1. 1 Samuel 17

2. Stories of David Saul’s growing fear of David
The attempts Saul made to kill David
The wonderful story of David and Jonathan
David fleeing from Saul and forming a small army
David refusing to kill Saul when he had the chance

3. What happens when David’s life falls apart?

4. 1 Samuel 30 An experience we can all identify with in verses 1-6
A resource we must return to in verses 6-8
A hand we can trust in verses 11-20
A principle we can operate by in verses 21-25

5. An experience we can all identify with vs. 1-6
Vs. 4 “So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.”
Vs. 6 “David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him…”
There are many ways our lives can fall apart.
One of the things that makes our lives fall apart for a child of God is backsliding.

6. An experience we can all identify with vs. 1-6
16 months!
Living among the sworn enemies of his people
Practising deception
Silencing every protest from his conscience.

7. What do you do when you hit rock bottom?
When in trouble, when in doubt,
Run in circles, scream and shout.
The Bible and David show us a better way.
Vs. 6 “David found strength in the Lord his God”.

8. A resource we must return to vs. 6-8
Reminding ourselves of what Scripture says about God and His promises, and bringing those truths to bear in every situation we face.
David sought God’s guidance

9. An unseen hand we can trust vs. 11-20
They “happen” to come across a discarded Egyptian slave
Coincidence?
When God assures His people that He will do something, He always provides the means to do it.
Romans 8:28

10. An unseen hand we can trust vs. 11-20
We do not need to see God’s hand to know it is there.
We do not have to understand how something can be for our good in order for it to be so.
We understand these things in our parenting, but we have a hard time accepting them when it is God who is doing the parenting.

11. A principle we can operate by vs. 21-25
Those who stayed behind to guard the supplies would share just as much in the spoils as those who fought.
Vs 23 “What the Lord has given us.”
It was all God’s grace.

12. A principle we can operate by vs. 21-25
Those of us who have experienced the grace of God in salvation cannot now refuse to show that grace to others.
The grace that saves us must also dominate our thinking and actions each and every day.

13. Principles How we can handle our troubles and trials.
How to react when life falls apart.
How we must continue to rest and rely on God, trusting His hand.
How we must channel God’s grace to others.