Seeking God's Will
David's experience teaches us the importance of seeking God's will and trusting in His protection, rather than relying on our own understanding.
Theodore Epp emphasizes the importance of seeking God's will in times of distress, as illustrated by David's experience when he found Ziklag burned and his family taken. David's initial despair was compounded by his realization of being without God's protection, having relied on his own reasoning in the past. Instead of rushing into action, David sought God's guidance, demonstrating that the obvious choice may not always align with God's plan. Through restored fellowship with the Lord, David received direction and ultimately achieved victory. Epp reminds us to trust in the Lord and not lean on our own understanding.
Text
1 Samuel 30:1-8, 18-26
When David and his men found Ziklag burned with fire and their wives and their children gone, they wept. This was a bitter blow to all of them. David in particular, however, tasted the bitterness of being without God's protection. He had been miraculously taken care of on many other occasions, but now that protection had been removed for the time being. David had exchanged the king of Gath and a walled city for the Spirit of the Lord and found no protection in man. It is the Spirit of the Lord who protects God's people. How often we forget this.
Some of us might be inclined to think that the normal thing would have been for David to start out after the Amalekites without even asking the Lord about it. We might think this was the obvious thing to do. But remember, David had had enough of his own reasoning. He had followed his own reasoning in going to Gath and by it had escaped from the hand of Saul, but he got himself into more difficulties than he ever expected. The seemingly natural thing to do may not always be the right thing as far as God is concerned. When David's fellowship with the Lord was restored, he let the Lord guide his steps.
God's Word admonishes us: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Prov. 3:5). David sought God's will, and God eventually gave victory.
"But who so hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil" (Prov. 1:33).
Sermon Outline
- God's Protection
- The Dangers of Self-Reliance
- Seeking God's Will
- The Reward of Seeking God's Will
- Victory and safety in trusting God
- Lean not unto thine own understanding
Key Quotes
“It is the Spirit of the Lord who protects God's people.” — Theodore Epp
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” — Theodore Epp
“But who so hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- We must seek God's will before taking action in our lives.
- Trusting in the Lord with all our heart leads to victory and safety.
- Leaning on our own understanding can lead to difficulties and a lack of guidance.