where you need to go.
30:1 On the third day David and his men came to Ziklag. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They attacked Ziklag and burned it. 30:2 They took captive the women who were in it, from the youngest to the oldest, but they did not kill anyone. They simply carried them off and went on their way. 30:3 When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive. 30:4 Then David and the men who were with him wept loudly until they could weep no more. 30:5 David’s two wives had been taken captive—Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the Carmelite, Nabal’s widow. 30:6 David was very upset, for the men were thinking of stoning him; each man grieved bitterly over his sons and daughters. But David drew strength from the Lord his God. 30:7 Then David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 30:8 David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Should I pursue this raiding band? Will I overtake them?” He said to him, “Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them and carry out a rescue!” —1 Samuel 30:1–8 (NET)
David’s sin opened a door to the enemy.
- 3-day journey.
- While David was out, someone pillaged his home.
When we walk in sin, we invite more and more destruction into our lives. Bitterness turns into resentment, addictions lead to brokenness, lust/envy leads to dissatisfaction, etc.
What was David’s sin? Why is David experiencing these things?
David’s
- All the bad decisions David was making all led back to one moment, one decision, that then marked him for the next year and a half.
27:1 David thought to himself, “One of these days I’m going to be swept away by the hand of Saul! There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of searching for me through all the territory of Israel and I will escape from his hand.” —1 Samuel 27:1 (NET)
“At the heart of sin lies a lack of trust that God intends the best for us. Ignatius of Loyola defined sin as refusing to believe that God wants my happiness and fulfillment. Human rebellion began in the Garden of Eden when God said in effect, ‘Trust me. I know what is best for you.’ —Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News?
David is
by God.
1. God’s discipline
our lives. We should desire His discipline.
- God’s providence at work; God’s hand is involved in David’s situation.
o What if God had delayed with David? What if God allowed David to go to war? - God’s discipline is at the perfect time.
It is impossible for a child of God to be walking in sin and not have the Father step in and discipline them.
2. God does not discipline without
.
- Our life experience can tarnish how we view God’s discipline.
o Parents can discipline from worry, anger, impatience, etc. Maybe, we’ve experienced discipline that was wrong! - God’s discipline is perfect.
o God does not discipline sin evenly (though the consequence of all sin is the same).
o God is patient with us.
o God knows exactly what to prescribe at exactly the right time.
3. God’s discipline is
.
- In pain there is corrective power.
12:10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. 12:11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it. —Hebrews 12:10–11 (NET)
119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. —Psalm 119:67 (NIV)
4. How do I know when I am being disciplined?