Mar. 17, 2024

Series: AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART    3-17-24

Questions in the Wilderness (1 Samuel 22-24) 

Jill Briscoe, “When you Find it Hard to Praise God for What he’s Allowed in your life, it is Then that you must learn to Praise Him for WHO He IS, IN What He’s Allowed.”

QUESTIONS in the WILDERNESS:

1. Will you see the _                                                                  opportunities?

1 Samuel 22:1-2 ¹ David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. ² All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. 

• (David writes Psalm 142)

2. Will you be self-absorbed, forgetting your _                                                                     ?

1 Samuel 22:3–4 ³ From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” ⁴ So he left them with the king of Moab, 

3. Will you be thankful for small blessings while waiting for _                                                                                              ?

1 Chronicles 12:8 ⁸ Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold (Masada) in the wilderness. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains… ¹⁸ So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands. (Increases from 400 to 600 men!)

4. Will you make the wilderness an _                                                           or will you own your _                                                             ?

1 Samuel 22:4–5 ⁵ But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold (Masada). Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

1 Samuel 22:18–19 ¹⁸ …Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. ¹⁹ He also put to the sword Nob… with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

1 Samuel 22:20–23 ²⁰ But one son of Ahimelek… named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. ²¹ He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. ²² Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family.²³ Stay with me; don’t be afraid.

• (David writes Psalm 52)

5. Will you “inquire of the Lord” for                                                             , or will you do what’s                                               for you?

1 Samuel 23:1–2 ¹ When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,” ² he inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” 

6. While in                                    yourself, will you still                                              others?

1 Sam. 23:2–4 ² he inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” ³ But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!” ⁴ Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.”

7. When betrayed, will you still                                              the Lord or will you                                                                revenge?

1 Samuel 23:10–12 ¹⁰ David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me… ¹² Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will.”

• (David writes Psalm 63)

8. Will you accept                                                            of encourage and                                                                       from friends?

1 Samuel 23:15–17 ¹⁵ While David was in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. ¹⁶ And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David and helped him find strength in God. ¹⁷ “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel...”

9. Will you still                                                          God’s Word in the wilderness?

1 Samuel 24:1–6 ¹ …“David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” ² So Saul took three thousand able young men… ³ a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave… ⁴ Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. ⁵ Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. ⁶ He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to… the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.”

• (David writes Psalm 57)

10. Will you defend yourself or will you trust God to                                                you?

1 Sam 24:22 Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Psalm 18:2 ² The Lord is my rock, my fortress (Masada) and my deliverer… 

Psalm 31:2 ² be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress (Masada) to save me. 

Psalm 71:3 ³ …you are my rock and my fortress. (Masada)

Psalm 91:2 ² “He is my refuge and my fortress (Masada), my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 144:2 He is my loving God and my fortress (Masada), my stronghold and my deliverer

2 Samuel 22:2 ² “The Lord is my rock, my fortress (Masada) and my deliverer;