1 Samuel 26 "The Portrait Hall": The Grinding Stone

Part way through the more than a dozen years from the promise of his throne to the delivery of it, David could have become impatient and “made things happen”. He was encouraged to do so, but God did not want that from him, and he knew it. David was learning the skills he would later need, even if he was gaining them through a monotonous daily grind. How many times does it take doing right to win the fight? Did you ever feel like it just never ends? David did! Yet the key to pleasing the Master was the consistent and steady walk in truth! Today we will see the pain of David’s exile met by a steady hand that pleased God.

Key Principle: The Key to a walk with God is the ability to remain consistent and steady in daily choices, especially when under fire!

Two Cautions for the Warrior (26:1-3a)

  1. When you walk with God, there will always be an ample supply of provokers to cause you trouble! (26:1).
  2. The enemy will look for a vulnerability in your patterns that will give him opportunity. (I.e. after a couple of beers I get a bit brash, I work well except when I am paired with this one co-worker, I never experience temptation sexually except when we study together, I don’t usually gossip, but whenever we get together…)

Ten Truths to Bring Victory (26:3b-25)

  1. Avoid the traps – David did the hard thing but kept himself from the easy accessibility of the enemy (26:3b).
  2. Keep a watchful eye – the enemy must be detected and his movements noted (26:4).
  3. Look for the enemy’s weaknesses – he will leave people with felt and unfelt needs that you can care for (26:5)!
  4. Grab a friend – do not war alone unless forced to do so! (26:6-7).
  5. Know God’s heart – don’t take advice that contradicts God’s stated purposes for the fight! (26:8; cp. 24:22).
  6. Watch God at work- keep your eyes on what God is doing in the situation, and hear what He says! (26:9-11).
  7. Don’t do it all – do what you can do to stem the attack, but let God do what you cannot do! (26:12).
  8. Take a stand – publicly stand for what God has told you to be and do! (26:13-17).
  9. See the truth – challenge ungodly thinking and ways where they are – i.e. “The men around you are provoking this!” Show it is against God’s Word when it is (26:18-20).
  10. Respond gently – if repentance comes, allow it with dignity and gentleness! (26:21-25).

The Key to a walk with God is the ability to remain consistent and steady in daily choices, especially when under fire!