1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,840 God takes care of his own. 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:10,240 We see that in the account before us in the life of David. 3 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:15,960 For God maneuvered a Philistine army to take the heat off of his anointed king. 4 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:20,160 We see that beginning in chapter 23 and verse 24. 5 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,440 Then they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. 6 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:30,280 Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Man in the Arabah to the south of Jeshamon. 7 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:34,720 When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David he came down to the rock and stayed 8 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:36,200 in the wilderness of Man. 9 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:40,840 When Saul heard it, he pursued David in the wilderness of Man. 10 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,200 And Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of 11 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:45,200 the mountain. 12 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:50,920 And David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were surrounding David 13 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,520 and his men to seize them. 14 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:57,680 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, Hurry and come down, for the Philistines have made 15 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,680 a raid on the land. 16 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:04,760 And so Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. 17 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:10,160 Therefore, they called that place the Rock of Escape. 18 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,720 God delivered his own. 19 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:17,600 And again we see King Saul pursuing his prey. 20 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:26,400 This word pursue in verse 28 means to be hunted like an animal. 21 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:33,480 In chapter 26 verse 20, in fact, David uses the very same phrase regarding his situation. 22 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:41,000 He says to Saul, You are hunting me just as one hunts or pursues a partridge, not in a 23 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,880 pear tree, but in the mountains. 24 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:45,400 And so he says, You've pursued me. 25 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:46,880 You've hunted me like a wild animal. 26 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:52,040 And that is the word used in chapter 23 as well. 27 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:57,880 There are eight Psalms whose inscriptions indicate that they were written during this 28 00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:59,760 time of cave dwelling. 29 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:06,240 That is, when David would live in one cave, then run to a forest, and then back to another 30 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:10,120 rock and then to a cave, as he eluded Saul. 31 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:17,640 They are Psalms 34, 52, 54, 56, 57, 59, 63, and 142. 32 00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:21,640 Those eight Psalms were said to be written during this time. 33 00:02:21,640 --> 00:02:28,720 And then came David's chance, his chance to be rid of Saul. 34 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:29,720 Look in chapter 24. 35 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:34,460 It came about when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines. 36 00:02:34,460 --> 00:02:40,120 He was told, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. 37 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:46,000 And Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his 38 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:51,140 men in front of the rocks of the wild goats. 39 00:02:51,140 --> 00:02:57,600 And he came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to 40 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,020 relieve himself. 41 00:03:01,020 --> 00:03:04,520 Now this is a rather tender subject. 42 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,840 I did a little research on that word to see what it really meant, and it really means 43 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:18,280 what it says. 44 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:25,400 Now if you can just kind of get the picture in your mind, it says, David and his men were 45 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,160 sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. 46 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:35,560 I think this is an extremely humorous incident. 47 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:43,440 For here is the arrogant, wild King Saul, the warrior out seeking his prey, caught in 48 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:50,960 the most humble and embarrassing of circumstances, and he doesn't even know it. 49 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:56,760 And the men of David said to him, Behold, this is the day of which the Lord said to 50 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:02,880 you, Behold, I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as 51 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,120 it seems good to you. 52 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:11,080 And so they quoted what the Lord had said, or did they? 53 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:17,380 You will search the Old Testament in vain to find this statement. 54 00:04:17,380 --> 00:04:22,980 What they did was to presume upon what God had revealed. 55 00:04:22,980 --> 00:04:27,440 For God had never said this to David. 56 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,760 We have to be careful of doing that, don't we? 57 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:38,300 Of presuming what the Scriptures say when they may not actually say that. 58 00:04:38,300 --> 00:04:44,240 David arose nonetheless and cut off the edge of Saul's robe secretly. 59 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:50,440 And it came about afterward that David's conscience bothered him. 60 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:54,480 That tells you a lot about him. 61 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,220 Because he had cut off the edge of Saul's robe, and so he said to his men, Far be it 62 00:04:58,220 --> 00:05:03,320 from me, because of the Lord, that I should do this thing to my Lord, the Lord's anointed, 63 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:07,720 to stretch out my hands against him, since he is the Lord's anointed. 64 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:13,040 You notice how David calls him the Lord's anointed? 65 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,080 He was, of course. 66 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:19,560 But he was also the Lord's rejected. 67 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:25,440 And he was David's sworn enemy, the man who was seeking David's life. 68 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:34,320 And still David would not reach out to touch King Saul, because he was the Lord's anointed. 69 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:39,040 David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. 70 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:43,760 And Saul arose and left the cave and went on his way. 71 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:48,840 Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, My 72 00:05:48,840 --> 00:05:52,640 Lord, the King. 73 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:58,520 When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 74 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:03,720 David said to Saul, Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, Behold, David seeks 75 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,200 to harm you? 76 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:10,760 Behold this day your eyes have seen that the Lord has given you, today, into my hand in 77 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:12,300 the cave. 78 00:06:12,300 --> 00:06:15,880 And some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you. 79 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:21,520 I'm just wondering what all went through Saul's mind at that point. 80 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:27,360 And I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my Lord, for he is the Lord's anointed. 81 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:33,040 Now my Father, see, indeed see the edge of your robe in my hand. 82 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:38,120 For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, no one perceived that 83 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:43,760 there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though 84 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:47,120 you are lying in wait for my life to take it. 85 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,160 May the Lord judge between you and me. 86 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:55,680 May the Lord avenge me on you, but my hand shall not be against you. 87 00:06:55,680 --> 00:07:01,600 As the proverb of the ancients says, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness, but my 88 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,580 hand shall not be against you. 89 00:07:04,580 --> 00:07:06,680 After whom has the King of Israel come out? 90 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:07,680 Whom are you pursuing? 91 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,000 A dead dog? 92 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,580 A single flea? 93 00:07:12,580 --> 00:07:18,480 He was certainly scratching Saul where he itched, because you see, Saul was concerned 94 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:24,600 that David was going to kill him, going to take the throne away. 95 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:26,840 That was where he itched, so David just scratched him there. 96 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,140 He says, I'm not after you. 97 00:07:29,140 --> 00:07:35,120 The Lord therefore be judged and decide between you and me, and may he see and plead my cause 98 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:36,800 and deliver me from your hand. 99 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:43,840 And it came about when David finished speaking these words that Saul said, Is this your voice, 100 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,400 my son David? 101 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:50,320 And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 102 00:07:50,320 --> 00:08:00,280 I think that we have to find some pity in our hearts for Saul, for he was a desperate 103 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:08,120 man, and he was torn with inner battles. 104 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:13,480 And he said to David, You are more righteous than I, for you have dealt well with me, while 105 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,160 I have dealt wickedly with you. 106 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,680 You've declared today that you have done good to me, that the Lord delivered me into your 107 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,280 hand, and yet you did not kill me. 108 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:26,000 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safely? 109 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:30,960 May the Lord therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this 110 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:31,960 day. 111 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,640 Now behold, I know that you shall surely be king. 112 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,200 Now notice what he says in verse 20. 113 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,960 What an interesting statement this is from Saul. 114 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:46,160 I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established 115 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:48,160 in your hand. 116 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:53,920 So now swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that 117 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:58,720 you will not destroy my name from my father's household. 118 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:03,240 David swore to Saul, and Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the 119 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:04,240 stronghold. 120 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,760 They went back into the wilderness. 121 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,400 But it's all over now, right? 122 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,000 Saul has patched it up. 123 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:15,960 He understands David's true heart, right? 124 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:17,360 No. 125 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:20,640 The same thing happens again in chapter 26. 126 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:21,640 We'll look at it quickly. 127 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:28,520 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, Is not David hiding on the hill of 128 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:32,040 Hakkala, which is before Jeshumun? 129 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:37,160 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him 3,000 chosen men 130 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:40,920 of Israel to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. 131 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:45,920 And Saul camped in the hills of Hakkala, which is before Jeshumun, beside the road. 132 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:47,320 And David was staying in the wilderness. 133 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:52,080 And when he saw that Saul came after him to the wilderness, David sent out spies, and 134 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,280 he knew that Saul was definitely coming. 135 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:58,200 And David then arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. 136 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:02,080 And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner, the son of Ner, the commander of the 137 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:03,080 army. 138 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:07,000 And Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him. 139 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:08,680 So get this picture in your mind. 140 00:10:08,680 --> 00:10:11,320 They're here in an opening. 141 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,560 There's a circle of soldiers. 142 00:10:14,560 --> 00:10:15,560 In the middle is Saul. 143 00:10:15,560 --> 00:10:18,960 And they're all sleeping. 144 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:24,240 David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zariah, Joab's 145 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,960 brother, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp? 146 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,360 Abishai said, I'll go. 147 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:31,760 David and Abishai came to the people by night. 148 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:36,240 And behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground 149 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:37,920 at his head. 150 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,240 And Abner and the people were lying around him. 151 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:46,040 Abishai said to David, Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. 152 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:50,160 Now therefore, please, let me strike him with the spear to the ground with one stroke, and 153 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:52,720 I will not strike him the second time. 154 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,320 No three strikes and you're out here, you see. 155 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:57,260 One strike would do it. 156 00:10:57,260 --> 00:11:02,560 And David said to Abishai, Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against 157 00:11:02,560 --> 00:11:07,120 the Lord's anointed and be without guilt? 158 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:11,960 David said, As the Lord lives, surely the Lord will strike him, or his day will come 159 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:16,100 that he dies, or he will go down into battle and perish. 160 00:11:16,100 --> 00:11:20,600 The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed. 161 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:24,080 But now please, take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water and let's go. 162 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:26,360 Let's get out of here. 163 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:34,060 How prone we are to rush ahead of God and take care of that troubling person or to deliver 164 00:11:34,060 --> 00:11:38,160 ourselves from those circumstances that seem so hard. 165 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:47,240 But David patiently waited for God's way and God's time. 166 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:51,000 And so they took those two items that were mentioned. 167 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:58,160 David crossed to the other side of the valley and stood on top of the mountain at a distance. 168 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:09,240 And David called and he said, Abner, and he said, Who's calling the king? 169 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,200 David said, Are you not a man? 170 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:14,240 And who's like you in Israel? 171 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:16,840 He was a mighty warrior, you see. 172 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:19,660 Why then have you not guarded your Lord the king? 173 00:12:19,660 --> 00:12:23,080 For one of the people came to destroy the king your Lord. 174 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,240 This thing that you have done is not good. 175 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:31,480 As the Lord lives, all of you must surely die because you did not guard your Lord the 176 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,620 Lord's anointed. 177 00:12:33,620 --> 00:12:39,960 And now see where the king's spear is and the jug of water that was at his head. 178 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:45,040 You see, Abner was in a lot of trouble because someone was supposed to be awake guarding 179 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:46,920 the king. 180 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:53,280 And Saul recognized David's voice and he said, Is this your voice, my son David? 181 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:56,480 It sounds like a rerun, doesn't it? 182 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:59,800 David said, It's my voice, my Lord the king. 183 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,920 He said, Why then is my Lord pursuing His servant? 184 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:05,160 What have I done? 185 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,960 What evil's in my hand? 186 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,800 Please let my Lord the king listen to the words of His servant. 187 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:15,820 If the Lord has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. 188 00:13:15,820 --> 00:13:21,120 But if it is men, cursed as they are before the Lord, for they have driven me out today 189 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:25,080 that I should have no attachment with the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go and serve 190 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:26,860 other gods. 191 00:13:26,860 --> 00:13:30,720 Now then do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the Lord, for the 192 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:37,240 king of Israel has come out to search for a single flee, just as one pursues a partridge 193 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:38,240 in the mountains. 194 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,320 And Saul said, I've sinned. 195 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:43,200 I've sinned. 196 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:48,480 And so once again he seems to kiss and make up as it were, but David knows better and 197 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:52,080 they go their separate ways once more. 198 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,240 Now the question that I want to pose is this. 199 00:13:55,240 --> 00:14:01,880 Why did Saul so persistently pursue David? 200 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,680 David explained his heart. 201 00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:09,160 He gave actual evidence that he had no malice toward the king. 202 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,980 He did not desire to kill Saul. 203 00:14:11,980 --> 00:14:17,520 Why did Saul go so persistently after David? 204 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:22,080 I think that there is a reason. 205 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:31,480 And that reason is that there was apparently at least one counselor to King Saul who was 206 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:36,560 a liar. 207 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:43,060 And he constantly fed Saul a line of lies about David. 208 00:14:43,060 --> 00:14:44,880 And Saul believed it. 209 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,720 You see, now where do you get that? 210 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:50,800 Well, look at verse 19, what David says. 211 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:57,240 In the middle of the verse, if it is men, if it is men what? 212 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:59,360 Who have stirred you up against me. 213 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:01,200 Do you see that? 214 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:05,480 He says, if it's men who have done this, they're cursed. 215 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:10,200 Back up to chapter 24 and look at verse 9. 216 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:19,960 David says to Saul, why do you listen to the words of men saying David seeks to harm you? 217 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:31,160 So David knew that someone in Saul's court was a liar and was giving Saul bad information 218 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:32,160 regarding David. 219 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,680 You say, who in the world was that? 220 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:43,560 Well, the text in these books, these historical books, has no name. 221 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:49,120 But I think that we find the answer to it, this is my opinion, in Psalm 7. 222 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,920 Would you turn there please because we'll be spending most of the rest of our time in 223 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:59,640 Psalm 7. 224 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:09,400 The inscription I would point out to you, it says a shigion. 225 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:14,960 Now that is a term that is difficult to know the meaning of. 226 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:23,480 It's one of these fooms that we'll have to let Dr. Benham research this for us and let 227 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:27,560 us know what that means. 228 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:35,200 But it says that it is that which David sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite. 229 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:41,480 I believe that Cush was the liar. 230 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:46,600 Now it's interesting to notice that he was a Benjamite because so was Saul. 231 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,960 And who would be the most likely counselor that Saul would depend upon? 232 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:54,960 One of his own tribe. 233 00:16:54,960 --> 00:17:00,560 Therefore he listened to this Benjamite, one of those that he felt he could trust, but 234 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:07,120 this man Cush was a dishonest person. 235 00:17:07,120 --> 00:17:10,440 How do you handle something like this? 236 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:16,600 What do you do when there is somebody in the office who spreads lies around about you? 237 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:24,520 Well, what do you do when someone in your Sunday school class, in your church, in your 238 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:34,600 neighborhood, at the PTA, in your school, begins to tell lies about you? 239 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:38,240 How do you handle a liar? 240 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,760 I believe that David gives us some answers to that question. 241 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:49,360 Now you may not be the object of a liar's tongue tonight, but it will be an amazing 242 00:17:49,360 --> 00:17:55,780 feat if you get through the years of your life without facing at least one of them. 243 00:17:55,780 --> 00:18:00,720 How do you handle a liar? 244 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:05,840 I believe first of all that we need to follow David's example and declare the truth to 245 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:07,520 the third party. 246 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,760 That's the first answer to that question. 247 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:17,400 We handle a liar by declaring the truth to the third party to whom the lie has been told. 248 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,960 In this case, it was Saul. 249 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:26,520 You notice that David carefully explained to Saul verbally what his attitude was, and 250 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:30,840 he showed it by his action as well. 251 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:37,140 You say, wait a minute, I thought that we're never supposed to defend ourselves. 252 00:18:37,140 --> 00:18:44,640 In general, that's not a bad principle, but it's not always applicable either. 253 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:52,160 There are times when it's best not to defend ourselves, but David defended himself here. 254 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:59,520 I think we have to look at the circumstances of the situation to find out if a self-defense 255 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:02,080 is appropriate. 256 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:10,500 The apostle Paul felt that a defense was appropriate, for in 2 Corinthians he writes at length regarding 257 00:19:10,500 --> 00:19:20,240 his honesty as a genuine apostle of Christ, and he accuses those false apostles who were 258 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:28,720 trying to undermine his authority in Corinth of being deceitful and calls them the messengers 259 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:36,400 of Satan. 260 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:40,680 There are times when we have to defend ourselves. 261 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:48,880 I think an example of a man defending himself is Jerry Falwell at the present time. 262 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:55,480 He is another man that I admire because he very seldom answers his critics. 263 00:19:55,480 --> 00:20:01,720 He does not usually attack those who attack him. 264 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,680 If he did that, he would have no time for anything else for sure because he has many 265 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:09,240 critics. 266 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:16,720 Why then has he filed a suit against Hustler magazine and its publisher, which apparently 267 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:21,640 was initially settled last night? 268 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:22,920 Why was the suit filed? 269 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,720 Why did he choose to defend himself in this case? 270 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:35,940 For this reason, because what was said about him in that magazine not only was slander 271 00:20:35,940 --> 00:20:41,680 against his character, although perhaps not legally, technically legally so, according 272 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:51,480 to the jury, but most important it was an attack against his ministry and what he stands 273 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:52,480 for. 274 00:20:52,480 --> 00:21:04,680 It seems to me that that is the line which when crossed necessitates on our part a defense. 275 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:14,480 If the Lord's work is implicated in the lie, then the truth, listen carefully, the truth 276 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:23,260 should be explained in a forum that is appropriate to the situation. 277 00:21:23,260 --> 00:21:28,220 If the Lord's work is implicated in the lie that is being told, then the truth should 278 00:21:28,220 --> 00:21:34,480 be explained in an appropriate forum. 279 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:40,040 I think that Jerry Falwell has done that in his lawsuit because that magazine was public, 280 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:44,160 it was nationwide and available to everybody. 281 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:50,200 The forum that he chose was the law court and I think appropriately so. 282 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:55,920 But there are times when the forum may be less. 283 00:21:55,920 --> 00:22:01,560 In those occasions it is important to declare the truth to those who have received the lie. 284 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:05,640 Now in David's case it was important for him to defend himself because he was going 285 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:08,200 to be the next king. 286 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:14,960 He had to counteract the lie so that those who were loyal to Saul would later feel free 287 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:17,800 to transfer their loyalty to him. 288 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:25,280 So you see it was very important for the Lord's purpose that David defend himself in the manner 289 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:27,560 in which he did. 290 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:33,320 He had to declare the truth publicly and notice the forum that he chose to do it. 291 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:38,160 It was to Saul directly, but it was also to those who were closest and most loyal to Saul 292 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:41,200 his soldiers. 293 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:47,320 They had to hear the truth. 294 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:51,560 Now there are certain questions I think we need to ask ourselves when we are considering 295 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:54,960 if and how to do this. 296 00:22:54,960 --> 00:23:07,080 The first question is this, is this my pride or God's glory I am seeking to establish? 297 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:09,540 Why am I defending myself? 298 00:23:09,540 --> 00:23:15,440 Is it because of my pride or is it for the work, the glory of God? 299 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:22,560 Secondly, will the response I make only further spread the untruth? 300 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:32,380 There are times when trying to defend yourself is like pouring water on oil. 301 00:23:32,380 --> 00:23:36,440 It only spreads it and it may not be wise. 302 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:45,120 Third, what approach and time would best serve to tell the truth and thus squelch the lie? 303 00:23:45,120 --> 00:23:48,760 Choose carefully how to do it. 304 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:53,840 But please do not be threatened by every false thing that is said about you. 305 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:56,940 Do not be threatened by that. 306 00:23:56,940 --> 00:24:05,280 Leave vindication in the hands of God because ultimately the truth will be established. 307 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:11,280 Now I think that we see something else from David's example as to how to handle a liar. 308 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,720 We see this in Psalm 7 verses 1 and 2. 309 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:19,480 He says, Oh Lord my God, in thee I have taken refuge. 310 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:25,480 Save me from all those who pursue me and deliver me, lest he tear my soul like a lion, dragging 311 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:30,820 me away while there is none to deliver. 312 00:24:30,820 --> 00:24:36,600 David placed his faith in God as his refuge and that's something that we need to learn 313 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:40,280 to do when confronted by a liar. 314 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:43,680 Place your faith in God as your refuge. 315 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:47,240 Do not try to wrap yourself in your own reputation. 316 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:50,040 It's far too fragile for that. 317 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:51,960 Rather give your reputation to God. 318 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:56,080 He can take better care of it than you can. 319 00:24:56,080 --> 00:25:01,640 The Christian leader was asked by a friend to answer his critics because they seemed 320 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:08,680 to be doing harm to the work for which he had sacrificed many years. 321 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:13,160 Christian leaders response was, I will not respond. 322 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:21,740 My friends do not need my reply and my enemies won't believe me anyway. 323 00:25:21,740 --> 00:25:29,440 He placed his faith in God as his refuge and left it to the Lord. 324 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:33,680 There are several examples of Psalms which express this. 325 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:38,920 Just turn over a few pages of Psalm 27 as one example and I'll give you other references 326 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:39,920 if you're interested. 327 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:45,860 But in Psalm 27, notice again what David says. 328 00:25:45,860 --> 00:25:49,280 The Lord is my light and my salvation. 329 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:51,200 Whom shall I fear? 330 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:55,960 The Lord is the defense of my life. 331 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:56,960 Notice that. 332 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:58,920 Whom shall I dread? 333 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:01,200 Then drop down to verse 12. 334 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:07,500 Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries for false witnesses have risen 335 00:26:07,500 --> 00:26:12,120 against me and such as breed out violence. 336 00:26:12,120 --> 00:26:17,240 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord 337 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:19,320 in the land of the living. 338 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,880 Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage. 339 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:25,600 Yes, wait for the Lord. 340 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:28,120 You see David's refuge was the Lord. 341 00:26:28,120 --> 00:26:33,760 The Lord was his defense even against false witnesses who were his adversaries. 342 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:38,000 Now just jot down a couple of other references from the Psalms. 343 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:43,760 Psalm 35 verses 9 to 17. 344 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:47,940 And don't you dare turn there and read. 345 00:26:47,940 --> 00:26:51,720 Psalm 94 verses 17 to 23. 346 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:58,960 Two other references that I want you to look at on your time and study this thing out, 347 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:03,760 that the Lord is to be the place of our refuge. 348 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:11,400 That is what Jesus did when he stood before the high priest of Israel. 349 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:18,080 For when he was asked regarding the statements he had made, he remained quiet, making the 350 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:21,200 Lord his refuge. 351 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,960 Until he was directly asked, are you the Christ? 352 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:26,800 And then he said, you said it. 353 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:28,720 You said it. 354 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:33,640 And for that he was struck on the face. 355 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:39,440 He committed himself to the Lord and took refuge in him. 356 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:48,520 Number three, in handling a liar, search to find whether there is any basis for the accusations 357 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:53,200 or statements which you consider false. 358 00:27:53,200 --> 00:28:00,080 It seems to me that David may do this in Psalm 7 when he says, oh Lord my God, verse 3, if 359 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:07,480 I have done this, if there is injustice in my hands, if I have rewarded evil to my friend, 360 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:13,160 or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary, let the enemy pursue my soul 361 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:14,160 and overtake it. 362 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:20,400 And let him trample my life down to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. 363 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:24,360 It seems to me that David is searching his heart here. 364 00:28:24,360 --> 00:28:30,360 Now he apparently found himself innocent and affirms that in what he says. 365 00:28:30,360 --> 00:28:39,560 But I think it's wise if we will be humble enough to see if perhaps there may be oversights 366 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:47,040 on our part or misunderstandings we have created which need to be corrected. 367 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:51,080 And so when handling a liar, do that. 368 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:53,040 Search yourself. 369 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:56,720 Any of us can have a blind spot. 370 00:28:56,720 --> 00:29:02,520 It takes humility and it takes a gut level honesty to do this. 371 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:05,320 I think it's vitally important. 372 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:07,520 Get someone else's perspective too. 373 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:17,720 Someone you trust who will tell you the truth about yourself and about what's being said. 374 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:24,960 And if in fact you find some basis for the statements that have been made, go to that 375 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:33,960 person who has lied or whom you thought had lied and get that whole situation cleared 376 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:36,240 up with him. 377 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:44,360 Number four, in handling a liar, follow David's example in verses 6 through 16. 378 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:47,680 Commit judgment to the righteous judge. 379 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,720 Arise, O Lord, in thine anger. 380 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:55,960 Strip thyself against the rage of my adversaries and arouse thyself for me. 381 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:59,520 Thou hast appointed judgment. 382 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:05,760 And let the assembly of the peoples encompass thee, and over them return thou on high. 383 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:09,360 The Lord judges the people. 384 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:14,400 Vindicate me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me. 385 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:18,080 O, let the evil of the wicked come to an end. 386 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:25,200 But establish the righteous, for the righteous God tries the hearts and minds. 387 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:29,600 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. 388 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:35,000 God is a righteous judge and a God who has indignation every day. 389 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:38,520 If a man does not repent, he will sharpen his sword. 390 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:40,300 God will sharpen his sword. 391 00:30:40,300 --> 00:30:42,400 He has bent his bow and made it ready. 392 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:46,140 He has prepared for himself deadly weapons. 393 00:30:46,140 --> 00:30:49,880 He makes his arrows fiery shafts. 394 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:52,760 Now in verse 14, it goes back to the dishonest person. 395 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:59,440 It says, behold, he travails with wickedness, and he conceives mischief and brings forth 396 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:00,440 falsehood. 397 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:05,240 You see, he is giving birth, as it were, to lies. 398 00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:13,820 He has dug a pit and hollowed it out and has fallen into the hole which he made. 399 00:31:13,820 --> 00:31:19,360 His mischief will return upon his own head, and his violence will descend upon his own 400 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:21,840 pate. 401 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:28,360 So David committed judgment to the Lord, the righteous judge. 402 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:34,760 He will defend his own in his own way and time. 403 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:39,760 David says in verse 10 that God is a shield to his own. 404 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:46,800 When we place our trust in the Lord, he becomes our refuge when we are attacked by liars. 405 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:50,680 He becomes a shield to us. 406 00:31:50,680 --> 00:32:00,760 And when he is ready, in the way in which he has prepared, he will vindicate his own. 407 00:32:00,760 --> 00:32:07,180 What should we do as a church when people say things that are not true about us? 408 00:32:07,180 --> 00:32:12,000 Should we buy some ads in the Tribune and print the truth? 409 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:14,240 No. 410 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:15,240 Probably not. 411 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:18,280 That would be a pretty rare case. 412 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:22,880 What we ought to do is just trust the Lord. 413 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:26,280 Because in the end, the truth will be borne out. 414 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:28,520 The Lord will be our shield. 415 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:37,800 But notice in verses 12 to 16, God is a sword, not a shield, a sword to the wicked. 416 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:40,140 His bow is ready. 417 00:32:40,140 --> 00:32:43,560 His fiery shafts are aimed. 418 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:46,920 And he will bring the wicked down. 419 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:56,720 The liar with his own tongue has dug a hole into which he himself will fall. 420 00:32:56,720 --> 00:33:00,160 Great judgment to the righteous judge. 421 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:10,000 And finally, in handling a liar, fill your life with praising God, not with harboring 422 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:13,080 bitterness. 423 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:16,600 Notice David's words in verse 17. 424 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:23,640 I will give thanks to the Lord according to his righteousness and will sing praise to 425 00:33:23,640 --> 00:33:27,680 the name of the Lord most high. 426 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:32,160 David is not bitter at Cush. 427 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:44,520 He holds no resentment toward him, even though it cost David years of heartache, of trouble, 428 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:46,280 of discomfort. 429 00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:53,640 But rather than being angry and bitter at Cush, he filled his heart, his life, with 430 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:56,360 singing praises to God. 431 00:33:56,360 --> 00:34:05,320 You see, your bitterness, my bitterness at the liar, will not in the least bit hurt him. 432 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:08,960 It will only eat us away. 433 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:18,960 And that bitterness can become a root in our lives which will bear ugly fruit eventually. 434 00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:27,940 Rather what we must do is by the grace of God forgive outright that person who has lied. 435 00:34:27,940 --> 00:34:33,640 Even though that person may not admit it, even though the lie still may be echoing back 436 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:40,080 and forth in the community or in our circle of friends or the office, we are to outright 437 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:45,560 forgive that person and sing praises to the Lord. 438 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:49,400 Now that is an attitude that's unbeatable. 439 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:50,920 The devil does not handle that. 440 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:55,960 In fact, he can't. 441 00:34:55,960 --> 00:35:05,120 Charles Swindoll in his very excellent book, Dropping Your Guard, relates this story. 442 00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:11,440 I have a close personal friend whose father has been a pastor for many, many years. 443 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:16,320 The father was a man of faithfulness and consistency, but a tragic event occurred in the mid-years 444 00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:18,220 of his ministry. 445 00:35:18,220 --> 00:35:23,880 He was falsely accused of adultery by the vicious tongues of several gossips. 446 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:28,680 The man, though completely innocent, became the object of scandalous words which followed 447 00:35:28,680 --> 00:35:31,960 him like his own shadow for years. 448 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:34,720 There was nothing he could say or do to vindicate himself. 449 00:35:34,720 --> 00:35:41,680 His son, my friend, says Swindoll, watched during his young adult years as the unfounded 450 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:45,800 lies took their toll on the lives of his parents. 451 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:51,120 With silent heroism, they continued to serve, trusting God to confound the critic and in 452 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:54,400 his time vindicate the minister. 453 00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:55,400 Finally it happened. 454 00:35:55,400 --> 00:36:04,320 It had taken ten long years, but early one morning, unannounced, the person responsible 455 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:09,640 for the false accusations appeared on the doorstep of the pastor's home. 456 00:36:09,640 --> 00:36:15,840 As he opened the door, he stood face to face with the one who had started the rumor. 457 00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:21,240 Others ran down the cheeks of the critic, now broken in spirit. 458 00:36:21,240 --> 00:36:25,520 Pleading for forgiveness, the individual openly confessed the transgression, fully admitting 459 00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:28,840 guilt and blaming no one else. 460 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:33,080 That person, by the way, had been under such deep conviction and turmoil that there had 461 00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:38,520 been no freedom to serve others or find any relief within. 462 00:36:38,520 --> 00:36:43,380 Graciously and tearfully, the pastor expressed his forgiveness and assured the guilty party 463 00:36:43,380 --> 00:36:47,200 that there was absolutely no bitterness in his heart. 464 00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:51,600 He and his wife had worked their way through all that pain many years earlier. 465 00:36:51,600 --> 00:37:00,140 Now that he was finally vindicated, the offense had long been diffused. 466 00:37:00,140 --> 00:37:10,440 You may be struggling tonight with that kind of anger, the kind of anger and bitterness 467 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:16,280 that festers in the heart when you've been lied about. 468 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:22,560 Can you honestly say to the Lord that you have forgiven? 469 00:37:22,560 --> 00:37:28,480 You say, well, I can forgive, but I can't forget. 470 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:35,720 Again Swindoll quotes Amy Carmichael, who wrote, if I say, yes, I forgive, but I cannot 471 00:37:35,720 --> 00:37:42,800 forget as though the God who twice a day washes all the sands on all the shores of all the 472 00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:55,600 world could not wash away such memories from my mind that I know nothing of Calvary love. 473 00:37:55,600 --> 00:38:01,280 Do not allow that bitterness to remain in you. 474 00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:10,600 And if I'm speaking to someone who has been on the other side, who has been the gossip, 475 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:19,720 who has spread the lie, then you have a special responsibility before God and to that person 476 00:38:19,720 --> 00:38:29,360 that you've sinned against to confess it and to get it right. 477 00:38:29,360 --> 00:38:35,880 It may take time, it may cost you money and long distance calls or a personal trip somewhere, 478 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:45,000 but you will have no freedom of spirit until you do it. 479 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:48,120 Let's pray. 480 00:38:48,120 --> 00:39:00,040 Father, we want to be people who walk in truth and who put away lies. 481 00:39:00,040 --> 00:39:06,720 I pray that you would deliver our tongues from lying. 482 00:39:06,720 --> 00:39:19,000 Word set a watch upon our lips that we share nothing of a dishonest nature, that we be 483 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:26,680 not gossips and tale bearers. 484 00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:33,920 And wherein there may be some of us who have some ragged edges in that part of the heart, 485 00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:45,880 I pray that you will do what needs to be done to clean that up and give us hearts broken 486 00:39:45,880 --> 00:39:53,600 and repentant that are willing and obedient. 487 00:39:53,600 --> 00:40:00,680 And I pray, Father, for those in our church family who are passing through the wilderness 488 00:40:00,680 --> 00:40:16,880 as was David, a wilderness that seems so unnecessary but created by a liar, give those dear people 489 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:25,560 an understanding of how to handle that and to follow David's example. 490 00:40:25,560 --> 00:40:34,720 And I pray that above all we will trust you and make you our refuge every step of every 491 00:40:34,720 --> 00:40:37,880 day. 492 00:40:37,880 --> 00:40:58,920 In Jesus' name, amen.