Richmond Community Church

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Sermon Audio: David Flees to the Philistines
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 27:1-28:2
Duration: 24:;08
Size: 16.5 MB

The Life of David
David Flees to the Philistines
I Samuel 27:1-28:2

Even though David had God’s promises reiterated to him on numerous occasions, he got weary of being on the run from Saul.

Affirm that every character in the Bible–with the exception of Jesus Christ–is flawed, totally depraved, and sinful in nature.

I. David’s Plan (I Samuel 27:1-4)
But despite all these assurances that were given to David, he began to feel the pressure of being stalked and hunted and chased for more than seven years.

We make so many mistakes when we do not go to the Lord in prayer, and seek his guidance on a matter.

II. David’s Place (I Samuel 27:5-7)
Without knowing it, Achish gave David a place that David actually co-opted eventually into Judah.

III. David’s Practice (I Samuel 27:8-12)
According to a recent study, people who tell small, self-serving lies are likely to progress to bigger falsehoods, and over time, the brain appears to adapt to the dishonesty.

IV. David’s Predicament (I Samuel 28:1-2)
David was in a real predicament because he was being conscripted to go and fight against his own people.

And yet, even though David’s faith faltered, God was faithful to him and preserved him for his future calling.

When Gladys and the orphans made it through, they proved once again that no matter how inadequate we feel, God is still God, and we can trust in him.

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Sermon Audio: David Spares Saul’s Life Again
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 26:1-25
Duration: 26:47
Size: 18.3 MB

The Life of David
David Spares Saul’s Life Again
I Samuel 26:1-25

Moreover, whereas Saul’s behavior remained essentially unchanged from the previous occasion, we see significant growth in David’s faith in this second incident.

In today’s lesson, we read how David and Abishai took Saul’s weapon from him while he–and all his guards–slept.

I. A Faithful Servant Is Patient (I Samuel 26:1-12)
The Lord was supernaturally protecting David and Abishai while they snuck right into the middle of Saul’s camp.

We may not know what God is doing, but we do have God’s word, and God calls us to obey his word while he works out his will for our lives.

II. A Faithful Servant Is Encouraged (I Samuel 26:13-16)
God encourages his faithful servants with some token, some evidence that he has not forgotten his word and promise to them.

III. A Faithful Servant Is Distressed (I Samuel 26:17-20)
A faithful servant is distressed when not able to be in the presence of the Lord.

IV. A Faithful Servant Is Hopeful (I Samuel 26:21-25)
A faithful servant’s hope is in the Lord and not in man. David trusted the Lord to reward him for his faithfulness.

As Christians, we are all dominoes in the chain reaction set off by Jesus 2,000 years ago.

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Sermon Audio: David and Abigail (Part 2)
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 25:32-44
Duration: 26:06
Size: 17.9 MB

The Life of David
David and Abigail (Part 2)
I Samuel 25:32-44

Feelings festered and other incidents occurred that finally resulted in the shooting death of Ellison Hatfield in 1882.

You may not think it out loud, but you really want to do something about what has been done to you.

I. David’s Response (I Samuel 25:32-35)
One moment he was filled with murderous rage; the next moment he was completely calm.

II. Nabal’s Death (I Samuel 25:36-38)
Abigail told him about how she had intercepted David and prevented David from killing Nabal and all the male members of his household.

We need to remind ourselves that the Lord will meet out retributive justice, always after we die but sometimes before we die.

III. David’s Vindication (I Samuel 25:39a)
When you are wronged, rebuffed, scorned, slighted, rejected, or even hurt, let the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between you and the one who has wronged you.

IV. David’s Wives (I Samuel 25:39b-44)
Still, we should observe that David’s polygamy failed to uphold God’s design for marriage and would in the end lead to great harm to both David and his household.

This remarkable aspect of David’s conduct is strikingly similar to Jesus who did not come, in his first coming, “to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

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Sermon Audio: David and Abigail (Part 1)
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 25:1-31
Duration: 23:49
Size: 16.3 MB

The Life of David
David and Abigail (Part 1)
I Samuel 25:1-31

David became really upset because of Nabal’s actions, and he very nearly acted in a way that could have been disastrous for him. Thankfully, the Lord intervened in David’s life.

I. A Man Who Does Not Fear the Lord (I Samuel 25:1-13)
A. The Request (I Samuel 25:1-9)
Bible scholars say that it was customary at shearing time, which was also a feast, for wealthy landowners to share their wealth with others.

B. The Refusal (I Samuel 25:10-11)
His foolishness–like all true foolishness–concerns his relationship to the Lord. All sin is sheer foolishness, for it is the contradiction of God.

C. The Retaliation (I Samuel 25:12-13)
We are vulnerable at such moments, not only to the flushes of our own sinfulness but to the influences of demonic suggestion.

II. A Woman Who Does Fear the Lord (I Samuel 25:14-31)
A. The Apprisal (I Samuel 25:14-17)
Apparently, even Nabal’s own servants did not have a high view of him, calling him a “a wicked man.”

B. The Action (I Samuel 25:18-19)

C. The Anger (I Samuel 25:20-22)
He was about to do something that would ruin his future, for if he had killed Nabal and his household, David would have been no better than Saul.

D. The Appeal (I Samuel 25:23-31)
Therefore, Abigail asked for David’s forgiveness for this insult and made restitution by providing him with various foods.

But in his marvelous mercy, God’s restraining providence prevented David from doing something that would have damaged his credibility and caused him great regret.