I Samuel 25

• I Samuel 25:1 - Samuel died. Israel assembled to mourn him. Samuel gave his own obituary in a way in I Samuel 12:1-5. How great it would be to be able to say these things about myself at the end of my life!
• I Samuel 25:3 - Nabal’s name meant “fool.”
• I Samuel 25:24 - Abigail showed tremendous wisdom and humility in intercepting David.
• I Samuel 25:26 - Abigail said that God restrained David’s hand. David agreed in I Samuel 25:34.
• I Samuel 25:28 - This was possibly a prophecy of what would come from David’s lineage.
• I Samuel 25:32 - David counted meeting Abigail as God’s providence. God helped arrange this turn of events. Don’t overlook the small events that God may be orchestrating in your life!

Introduction

• Titus 2:7-8

Check your motive

• Matthew 22:37 - Being an example should not be our primary goal.
• Matthew 6:1-5, 15 - Be careful of crossing the line and being a showoff.
• Matthew 23:1-5 - The scribes and Pharisees had the wrong motives. See Deuteronomy 6:8. That was figurative language, but were making it literal with their tassels and phylacteries.
• Deuteronomy 11:18
• Numbers 15:39

Think: “What effect will this have on others?”

• Matthew 22:39
• We all know we are not perfect, but we should be operating out of humility.
• I Thessalonians 1:6-8; 2:5-12 - Sometimes we might need to let something go that would normally be our right just to avoid having a bad effect on others.
• II Thessalonians 3:7-12
• Colossians 3:23
• Start out by serving others, but then go above and beyond!

Be like the moon. Reflect the Greater Light.

• Genesis 1:16-19
• Psalms 19:1 - The moon is part of that glory. It is doing its job.
• I Corinthians 11:1
• Matthew 5:14-16

Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians (continued)

Considering objections

• James 1:27 - “Can’t the church practice pure and undefiled religion?”
  • Yes, but that’s not what James 1:27 is talking about.
  • Can an individual practice pure and undefiled religion? Yes, and it is described in James 1:27.
  • Compare I Timothy 5:16. “Jesus tells us what should be done. Paul tells us who should do it.”
• Galatians 6:10 - “The church should ‘do good to all people,’ not just Christians.”
  • Is this talking about a church giving money to people, especially to Christians?
  • No. This passage is about individual Christians helping others overcome sin, not using the church treasury to give money to people.
  • A letter written to a church does not mean that everything in that letter pertains to church action (I Corinthians 7).
  • A letter written to an individual does not mean that everything in that letter pertains to individual action (I Timothy 3).
• II Corinthians 9:13 - “Paul said the money went to ‘them’ (needy saints) and to ‘all’ (non-saints).”
  • Context:
    • Proof of their love (II Corinthians 8:24)
    • Thanksgivings to God (II Corinthians 9:11-12)
    • Glorification of God for your obedience (II Corinthians 9:13)
    • Yearning for you (II Corinthians 9:14)
    • This money was sending a message!
  • Harmony
    • I Corinthians 16:1 - “for the saints”
    • II Corinthians 8:4 - “support of the saints”
    • II Corinthians 9:1 - “ministry to the saints”
    • II Corinthians 9:12 - “needs of the saints”
    • Romans 15:25 - “serving the saints”
    • Romans 15:26 - “poor among the saints in Jerusalem”
    • Romans 15:31 - “to the saints”
    • Consider the relationship between Jews and Gentiles.
    • Acts 10:28, 34-35; 11:1-3; Galatians 2:11-13
    • Gentile brethren ➡️ Jewish brethren
    • There was something much bigger going on here than just the money paying the bills for needy saints. The relationship was affected! It was an act of good will, sincerity, love, and fellowship between Gentiles and Jews.
  • My conclusion: I believe Paul is referring to the money and the message it sent about the relationship between Gentile saints and Jewish saints.
  • “Because of the proof given by this ministry, [the proof of love from Gentiles] they [Jewish brethren] will glorify God for your [Gentiles’] obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution [the money and the message it sent] to them [needy Jewish saints] and to all [Jewish saints].”

Introduction

• What causes us to feel fear? It could be any number of things.

Terror vs. reverence

• Exodus 20:18-21 - God showed His power on Mt. Sinai.
• Israel was full of ear and doubt. Although God showed His power many times, they failed to fully understand His power.
• Hebrews 3:15-19 - Israel knew God but refused His commandments. Instead, they feared the inhabitants of the land.
• Hebrews 11:6
• Can we relate to Adam and Eve? To know God but refuse His commandments?
• Matthew 7:13, 21-23
• Romans 5:6-11
• Without Jesus, there will be terror on the day of judgment.
• Philippians 2:12
• Hebrews 4:1-2
• I John 4:17-18
• We should have reverant fear of God.

I Samuel 23

• I Samuel 23:1-5 - David’s men were concerned about making more enemies while Saul was already after them, but David trusted in what God told him.
• I Samuel 23:16-18 - Jonathan went to talk to David at great personal risk to himself. Saul could have easily killed Jonathan if he found out Jonathan knew where David was.
• I Samuel 23:19 - The Ziphites were part of the tribe of Judah, kinsmen of David. Yet they betrayed David to Saul.
• I Samuel 23:27-28 - Because he had been chasing David around, Saul did not have his army positioned to counter the Philistines.

I Samuel 24

• I Samuel 24:3 - This region has a large number of deep caves, some of which have still not been fully explored.
• I Samuel 24:4-5 - We should not consider ourselves to be the executor for what we consider to be right. David was humble here and showed how to leave room for God’s justice. This was all part of forging David into someone who could properly serve as king.