Thursday, 15 April 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
I Samuel 23 – David Relied on God Truthfully When He was in Escape
We have left our comfort zone and walk on the path with God. In chapter 23 we see David also left his comfort place, he had no place to stay but he prayed in everything. In the cave of Adullam, it was a transitioning period for David.
Section One: V1-5 David in Keilah
We can see David’s life changed when he was willing to accept the priest of God. Previously David didn’t seek God, he was walking in his flesh, but from chapter 23, David started to seek God in Keilah. Keilah was an important place. David let God take over, he no longer relied on his judgement.
But the people following David were afraid. Not only they were being chased after by Saul but then also they needed to fight the Philistines. Instead of also being afraid, David came to God. When people followed Saul complained, Saul tried to use his own way to make the people happy; but David sought God again.
When Abiathar came to David, David used him. Saul killed all the priests of God, even Samuel left him. But when David received Abiathar, he sought God in everything. So Abiathar assisted David to seek God and we can see David’s life changed.
Section Two: V6-18 David in the Wilderness of Ziph
David saved the City of Keilah. It was a place of protection and livestock. David could’ve stayed in there so he would no longer need to travel around. But God allowed the environment to change David. If David stayed there then he would be stuck in there.
Where is our Keilah? The place of wealth and comfort, where the enemy will get to. Saul was about to attack Keilah but he didn’t because David left there. When we are in a comfort zone, a place with gates and bars, this will also be the place where the enemy can find us and a place that stops us to seek God.
David sought God, he knew he had the ability to fight, but he was willing to let go of all this and seek God. David’s army was growing, even after fighting battles, and these people were all willing to follow David out of the cave of Adullam and out of Keilah, the place of comfort. Are we also able to walk out of Keilah and not stay in the place of comfort? Let us rise up, not to be afraid of the wilderness.
In this place, David wrote Psalm 18, which says, “Lord You are my strength, I love You!” David praised God in the wilderness of Ziph. God will bless us, do not see our enemy chasing us but see God’s love upon us.
Jonathan came to see David but David was determined to follow God so he didn’t listen to what Jonathan said. He didn’t need Jonathan to be next to him. So Jonathan left and soon after he was killed. There are always people around us telling us about God, but we need to see their lives, do they really feel God and seek God? David had the discernment because he sought God in everything. David passed yet another test, unlike Saul, who rejected the position God gave him in the first place.
Section Three: V19-29 David in Sela Hammahlekoth
God prepared the best for us in heaven so we don’t need to hold onto the place we live in on this earth. Everywhere David went seemed dangerous. If we see this from the perspective of the world, then we will never have true rest. Do not be afraid of leaving a safe place but be afraid of leaving the presence of God.
Where is the place of the presence of God? No matter where we are, if God’s presence is always with us, and we will not be afraid.
*Prayer and Pursuit
Lord, may Your presence lead us, no matter if we are in the wilderness of Ziph or in Sela Hammahlekoth, help us to come out from our place of comfort in Keilah. What can’t we let go? That we are afraid of leaving? Open us Lord, take away our Keilah, so we can walk out, to the place where Your presence is. Thank You Lord, give us strength and faith so we can walk out of the darkness into the wonderful light. Amen!
2021年4月15日 星期四
-潘锡安牧师-
撒母耳记上 23
逃亡的大卫 真实地倚靠神
神使用环境预备合他所用的器皿。在本章里的大卫虽然居无定所，然而他凡事寻求。他愿意这样放手，离开令自己舒适的王宫 – 在那里有众人的肯定，是大卫从小就渴望的 – 来到亚杜兰洞预备进入旷野、山寨，学习信靠神。我们的教会曾经也经历过封城期间只能用Zoom在网上聚会的亚杜兰洞时期，如今终于搬出来，学习祷告寻求神的带领。
一、在基伊拉的大卫（v.1-5)
在22章22-23节， 大卫对祭司亚比亚他承诺会保护他。大卫生命的改变是从愿意接受神的祭司开始。
“基伊拉”（23:1）的意思是“要塞”，是在打仗的时候可以保护自己的城市。大卫听到人说这个城市被非利士人攻击 – 他本来不需要去帮助那里的人，他没有凭血气做出反应，不再倚靠他的能力、经验、或是巨人歌利亚的刀，而是先寻求神的旨意。他愿意放下自己过去倚靠的，让神掌权。
V3-4 跟从大卫的有400多人，听到大卫要去攻打非利士人，就害怕了。这可以看出他们的心对大卫并非坚定。大卫面对跟随者的质疑，做出与扫罗不一样的回应 – 大卫没有因为别人不开心而勉强献祭，而是再一次求问耶和华。这一次，神对大卫说，“你起身下基伊拉去，我必将非利士人交在你手里。” 当我们领受神话语的时候，我们是否愿意起来，哪怕周围充满了负面的声音？
V5 从后面第6节可以看出，在逃难的时候，大卫一直在使用亚比亚他。这是大卫跟扫罗不一样的地方：扫罗杀死了神的祭司，大卫接受亚比亚他，凡事寻求神 – 祭司所穿的“以弗得”里有乌陵和土明可以帮助人知道神的旨意。大卫如今不是靠着自己的能力，他知道自己有神的祭司同在。 当大卫不被周围的人影响，单单寻求神的心意时，他就经历得胜，拯救了基伊拉的居民。
二、在西弗旷野山地的大卫（v.6-18）
V7 大卫打了胜仗，身边又有祭司，按照一般人的想法，他可以留在基伊拉这个“有门有闩的城”，不用经历逃亡。然而，在敌人看来，他们是被困其中。我们是否眷恋在我们的基伊拉城，自我感觉良好，因为那里“有门有闩”，不用风餐露宿？当我们在安逸里享受的时候，我们得到的不是保护，而是被“困闭在里头”，不能寻求神，反而会被仇敌杀死。
V9-12 大卫虽然有能力也有兵器，但他不再倚靠自己所拥有的，而是先求问神的旨意。
V13 如今跟随大卫的人有600人，他的军队经历战争，不仅没有减少，反而增加一半的人数。这600人全部都跟着大卫离开让他们安逸的基伊拉，“往他们所能往的地方去”。我们是否能像这600人，起身离开，跟随神的带领，不害怕将来没有确定性的旷野生活？
V14 在西弗旷野的山地，大卫写了诗篇18篇，他说“耶和华是我的力量，我爱你”。他没有跟神抱怨说他为什么被逼迫来到旷野，反而坚定宣告神是他所投靠的。我们能否在经历旷野的时候仍能像大卫这样赞美神？在这里，“扫罗天天寻索大卫”，大卫每一天都要躲藏，但他享受神的同在。
V16-18 扫罗的儿子约拿单也来见大卫，说安慰的话，但是这一次大卫没有被约拿单影响，没有如约拿单说的回去作“以色列的王”，他也不需要约拿单作他的“宰相”。约拿单虽然讲很多正面积极的话，可他一直没有真正寻求神的旨意，圣经后来不再记载他的事件，直到最后他在战场上被杀。我们身边可能也有一些人说是似而非的话，但我们要看这个人的生命，不要只听他们口里常提到“神”就被他们的言论影响。我们要学习的是大卫凡事寻求神。当大卫如此寻求、倚靠神的时候，他就又一次的通过了神给他的考验。
三、在西拉哈玛希罗结的大卫（v.19-29)
我们在地上每一天都是争战，但在天上神为我们预备了上好的福分，所以我们不必留恋地上的居所。大卫所到之处都有人想要出卖他。其实不管大卫去哪里，在人的眼里都是不安全的。可是，正如摩西逃到旷野，成为一个“拙口笨舌”的人之后反被神兴起，大卫也在他的旷野中更真实经历神。
大卫和跟随他的人去到亚拉巴（v.24) – 就是沙漠旷野的荒凉之地，看上去他们的处境好像越来越糟，但大卫没有选择跟约拿单回去王宫。当他如此信靠神，神就兴起环境拯救大卫，让扫罗因着非利士人忽然犯境而离开，“因此那地方名叫西拉哈玛希罗结”（v.27-28）。
愿我们的生命不害怕沙漠旷野，唯独害怕没有神的同在。无论我们身在何处，只要有神的同在，我们就不惧怕，就能在神的祝福中。
*追求：
主啊，愿你的荣耀和同在带领我们，无论是在西弗旷野的山地，还是西拉哈玛希罗结，无论在山寨还是沙漠，主求你带领我们走出让我们舒适的基伊拉。今天圣灵在这里对我们说，“你的基伊拉是什么，有什么让你困在里面出不来，不愿意跟从神，是什么阻挡了你跟从神？”让我们诚实来到神的面前，让主找出我们里面的基伊拉，一个一个破除。
奉主的名祝福弟兄姐妹，我们都能有大卫的决心，凡事寻求，跟随神的带领，不害怕也不担心明天。耶和华以勒是预备的神，你必带领我们穿越红海，带我们进入命定。让我们力上加力，求主加添我们的信心，让我们能出黑暗、进入你奇妙的光明！