Facing Injustice

Sermon Transcript:

(transcribed with AI)

Promontory Community Church exists to make disciples of Jesus who know, live, and share the gospel for the glory of God. Good morning. My name's Rich Koppany. I'm the community life pastor here at Promontory. This morning together we're going to dig into a chapter that quite honestly is probably going to make some of you angry. Now, hopefully not angry at me. Hopefully angry at some of the people that we're going to read about today.

You see, most of us, we've grown up with a sense of right and wrong. Justice and injustice. Our hearts resonate with the belief that doing right to others and them doing right to us, that's the way it's supposed to be. I mean, isn't that the golden rule? You know, Jesus said it back in Matthew 7, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them. Treat others fairly and you'll be treated well, hopefully. But that's not going to happen this morning. That's not going to be the case in the chapter that we're going to read. You're not going to find justice or fairness. In fact, we're going to encounter the exact opposite. Which might just stir up a little bit of anger. You know, some, how dare he do that? And definitely is going to stir up a couple of questions in your heart and mind.

You know, I think we all realize that life isn't always fair. I mean, you probably learned that maybe way back in elementary school. You know, when some bully was picking on you and kids made fun of the clothes you were wearing and all that kind of stuff. Or at work, things can definitely not be fair. You put in all the time, you put in all the effort, you carry 90% of the work for your team, and somebody else steals the credit for it. Whoever said that marriage is a fifty-fifty proposition probably has never been married. And if they were, probably not for long. Do you know what I'm talking about? I mean, has your blood boiled when others have treated you or even those around you unfairly? That's our reality.

And now comes our questions. How are we supposed to respond to injustice? I mean, where is God at a time like that? And what does our Christian faith have to say about any of this?

These past weeks, if you've been with us, you know that we've been working our way through the story of David. Way back in January, we opened our Bibles to the Old Testament book of First Samuel, and we met this young man. Well, maybe more boy. He was about 13-15 years at that point. And you know, he was a shepherd kid. I mean, he's out there every day taking care of his family's flock. I mean, it could have been the rest of David's life. I mean, you see the youngest boy back there in the family, the youngest boy was stuck with taking care of the sheep, and if there were no other boys that were born after you, then guess where you're going to be for a very, very, very long time.

But we've seen in our story so far that God had some bigger plans for David. To be anointed the next king of Israel. To be the slayer of Goliath the giant. To be a close friend with Jonathan, King Saul's son. To be public enemy number one, as Saul sees David as a threat to his own crown. Ultimately, to be the king over Israel. And then almost a millennia later, to be the great, great, great, and so on, step-grandfather of Jesus himself.

Well this morning we're going to pick up David's story during his Public enemy number one era. As Saul's murderous vendetta on him just continues to build. Last week we saw how Saul decided he had to get out of town or he wasn't going to be living anymore. And so he sought to hide out with in the heavily fortified city of Gath, where Saul wouldn't come and bother him. In hindsight, probably not his greatest idea. Gath was where Goliath, the Philistine giant, had grown up. You know, people aren't all that friendly when you go and kill their hometown hero. David's afraid for his life, he pretends he's insane, so they'll leave him alone. And that's where we pick up our story now, as we turn to 1 Samuel 22.

Now, as we read this, I'm going to be making comments along the way on some of the verses, and that's going to take some time, so as we did a couple of weeks ago when I spoke, I'm going to suggest instead of standing as we read God's word, it might be better if you just stay seated at this moment.

We're going to begin in verse one. David departed from there. That was Gath. Enemy territory now for him. I mean, people don't like him. He killed Goliath. And escape to the cave of Adullam, a cave that was actually meant in the Hebrew refuge. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.

You know, by this point, Saul's fear and hatred of David was so high pitched that nobody in David's family was safe. And everyone who was in distress and everyone who was in debt and everyone who was bitter gathered to him. Many in Judah were struggling at this time. You know, hundreds and hundreds of years later, Jesus invited those who are downtrodden with the familiar words for many of us, Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. I don't know if David made that same invitation 900 years earlier. But the people came anyway. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about 400 men.

And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, a town on the other side of the Dead Sea, about 50-60 miles away. And he said to the king of Moab, who by the way, just happens to be distantly related to David through his great-grandmother, says to him, please let my father and my mother stay with you till I know what God will do for me. And he left them with the king of Moab and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.

OK, let's just pause for a minute. I know that's, you know, all this might really sound like a bunch of travel log. You know, he moved here, he moved there, he was always on the go. And of course he moved around. He was being hunted. His life was on the line. But this passage actually says a lot more. It tells us about David's character. How even while being hunted by a murderous king, he takes the time, makes the effort to protect his family. I mean, living out that great commandment to honor your father and mother.

And then look at how David sees himself in all this chaos. Please let my parents stay with you till I know what God will do for me. You know, if I were David's sandals, I would have probably seen myself as a victim. You know, I'm a victim of Saul's hatred. I'm like putty in his cruel hands. Woe is me. How am I ever going to get out of this alive? But that's not how David sees himself. He knows he's under God's care. He understands that his sovereign God is in control. And he's going to wait until God tells him what to do next. And that's why when God tells him to move on, he does.

Verse 5. Then the prophet Gad said to David, do not remain in the stronghold, depart and go into the land of Judah. So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

And now the focus of the story changes from David's attempt to avoid death to King Saul's order to kill over 200 of his own subjects. We pick it up in verse 6. Now Saul heard that David was discovered and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him, and Saul said to his servants who stood about him, Hear now, people of Benjamin, will the son of Jesse - he's talking about David. I mean, Saul's insecurity causes him to be so obsessed with thoughts of his perceived rival - will he give you every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? That all of you have conspired against me.

Saul slipping more and more into paranoia. I mean, he's sure that everyone's out to get him. No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait as at this day. And he's having a pity party. And in his mind he's the one who's being wronged and conspired against.

Now, just back up for a minute. Just look at that. Friends, unconfronted sin in our lives will warp our perspective over time. It will totally skew how we see things until honestly everything begins to revolve around us, and that's what we're seeing here.

Then answered Doeg the Edomite. The Edomites were an ancient Semitic people in the Bible, descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob. Then answered Doeg the Edomite who stood by the servants of Saul, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath, the Philistine.

The account is accurate. And yet kind of slanted in a way to paint Ahimelech as a co-conspirator with David. And Saul bought it.

Verse 11, then the king sent to summon Ahimelech, the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king, and Saul said, Hear now, son of Ahitub, and he answered, Here I am, my lord. And Saul said to him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, and that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me to lie in wait as at this day?

Then Ahimelech answered the king, and who among your servants is so faithful as David? Who is the king's son-in-law and the captain of your own bodyguard and honored in your house? Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No. I mean, let not the king impute anything to his servants or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.

And this priest isn't worried. His conscience is clean as he tries to reason with Saul. But his fate has already been sealed.

And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house. And the king said to the guard who stood about him, Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me. But the servants of the king would not put their hand to strike the priests of the Lord. They knew the difference between justice and injustice, even if the king didn't.

Then the king said to Doeg, You turn and strike the priest, and Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priest, and he killed on that day 85 persons who wore the linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword, both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey, sheep, he put to the sword.

It was a massacre, a bloodbath. And completely unjust. And here again we see a steady progression of undealt with sin in a person's life and how that erodes our moral, our spiritual values until for Saul, murdering his own subjects seems to be the right thing to do.

And yet in the midst of all this injustice we still see God in control. Verse 20 but one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. And David said to Abiathar, I knew on that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul, I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. I mean, can you hear the regret in his voice? Stay with me. Do not be afraid. For he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me, you shall be in safekeeping.

OK, let's step back. First of all, thank you for hanging in there. I know this is not really one of those fun portions of scripture to read. You know, when I watch a movie or watch news, and I see people being bullied or treated with disrespect, there's something inside me that just kind of rises up and I'm like, no, that's not right. I'm feeling the same way when I read the story. Which brings us back to the questions we asked earlier. How are we supposed to respond to injustice? Where is God at a time like this?

Well, let's see what David has to say about all that. And I mean if you've been with us in the sermon series, you know that David has had more than his share of unjust experiences. I mean, after multiple attempts by King Saul to skewer him with a spear, David questions his friend Jonathan. In First Samuel 20 says, what have I done, Jonathan? What is my guilt? What is my sin before your father that he seeks my life? I mean, Jonathan, I don't understand it. I've only tried to do good for your father. Why is he after me? Why does he hate me so much?

We hear that same perplexion as David writes in his diary in Psalm 13.

How long, oh Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God, light up my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, I have prevailed over him, lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

I mean this guy's not sugarcoating the problem. The injustice he's experiencing threatens to overwhelm him, and the worst part is it seems like God is a million miles away. Have you ever been there? Has that ever been your experience? Our life's unfairness is drowning you. You just don't know if you can take it anymore. If so, then maybe you can relate to what David wrote in Psalm 142, as he's hiding in a cave and just opens his heart to God. I mean hear the cry of desperation as he says,

with my voice I cry out to the Lord. With my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my trouble before him. When my spirit faints within me, you know my way. In the path where I walk, they have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see there is none who takes notice of me. No refuge remains for me, no one cares for my soul.

Have you ever felt that oppressive loneliness? That sense of isolation that threatens to smother your hope into hopelessness, to snuff out any thought of a better tomorrow. I mean, David sure did. And I imagine we have as well.

In this world there will be injustice. We're not guaranteed that life will always be fair and turn out the way we wish. Our child dying at an early age. A bully darkening every one of your school days with taunts and abuse. A debilitating disease that robs you of what other people your age just take for granted. A marriage that's failing despite your best efforts and fervent prayers. A thriving business that's on its knees because of the underhanded practices of your business partner. Any of these, so many of these, anyone can destroy your greatest dreams.

So how do we respond, and where is God? You know, I could try at this point to give you some pithy platitudes to make you feel better. But I've never been in your shoes. Nor have I walked through struggles and the injustices that you've walked through. So let me yield the floor right now to someone who experienced injustice in its most deadly, soul sucking way and still came out on top with joy in his heart and faith in God.

Turn if you would now to Psalm 63. We're going to read David's thoughts while being hunted in the desert of Judah by King Saul. And as we read them, I'm going to ask you to do something. See if you can identify the actions and the attitudes that David expresses here which helped him to keep sane and hopeful during these very unjust times.

Psalm 63:

Oh God You are my God. Earnestly I seek you. My soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live in your name. I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food. And my mouth will praise you with joyful lips when I remember you upon my bed and meditate on you in the watches of the night, for you have been my help and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy my soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me. But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth. They shall be given over to the power of the sword. They shall be apportioned for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God. All who swear by him shall exult. For the mouths of liars will be stopped.

Did you see anything there that gives you a hint at what helped David during his highly unjust time? Did you notice that knowing God was David's priority? Look at verse 10:

God, you are my God. Earnestly, I seek you. My soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you as in a dry and weary land where there's no water. I've looked upon you in the sanctuary beholding your power and glory.

Have you ever been in a dry place, no water, and all you can think about is finding some water, drinking something? That's how David feels about God. God, I see you. God, I thirst for you, to behold your power and your glory, to know you. I mean, don't forget, David's problems are still there all around him. But he's choosing to focus on something far greater than his problems. And it's seeing that bigger picture that some of David's pain fades to the background.

And then take a look at the next verses, 3 and 4. Take a look at what brings David comfort during this difficult time.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live. In your name I will lift up my hands.

Guys, I don't know about you, but when I go through dark times, it is easy for me to lose sight of how much God loves me. I mean, I know it up here. I realize that. But at the same time, I'm struggling. I'm struggling with talking with God. I remember a time that I went through and I literally honestly couldn't pray. And I had people praying for me, and that's what carried me through. It happens. Satan whispers in your ear, you're alone. God's abandoned you. He doesn't even care.

What does David do here? He affirms what he knows. God's love is steadfast. In other words, God's love doesn't change with the circumstances. Things are going great. God really loves me. I'm having a bad day. God doesn't love me. David knows his love is steadfast. He's experienced it. He's experienced in the past while he was protecting his sheep against a lion and a bear. The odds weren't in David's favor at that point, but God was there with him. Or as he stood in front of the towering Goliath. Again, nobody was betting on David at that point. He knows that God's love won't change in the future. And so David can praise God even in the darkest day.

And then look at where David finds satisfaction. This is critical. Take a look at the beginning of verse 5.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food.

No, it's not the food that makes him happy, but he's using a word picture here. If you think that fat and rich food is good for you.

And my mouth will praise you with joyful lips when I remember you upon my bed and meditate on you in the watches of the night.

Where do you look for satisfaction? What is it that happens in your life that makes you really content? Ah, life is good. This is where I want to be. Is it comfort? Is it your reputation? Is it finances? Having lots of money? What is it? You know, if comfort and reputation and things like that matter most, you know, I can lose my happiness and satisfaction in a blink of an eye if things turn bad.

But David finds his satisfaction somewhere else. It's God, knowing God's love for him, understanding God's power, remembering all that God has done for him. And nothing, not even injustice, can steal that away from him. He's going through the storm, but as he lies upon his bed, he reflects on God's faithfulness throughout his life.

And then take a look at verse 7. Look at who David relies upon.

For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings, I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me.

David knows rock solid belief that he can rely upon God. I mean, the word picture here is kind of one of those beautiful ones, the mother bird sheltering the chicks and keeping them safe in a storm. You know, the dangers for David were fierce, the injustice was all around him. But God's right hand upheld him. And he would make it through.

And in the end, justice will be served on those who had unfairly treated him. Look at verse 9.

But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth. They shall be given over to the power of the sword. They shall be apportioned for jackals, but the king shall rejoice in God. All who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

You know, guys, I don't know where this finds you today. I do know that injustice happens in this life. Life is not always fair. I mean, you know that as well, you've experienced it. And for some of you that pain runs deep. For some of you, even after decades, your heart still bleeds every day because of what someone did. And I do know that this reality can cripple us. It can rob us of the life that God has for us if we let it.

Many people become bitter because of injustice. Their dreams are shattered. They can't deal with what has happened. Some even turned away from God as a result. And again, I don't have any easy answers that's going to take away the pain and the questions. I don't have any answers as to why God just doesn't stop injustice and make everything right.

But I can point you to a God who knows what you're feeling. I can point you to a God who will listen to even your angriest words as you wrestle with that hurt. I can point you to a God who will be there to love you with a steadfast love even in the midst of your crying out. And I can even point you to a man who struggle probably more than any one of us with unfairness and injustice and was still able to declare.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love. My heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord. Because he has dealt bountifully with me.

You know, sometimes that's not going to be the words, the first words that will come out of your mouth as you struggle with injustice. But my prayer for each one of us is that it will become our declaration in time. As we lean upon God. As we see God's love for us. As we choose to find our satisfaction in Him and not the things around us. That we will declare what David does there. I have trusted in your steadfast love.

Let's pray about that. Father, here we are. Your kids. I mean, maybe, I don't know, 90% of the time, things go well for us, but every now and then we face injustice. We experience unfairness. Our hearts rile up in anger. Sometimes the injustice crushes us. And Lord, at times like that, teach us to lean upon you. Teach us, Father, to find our strength in you. Teach us, Father, to lie on our bed and remember, remember all the times that you have walked with us through difficult times and how you have been there for us. Teach us to trust you. Thank you for being a loving God. And Lord, if this morning we don't even know you yet. Father, help us to find you. Help us, Lord, to understand your love for us, what you did on the cross for us. And help us to step across that line of faith and put our trust in you as our Lord and Savior. Thank you, Father. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.