Romans: Justification, Faith, and Imputed Righteousness: Who is Israel?

How to Act if We Want to be Delivered

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2008-01-20

Synopsis: John Weaver examines Psalm 18:20-28, addressing the apparent tension between God's sovereign grace and David's claim that the Lord rewarded him according to his righteousness. He explains that David's righteousness refers to the righteousness of his cause and his upright conduct toward Saul, not to sinless perfection. The sermon emphasizes that any good works in believers are manifestations of God's grace, not meritorious. Using David's restraint toward Saul as a model, Weaver teaches that deliverance comes through obedient, merciful, and humble conduct, rooted in God's grace, and that God deals with people according to their own measure.

[John Weaver] And I'll take just a few moments to review, but look in Psalm 18 and verse 20. David says the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me, for I have kept the ways of the Lord and am not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore, hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands and his eyesight.

[John Weaver] With a merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful. With an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright. With a pure thou wilt show thyself pure. And with a froward thou wilt show thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle, the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. We've been looking at Psalm 18 now. This will be the fifth week. And may I remind you that I began with point one, David's determination, where he said in verse one, I will love thee, O Lord. And then I gave you the truth that his love for God was a response to God's love. And then the second reason of the second message was the reasons for David's love for the Lord. And of course, in verse one in verse two, he refers to the Lord as his strength, his rock, his fortress, his liver, his God, his strength, his trust, his buckler, his abhorrence, his salvation and his high tower. And then, of course, he said, I will call upon the name of the Lord who's worthy to be praised.

[John Weaver] Then in verses four through six, we looked at David's distress and showed you how that oftentimes God will back us up against the wall and put us in a position where we must call upon Him. And then in verses 7 through 19, we looked at David's deliverer and saw how David describes the sovereign majesty of God when God comes to deliver His people. And certainly, He does indeed do that.

[John Weaver] Now, I concluded the message the last time with a quote from Charles Haddon Spurgeon. And I want to give you that quote again, just to set the stage for what I'd like to share with you from Psalm 18. Spurgeon says this concerning the passages in verses 7 through 19. He says, free grace lies at the foundation. Rest assured, if we go deep enough, Sovereign grace is the root, or is the truth, which lies at the bottom of every well of mercy. Deep-sea fisheries in the ocean of divine bounty always bring forth the pearls of electing, discriminating love to like.

[John Weaver] Why Jehovah should delight in us is a question without an answer, and a mystery which angels cannot solve. But that He does delight in His beloved is certain. and is the fruitful root of favors as numerous as they are precious. Believer, sit down and inwardly digest the instructive sentence now before us and learn to view the uncaused love of God as the cause of all the loving kindness of which we are partakers." So as Spurgeon is saying, sit down and think about the uncaused love of God, how that is the root, that is the source of everything that appears to us in loving kindness and mercy.

[John Weaver] Now, in light of that comment, I want us to explain the passage that I just read to you in verses 20-28. We know that the source of all mercy is God's sovereign, saving grace. But yet, David says in verse 20, The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands. And he goes on, he says, I was upright before him. Now, we know that the cause of David's deliverance was God's sovereign grace. How then can we explain the statements that David is making when he says the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness and according to the cleanness of my hands? As Hobie said earlier, we know that Scripture does not contradict Scripture. We understand that if our interpretation of Scripture contradicts a plain passage somewhere else in Scripture, the Scripture is not wrong. Our interpretation is wrong. OK, Scripture does not contradict itself. So we have to interpret Scripture in light of Scripture. So today I'm going to cover just one point, as basically I've done these last several weeks, and that is David's deportment.

[John Weaver] Now when we talk about deportment, we're talking about someone's conduct or how they deport or carry or act. So, let's look at David's deportment in verses 20 through 28. So the question that has to be asked is very, very simple. Here's the question. Was David's deliverance the result of God's sovereign grace or was it the result of his own personal righteousness and works? Now, David just got through talking about God's sovereign grace. And now he says, the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me? Well, which is it? Is it God's grace or was it David's works?

[John Weaver] Now, many of you can quote this passage, so you don't have to turn there. You remember Ephesians 2, 8 and 9? You can probably quote that. But can you quote verse 10? The Bible says, For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. We know that one. But how about verse 10?

[John Weaver] For we are his workmanship. created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath foreordained that we should walk therein."

[John Weaver] Now, those who understand God's sovereign grace realize that works do not save them, works cannot save them, and works cannot help save them. In Isaiah 64 and verse 6, The Bible says this,"...but we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquity, like the wind, hath taken us away." Now listen to what he said,"...but we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags." So, Isaiah is telling us, look, We are wicked in and of ourselves. In Romans 3, in verse 12, Paul goes further and he explains it like this. He says they are all gone out of the way.

[John Weaver] They are together become unprofitable. There is none that doeth good. No, not one. How then can David say, the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands? It should be obvious, as you just casually read the Bible, that your works do not save you, nor do they help save you, nor are they the basis for God rewarding you in any special way. You know, the Bible says this in Romans 8 in verse 8. Listen carefully. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Well, how many of us are in the flesh? How many of us in and of ourselves can please God? Absolutely none. That's why the Bible in Titus 3 and verse 5 says, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His own mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. So the Bible consistently, constantly tells us that it is not because of our works that we are saved or delivered or helped by God.

[John Weaver] We cannot earn God's grace. We cannot merit God's mercies. We are sinful in and of ourselves. You know, when you stop and think about this, sinners are really in a precarious predicament. Because, you see, if you trust in your works, then you're damned. But on the other hand, you understand God has given us commandments, and if we don't fulfill His commandments, we're rebellious, and then we're damned. You've heard the old expression, damned if you do, damned if you don't. Well, that really and truly speaks of a sinner's position. He's damned if he does do his works and trust in them, and he's damned if he doesn't, because God has commanded him, and yet he cannot fulfill God's commandment. Now, there is a real dilemma, then, for those individuals who do not understand God's grace and the relationship of works and grace. Now, it is true that God's people should have the evidence of God's sovereign grace in their lives. Which, by the way, is evidenced by their works. Now listen carefully. Our works do not save us.

[John Weaver] Our works do not help save us. They are not an addition to grace. Rather what they are, they are merely a manifestation of grace. There is a big distinction between being a manifestation of grace and the basis or source of grace. You remember, I quoted Ephesians 2.10 earlier. The Bible says there, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk therein. So, Ephesians 2.8 and 9, For by grace are ye saved through faith, precedes verse 10. Our works, which we have been foreordained to walk in, have been based upon sovereign grace. Now, that's what the Bible teaches us in the book of Titus chapter 3 and verse 8. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will now affirm constantly, that they which believe in God might be careful to maintain good works. Are you listening? For these are good and profitable unto men. Who are our good works profitable unto? Are they profitable unto God? No. They're profitable unto men.

[John Weaver] Because it is our good works, therefore, which demonstrate and manifest, yes, there is grace in our lives. Now, let me tell you something. If you don't learn anything else today, learn this, please. The truth of the matter is this. If we have any good works in us at all, If any of us are gracious, and kind, and biblical, and right, and honoring God, and doing that which is righteous in His sight, according to this law, it is nothing more than God's grace working in us. Because we have nothing in and of ourselves.

[John Weaver] Do you realize, even the mighty Apostle Paul made this statement in Romans 7 and verse 18. He said, For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. For the will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not. Paul said, I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. He said, there are times I really want to do good, but how in the world I can do it, I don't know. Because there's nothing good in me.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn, I didn't quote a lot of scriptures, but I want you to turn, whole Psalm 18, we're coming back there, but turn to Philippians chapter 2 and let me show you a passage and then we're going to go back to Isaiah 26. I can quote these verses, but I want you to see them yourself. Look in the book of Philippians chapter 2.

[John Weaver] This actually explains any good works or any righteousness that we as God's people have in our lives. Look in your Bibles to the book of Philippians chapter 2 and notice verse 12. Paul is writing the Philippian Christians and he says this Philippians 2 verse 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Whoa, stop right there. What did Paul tell these Philippian Christians? Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Oh, they have to work to be saved? Oh no, that's not what he's saying. When he says work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, he explains in the next verse, look at it, for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure. Are you listening? If you ever will to pray, God worked it in you. If you ever will to come to Christ, God worked it in you. If you ever will to obey, God worked it in you.

[John Weaver] If you ever will to repent, God worked it in you. Now, what is God saying to us through the Apostle Paul, especially in verse 12, when he says, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling? Here's what he's saying. God gave you the grace. God gave you the mercy. Now, it's your responsibility to work it out, that is to apply it and to make it manifest the way He's ordained.

[John Weaver] Now, look in your Bibles to Isaiah 26. Watch carefully. Isaiah 26. And look, if you would please, at verse 12. I love this verse. Oh, you say, but Brother Weaver, I know someone who is just so full of good works. Well, Dorcas in the Bible is full of good works. Yes, she was. And it is true. There are some godly people. There's some Christian folks who are just full of good works. Well, What's the root cause of their good works?

[John Weaver] Why are they so honorable? Why are they so gracious? Why are they so right? Well, look in Isaiah 26 and verse 12. Here's the answer, Lord. Thou hast ordained peace for us. For thou hast wrought all our works in us. Thou hast wrought all our works in us. What's that mean? That means if there's anything good in us at all, God worked it in us, God worked it through us, and God enabled us to work it out. So everything, according to Spurgeon, goes right back down to God's sovereign saving grace.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn back to Psalm 18, and before I begin, pointing out several things. I want to give you two quotes. One by John Gill. One by John Calvin. And they are explaining. Versus 20, particularly through 28. They're dealing with the fact David is saying the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands that he recompensed me for. I've kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God. I'm going to explain those, but listen, if you would, what John Gill says. This, therefore, must be understood of the righteousness of David's cause. And of his innocence with respect to the things he was charged with by his enemies, of his righteousness towards Saul and of the cleanness of his hands and not defiling them with his blood when it was in his power to take away his life. Therefore, God rewarded him by delivering him out of his hands and setting him upon the throne and causing his kingdom to flourish and prosper.

[John Weaver] For this respects temporal blessings and not eternal glory and happiness. Now, let me just stop there. All Gail is saying is this. If you take Psalm 18 verses 20 through 28 in the context David is not proclaiming his own personal righteousness, like here I am a perfect man. We know David was not perfect. But what he is proclaiming is the righteousness of his cause and the righteousness of his actions, which I'll explain, in dealing with all of his enemies and particularly with Saul, who was his greatest enemy.

[John Weaver] Now Calvin goes a little further and he says this. If God rendered to David a just recompense, it may be said, does it not seem, when he shows himself liberal towards his people, that he is so in proportion as each of them has deserved? I answer, here's his answer, when the scripture uses the word reward or recompense, it is not to show that God owes us anything, And it is therefore a groundless and false accusation and a groundless and false conclusion to infer from this that there is any merit or worth in our works. God, as a just judge, rewards every man according to his works. Listen carefully. God, as a just judge, rewards every man according to his works, but he does it in such a manner as to show that all men are indebted to him. while he himself is under no obligation to anyone.

[John Weaver] The reasons not only that which St. Augustine has assigned, namely that God finds no righteousness in us to recompense, except that which he has freely given to us but also because, forgiving the blemishes and imperfections which cleave to our works, he imputes to us for righteousness that which he might justly reject. If, therefore, none of our works please God, unless the sin which mingles with them is pardoned, it follows that the recompense which he bestows on account of them proceeds not from our merit, but from his free and undeserved grace."

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you a question. In light of what Calvin just said, I want you to think about this. Has God commanded you to pray? What's the answer? Yes. Have you ever prayed? What's the answer? Yes. Have vile thoughts ever come into your mind while you were praying? Have you ever fallen asleep? Have you ever forgotten where you were in your prayer? Now, if none of those things ever happened to you, you just really hadn't prayed much, I can assure you.

[John Weaver] The point I'm trying to make is this. In the best of our efforts to please God, there is sin mingled with our efforts and with our works. And all Calvin is saying is this. If God does not forgive the sin, the blemish on our works, then nothing would be acceptable unto him. And therefore, whatever we do is still justly attributed to God's grace because it's God's grace that forgives the blemishes and the faults and the sins and accepts them in Christ Jesus as pure and whole. Isn't that amazing?

[John Weaver] And it doesn't matter what we do. That is basically what happens. We have sin attached to everything that we do, and God must be merciful to us.

[John Weaver] Now with that understanding and the fact that in the context David is in reality proclaiming the righteousness of his cause and the righteousness of his actions towards Saul, We will be able to really understand verses 20 through 28. Now, with that in mind, I want us to look at this. Look, if you would please, at verse 20. Again, David says, The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness. Well, most people would interpret that as just his personal righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me? Many says for I have kept the ways of the Lord and not wickedly departed from my God.

[John Weaver] For all his judgments were before me and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

[John Weaver] Now you know as well as I do there were times in David's life that he sinned. In fact there were times that he sinned grievously. So you cannot take this passage and make it as if David is saying, here I am the perfect man. I am righteous before God. That is not what David is saying.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you a couple of questions. Think about this. Did God choose David to replace Saul? And the answer is yes. Did David want the throne? And the answer is, well, yes, he did. He wanted the throne. But now listen to me. He wanted the throne. On God's terms. In God's way. And in God's time. The important thing that we have to ask is this. Since David knew that God had chosen him to be king over Israel. Because he was anointed. He was chosen out of all of his brethren. David knew that God had chosen him to be king over Israel. The question is this. How was David to get the throne? Also, when was David to get the throne?

[John Weaver] Pastor Bob McCurry, a good friend of mine, That's a saying that I've quoted many times, and you've probably heard it either from him or from me. But Pastor McCurry always says, God is the slowest person you'll ever get hooked up with.

[John Weaver] Now, you have to understand what he means by that. God is not slow. God is always right on time. It is we who consider him slow because he does not act according to our whims and our desires and our wishes. And since things don't happen according to our time schedule, we count God as being slow.

[John Weaver] Have you ever wanted to help God? Oh, dear friend, I'm going to tell you, I've wanted to help him out innumerable times. Innumerable times. Do you realize? One of the greatest problems that every child of God has. Is the problem of impatience? And I confess it's one of my problems. I'm impatient many times. Many ways. But what we've got to understand is this, God still has his perfect timing.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to hold Psalm 18, but I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel 18 very quickly. Let me take you through several passages.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask this question again. Did God choose David over Saul? The answer is yes. Did David want the throne? The answer is yes. So then we ask, how does David get the throne? And when does David get the throne? And then you can ask another question. Did King Saul act wickedly and unrighteously toward David? And the answer is yes, a thousand times yes. In fact, King Saul not only deceived David, broke his oath to David, he purposely and deliberately tried to murder David. For instance, look in 1 Samuel 18 verses 8 and 9, and Saul was very wroth.

[John Weaver] And the saying displeased him. Why? What saying displeased Saul? Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands. Now, I want you to remember, David was a young man at this time, a very young man. OK? But yet he's still already a great warrior. And so this saying displeased Saul very much, verse 8, And he said, they have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands.

[John Weaver] What can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day forward. In other words, here he is envious now of David. He realizes, look, David's killed his tens of thousands and I've only killed... and they're singing his praises over mine. They're ascribing more success to him than to me. I'm the king! And so he's envious. Now watch verse 10. It came to pass on the morrow the very next day that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul and he prophesied in the midst of the house and David played with his hands at other times and there was a javelin in Saul's hand and Saul cast the javelin for he said I will smite David even the wall with it and David avoided out of his presence twice. So Saul in a rage a demonic rage throws a javelin at David And David gets away. David escapes. You say, well, why didn't David defend himself and kill Saul? David was a mighty warrior. Yes, he was.

[John Weaver] But you've got to remember, he's still a young man. And Saul's still the king. And David at this time has no one but himself. He doesn't even have his 600 men at this time. He has no one. Watch what happens. Look in your Bibles to chapter 18 verse 17. To show you how Saul planned to kill David, watch this. And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merib.

[John Weaver] Her will I give unto thee, thy wife, only be thou valued for me, and fight the Lord's battles. For Saul said, Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him. And David said unto Saul, Who am I, and what is my life? Or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king. So David was obedient. David fought the battles. Watch verse 19. But it came to pass at the time when Miriam, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel, the Maholothite, to wife. So Saul just lied to David, violated his oath. Oh, watch verse 20. Now this is really, really Complimentary Saul. And Michael, Saul's daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. Now, why did the thing please Saul that Michael loved David? And Saul said, I will give him her that she may be a snare to him, and that the head of the Philistines may it be against him.

[John Weaver] Wherefore, Saul said to David, thou shalt this day be my son-in-law in one of the twain. Now, I didn't keep my word towards you. It's a mirror, but I'm gonna let you have Michael if you will just bring me a hundred foreskins of my enemies. What's David do? David goes out and kills 200. And Saul's plan backfires. And he has to give Michael to David.

[John Weaver] But let me show you how intense he was. Skip down to chapter 19. Beginning with verse 9. And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand and David played with his hand and he sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence. Then he smoked the javelin in the wall and David fled and escaped that night. So Saul tries to kill him again. Now in chapter 19, verse 11, watch. Because Saul sends to David's house. Saul also sent messengers under David's house to watch him and to slay him in the morning. And Michael, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be slain. So Michael let David down through a window, and he went and fled and escaped. And Michael took an image and put it in the bed and put a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster and covered it with a cloth.

[John Weaver] When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image and a bed with a pillow of goat's hair for this bolster. And, of course, you know the story how David escapes and David gets away. So David now is fleeing from Saul. David knows that Saul is intent on murdering him. And guess what? Even though David now escapes into the wilderness, Saul still chases him.

[John Weaver] Look in 1 Samuel 23, if you would. 1 Samuel 23, beginning there with verse 24. You would think he's out in the wilderness by himself or with a few men. He's no big deal now. He's out of my hair, letting him along. No, not with Saul. Look in first Samuel 23 beginning there verse 24. Now they arose and went to Ziph before Saul but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon on the plain on the south of Jejimon. Saul also and his men went to seek him and they told David wherefore he came down into a rock and he abode in the wilderness of Maon and when Saul heard that he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain, and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul. For Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Hasten ye, and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land.

[John Weaver] Wherefore, Saul returned from suing after David, and he went against the Philistines." Now, so it seems as if Saul has got David surrounded, but just right before he can nab him, he gets word the Philistines have attacked the land, and so Saul then leaves him alone. Now, I want you to understand that we can safely conclude, based upon the scripture, that Saul wanted David dead. He had only tried to kill him. He ordered his men to try to kill him. He ordered Jonathan to kill him. Saul wanted him dead. Now, the reason I'm emphasizing this point is simply to illustrate that David did indeed have a biblical right of self-defense. David could have righteously destroyed Saul. Because Saul was unrighteously trying to murder him. David had just as much right to defend himself as anyone did. But I want you to see what David did. If you look in 1 Samuel 24, beginning with verse 1, Now you're going to understand Psalm 18 when David declares the righteousness of his cause and the cleanness of his hands in just a moment.

[John Weaver] First Samuel 24 verse one it came to pass when Saul was returned from following the Philistines that it was told him saying behold David is in the wilderness of En Gedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheep coats by the way, and there was a cave. And Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold, the day of which the Lord hath said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do unto him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privately. And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him because he'd cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

[John Weaver] So David stayed his servants with these words and suffered them not to rise up against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave and went on his way. David also arose afterwards and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, My lord, the king, And when Saul looked round behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed himself. And David said unto Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David, seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how the Lord hath delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave. And some bade me kill thee, but mine eyes spared thee. And I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my Lord, for he is the Lord's anointed. Go over, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand. For in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and kill thee not. Know thou, and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, yet thou harnessed my soul to take it.

[John Weaver] The Lord judged between me and thee, and the Lord avenged me of thee, but my hand shall not be upon thee. As saith the proverb of the ancients, wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, but my hand shall not be upon thee. After whom is the King of Israel come out? After whom dost thou pursue, after a dead dog, after a flea? The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of mine hand.

[John Weaver] Now watch this, and it came to pass when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. For thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me. For as much as when the Lord had delivered me in thine hand, thou killest me not. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? Wherefore, the Lord reward thee good, for that thou hast done unto me this day. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand."

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look what happened. Saul went into the cave by himself to use the bathroom. David and his men were already hiding in the cave. And his men said, look, this is it. This is the day that the Lord said, I'll deliver your enemy in your hand.

[John Weaver] Now's the time, kill him. And all David did was slip up behind Saul and cut off a piece of the garment that was laying behind him. And then David let him go. And when he got out, he confronted Saul. He said, Saul, you're listening to a bunch of lies and rumors. I'm not trying to kill you. You see this piece of cloth? You were in my hand.

[John Weaver] I could have killed you. But I didn't. I'm not interested in killing you. You're still the king. You're still the Lord's anointed. I'm not interested in killing you.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make the point. Saul was David's enemy. But David was not Saul's enemy. That's what he's trying to say. David had the perfect opportunity to avenge himself He was encouraged to avenge himself, according to verse 4, by his men, but he did not. He merely demonstrated that he could have killed Saul, but he was not Saul's enemy. God not only delivered Saul into David's hands once, He delivered Saul into David's hands a second time.

[John Weaver] If you look in 1 Samuel 26, 1 Samuel 26. Watch this passage. And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hathalah, which is before Jejimon? Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. Now, David has just spared Saul. Saul has just acknowledged that he's going to be king.

[John Weaver] And Saul's still trying to kill him. Watch verse 3. And Saul pitched in the hill of Heckelah, which is before Jeshimon by the way, but David abode in the wilderness. And he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. David therefore set out spies and understood that Saul was coming very deep. And David arose and came to the place where Saul had pitched. And David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host. And Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him. Then answered David, and said to Himalek the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zerui, a brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I'll go down with thee. So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and a spear stuck in the ground in his bolster. But Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered by an enemy into thine hand this day.

[John Weaver] Now therefore let me smite him. I pray thee, would the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not. For who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? David said, Furthermore, as the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed. But I pray thee, take now the spear that is at his bolster, and the crews of water, and let us go. So David took the spear of the crews of water from Saul's bolster, and they got them away.

[John Weaver] And no man saw it, and no man knew it, neither awake, for they were all asleep. Now watch this, because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them. Then David went over to the other side and stood on the top of the hill afar off a great space being between them. And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that cries to the king? And David said to Abner, Art thou a valiant man?

[John Weaver] And who is like unto thee in Israel? Wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? For there came one of the people, and he destroyed the king thy lord. This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the crucible of water that was at his bolster. And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. And he said, Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in mine hand? Notice what David is saying. What evil is in my hand? What have I done? Now, therefore, I pray thee, let my Lord the King hear the words of his servant. If the Lord has stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering. But if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord, for they have driven me out of this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go serve other gods.

[John Weaver] Now, therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, which one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains. Then said Saul, I have sinned. Return my son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day, because I have played the fool and have erred exceedingly." And of course, David gives the sword or the spear back to King Saul.

[John Weaver] Now, the point I want to make is this. Here, David has a second opportunity to slay Saul. This time, David would not have to do it. What did Abishai say? Let me smite him with my spear to the ground. This once. Just once. David, if you let me kill him now, Abishai said, I will not have to take a second shot. The first one will be a quick, clean kill. This is it, David. Let me do it. David said no. He's still the king. I'm not going to lift up my hand to kill the king. Now, I want you to notice what David says.

[John Weaver] Look, if you would, back at verse 9. Samuel 26, verse 9, and David said to Abishai, destroy him not. For who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed to be guiltless? David said, furthermore, Watch, as the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed, but I pray thee, take now the spear that is at his bolster, and the crucible of water, and let us go." Now look what David is saying. David is saying, Saul may die, but he's not going to die at my hand.

[John Weaver] Now, let me point this out again. David clearly had the right of self-defense. There's no arguing that. But I want you to notice this. Each time that David could have killed Saul, David's life was not in danger. Saul didn't even know he was in the cave. And Saul didn't know he woke up and had taken the spear and the crews of water, because a deep sleep was upon them from the Lord. Here is what David is saying. David is saying, look, Saul is my enemy, but I'm not his enemy. He is acting unrighteously toward me, but I'm going to act righteously toward him. I'm not going to be provoked into violating the law of God. And David is saying this, it is true, I want the kingdom. But I do not want the kingdom by the force of my hand. What is he saying? God will kill him or his time will come to die or he'll descend into battle and perish, but I don't have to do it. David is saying, I will not take the kingdom.

[John Weaver] At least he was not going to take it by force of action, by himself, or by any of his men. David was waiting for God to give him the kingdom. How many men do you know would be willing to wait for God to make them king? Most men would not. That is why David is declaring the righteousness of his cause. Do you know what happened in 2 Samuel chapter 1 when Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle? David sorrowed and lamented over them. Which was a demonstration of the fact that although Saul was David's enemy and acted unrighteously and hatefully and wickedly and wrongly toward David, David had no animosity in his heart.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 12. Let me ask you this question. Is it normal, is it natural for a man to patiently wait for the destruction of his enemy? What's the answer? No. Is it normal and natural for a man to wait until God gives him a kingdom instead of forcefully taking it himself? The answer is no, it's not normal and it's not natural. It's super natural.

[John Weaver] It has to be grace. Look in Romans chapter 12, beginning there with verse 18. Here's an excellent illustration of what is happening in David's life. God says in Romans 12 and verse 18, if it be possible as much life in you live peaceably with all men. Now, I understand there's some men you can't live peaceably with. I understand that. That's why God said it could be possible as much as life in you live peaceably with all men. In other words, if there's going to be trouble, don't necessarily let it be trouble.

[John Weaver] You're not to be the troublemaker. You're not to be the instigator. You're not to be the originator. OK, then he says this dearly beloved avenge not yourselves. But rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will replace it the Lord.

[John Weaver] Now let me just stop there. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will replace it the Lord. And in other words, what God is saying is this. If we take vengeance in our own hands, God is not going to move for us. Why? God isn't just God. He's not going to exact vengeance twice. Have you ever stopped to think about this? God can clean the plows of our enemies a whole lot easier and better than we can clean them. But if we go and clean them, don't look for God to do it because God's not going to judge them twice. Now, what God is saying, look, vengeance is mine. Step back. Hang on. Now look what he says.

[John Weaver] Therefore, by the enemy hunger, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For doing so, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. In other words, one of the worst things that you can do to an enemy is to be kind and gracious to him. It messes with his mind. He can't figure out Why he hates you and wants to destroy you so much, and yet you don't really hate him.

[John Weaver] And then says this, be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. And what did David do? David overcame the evil of Saul with good towards Saul. David did absolutely nothing but good towards Saul. Saul did absolutely nothing but evil toward David.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to Psalm 18. Psalm 18. Remember now, this Psalm is about war. It's about fighting, which we're going to see a little bit later on. But David is saying, look, Saul and all of these enemies compassed me about and God sovereignly, graciously, mercifully delivered me. And now when you get to verse 20, when he says, the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me?" What's he talking about? His actions towards Saul. For I've kept the ways of the Lord, and I'm not wickedly departed from my God. In other words, I didn't take things into my own hands.

[John Weaver] For all of his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him. I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore, the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight." So David is saying, look, because of God's grace in my life, here's my deportment. Here's my conduct. It's good works. It's right living. It's obedience. David's life teaches us that God's grace is sufficient even in the most difficult and strenuous times. Now, I want to show you what David does.

[John Weaver] In the next passage, he backs up what he has just taught us with a biblical principle. Look at it in verse 25. With a merciful thou would show thyself merciful. With an upright man, thou wilt show thyself upright. With a pure, thou wilt show thyself pure. With a froward, thou wilt show thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but will bring down high looks." You know what David could have said when you read verses 25 through 26? Here's what David could have said.

[John Weaver] Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that sows for the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, and he that sows for the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. The principle that David is enunciating is the same principle that Galatians 6, 7, and 8 teaches. With the merciful, thou wilt show thyself merciful. With the pure, thou wilt show thyself pure. In other words, if you want mercy, you show mercy. If you want purity, you show purity. If you want to be froward, and the word froward means perverse, wicked. If you want to be perverse and mean and hateful, fine. God will see that people treat you perversely, meanly, wickedly, and hatefully. It's this same principle.

[John Weaver] Let me give you a quote by Calvin on this. He says, David is declaring that God has suffered him or helped him on account of the justice of his cause. For in the first place, we must adapt the words to the scope of the whole discourse and view them as implying that God is so often delivering an innocent man from death when it was near him showed indeed that he is merciful toward the merciful and pure toward the pure. In the second place, we must view the words as teaching the general doctrine that God never disappoints His servants, but always at length deals graciously with them, provided they wait for His aid with meekness and patience.

[John Weaver] To this purpose, Jacob said, in Genesis 13, verse 33, God will make my righteousness return unto me. Now, what is he saying? He is saying we must understand that God never disappoints His servants. I've had men attack me and I could not figure out for the life of me why they were attacking me. The only thing I'd ever done was try to help them, try to be a blessing to them.

[John Weaver] You know, inevitably and thankfully, Pastor McCurry, a wise man, told me when I was being attacked particularly by one individual, he just said, John. Sit still. When the smoke clears. You'll find there's real problems in this fellow's life. And when the smoke cleared. I found out why he was attacking me. Because he is having an affair with two or three women in his church, and he was certainly wanting to keep people looking at other folks rather than himself. If you just be patient, which we have so little of, God will work it out. The scope of this discourse is that the people of God should always entertain good hope and encourage themselves to practice uprightness and integrity since every man is going to reap the fruit of his own righteousness.

[John Weaver] Now, let me give you a quote by Spurgeon, then I'm going to try to tie everything together. Spurgeon said it like this. The dealings of the Lord in his own case causes the grateful singer, that is David, to remember the usual rule of God's moral government. He is just in his dealings with the sons of men and meets out to each man according to his measure.

[John Weaver] Now listen, with a merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful. With an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright. Every man shall have his meat weighed in his own scales, his corn needed in his own bushel, and his land measured with his own rod. No rule can be more fair, to ungodly men more terrible, to the generous man more honorable. How would men throw away their light weights and break their short yards if they could but believe that they themselves are sure to be in the end the losers by their Navy's tricks? Note that even the merciful need mercy. No amount of generosity to the poor or forgiveness to enemies can set us beyond the need of mercy. Lord, have mercy upon me, a sinner. He said, every man is going to be weighed in his own scale, measured with his own rod.

[John Weaver] As you do, so shall you reap. So let's ask the question. How do we act if we want to be delivered, all of us? under oppression in some way or the other. We may not be surrounded by murderous enemies the way David was constantly and consistently, although we are in many ways. But how do we act if we want to be delivered? The answer is we must act obediently and righteously. If we want to receive mercy, we must be merciful. We reap that which we sow. Our deportment must be biblical if we desire for God to honor us.

[John Weaver] Now, look at verse 27 very quickly. Psalm 18, verse 27. For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but wilt bring down high looks. Here's an illustration of the principle that David is just enunciating. That God will be merciful to the humble, to those who meet, to those who are afflicted, but the arrogant, the proud, the haughty, the high-minded, He'll bring down. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4 and verse 19, listen carefully, Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to God as a faithful creator. In James 4, verse 6, and in 1 Peter 5 and verse 7, the Bible says this, He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Then in 1 Peter, He says, Likewise you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.

[John Weaver] Yea, all of you be subject one to another. Be clothed with humility, for God resisteth the proud, but he giveth grace to the humble. That's exactly what he's saying in Psalm 18 and verse 27. God certainly does govern according to a righteous principle. Then in verse 28, David says, For thou wilt light my candle, the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. In 2 Samuel 22 and verse 29, David said, For thou art my lamp, O Lord, and the Lord will light my darkness." In other words, God is the one that brings us from darkness to light. God is the one that gives us illumination. God is the one that gives us understanding. God is the one that brings us out of a place of distress into a large, bountiful pasture. It is God who gives light in every situation. That's why David said in Psalm 119, verse 105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. We have to learn like David. That God is always the source of our illumination, our mercy and our deliverance.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make just a couple of applications and try to tie it together. The first one. I want you to know that there is indeed a correlation between faith and works. Although we have been saved entirely by grace through faith, saving faith always evidences itself in works. James 2 verse 18 argued thusly, Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works, Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. God's faith always produces good works. If you say you have faith, but there's nothing in your life that evidences it, you don't have a saving faith. Saving faith always will produce biblical attributes and characteristics. We don't all have the same amount. We don't all have the same measure. Our Lord said some 30 fold, some 60 fold, some 100 fold, and there's a lot in between. But every living tree will produce. Some amount of fruit. So there is a correlation between faith and work. Secondly, there's also a correlation between blessings and obedience.

[John Weaver] All you have to do is read Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28 and a host of other passages. Listen, folks, if we want God to bless us, if we want God to deliver us, we must learn to be obedient. We must learn to honor God. Do you realize God has an inherent glory? which is the glory in and of Himself, which cannot be touched. Nothing I can do to add to that glory, because that's what God is in and of Himself. But God also has an external glory, and my obedience or my disobedience does indeed either honor or dishonor Him in His external glory. In fact, God said it like this in 1 Samuel 2 and verse 30, For them that honor Me Well, I honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. So if you want God to honor you, you must honor Him. If you fail to honor Him, you shall be lightly esteemed.

[John Weaver] I don't know about you, but I prefer to have God think a lot of me than to have man think a lot of me. So there is a correlation between blessings and obedience. And then lastly, we have to learn to constantly and consistently praise the Lord for all of his benefits toward us. You know, I did this morning. Can you imagine? The hours that we spent in driving yesterday in the rain We drove all the way to Pensacola, Florida, then most of the way back last night. I mean, we were probably up 18, 19 hours driving in the rain, preaching, you know. I asked the Lord for safe travel, mercies, and I thanked him and acknowledged that he brought me to our resting place safely. And I acknowledge that he brought me here today safely. And I pray that He'll bring me home safely tonight.

[John Weaver] All I'm saying is this, folks. God constantly and continually delivers us. And many times, we don't even think about it. David said in Psalm 103, verse 1, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me. Listen now. Bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. And then he goes on. who daily loaded us with benefits. How about your health?

[John Weaver] Your breath, your life, your family, your friends. Bless the Lord. And David is saying. He'll light my candle. He's done it in time past. He's doing it now. He'll do it in the future. We just need to learn to act scripturally and obediently and righteously in every situation. Let's pray. Father, we do ask that You would help us deliver Thee. Make us holy. Make us godly. And may, Father, we look to Thee for deliverance and we do cry unto Thee and ask, Father, for Your mercy and Your grace to be revealed to us as well as your power. And Father, we do pray that You'll overthrow the wicked and the ungodly. Establish Thy kingdom. Establish Thy people. Establish Thy law and establish Thy righteousness. And above all, establish our Lord Jesus Christ in this land as King of kings and Lord of lords. In Thy name we ask and pray, Amen.

How to Act if We Want to be Delivered

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	34081322166
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Justification, Faith, and Imputed Righteousness: Who is Israel?
Genre	Sermon
Date	2008-01-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 131: Romans: Justification, Faith, and Imputed Righteousness — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	86

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review of Psalm 18

Weaver reviews previous messages on Psalm 18, covering David's determination, reasons for love, distress, and deliverer, and introduces the topic of David's deportment.

And I'll take just a few moments to review, but look in Psalm 18 and verse 20. David says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 18:20-28

"The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me, for I have kept the ways of the Lord and am not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore, hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight." "With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful. With an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright. With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure. And with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle, the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness."

We've been looking at Psalm 18 now. This will be the fifth week. And may I remind you that I began with point one, David's determination, where he said in verse one, "I will love thee, O Lord." And then I gave you the truth that his love for God was a response to God's love. And then the second reason of the second message was the reasons for David's love for the Lord. And of course, in verse one and verse two, he refers to the Lord as his strength, his rock, his fortress, his deliverer, his God, his strength, his trust, his buckler, the horn of his salvation, and his high tower. And then, of course, he said, "I will call upon the name of the Lord who's worthy to be praised."

Then in verses four through six, we looked at David's distress and showed you how that oftentimes God will back us up against the wall and put us in a position where we must call upon Him. And then in verses 7 through 19, we looked at David's deliverer and saw how David describes the sovereign majesty of God when God comes to deliver His people. And certainly, He does indeed do that. Now, I concluded the message the last time with a quote from Charles Haddon Spurgeon. And I want to give you that quote again, just to set the stage for what I'd like to share with you from Psalm 18. Spurgeon says this concerning the passages in verses 7 through 19. He says, "Free grace lies at the foundation. Rest assured, if we go deep enough, sovereign grace is the root, or is the truth, which lies at the bottom of every well of mercy. Deep-sea fisheries in the ocean of divine bounty always bring forth the pearls of electing, discriminating love to light."

The Question of Grace vs. Works

Weaver poses the central question: Was David's deliverance due to God's grace or his own righteousness? He asserts that Scripture does not contradict itself and that works are a manifestation of grace, not its basis.

"Why Jehovah should delight in us is a question without an answer, and a mystery which angels cannot solve. But that He does delight in His beloved is certain, and is the fruitful root of favors as numerous as they are precious. Believer, sit down and inwardly digest the instructive sentence now before us and learn to view the uncaused love of God as the cause of all the lovingkindness of which we are partakers." So as Spurgeon is saying, sit down and think about the uncaused love of God, how that is the root, that is the source of everything that appears to us in lovingkindness and mercy. Now, in light of that comment, I want us to explain the passage that I just read to you in verses 20-28. We know that the source of all mercy is God's sovereign, saving grace. But yet, David says in verse 20, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands." And he goes on, he says, "I was upright before him." Now, we know that the cause of David's deliverance was God's sovereign grace. How then can we explain the statements that David is making when he says the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness and according to the cleanness of my hands? As Brother Weaver said earlier, we know that Scripture does not contradict Scripture. We understand that if our interpretation of Scripture contradicts a plain passage somewhere else in Scripture, the Scripture is not wrong. Our interpretation is wrong. OK, Scripture does not contradict itself. So we have to interpret Scripture in light of Scripture. So today I'm going to cover just one point, as basically I've done these last several weeks, and that is David's deportment.

Now when we talk about deportment, we're talking about someone's conduct or how they deport or carry or act. So, let's look at David's deportment in verses 20 through 28. So the question that has to be asked is very, very simple. Here's the question. Was David's deliverance the result of God's sovereign grace or was it the result of his own personal righteousness and works? Now, David just got through talking about God's sovereign grace. And now he says, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me?" Well, which is it? Is it God's grace or was it David's works?

Now, many of you can quote this passage, so you don't have to turn there. You remember Ephesians 2:8 and 9? You can probably quote that. But can you quote verse 10? The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 2:8-10

"For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."

We know that one. But how about verse 10?

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath foreordained that we should walk therein." Now, those who understand God's sovereign grace realize that works do not save them, works cannot save them, and works cannot help save them. In Isaiah 64 and verse 6, the Bible says this,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 64:6

"...but we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquity, like the wind, hath taken us away."

Now listen to what he said,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 64:6

"...but we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags."

So, Isaiah is telling us, look, we are wicked in and of ourselves. In Romans 3, in verse 12, Paul goes further and he explains it like this. He says, "They are all gone out of the way.

Scripture Reading — Romans 3:12

They are together become unprofitable. There is none that doeth good. No, not one."

How then can David say, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands"? It should be obvious, as you just casually read the Bible, that your works do not save you, nor do they help save you, nor are they the basis for God rewarding you in any special way. You know, the Bible says this in Romans 8 and verse 8. Listen carefully. "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Well, how many of us are in the flesh? How many of us in and of ourselves can please God? Absolutely none. That's why the Bible in Titus 3 and verse 5 says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His own mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." So the Bible consistently, constantly tells us that it is not because of our works that we are saved or delivered or helped by God.

We cannot earn God's grace. We cannot merit God's mercies. We are sinful in and of ourselves. You know, when you stop and think about this, sinners are really in a precarious predicament. Because, you see, if you trust in your works, then you're damned. But on the other hand, you understand God has given us commandments, and if we don't fulfill His commandments, we're rebellious, and then we're damned. You've heard the old expression, "damned if you do, damned if you don't." Well, that really and truly speaks of a sinner's position. He's damned if he does do his works and trust in them, and he's damned if he doesn't, because God has commanded him, and yet he cannot fulfill God's commandment. Now, there is a real dilemma, then, for those individuals who do not understand God's grace and the relationship of works and grace. Now, it is true that God's people should have the evidence of God's sovereign grace in their lives. Which, by the way, is evidenced by their works. Now listen carefully. Our works do not save us.

Our works do not help save us. They are not an addition to grace. Rather what they are, they are merely a manifestation of grace. There is a big distinction between being a manifestation of grace and the basis or source of grace. You remember, I quoted Ephesians 2:10 earlier. The Bible says there, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk therein." So, Ephesians 2:8 and 9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith," precedes verse 10. Our works, which we have been foreordained to walk in, have been based upon sovereign grace. Now, that's what the Bible teaches us in the book of Titus chapter 3 and verse 8. "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will now affirm constantly, that they which believe in God might be careful to maintain good works." Are you listening? "For these are good and profitable unto men." Who are our good works profitable unto? Are they profitable unto God? No. They're profitable unto men.

Biblical Foundation: Works as Evidence of Grace

Using Ephesians 2:8-10, Philippians 2:12-13, and Isaiah 26:12, Weaver argues that any good works in believers are wrought by God, and believers are to work out what God has worked in.

Because it is our good works, therefore, which demonstrate and manifest, yes, there is grace in our lives. Now, let me tell you something. If you don't learn anything else today, learn this, please. The truth of the matter is this. If we have any good works in us at all, if any of us are gracious, and kind, and biblical, and right, and honoring God, and doing that which is righteous in His sight, according to this law, it is nothing more than God's grace working in us. Because we have nothing in and of ourselves. Do you realize, even the mighty Apostle Paul made this statement in Romans 7 and verse 18. He said, "For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing. For the will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not." Paul said, "I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." He said, "There are times I really want to do good, but how in the world I can do it, I don't know. Because there's nothing good in me."

Now, I want you to turn, I didn't quote a lot of scriptures, but I want you to turn, hold Psalm 18, we're coming back there, but turn to Philippians chapter 2 and let me show you a passage and then we're going to go back to Isaiah 26. I can quote these verses, but I want you to see them yourself. Look in the book of Philippians chapter 2. This actually explains any good works or any righteousness that we as God's people have in our lives. Look in your Bibles to the book of Philippians chapter 2 and notice verse 12. Paul is writing the Philippian Christians and he says this, Philippians 2 verse 12,

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:12-13

"Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

Whoa, stop right there. What did Paul tell these Philippian Christians?

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:12-13

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

Oh, they have to work to be saved? Oh no, that's not what he's saying. When he says

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:12-13

"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,"

he explains in the next verse, look at it,

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:12-13

"for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure."

Are you listening? If you ever will to pray, God worked it in you. If you ever will to come to Christ, God worked it in you. If you ever will to obey, God worked it in you.

If you ever will to repent, God worked it in you. Now, what is God saying to us through the Apostle Paul, especially in verse 12, when he says, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"? Here's what he's saying. God gave you the grace. God gave you the mercy. Now, it's your responsibility to work it out, that is to apply it and to make it manifest the way He's ordained.

Now, look in your Bibles to Isaiah 26. Watch carefully. Isaiah 26. And look, if you would please, at verse 12. I love this verse. Oh, you say, "But Brother Weaver, I know someone who is just so full of good works." Well, Dorcas in the Bible is full of good works. Yes, she was. And it is true. There are some godly people. There's some Christian folks who are just full of good works. Well, what's the root cause of their good works?

Why are they so honorable? Why are they so gracious? Why are they so right? Well, look in Isaiah 26 and verse 12. Here's the answer,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 26:12

"Lord, Thou hast ordained peace for us. For thou hast wrought all our works in us."

Thou hast wrought all our works in us. What's that mean? That means if there's anything good in us at all, God worked it in us, God worked it through us, and God enabled us to work it out. So everything, according to Spurgeon, goes right back down to God's sovereign saving grace.

Interpretive Insights from Gill and Calvin

Weaver quotes John Gill and John Calvin to explain that David's claims refer to the righteousness of his cause and actions toward Saul, not personal merit, and that God's rewards proceed from grace.

Now, I want you to turn back to Psalm 18, and before I begin, pointing out several things. I want to give you two quotes. One by John Gill. One by John Calvin. And they are explaining verses 20, particularly through 28. They're dealing with the fact David is saying, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands that he recompensed me for. I've kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God." I'm going to explain those, but listen, if you would, what John Gill says. "This, therefore, must be understood of the righteousness of David's cause, and of his innocence with respect to the things he was charged with by his enemies, of his righteousness towards Saul and of the cleanness of his hands and not defiling them with his blood when it was in his power to take away his life. Therefore, God rewarded him by delivering him out of his hands and setting him upon the throne and causing his kingdom to flourish and prosper.

For this respects temporal blessings and not eternal glory and happiness." Now, let me just stop there. All Gill is saying is this. If you take Psalm 18 verses 20 through 28 in the context, David is not proclaiming his own personal righteousness, like here I am a perfect man. We know David was not perfect. But what he is proclaiming is the righteousness of his cause and the righteousness of his actions, which I'll explain, in dealing with all of his enemies and particularly with Saul, who was his greatest enemy.

Now Calvin goes a little further and he says this. "If God rendered to David a just recompense, it may be said, does it not seem, when he shows himself liberal towards his people, that he is so in proportion as each of them has deserved? I answer," here's his answer, "when the scripture uses the word reward or recompense, it is not to show that God owes us anything, and it is therefore a groundless and false accusation and a groundless and false conclusion to infer from this that there is any merit or worth in our works. God, as a just judge, rewards every man according to his works." Listen carefully. "God, as a just judge, rewards every man according to his works, but he does it in such a manner as to show that all men are indebted to him, while he himself is under no obligation to anyone.

The reason is not only that which St. Augustine has assigned, namely that God finds no righteousness in us to recompense, except that which he has freely given to us, but also because, forgiving the blemishes and imperfections which cleave to our works, he imputes to us for righteousness that which he might justly reject. If, therefore, none of our works please God, unless the sin which mingles with them is pardoned, it follows that the recompense which he bestows on account of them proceeds not from our merit, but from his free and undeserved grace." Now, let me ask you a question. In light of what Calvin just said, I want you to think about this. Has God commanded you to pray? What's the answer? Yes. Have you ever prayed? What's the answer? Yes. Have vile thoughts ever come into your mind while you were praying? Have you ever fallen asleep? Have you ever forgotten where you were in your prayer? Now, if none of those things ever happened to you, you just really hadn't prayed much, I can assure you.

David's Righteous Conduct Toward Saul

Weaver recounts from 1 Samuel how David spared Saul's life twice, demonstrating that David acted righteously and waited for God to give him the kingdom, rather than taking vengeance.

The point I'm trying to make is this. In the best of our efforts to please God, there is sin mingled with our efforts and with our works. And all Calvin is saying is this. If God does not forgive the sin, the blemish on our works, then nothing would be acceptable unto him. And therefore, whatever we do is still justly attributed to God's grace because it's God's grace that forgives the blemishes and the faults and the sins and accepts them in Christ Jesus as pure and whole. Isn't that amazing? And it doesn't matter what we do. That is basically what happens. We have sin attached to everything that we do, and God must be merciful to us.

Now with that understanding and the fact that in the context David is in reality proclaiming the righteousness of his cause and the righteousness of his actions towards Saul, we will be able to really understand verses 20 through 28. Now, with that in mind, I want us to look at this. Look, if you would please, at verse 20. Again, David says, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness." Well, most people would interpret that as just his personal righteousness. "According to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me?" Many says, "For I have kept the ways of the Lord and not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him and I kept myself from mine iniquity."

Now you know as well as I do there were times in David's life that he sinned. In fact there were times that he sinned grievously. So you cannot take this passage and make it as if David is saying, "Here I am the perfect man. I am righteous before God." That is not what David is saying.

Now, let me ask you a couple of questions. Think about this. Did God choose David to replace Saul? And the answer is yes. Did David want the throne? And the answer is, well, yes, he did. He wanted the throne. But now listen to me. He wanted the throne on God's terms. In God's way. And in God's time. The important thing that we have to ask is this. Since David knew that God had chosen him to be king over Israel, because he was anointed, he was chosen out of all of his brethren. David knew that God had chosen him to be king over Israel. The question is this. How was David to get the throne? Also, when was David to get the throne?

Pastor Bob McCurry, a good friend of mine, that's a saying that I've quoted many times, and you've probably heard it either from him or from me. But Pastor McCurry always says, "God is the slowest person you'll ever get hooked up with." Now, you have to understand what he means by that. God is not slow. God is always right on time. It is we who consider him slow because he does not act according to our whims and our desires and our wishes. And since things don't happen according to our time schedule, we count God as being slow.

Have you ever wanted to help God? Oh, dear friend, I'm going to tell you, I've wanted to help him out innumerable times. Innumerable times. Do you realize? One of the greatest problems that every child of God has is the problem of impatience? And I confess it's one of my problems. I'm impatient many times. Many ways. But what we've got to understand is this, God still has his perfect timing.

Now, I want you to hold Psalm 18, but I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel 18 very quickly. Let me take you through several passages. Now, let me ask this question again. Did God choose David over Saul? The answer is yes. Did David want the throne? The answer is yes. So then we ask, how does David get the throne? And when does David get the throne? And then you can ask another question. Did King Saul act wickedly and unrighteously toward David? And the answer is yes, a thousand times yes. In fact, King Saul not only deceived David, broke his oath to David, he purposely and deliberately tried to murder David. For instance, look in 1 Samuel 18 verses 8 and 9, "And Saul was very wroth.

And the saying displeased him." Why? What saying displeased Saul? "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." Now, I want you to remember, David was a young man at this time, a very young man. OK? But yet he's still already a great warrior. And so this saying displeased Saul very much, verse 8, "And he said, they have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day forward." In other words, here he is envious now of David. He realizes, look, David's killed his tens of thousands and I've only killed... and they're singing his praises over mine. They're ascribing more success to him than to me. I'm the king! And so he's envious. Now watch verse 10. "It came to pass on the morrow" the very next day "that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul and he prophesied in the midst of the house and David played with his hands at other times and there was a javelin in Saul's hand and Saul cast the javelin for he said I will smite David even the wall with it and David avoided out of his presence twice." So Saul in a rage, a demonic rage, throws a javelin at David. And David gets away. David escapes. You say, well, why didn't David defend himself and kill Saul? David was a mighty warrior. Yes, he was.

But you've got to remember, he's still a young man. And Saul's still the king. And David at this time has no one but himself. He doesn't even have his 600 men at this time. He has no one. Watch what happens. Look in your Bibles to chapter 18 verse 17. To show you how Saul planned to kill David, watch this. "And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab.

Her will I give unto thee, thy wife, only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles. For Saul said, Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him. And David said unto Saul, Who am I, and what is my life? Or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king." So David was obedient. David fought the battles. Watch verse 19. "But it came to pass at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite to wife." So Saul just lied to David, violated his oath. Oh, watch verse 20. Now this is really, really complimentary Saul. "And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him." Now, why did the thing please Saul that Michal loved David? "And Saul said, I will give him her that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.

Wherefore, Saul said to David, thou shalt this day be my son-in-law in one of the twain." Now, I didn't keep my word towards you. It's Merab, but I'm gonna let you have Michal if you will just bring me a hundred foreskins of my enemies. What's David do? David goes out and kills 200. And Saul's plan backfires. And he has to give Michal to David.

But let me show you how intense he was. Skip down to chapter 19. Beginning with verse 9.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 19:9-16

"And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand and David played with his hand and he sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence. Then he smote the javelin in the wall and David fled and escaped that night."

So Saul tries to kill him again. Now in chapter 19, verse 11, watch. Because Saul sends to David's house.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 19:9-16

"Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him and to slay him in the morning. And Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window, and he went and fled and escaped. And Michal took an image and put it in the bed and put a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster and covered it with a cloth.

When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image and a bed with a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster." And, of course, you know the story how David escapes and David gets away. So David now is fleeing from Saul. David knows that Saul is intent on murdering him. And guess what? Even though David now escapes into the wilderness, Saul still chases him.

Look in 1 Samuel 23, if you would. 1 Samuel 23, beginning there with verse 24. You would think he's out in the wilderness by himself or with a few men. He's no big deal now. He's out of my hair, let him alone. No, not with Saul. Look in 1 Samuel 23 beginning there verse 24.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 23:24-28

"Now they arose and went to Ziph before Saul but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon on the plain on the south of Jeshimon. Saul also and his men went to seek him and they told David wherefore he came down into a rock and he abode in the wilderness of Maon and when Saul heard that he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain, and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul. For Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Hasten ye, and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore, Saul returned from pursuing after David, and he went against the Philistines."

Now, so it seems as if Saul has got David surrounded, but just right before he can nab him, he gets word the Philistines have attacked the land, and so Saul then leaves him alone. Now, I want you to understand that we can safely conclude, based upon the scripture, that Saul wanted David dead. He had not only tried to kill him. He ordered his men to try to kill him. He ordered Jonathan to kill him. Saul wanted him dead. Now, the reason I'm emphasizing this point is simply to illustrate that David did indeed have a biblical right of self-defense. David could have righteously destroyed Saul. Because Saul was unrighteously trying to murder him. David had just as much right to defend himself as anyone did. But I want you to see what David did. If you look in 1 Samuel 24, beginning with verse 1, now you're going to understand Psalm 18 when David declares the righteousness of his cause and the cleanness of his hands in just a moment.

1 Samuel 24 verse 1,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 24:1-22

"It came to pass when Saul was returned from following the Philistines that it was told him saying behold David is in the wilderness of En Gedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, and there was a cave. And Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold, the day of which the Lord hath said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do unto him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privately. And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him because he'd cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

So David stayed his servants with these words and suffered them not to rise up against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave and went on his way. David also arose afterwards and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, My lord, the king. And when Saul looked round behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed himself. And David said unto Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how the Lord hath delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave. And some bade me kill thee, but mine eyes spared thee. And I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand. For in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and kill thee not. Know thou, and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee, but my hand shall not be upon thee. As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, but my hand shall not be upon thee. After whom is the King of Israel come out? After whom dost thou pursue, after a dead dog, after a flea? The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand."

Now watch this, "And it came to pass when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. For thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me. For as much as when the Lord had delivered me in thine hand, thou killest me not. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? Wherefore, the Lord reward thee good, for that thou hast done unto me this day. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand."

Now, I want you to look what happened. Saul went into the cave by himself to use the bathroom. David and his men were already hiding in the cave. And his men said, look, this is it. This is the day that the Lord said, I'll deliver your enemy in your hand.

Now's the time, kill him. And all David did was slip up behind Saul and cut off a piece of the garment that was laying behind him. And then David let him go. And when he got out, he confronted Saul. He said, Saul, you're listening to a bunch of lies and rumors. I'm not trying to kill you. You see this piece of cloth? You were in my hand.

I could have killed you. But I didn't. I'm not interested in killing you. You're still the king. You're still the Lord's anointed. I'm not interested in killing you.

Now, let me make the point. Saul was David's enemy. But David was not Saul's enemy. That's what he's trying to say. David had the perfect opportunity to avenge himself. He was encouraged to avenge himself, according to verse 4, by his men, but he did not. He merely demonstrated that he could have killed Saul, but he was not Saul's enemy. God not only delivered Saul into David's hands once, He delivered Saul into David's hands a second time.

If you look in 1 Samuel 26, 1 Samuel 26. Watch this passage.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 26:1-25

"And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon? Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph."

Now, David has just spared Saul. Saul has just acknowledged that he's going to be king. And Saul's still trying to kill him. Watch verse 3.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 26:1-25

"And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon by the way, but David abode in the wilderness. And he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. David therefore sent out spies and understood that Saul was coming very deed. And David arose and came to the place where Saul had pitched. And David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host. And Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him. Then answered David, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, a brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I'll go down with thee. So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and a spear stuck in the ground in his bolster. But Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day.

Now therefore let me smite him. I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not. For who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? David said, Furthermore, as the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed. But I pray thee, take now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster, and they got them away.

And no man saw it, and no man knew it, neither awake, for they were all asleep. Now watch this, because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them. Then David went over to the other side and stood on the top of the hill afar off a great space being between them. And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that cries to the king? And David said to Abner, Art thou a valiant man? And who is like unto thee in Israel? Wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? For there came one of the people, and he destroyed the king thy lord. This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster. And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. And he said, Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in mine hand? Notice what David is saying. What evil is in my hand? What have I done? Now, therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord has stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering. But if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord, for they have driven me out of this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go serve other gods.

Now, therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, which one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains. Then said Saul, I have sinned. Return my son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day, because I have played the fool and have erred exceedingly." And of course, David gives the sword or the spear back to King Saul.

Now, the point I want to make is this. Here, David has a second opportunity to slay Saul. This time, David would not have to do it. What did Abishai say? "Let me smite him with my spear to the ground. This once. Just once. David, if you let me kill him now," Abishai said, "I will not have to take a second shot. The first one will be a quick, clean kill. This is it, David. Let me do it." David said no. He's still the king. I'm not going to lift up my hand to kill the king. Now, I want you to notice what David says.

The Principle of Sowing and Reaping

Weaver explains Psalm 18:25-26 as a biblical principle: God shows Himself merciful to the merciful, pure to the pure, and froward to the froward, akin to Galatians 6:7-8.

Look, if you would, back at verse 9. 1 Samuel 26, verse 9, "And David said to Abishai, destroy him not. For who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed to be guiltless? David said, furthermore, as the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed, but I pray thee, take now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go." Now look what David is saying. David is saying, Saul may die, but he's not going to die at my hand.

Now, let me point this out again. David clearly had the right of self-defense. There's no arguing that. But I want you to notice this. Each time that David could have killed Saul, David's life was not in danger. Saul didn't even know he was in the cave. And Saul didn't know he woke up and had taken the spear and the cruse of water, because a deep sleep was upon them from the Lord. Here is what David is saying. David is saying, look, Saul is my enemy, but I'm not his enemy. He is acting unrighteously toward me, but I'm going to act righteously toward him. I'm not going to be provoked into violating the law of God. And David is saying this, it is true, I want the kingdom. But I do not want the kingdom by the force of my hand. What is he saying? God will kill him or his time will come to die or he'll descend into battle and perish, but I don't have to do it. David is saying, I will not take the kingdom.

At least he was not going to take it by force of action, by himself, or by any of his men. David was waiting for God to give him the kingdom. How many men do you know would be willing to wait for God to make them king? Most men would not. That is why David is declaring the righteousness of his cause. Do you know what happened in 2 Samuel chapter 1 when Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle? David sorrowed and lamented over them. Which was a demonstration of the fact that although Saul was David's enemy and acted unrighteously and hatefully and wickedly and wrongly toward David, David had no animosity in his heart.

Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 12. Let me ask you this question. Is it normal, is it natural for a man to patiently wait for the destruction of his enemy? What's the answer? No. Is it normal and natural for a man to wait until God gives him a kingdom instead of forcefully taking it himself? The answer is no, it's not normal and it's not natural. It's supernatural.

It has to be grace. Look in Romans chapter 12, beginning there with verse 18. Here's an excellent illustration of what is happening in David's life. God says in Romans 12 and verse 18,

Scripture Reading — Romans 12:18-21

"If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men."

Now, I understand there's some men you can't live peaceably with. I understand that. That's why God said

Scripture Reading — Romans 12:18-21

"if it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men."

In other words, if there's going to be trouble, don't necessarily let it be trouble. You're not to be the troublemaker. You're not to be the instigator. You're not to be the originator. OK, then he says this,

Scripture Reading — Romans 12:18-21

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves. But rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord."

Now let me just stop there. "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." And in other words, what God is saying is this. If we take vengeance in our own hands, God is not going to move for us. Why? God isn't just God. He's not going to exact vengeance twice. Have you ever stopped to think about this? God can clean the plows of our enemies a whole lot easier and better than we can clean them. But if we go and clean them, don't look for God to do it because God's not going to judge them twice. Now, what God is saying, look, vengeance is mine. Step back. Hang on. Now look what he says.

"Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head." In other words, one of the worst things that you can do to an enemy is to be kind and gracious to him. It messes with his mind. He can't figure out why he hates you and wants to destroy you so much, and yet you don't really hate him. And then says this, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." And what did David do? David overcame the evil of Saul with good towards Saul. David did absolutely nothing but good towards Saul. Saul did absolutely nothing but evil toward David.

Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to Psalm 18. Psalm 18. Remember now, this Psalm is about war. It's about fighting, which we're going to see a little bit later on. But David is saying, look, Saul and all of these enemies compassed me about and God sovereignly, graciously, mercifully delivered me. And now when you get to verse 20, when he says, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me?" What's he talking about? His actions towards Saul. "For I've kept the ways of the Lord, and I'm not wickedly departed from my God." In other words, I didn't take things into my own hands.

"For all of his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him. I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore, the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight." So David is saying, look, because of God's grace in my life, here's my deportment. Here's my conduct. It's good works. It's right living. It's obedience. David's life teaches us that God's grace is sufficient even in the most difficult and strenuous times. Now, I want to show you what David does.

In the next passage, he backs up what he has just taught us with a biblical principle. Look at it in verse 25. "With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful. With an upright man, thou wilt show thyself upright. With the pure, thou wilt show thyself pure. With the froward, thou wilt show thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but will bring down high looks." You know what David could have said when you read verses 25 through 26? Here's what David could have said.

"Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that sows for the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, and he that sows for the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." The principle that David is enunciating is the same principle that Galatians 6:7 and 8 teaches. "With the merciful, thou wilt show thyself merciful. With the pure, thou wilt show thyself pure." In other words, if you want mercy, you show mercy. If you want purity, you show purity. If you want to be froward, and the word froward means perverse, wicked. If you want to be perverse and mean and hateful, fine. God will see that people treat you perversely, meanly, wickedly, and hatefully. It's this same principle.

Let me give you a quote by Calvin on this. He says, "David is declaring that God has suffered him or helped him on account of the justice of his cause. For in the first place, we must adapt the words to the scope of the whole discourse and view them as implying that God is so often delivering an innocent man from death when it was near him showed indeed that he is merciful toward the merciful and pure toward the pure. In the second place, we must view the words as teaching the general doctrine that God never disappoints His servants, but always at length deals graciously with them, provided they wait for His aid with meekness and patience. To this purpose, Jacob said, in Genesis 13, verse 33, 'God will make my righteousness return unto me.'" Now, what is he saying? He is saying we must understand that God never disappoints His servants. I've had men attack me and I could not figure out for the life of me why they were attacking me. The only thing I'd ever done was try to help them, try to be a blessing to them.

God's Government of the Humble and Proud

Weaver expounds verse 27, showing that God saves the afflicted but brings down the proud, citing 1 Peter 5:5 and James 4:6.

You know, inevitably and thankfully, Pastor McCurry, a wise man, told me when I was being attacked particularly by one individual, he just said, "John. Sit still. When the smoke clears. You'll find there's real problems in this fellow's life." And when the smoke cleared, I found out why he was attacking me. Because he is having an affair with two or three women in his church, and he was certainly wanting to keep people looking at other folks rather than himself. If you just be patient, which we have so little of, God will work it out. The scope of this discourse is that the people of God should always entertain good hope and encourage themselves to practice uprightness and integrity since every man is going to reap the fruit of his own righteousness.

Now, let me give you a quote by Spurgeon, then I'm going to try to tie everything together. Spurgeon said it like this. "The dealings of the Lord in his own case causes the grateful singer, that is David, to remember the usual rule of God's moral government. He is just in his dealings with the sons of men and meets out to each man according to his measure.

Now listen, 'With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful. With an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.' Every man shall have his meat weighed in his own scales, his corn meted in his own bushel, and his land measured with his own rod. No rule can be more fair, to ungodly men more terrible, to the generous man more honorable. How would men throw away their light weights and break their short yards if they could but believe that they themselves are sure to be in the end the losers by their knavish tricks? Note that even the merciful need mercy. No amount of generosity to the poor or forgiveness to enemies can set us beyond the need of mercy. Lord, have mercy upon me, a sinner." He said, every man is going to be weighed in his own scale, measured with his own rod.

As you do, so shall you reap. So let's ask the question. How do we act if we want to be delivered, all of us? Under oppression in some way or the other. We may not be surrounded by murderous enemies the way David was constantly and consistently, although we are in many ways. But how do we act if we want to be delivered? The answer is we must act obediently and righteously. If we want to receive mercy, we must be merciful. We reap that which we sow. Our deportment must be biblical if we desire for God to honor us.

Now, look at verse 27 very quickly. Psalm 18, verse 27. "For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but wilt bring down high looks." Here's an illustration of the principle that David is just enunciating. That God will be merciful to the humble, to those who are meek, to those who are afflicted, but the arrogant, the proud, the haughty, the high-minded, He'll bring down. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4 and verse 19, listen carefully,

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 4:19

"Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to God as a faithful creator."

In James 4, verse 6, and in 1 Peter 5 and verse 7, the Bible says this, "He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." Then in 1 Peter, He says, "Likewise you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.

God as the Source of Light and Deliverance

Weaver comments on verse 28, emphasizing that God enlightens our darkness and is the source of all illumination and deliverance.

Yea, all of you be subject one to another. Be clothed with humility, for God resisteth the proud, but he giveth grace to the humble." That's exactly what he's saying in Psalm 18 and verse 27. God certainly does govern according to a righteous principle. Then in verse 28, David says, "For thou wilt light my candle, the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness." In 2 Samuel 22 and verse 29, David said, "For thou art my lamp, O Lord, and the Lord will light my darkness." In other words, God is the one that brings us from darkness to light. God is the one that gives us illumination. God is the one that gives us understanding. God is the one that brings us out of a place of distress into a large, bountiful pasture. It is God who gives light in every situation. That's why David said in Psalm 119, verse 105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." We have to learn like David that God is always the source of our illumination, our mercy and our deliverance.

Now, let me make just a couple of applications and try to tie it together. The first one. I want you to know that there is indeed a correlation between faith and works. Although we have been saved entirely by grace through faith, saving faith always evidences itself in works. James 2 verse 18 argued thusly, "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works, Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works." God's faith always produces good works. If you say you have faith, but there's nothing in your life that evidences it, you don't have a saving faith. Saving faith always will produce biblical attributes and characteristics. We don't all have the same amount. We don't all have the same measure. Our Lord said some 30 fold, some 60 fold, some 100 fold, and there's a lot in between. But every living tree will produce some amount of fruit. So there is a correlation between faith and work. Secondly, there's also a correlation between blessings and obedience.

Applications: Faith, Obedience, and Praise

Weaver applies the message by highlighting the correlation between faith and works, blessings and obedience, and the need to constantly praise God for His benefits.

All you have to do is read Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28 and a host of other passages. Listen, folks, if we want God to bless us, if we want God to deliver us, we must learn to be obedient. We must learn to honor God. Do you realize God has an inherent glory, which is the glory in and of Himself, which cannot be touched. Nothing I can do to add to that glory, because that's what God is in and of Himself. But God also has an external glory, and my obedience or my disobedience does indeed either honor or dishonor Him in His external glory. In fact, God said it like this in 1 Samuel 2 and verse 30,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 2:30

"For them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."

So if you want God to honor you, you must honor Him. If you fail to honor Him, you shall be lightly esteemed.

I don't know about you, but I prefer to have God think a lot of me than to have man think a lot of me. So there is a correlation between blessings and obedience. And then lastly, we have to learn to constantly and consistently praise the Lord for all of his benefits toward us. You know, I did this morning. Can you imagine? The hours that we spent in driving yesterday in the rain. We drove all the way to Pensacola, Florida, then most of the way back last night. I mean, we were probably up 18, 19 hours driving in the rain, preaching, you know. I asked the Lord for safe travel, mercies, and I thanked him and acknowledged that he brought me to our resting place safely. And I acknowledge that he brought me here today safely. And I pray that He'll bring me home safely tonight.

All I'm saying is this, folks. God constantly and continually delivers us. And many times, we don't even think about it. David said in Psalm 103, verse 1, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me." Listen now. "Bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." And then he goes on. "Who daily loaded us with benefits." How about your health?

Your breath, your life, your family, your friends. Bless the Lord. And David is saying, He'll light my candle. He's done it in time past. He's doing it now. He'll do it in the future. We just need to learn to act scripturally and obediently and righteously in every situation. Let's pray. Father, we do ask that You would help us deliver Thee. Make us holy. Make us godly. And may, Father, we look to Thee for deliverance and we do cry unto Thee and ask, Father, for Your mercy and Your grace to be revealed to us as well as your power. And Father, we do pray that You'll overthrow the wicked and the ungodly. Establish Thy kingdom. Establish Thy people. Establish Thy law and establish Thy righteousness. And above all, establish our Lord Jesus Christ in this land as King of kings and Lord of lords. In Thy name we ask and pray, Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Sovereign Grace as the Foundation of Deliverance

Summary: All deliverance and good works are rooted in God's uncaused, sovereign grace, not human merit.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Spurgeon: 'Free grace lies at the foundation... sovereign grace is the root...' and emphasizes that works are a manifestation of grace.

The Righteousness of David's Cause and Conduct

Summary: David's claim of righteousness refers to his just cause and upright actions toward Saul, not sinless perfection.

Evidence: Weaver explains, citing Gill and Calvin, that David is proclaiming the righteousness of his cause and his actions in dealing with Saul.

Works as Evidence of Grace, Not Merit

Summary: Good works are the result of God working in believers, not a means to earn salvation or deliverance.

Evidence: Weaver cites Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:12-13, and Isaiah 26:12 to show that God works in us to will and to do.

The Principle of Reciprocal Dealing

Summary: God deals with people according to their own conduct: merciful to the merciful, pure to the pure, and froward to the froward.

Evidence: Weaver expounds Psalm 18:25-26 and connects it to Galatians 6:7-8, stating 'every man shall have his meat weighed in his own scales.'

Humility and Patience in Waiting for God's Vindication

Summary: Believers should not take vengeance but wait on God, who exalts the humble and brings down the proud.

Evidence: Weaver uses David's restraint toward Saul and Romans 12:18-21 to illustrate that vengeance belongs to God.

The Necessity of Obedience for Blessing

Summary: There is a correlation between obedience and God's blessing; honoring God leads to being honored by Him.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Samuel 2:30: 'Them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.'

Key Arguments

David's deliverance was by grace, not works

Summary: Although David says the Lord rewarded him according to his righteousness, this refers to the righteousness of his cause and conduct, not meritorious works, because all human righteousness is as filthy rags.

Evidence: Weaver argues from Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:12, and the context of David's actions toward Saul that David's righteousness was relative and grace-based.

Good works are a manifestation of grace, not its source

Summary: Ephesians 2:10 and Philippians 2:12-13 show that believers are created for good works which God works in them, so any good is evidence of grace.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'Our works do not save us... they are merely a manifestation of grace.'

David's restraint toward Saul demonstrates righteous deportment

Summary: David had the right to self-defense but chose not to kill Saul, waiting for God to give him the kingdom, thus showing the cleanness of his hands.

Evidence: Weaver recounts 1 Samuel 24 and 26, where David spares Saul and says, 'The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed.'

God's moral government operates on a principle of reciprocity

Summary: Psalm 18:25-26 teaches that God responds to people according to their own character: merciful to the merciful, froward to the froward.

Evidence: Weaver explains: 'With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful... every man shall have his meat weighed in his own scales.'

Vengeance belongs to God, not man

Summary: Romans 12:18-21 commands believers not to avenge themselves but to leave room for God's wrath, as David did with Saul.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Romans 12:19: 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord,' and applies it to David's conduct.

Obedience and humility are prerequisites for divine deliverance

Summary: To be delivered, believers must act obediently and righteously, showing mercy and humility, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Evidence: Weaver cites James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5, and concludes: 'How do we act if we want to be delivered? The answer is we must act obediently and righteously.'

Scripture References

Psalm 18:20-28

Context: The main passage expounded; David speaks of being rewarded according to his righteousness and the principle of God's dealings.

Ephesians 2:8-10

Context: Used to show salvation is by grace through faith, not works, but believers are created for good works.

Isaiah 64:6

Context: Cited to prove that all human righteousness is as filthy rags.

Romans 3:12

Context: Quoted to emphasize that no one does good.

Romans 8:8

Context: Those in the flesh cannot please God.

Titus 3:5

Context: Salvation is not by works of righteousness but by God's mercy.

Philippians 2:12-13

Context: Believers work out their salvation because God works in them to will and to do.

Isaiah 26:12

Context: God has wrought all our works in us.

1 Samuel 18:8-11

Context: Saul's envy and first attempt to kill David with a javelin.

1 Samuel 18:17-27

Context: Saul's deceitful offer of his daughters to ensnare David.

1 Samuel 19:9-16

Context: Saul's second attempt to kill David and David's escape with Michal's help.

1 Samuel 23:24-28

Context: Saul pursues David in the wilderness of Maon but is diverted by a Philistine invasion.

1 Samuel 24:1-22

Context: David spares Saul's life in the cave at En Gedi, cutting off his robe instead.

1 Samuel 26:1-25

Context: David spares Saul a second time, taking his spear and water jug while he sleeps.

Romans 12:18-21

Context: Believers are to live peaceably, not avenge themselves, but overcome evil with good.

Galatians 6:7-8

Context: The principle of sowing and reaping, paralleling Psalm 18:25-26.

1 Peter 4:19

Context: Those who suffer according to God's will should commit their souls to Him.

James 4:6

Context: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

1 Peter 5:5

Context: Believers are to be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud.

1 Samuel 2:30

Context: God honors those who honor Him, and those who despise Him are lightly esteemed.

Historical References

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Context: Quoted regarding free grace as the foundation of mercy and the uncaused love of God.

John Gill

Context: Quoted explaining that David's righteousness refers to the righteousness of his cause and innocence toward Saul.

John Calvin

Context: Quoted on how God's rewards proceed from free grace, not human merit, because He forgives the blemishes in our works.

Pastor Bob McCurry

Context: Mentioned as a friend whose saying 'God is the slowest person you'll ever get hooked up with' is quoted, and who gave wise counsel during personal attack.

Important Quotes

Free grace lies at the foundation. Rest assured, if we go deep enough, sovereign grace is the root, or is the truth, which lies at the bottom of every well of mercy.

Significance: Spurgeon's quote establishes the foundational theme that all deliverance is rooted in God's sovereign grace.

Lord, Thou hast ordained peace for us. For thou hast wrought all our works in us.

Significance: Scripture quote used to prove that any good works originate from God.

God, as a just judge, rewards every man according to his works, but he does it in such a manner as to show that all men are indebted to him, while he himself is under no obligation to anyone.

Significance: Calvin's explanation that God's rewards are gracious, not merited.

With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful. With an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright. With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure. And with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward.

Significance: The key biblical principle of reciprocal dealing from Psalm 18:25-26.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves. But rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.

Significance: Romans 12:19 quoted to illustrate David's restraint and the believer's call to leave vengeance to God.

The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed.

Significance: David's words showing his respect for God's authority and his refusal to take the kingdom by force.

For them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

Significance: 1 Samuel 2:30 used to emphasize the correlation between obedience and divine blessing.

Discussion Questions

How does understanding that our good works are a manifestation of God's grace, not a means to earn His favor, change the way we view our own obedience?

Context: Weaver emphasized that works are evidence of grace, not its source, citing Ephesians 2:10 and Philippians 2:12-13.

In what situations are we most tempted to take vengeance into our own hands, and how can David's example of sparing Saul help us trust God's timing?

Context: Weaver used David's restraint in 1 Samuel 24 and 26 and Romans 12:18-21 to teach against personal vengeance.

What does it mean practically to 'work out your own salvation with fear and trembling' in light of God working in us?

Context: Weaver explained Philippians 2:12-13, emphasizing that we are to apply and manifest the grace God has given.

How does the principle 'with the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful' challenge our attitudes toward those who have wronged us?

Context: Weaver expounded Psalm 18:25-26 as a principle of God's moral government, akin to sowing and reaping.

Why is it difficult to wait for God to exalt us or vindicate us, and what practical steps can help us cultivate patience?

Context: Weaver noted that David waited for God to give him the kingdom and that impatience is a common struggle.

In what ways do we sometimes try to 'help God' accomplish His purposes, and what are the dangers of doing so?

Context: Weaver admitted he has wanted to help God innumerable times and highlighted the problem of impatience.

How can we cultivate a habit of praising God for His daily benefits, even in the midst of trials?

Context: Weaver concluded with an application to bless the Lord and not forget His benefits, referencing Psalm 103.

Applications

Trust in God's sovereign grace, not personal merit

Summary: Recognize that any righteousness or good works in us are the result of God's grace, and rely on His mercy rather than our own efforts for deliverance.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'If we have any good works in us at all... it is nothing more than God's grace working in us.'

Refuse to take vengeance; leave room for God's justice

Summary: When wronged, do not retaliate but trust God to repay, as David did with Saul, and overcome evil with good.

Evidence: Weaver applies Romans 12:18-21: 'If we take vengeance in our own hands, God is not going to move for us.'

Act mercifully and uprightly toward others

Summary: Since God deals with us according to our own conduct, we should show mercy, purity, and uprightness, even to enemies.

Evidence: Weaver explains Psalm 18:25-26: 'If you want mercy, you show mercy.'

Wait patiently for God's timing in exaltation and deliverance

Summary: Like David, who waited for God to give him the kingdom, we must not force outcomes but trust God's perfect timing.

Evidence: Weaver notes David's attitude: 'I will not take the kingdom... by force of action.'

Honor God through obedience to receive His blessing

Summary: There is a direct correlation between honoring God and being honored by Him; disobedience leads to being lightly esteemed.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Samuel 2:30: 'For them that honor Me I will honor.'

Cultivate humility, for God gives grace to the humble

Summary: Recognize that God resists the proud but saves the afflicted; therefore, clothe yourselves with humility.

Evidence: Weaver references James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 in the context of Psalm 18:27.

Continually praise God for His daily deliverances and benefits

Summary: Make it a practice to thank God for His constant care, protection, and provision, not forgetting His benefits.

Evidence: Weaver shares his personal practice of thanking God for safe travel and urges blessing the Lord per Psalm 103.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T03:40:49Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T16:25:16Z

Clean Transcript

How to Act if We Want to be Delivered

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

And I'll take just a few moments to review, but look in Psalm 18 and verse 20. David says, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me, for I have kept the ways of the Lord and am not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore, hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight."
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"With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful. With an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright. With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure. And with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle, the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness." We've been looking at Psalm 18 now. This will be the fifth week. And may I remind you that I began with point one, David's determination, where he said in verse one, "I will love thee, O Lord." And then I gave you the truth that his love for God was a response to God's love. And then the second reason of the second message was the reasons for David's love for the Lord. And of course, in verse one and verse two, he refers to the Lord as his strength, his rock, his fortress, his deliverer, his God, his strength, his trust, his buckler, the horn of his salvation, and his high tower. And then, of course, he said, "I will call upon the name of the Lord who's worthy to be praised."
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Then in verses four through six, we looked at David's distress and showed you how that oftentimes God will back us up against the wall and put us in a position where we must call upon Him. And then in verses 7 through 19, we looked at David's deliverer and saw how David describes the sovereign majesty of God when God comes to deliver His people. And certainly, He does indeed do that.
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Now, I concluded the message the last time with a quote from Charles Haddon Spurgeon. And I want to give you that quote again, just to set the stage for what I'd like to share with you from Psalm 18. Spurgeon says this concerning the passages in verses 7 through 19. He says, "Free grace lies at the foundation. Rest assured, if we go deep enough, sovereign grace is the root, or is the truth, which lies at the bottom of every well of mercy. Deep-sea fisheries in the ocean of divine bounty always bring forth the pearls of electing, discriminating love to light."
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"Why Jehovah should delight in us is a question without an answer, and a mystery which angels cannot solve. But that He does delight in His beloved is certain, and is the fruitful root of favors as numerous as they are precious. Believer, sit down and inwardly digest the instructive sentence now before us and learn to view the uncaused love of God as the cause of all the lovingkindness of which we are partakers." So as Spurgeon is saying, sit down and think about the uncaused love of God, how that is the root, that is the source of everything that appears to us in lovingkindness and mercy.
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Now, in light of that comment, I want us to explain the passage that I just read to you in verses 20-28. We know that the source of all mercy is God's sovereign, saving grace. But yet, David says in verse 20, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands." And he goes on, he says, "I was upright before him." Now, we know that the cause of David's deliverance was God's sovereign grace. How then can we explain the statements that David is making when he says the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness and according to the cleanness of my hands? As Brother Weaver said earlier, we know that Scripture does not contradict Scripture. We understand that if our interpretation of Scripture contradicts a plain passage somewhere else in Scripture, the Scripture is not wrong. Our interpretation is wrong. OK, Scripture does not contradict itself. So we have to interpret Scripture in light of Scripture. So today I'm going to cover just one point, as basically I've done these last several weeks, and that is David's deportment.
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Now when we talk about deportment, we're talking about someone's conduct or how they deport or carry or act. So, let's look at David's deportment in verses 20 through 28. So the question that has to be asked is very, very simple. Here's the question. Was David's deliverance the result of God's sovereign grace or was it the result of his own personal righteousness and works? Now, David just got through talking about God's sovereign grace. And now he says, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me?" Well, which is it? Is it God's grace or was it David's works?
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Now, many of you can quote this passage, so you don't have to turn there. You remember Ephesians 2:8 and 9? You can probably quote that. But can you quote verse 10? The Bible says, "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." We know that one. But how about verse 10?
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"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath foreordained that we should walk therein."
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Now, those who understand God's sovereign grace realize that works do not save them, works cannot save them, and works cannot help save them. In Isaiah 64 and verse 6, the Bible says this, "...but we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquity, like the wind, hath taken us away." Now listen to what he said, "...but we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags." So, Isaiah is telling us, look, we are wicked in and of ourselves. In Romans 3, in verse 12, Paul goes further and he explains it like this. He says, "They are all gone out of the way.
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They are together become unprofitable. There is none that doeth good. No, not one." How then can David say, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands"? It should be obvious, as you just casually read the Bible, that your works do not save you, nor do they help save you, nor are they the basis for God rewarding you in any special way. You know, the Bible says this in Romans 8 and verse 8. Listen carefully. "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Well, how many of us are in the flesh? How many of us in and of ourselves can please God? Absolutely none. That's why the Bible in Titus 3 and verse 5 says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His own mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." So the Bible consistently, constantly tells us that it is not because of our works that we are saved or delivered or helped by God.
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We cannot earn God's grace. We cannot merit God's mercies. We are sinful in and of ourselves. You know, when you stop and think about this, sinners are really in a precarious predicament. Because, you see, if you trust in your works, then you're damned. But on the other hand, you understand God has given us commandments, and if we don't fulfill His commandments, we're rebellious, and then we're damned. You've heard the old expression, "damned if you do, damned if you don't." Well, that really and truly speaks of a sinner's position. He's damned if he does do his works and trust in them, and he's damned if he doesn't, because God has commanded him, and yet he cannot fulfill God's commandment. Now, there is a real dilemma, then, for those individuals who do not understand God's grace and the relationship of works and grace. Now, it is true that God's people should have the evidence of God's sovereign grace in their lives. Which, by the way, is evidenced by their works. Now listen carefully. Our works do not save us.
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Our works do not help save us. They are not an addition to grace. Rather what they are, they are merely a manifestation of grace. There is a big distinction between being a manifestation of grace and the basis or source of grace. You remember, I quoted Ephesians 2:10 earlier. The Bible says there, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk therein." So, Ephesians 2:8 and 9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith," precedes verse 10. Our works, which we have been foreordained to walk in, have been based upon sovereign grace. Now, that's what the Bible teaches us in the book of Titus chapter 3 and verse 8. "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will now affirm constantly, that they which believe in God might be careful to maintain good works." Are you listening? "For these are good and profitable unto men." Who are our good works profitable unto? Are they profitable unto God? No. They're profitable unto men.
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Because it is our good works, therefore, which demonstrate and manifest, yes, there is grace in our lives. Now, let me tell you something. If you don't learn anything else today, learn this, please. The truth of the matter is this. If we have any good works in us at all, if any of us are gracious, and kind, and biblical, and right, and honoring God, and doing that which is righteous in His sight, according to this law, it is nothing more than God's grace working in us. Because we have nothing in and of ourselves.
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Do you realize, even the mighty Apostle Paul made this statement in Romans 7 and verse 18. He said, "For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing. For the will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not." Paul said, "I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." He said, "There are times I really want to do good, but how in the world I can do it, I don't know. Because there's nothing good in me."
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Now, I want you to turn, I didn't quote a lot of scriptures, but I want you to turn, hold Psalm 18, we're coming back there, but turn to Philippians chapter 2 and let me show you a passage and then we're going to go back to Isaiah 26. I can quote these verses, but I want you to see them yourself. Look in the book of Philippians chapter 2.
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This actually explains any good works or any righteousness that we as God's people have in our lives. Look in your Bibles to the book of Philippians chapter 2 and notice verse 12. Paul is writing the Philippian Christians and he says this, Philippians 2 verse 12, "Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Whoa, stop right there. What did Paul tell these Philippian Christians? "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Oh, they have to work to be saved? Oh no, that's not what he's saying. When he says "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," he explains in the next verse, look at it, "for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure." Are you listening? If you ever will to pray, God worked it in you. If you ever will to come to Christ, God worked it in you. If you ever will to obey, God worked it in you.
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If you ever will to repent, God worked it in you. Now, what is God saying to us through the Apostle Paul, especially in verse 12, when he says, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"? Here's what he's saying. God gave you the grace. God gave you the mercy. Now, it's your responsibility to work it out, that is to apply it and to make it manifest the way He's ordained.
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Now, look in your Bibles to Isaiah 26. Watch carefully. Isaiah 26. And look, if you would please, at verse 12. I love this verse. Oh, you say, "But Brother Weaver, I know someone who is just so full of good works." Well, Dorcas in the Bible is full of good works. Yes, she was. And it is true. There are some godly people. There's some Christian folks who are just full of good works. Well, what's the root cause of their good works?
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Why are they so honorable? Why are they so gracious? Why are they so right? Well, look in Isaiah 26 and verse 12. Here's the answer, "Lord, Thou hast ordained peace for us. For thou hast wrought all our works in us." Thou hast wrought all our works in us. What's that mean? That means if there's anything good in us at all, God worked it in us, God worked it through us, and God enabled us to work it out. So everything, according to Spurgeon, goes right back down to God's sovereign saving grace.
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Now, I want you to turn back to Psalm 18, and before I begin, pointing out several things. I want to give you two quotes. One by John Gill. One by John Calvin. And they are explaining verses 20, particularly through 28. They're dealing with the fact David is saying, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands that he recompensed me for. I've kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God." I'm going to explain those, but listen, if you would, what John Gill says. "This, therefore, must be understood of the righteousness of David's cause, and of his innocence with respect to the things he was charged with by his enemies, of his righteousness towards Saul and of the cleanness of his hands and not defiling them with his blood when it was in his power to take away his life. Therefore, God rewarded him by delivering him out of his hands and setting him upon the throne and causing his kingdom to flourish and prosper.
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For this respects temporal blessings and not eternal glory and happiness." Now, let me just stop there. All Gill is saying is this. If you take Psalm 18 verses 20 through 28 in the context, David is not proclaiming his own personal righteousness, like here I am a perfect man. We know David was not perfect. But what he is proclaiming is the righteousness of his cause and the righteousness of his actions, which I'll explain, in dealing with all of his enemies and particularly with Saul, who was his greatest enemy.
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Now Calvin goes a little further and he says this. "If God rendered to David a just recompense, it may be said, does it not seem, when he shows himself liberal towards his people, that he is so in proportion as each of them has deserved? I answer," here's his answer, "when the scripture uses the word reward or recompense, it is not to show that God owes us anything, and it is therefore a groundless and false accusation and a groundless and false conclusion to infer from this that there is any merit or worth in our works. God, as a just judge, rewards every man according to his works." Listen carefully. "God, as a just judge, rewards every man according to his works, but he does it in such a manner as to show that all men are indebted to him, while he himself is under no obligation to anyone.
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The reason is not only that which St. Augustine has assigned, namely that God finds no righteousness in us to recompense, except that which he has freely given to us, but also because, forgiving the blemishes and imperfections which cleave to our works, he imputes to us for righteousness that which he might justly reject. If, therefore, none of our works please God, unless the sin which mingles with them is pardoned, it follows that the recompense which he bestows on account of them proceeds not from our merit, but from his free and undeserved grace."
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Now, let me ask you a question. In light of what Calvin just said, I want you to think about this. Has God commanded you to pray? What's the answer? Yes. Have you ever prayed? What's the answer? Yes. Have vile thoughts ever come into your mind while you were praying? Have you ever fallen asleep? Have you ever forgotten where you were in your prayer? Now, if none of those things ever happened to you, you just really hadn't prayed much, I can assure you.
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The point I'm trying to make is this. In the best of our efforts to please God, there is sin mingled with our efforts and with our works. And all Calvin is saying is this. If God does not forgive the sin, the blemish on our works, then nothing would be acceptable unto him. And therefore, whatever we do is still justly attributed to God's grace because it's God's grace that forgives the blemishes and the faults and the sins and accepts them in Christ Jesus as pure and whole. Isn't that amazing?
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And it doesn't matter what we do. That is basically what happens. We have sin attached to everything that we do, and God must be merciful to us.
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Now with that understanding and the fact that in the context David is in reality proclaiming the righteousness of his cause and the righteousness of his actions towards Saul, we will be able to really understand verses 20 through 28. Now, with that in mind, I want us to look at this. Look, if you would please, at verse 20. Again, David says, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness." Well, most people would interpret that as just his personal righteousness. "According to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me?" Many says, "For I have kept the ways of the Lord and not wickedly departed from my God.
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For all his judgments were before me and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him and I kept myself from mine iniquity."
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Now you know as well as I do there were times in David's life that he sinned. In fact there were times that he sinned grievously. So you cannot take this passage and make it as if David is saying, "Here I am the perfect man. I am righteous before God." That is not what David is saying.
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Now, let me ask you a couple of questions. Think about this. Did God choose David to replace Saul? And the answer is yes. Did David want the throne? And the answer is, well, yes, he did. He wanted the throne. But now listen to me. He wanted the throne on God's terms. In God's way. And in God's time. The important thing that we have to ask is this. Since David knew that God had chosen him to be king over Israel, because he was anointed, he was chosen out of all of his brethren. David knew that God had chosen him to be king over Israel. The question is this. How was David to get the throne? Also, when was David to get the throne?
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Pastor Bob McCurry, a good friend of mine, that's a saying that I've quoted many times, and you've probably heard it either from him or from me. But Pastor McCurry always says, "God is the slowest person you'll ever get hooked up with."
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Now, you have to understand what he means by that. God is not slow. God is always right on time. It is we who consider him slow because he does not act according to our whims and our desires and our wishes. And since things don't happen according to our time schedule, we count God as being slow.
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Have you ever wanted to help God? Oh, dear friend, I'm going to tell you, I've wanted to help him out innumerable times. Innumerable times. Do you realize? One of the greatest problems that every child of God has is the problem of impatience? And I confess it's one of my problems. I'm impatient many times. Many ways. But what we've got to understand is this, God still has his perfect timing.
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Now, I want you to hold Psalm 18, but I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel 18 very quickly. Let me take you through several passages.
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Now, let me ask this question again. Did God choose David over Saul? The answer is yes. Did David want the throne? The answer is yes. So then we ask, how does David get the throne? And when does David get the throne? And then you can ask another question. Did King Saul act wickedly and unrighteously toward David? And the answer is yes, a thousand times yes. In fact, King Saul not only deceived David, broke his oath to David, he purposely and deliberately tried to murder David. For instance, look in 1 Samuel 18 verses 8 and 9, "And Saul was very wroth.
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And the saying displeased him." Why? What saying displeased Saul? "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." Now, I want you to remember, David was a young man at this time, a very young man. OK? But yet he's still already a great warrior. And so this saying displeased Saul very much, verse 8, "And he said, they have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands.
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What can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day forward." In other words, here he is envious now of David. He realizes, look, David's killed his tens of thousands and I've only killed... and they're singing his praises over mine. They're ascribing more success to him than to me. I'm the king! And so he's envious. Now watch verse 10. "It came to pass on the morrow" the very next day "that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul and he prophesied in the midst of the house and David played with his hands at other times and there was a javelin in Saul's hand and Saul cast the javelin for he said I will smite David even the wall with it and David avoided out of his presence twice." So Saul in a rage, a demonic rage, throws a javelin at David. And David gets away. David escapes. You say, well, why didn't David defend himself and kill Saul? David was a mighty warrior. Yes, he was.
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But you've got to remember, he's still a young man. And Saul's still the king. And David at this time has no one but himself. He doesn't even have his 600 men at this time. He has no one. Watch what happens. Look in your Bibles to chapter 18 verse 17. To show you how Saul planned to kill David, watch this. "And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab.
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Her will I give unto thee, thy wife, only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles. For Saul said, Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him. And David said unto Saul, Who am I, and what is my life? Or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king." So David was obedient. David fought the battles. Watch verse 19. "But it came to pass at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite to wife." So Saul just lied to David, violated his oath. Oh, watch verse 20. Now this is really, really complimentary Saul. "And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him." Now, why did the thing please Saul that Michal loved David? "And Saul said, I will give him her that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.
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Wherefore, Saul said to David, thou shalt this day be my son-in-law in one of the twain." Now, I didn't keep my word towards you. It's Merab, but I'm gonna let you have Michal if you will just bring me a hundred foreskins of my enemies. What's David do? David goes out and kills 200. And Saul's plan backfires. And he has to give Michal to David.
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But let me show you how intense he was. Skip down to chapter 19. Beginning with verse 9. "And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand and David played with his hand and he sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence. Then he smote the javelin in the wall and David fled and escaped that night." So Saul tries to kill him again. Now in chapter 19, verse 11, watch. Because Saul sends to David's house. "Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him and to slay him in the morning. And Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window, and he went and fled and escaped. And Michal took an image and put it in the bed and put a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster and covered it with a cloth.
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When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image and a bed with a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster." And, of course, you know the story how David escapes and David gets away. So David now is fleeing from Saul. David knows that Saul is intent on murdering him. And guess what? Even though David now escapes into the wilderness, Saul still chases him.
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Look in 1 Samuel 23, if you would. 1 Samuel 23, beginning there with verse 24. You would think he's out in the wilderness by himself or with a few men. He's no big deal now. He's out of my hair, let him alone. No, not with Saul. Look in 1 Samuel 23 beginning there verse 24. "Now they arose and went to Ziph before Saul but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon on the plain on the south of Jeshimon. Saul also and his men went to seek him and they told David wherefore he came down into a rock and he abode in the wilderness of Maon and when Saul heard that he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain, and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul. For Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Hasten ye, and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land.
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Wherefore, Saul returned from pursuing after David, and he went against the Philistines." Now, so it seems as if Saul has got David surrounded, but just right before he can nab him, he gets word the Philistines have attacked the land, and so Saul then leaves him alone. Now, I want you to understand that we can safely conclude, based upon the scripture, that Saul wanted David dead. He had not only tried to kill him. He ordered his men to try to kill him. He ordered Jonathan to kill him. Saul wanted him dead. Now, the reason I'm emphasizing this point is simply to illustrate that David did indeed have a biblical right of self-defense. David could have righteously destroyed Saul. Because Saul was unrighteously trying to murder him. David had just as much right to defend himself as anyone did. But I want you to see what David did. If you look in 1 Samuel 24, beginning with verse 1, now you're going to understand Psalm 18 when David declares the righteousness of his cause and the cleanness of his hands in just a moment.
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1 Samuel 24 verse 1, "It came to pass when Saul was returned from following the Philistines that it was told him saying behold David is in the wilderness of En Gedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, and there was a cave. And Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold, the day of which the Lord hath said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do unto him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privately. And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him because he'd cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.
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So David stayed his servants with these words and suffered them not to rise up against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave and went on his way. David also arose afterwards and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, My lord, the king. And when Saul looked round behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed himself. And David said unto Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how the Lord hath delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave. And some bade me kill thee, but mine eyes spared thee. And I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand. For in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and kill thee not. Know thou, and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
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The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee, but my hand shall not be upon thee. As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, but my hand shall not be upon thee. After whom is the King of Israel come out? After whom dost thou pursue, after a dead dog, after a flea? The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand."
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Now watch this, "And it came to pass when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. For thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me. For as much as when the Lord had delivered me in thine hand, thou killest me not. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? Wherefore, the Lord reward thee good, for that thou hast done unto me this day. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand."
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Now, I want you to look what happened. Saul went into the cave by himself to use the bathroom. David and his men were already hiding in the cave. And his men said, look, this is it. This is the day that the Lord said, I'll deliver your enemy in your hand.
#50 | 37:59 to 38:18 | cleaned
Now's the time, kill him. And all David did was slip up behind Saul and cut off a piece of the garment that was laying behind him. And then David let him go. And when he got out, he confronted Saul. He said, Saul, you're listening to a bunch of lies and rumors. I'm not trying to kill you. You see this piece of cloth? You were in my hand.
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I could have killed you. But I didn't. I'm not interested in killing you. You're still the king. You're still the Lord's anointed. I'm not interested in killing you.
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Now, let me make the point. Saul was David's enemy. But David was not Saul's enemy. That's what he's trying to say. David had the perfect opportunity to avenge himself. He was encouraged to avenge himself, according to verse 4, by his men, but he did not. He merely demonstrated that he could have killed Saul, but he was not Saul's enemy. God not only delivered Saul into David's hands once, He delivered Saul into David's hands a second time.
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If you look in 1 Samuel 26, 1 Samuel 26. Watch this passage. "And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon? Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph." Now, David has just spared Saul. Saul has just acknowledged that he's going to be king.
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And Saul's still trying to kill him. Watch verse 3. "And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon by the way, but David abode in the wilderness. And he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. David therefore sent out spies and understood that Saul was coming very deed. And David arose and came to the place where Saul had pitched. And David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host. And Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him. Then answered David, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, a brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I'll go down with thee. So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and a spear stuck in the ground in his bolster. But Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day.
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Now therefore let me smite him. I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not. For who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? David said, Furthermore, as the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed. But I pray thee, take now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster, and they got them away.
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And no man saw it, and no man knew it, neither awake, for they were all asleep. Now watch this, because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them. Then David went over to the other side and stood on the top of the hill afar off a great space being between them. And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that cries to the king? And David said to Abner, Art thou a valiant man?
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And who is like unto thee in Israel? Wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? For there came one of the people, and he destroyed the king thy lord. This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster. And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. And he said, Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in mine hand? Notice what David is saying. What evil is in my hand? What have I done? Now, therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord has stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering. But if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord, for they have driven me out of this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go serve other gods.
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Now, therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, which one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains. Then said Saul, I have sinned. Return my son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day, because I have played the fool and have erred exceedingly." And of course, David gives the sword or the spear back to King Saul.
#59 | 43:14 to 43:39 | cleaned
Now, the point I want to make is this. Here, David has a second opportunity to slay Saul. This time, David would not have to do it. What did Abishai say? "Let me smite him with my spear to the ground. This once. Just once. David, if you let me kill him now," Abishai said, "I will not have to take a second shot. The first one will be a quick, clean kill. This is it, David. Let me do it." David said no. He's still the king. I'm not going to lift up my hand to kill the king. Now, I want you to notice what David says.
#60 | 43:39 to 44:24 | cleaned
Look, if you would, back at verse 9. 1 Samuel 26, verse 9, "And David said to Abishai, destroy him not. For who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed to be guiltless? David said, furthermore, as the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed, but I pray thee, take now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go." Now look what David is saying. David is saying, Saul may die, but he's not going to die at my hand.
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Now, let me point this out again. David clearly had the right of self-defense. There's no arguing that. But I want you to notice this. Each time that David could have killed Saul, David's life was not in danger. Saul didn't even know he was in the cave. And Saul didn't know he woke up and had taken the spear and the cruse of water, because a deep sleep was upon them from the Lord. Here is what David is saying. David is saying, look, Saul is my enemy, but I'm not his enemy. He is acting unrighteously toward me, but I'm going to act righteously toward him. I'm not going to be provoked into violating the law of God. And David is saying this, it is true, I want the kingdom. But I do not want the kingdom by the force of my hand. What is he saying? God will kill him or his time will come to die or he'll descend into battle and perish, but I don't have to do it. David is saying, I will not take the kingdom.
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At least he was not going to take it by force of action, by himself, or by any of his men. David was waiting for God to give him the kingdom. How many men do you know would be willing to wait for God to make them king? Most men would not. That is why David is declaring the righteousness of his cause. Do you know what happened in 2 Samuel chapter 1 when Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle? David sorrowed and lamented over them. Which was a demonstration of the fact that although Saul was David's enemy and acted unrighteously and hatefully and wickedly and wrongly toward David, David had no animosity in his heart.
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Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 12. Let me ask you this question. Is it normal, is it natural for a man to patiently wait for the destruction of his enemy? What's the answer? No. Is it normal and natural for a man to wait until God gives him a kingdom instead of forcefully taking it himself? The answer is no, it's not normal and it's not natural. It's supernatural.
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It has to be grace. Look in Romans chapter 12, beginning there with verse 18. Here's an excellent illustration of what is happening in David's life. God says in Romans 12 and verse 18, "If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men." Now, I understand there's some men you can't live peaceably with. I understand that. That's why God said "if it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men." In other words, if there's going to be trouble, don't necessarily let it be trouble.
#65 | 48:18 to 48:50 | cleaned
You're not to be the troublemaker. You're not to be the instigator. You're not to be the originator. OK, then he says this, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves. But rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord."
#66 | 48:50 to 49:04 | cleaned
Now let me just stop there. "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." And in other words, what God is saying is this. If we take vengeance in our own hands, God is not going to move for us. Why? God isn't just God. He's not going to exact vengeance twice. Have you ever stopped to think about this? God can clean the plows of our enemies a whole lot easier and better than we can clean them. But if we go and clean them, don't look for God to do it because God's not going to judge them twice. Now, what God is saying, look, vengeance is mine. Step back. Hang on. Now look what he says.
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"Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head." In other words, one of the worst things that you can do to an enemy is to be kind and gracious to him. It messes with his mind. He can't figure out why he hates you and wants to destroy you so much, and yet you don't really hate him.
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And then says this, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." And what did David do? David overcame the evil of Saul with good towards Saul. David did absolutely nothing but good towards Saul. Saul did absolutely nothing but evil toward David.
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Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to Psalm 18. Psalm 18. Remember now, this Psalm is about war. It's about fighting, which we're going to see a little bit later on. But David is saying, look, Saul and all of these enemies compassed me about and God sovereignly, graciously, mercifully delivered me. And now when you get to verse 20, when he says, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me?" What's he talking about? His actions towards Saul. "For I've kept the ways of the Lord, and I'm not wickedly departed from my God." In other words, I didn't take things into my own hands.
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"For all of his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him. I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore, the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight." So David is saying, look, because of God's grace in my life, here's my deportment. Here's my conduct. It's good works. It's right living. It's obedience. David's life teaches us that God's grace is sufficient even in the most difficult and strenuous times. Now, I want to show you what David does.
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In the next passage, he backs up what he has just taught us with a biblical principle. Look at it in verse 25. "With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful. With an upright man, thou wilt show thyself upright. With the pure, thou wilt show thyself pure. With the froward, thou wilt show thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but will bring down high looks." You know what David could have said when you read verses 25 through 26? Here's what David could have said.
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"Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that sows for the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, and he that sows for the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." The principle that David is enunciating is the same principle that Galatians 6:7 and 8 teaches. "With the merciful, thou wilt show thyself merciful. With the pure, thou wilt show thyself pure." In other words, if you want mercy, you show mercy. If you want purity, you show purity. If you want to be froward, and the word froward means perverse, wicked. If you want to be perverse and mean and hateful, fine. God will see that people treat you perversely, meanly, wickedly, and hatefully. It's this same principle.
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Let me give you a quote by Calvin on this. He says, "David is declaring that God has suffered him or helped him on account of the justice of his cause. For in the first place, we must adapt the words to the scope of the whole discourse and view them as implying that God is so often delivering an innocent man from death when it was near him showed indeed that he is merciful toward the merciful and pure toward the pure. In the second place, we must view the words as teaching the general doctrine that God never disappoints His servants, but always at length deals graciously with them, provided they wait for His aid with meekness and patience.
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To this purpose, Jacob said, in Genesis 13, verse 33, 'God will make my righteousness return unto me.'" Now, what is he saying? He is saying we must understand that God never disappoints His servants. I've had men attack me and I could not figure out for the life of me why they were attacking me. The only thing I'd ever done was try to help them, try to be a blessing to them.
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You know, inevitably and thankfully, Pastor McCurry, a wise man, told me when I was being attacked particularly by one individual, he just said, "John. Sit still. When the smoke clears. You'll find there's real problems in this fellow's life." And when the smoke cleared, I found out why he was attacking me. Because he is having an affair with two or three women in his church, and he was certainly wanting to keep people looking at other folks rather than himself. If you just be patient, which we have so little of, God will work it out. The scope of this discourse is that the people of God should always entertain good hope and encourage themselves to practice uprightness and integrity since every man is going to reap the fruit of his own righteousness.
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Now, let me give you a quote by Spurgeon, then I'm going to try to tie everything together. Spurgeon said it like this. "The dealings of the Lord in his own case causes the grateful singer, that is David, to remember the usual rule of God's moral government. He is just in his dealings with the sons of men and meets out to each man according to his measure.
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Now listen, 'With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful. With an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.' Every man shall have his meat weighed in his own scales, his corn meted in his own bushel, and his land measured with his own rod. No rule can be more fair, to ungodly men more terrible, to the generous man more honorable. How would men throw away their light weights and break their short yards if they could but believe that they themselves are sure to be in the end the losers by their knavish tricks? Note that even the merciful need mercy. No amount of generosity to the poor or forgiveness to enemies can set us beyond the need of mercy. Lord, have mercy upon me, a sinner." He said, every man is going to be weighed in his own scale, measured with his own rod.
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As you do, so shall you reap. So let's ask the question. How do we act if we want to be delivered, all of us? Under oppression in some way or the other. We may not be surrounded by murderous enemies the way David was constantly and consistently, although we are in many ways. But how do we act if we want to be delivered? The answer is we must act obediently and righteously. If we want to receive mercy, we must be merciful. We reap that which we sow. Our deportment must be biblical if we desire for God to honor us.
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Now, look at verse 27 very quickly. Psalm 18, verse 27. "For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but wilt bring down high looks." Here's an illustration of the principle that David is just enunciating. That God will be merciful to the humble, to those who are meek, to those who are afflicted, but the arrogant, the proud, the haughty, the high-minded, He'll bring down. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4 and verse 19, listen carefully, "Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to God as a faithful creator." In James 4, verse 6, and in 1 Peter 5 and verse 7, the Bible says this, "He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." Then in 1 Peter, He says, "Likewise you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.
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Yea, all of you be subject one to another. Be clothed with humility, for God resisteth the proud, but he giveth grace to the humble." That's exactly what he's saying in Psalm 18 and verse 27. God certainly does govern according to a righteous principle. Then in verse 28, David says, "For thou wilt light my candle, the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness." In 2 Samuel 22 and verse 29, David said, "For thou art my lamp, O Lord, and the Lord will light my darkness." In other words, God is the one that brings us from darkness to light. God is the one that gives us illumination. God is the one that gives us understanding. God is the one that brings us out of a place of distress into a large, bountiful pasture. It is God who gives light in every situation. That's why David said in Psalm 119, verse 105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." We have to learn like David that God is always the source of our illumination, our mercy and our deliverance.
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Now, let me make just a couple of applications and try to tie it together. The first one. I want you to know that there is indeed a correlation between faith and works. Although we have been saved entirely by grace through faith, saving faith always evidences itself in works. James 2 verse 18 argued thusly, "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works, Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works." God's faith always produces good works. If you say you have faith, but there's nothing in your life that evidences it, you don't have a saving faith. Saving faith always will produce biblical attributes and characteristics. We don't all have the same amount. We don't all have the same measure. Our Lord said some 30 fold, some 60 fold, some 100 fold, and there's a lot in between. But every living tree will produce some amount of fruit. So there is a correlation between faith and work. Secondly, there's also a correlation between blessings and obedience.
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All you have to do is read Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28 and a host of other passages. Listen, folks, if we want God to bless us, if we want God to deliver us, we must learn to be obedient. We must learn to honor God. Do you realize God has an inherent glory, which is the glory in and of Himself, which cannot be touched. Nothing I can do to add to that glory, because that's what God is in and of Himself. But God also has an external glory, and my obedience or my disobedience does indeed either honor or dishonor Him in His external glory. In fact, God said it like this in 1 Samuel 2 and verse 30, "For them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed." So if you want God to honor you, you must honor Him. If you fail to honor Him, you shall be lightly esteemed.
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I don't know about you, but I prefer to have God think a lot of me than to have man think a lot of me. So there is a correlation between blessings and obedience. And then lastly, we have to learn to constantly and consistently praise the Lord for all of his benefits toward us. You know, I did this morning. Can you imagine? The hours that we spent in driving yesterday in the rain. We drove all the way to Pensacola, Florida, then most of the way back last night. I mean, we were probably up 18, 19 hours driving in the rain, preaching, you know. I asked the Lord for safe travel, mercies, and I thanked him and acknowledged that he brought me to our resting place safely. And I acknowledge that he brought me here today safely. And I pray that He'll bring me home safely tonight.
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All I'm saying is this, folks. God constantly and continually delivers us. And many times, we don't even think about it. David said in Psalm 103, verse 1, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me." Listen now. "Bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." And then he goes on. "Who daily loaded us with benefits." How about your health?
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Your breath, your life, your family, your friends. Bless the Lord. And David is saying, He'll light my candle. He's done it in time past. He's doing it now. He'll do it in the future. We just need to learn to act scripturally and obediently and righteously in every situation. Let's pray. Father, we do ask that You would help us deliver Thee. Make us holy. Make us godly. And may, Father, we look to Thee for deliverance and we do cry unto Thee and ask, Father, for Your mercy and Your grace to be revealed to us as well as your power. And Father, we do pray that You'll overthrow the wicked and the ungodly. Establish Thy kingdom. Establish Thy people. Establish Thy law and establish Thy righteousness. And above all, establish our Lord Jesus Christ in this land as King of kings and Lord of lords. In Thy name we ask and pray, Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T03:40:49Z

How to Act if We Want to be Delivered

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver examines Psalm 18:20-28, addressing the apparent tension between God's sovereign grace and David's claim that the Lord rewarded him according to his righteousness. He explains that David's righteousness refers to the righteousness of his cause and his upright conduct toward Saul, not to sinless perfection. The sermon emphasizes that any good works in believers are manifestations of God's grace, not meritorious. Using David's restraint toward Saul as a model, Weaver teaches that deliverance comes through obedient, merciful, and humble conduct, rooted in God's grace, and that God deals with people according to their own measure.

Introduction and Review of Psalm 18

Weaver reviews previous messages on Psalm 18, covering David's determination, reasons for love, distress, and deliverer, and introduces the topic of David's deportment.

And I'll take just a few moments to review, but look in Psalm 18 and verse 20. David says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 18:20-28

"The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands, hath he recompensed me, for I have kept the ways of the Lord and am not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore, hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight." "With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful. With an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright. With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure. And with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle, the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness."

The Question of Grace vs. Works

Now, many of you can quote this passage, so you don't have to turn there. You remember Ephesians 2:8 and 9? You can probably quote that. But can you quote verse 10? The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 2:8-10

"For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."

We know that one. But how about verse 10?

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 64:6

"...but we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquity, like the wind, hath taken us away."

Now listen to what he said,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 64:6

"...but we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags."

So, Isaiah is telling us, look, we are wicked in and of ourselves. In Romans 3, in verse 12, Paul goes further and he explains it like this. He says, "They are all gone out of the way.

Scripture Reading — Romans 3:12

They are together become unprofitable. There is none that doeth good. No, not one."

Biblical Foundation: Works as Evidence of Grace

Using Ephesians 2:8-10, Philippians 2:12-13, and Isaiah 26:12, Weaver argues that any good works in believers are wrought by God, and believers are to work out what God has worked in.

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:12-13

"Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

Whoa, stop right there. What did Paul tell these Philippian Christians?

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:12-13

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

Oh, they have to work to be saved? Oh no, that's not what he's saying. When he says

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:12-13

"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,"

he explains in the next verse, look at it,

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:12-13

"for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure."

Are you listening? If you ever will to pray, God worked it in you. If you ever will to come to Christ, God worked it in you. If you ever will to obey, God worked it in you.

Why are they so honorable? Why are they so gracious? Why are they so right? Well, look in Isaiah 26 and verse 12. Here's the answer,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 26:12

"Lord, Thou hast ordained peace for us. For thou hast wrought all our works in us."

Interpretive Insights from Gill and Calvin

Weaver quotes John Gill and John Calvin to explain that David's claims refer to the righteousness of his cause and actions toward Saul, not personal merit, and that God's rewards proceed from grace.

David's Righteous Conduct Toward Saul

Weaver recounts from 1 Samuel how David spared Saul's life twice, demonstrating that David acted righteously and waited for God to give him the kingdom, rather than taking vengeance.

But let me show you how intense he was. Skip down to chapter 19. Beginning with verse 9.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 19:9-16

"And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand and David played with his hand and he sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence. Then he smote the javelin in the wall and David fled and escaped that night."

So Saul tries to kill him again. Now in chapter 19, verse 11, watch. Because Saul sends to David's house.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 19:9-16

"Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him and to slay him in the morning. And Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window, and he went and fled and escaped. And Michal took an image and put it in the bed and put a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster and covered it with a cloth.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 23:24-28

"Now they arose and went to Ziph before Saul but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon on the plain on the south of Jeshimon. Saul also and his men went to seek him and they told David wherefore he came down into a rock and he abode in the wilderness of Maon and when Saul heard that he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain, and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul. For Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Hasten ye, and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore, Saul returned from pursuing after David, and he went against the Philistines."

1 Samuel 24 verse 1,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 24:1-22

"It came to pass when Saul was returned from following the Philistines that it was told him saying behold David is in the wilderness of En Gedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, and there was a cave. And Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold, the day of which the Lord hath said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do unto him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privately. And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him because he'd cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

I could have killed you. But I didn't. I'm not interested in killing you. You're still the king. You're still the Lord's anointed. I'm not interested in killing you.

If you look in 1 Samuel 26, 1 Samuel 26. Watch this passage.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 26:1-25

"And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon? Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph."

Now, David has just spared Saul. Saul has just acknowledged that he's going to be king. And Saul's still trying to kill him. Watch verse 3.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 26:1-25

"And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon by the way, but David abode in the wilderness. And he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. David therefore sent out spies and understood that Saul was coming very deed. And David arose and came to the place where Saul had pitched. And David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host. And Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him. Then answered David, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, a brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I'll go down with thee. So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and a spear stuck in the ground in his bolster. But Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day.

The Principle of Sowing and Reaping

Weaver explains Psalm 18:25-26 as a biblical principle: God shows Himself merciful to the merciful, pure to the pure, and froward to the froward, akin to Galatians 6:7-8.

It has to be grace. Look in Romans chapter 12, beginning there with verse 18. Here's an excellent illustration of what is happening in David's life. God says in Romans 12 and verse 18,

Scripture Reading — Romans 12:18-21

"If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men."

Now, I understand there's some men you can't live peaceably with. I understand that. That's why God said

Scripture Reading — Romans 12:18-21

"if it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men."

Scripture Reading — Romans 12:18-21

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves. But rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord."

God's Government of the Humble and Proud

Weaver expounds verse 27, showing that God saves the afflicted but brings down the proud, citing 1 Peter 5:5 and James 4:6.

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 4:19

"Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to God as a faithful creator."

God as the Source of Light and Deliverance

Weaver comments on verse 28, emphasizing that God enlightens our darkness and is the source of all illumination and deliverance.

Applications: Faith, Obedience, and Praise

Weaver applies the message by highlighting the correlation between faith and works, blessings and obedience, and the need to constantly praise God for His benefits.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 2:30

"For them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."

So if you want God to honor you, you must honor Him. If you fail to honor Him, you shall be lightly esteemed.

How to Act if We Want to be Delivered

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	34081322166
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Justification, Faith, and Imputed Righteousness: Who is Israel?
Genre	Sermon
Date	2008-01-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 131: Romans: Justification, Faith, and Imputed Righteousness — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	86

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review of Psalm 18: Weaver reviews previous messages on Psalm 18, covering David's determination, reasons for love, distress, and deliverer, and introduces the topic of David's deportment.
The Question of Grace vs. Works: Weaver poses the central question: Was David's deliverance due to God's grace or his own righteousness? He asserts that Scripture does not contradict itself and that works are a manifestation of grace, not its basis.
Biblical Foundation: Works as Evidence of Grace: Using Ephesians 2:8-10, Philippians 2:12-13, and Isaiah 26:12, Weaver argues that any good works in believers are wrought by God, and believers are to work out what God has worked in.
Interpretive Insights from Gill and Calvin: Weaver quotes John Gill and John Calvin to explain that David's claims refer to the righteousness of his cause and actions toward Saul, not personal merit, and that God's rewards proceed from grace.
David's Righteous Conduct Toward Saul: Weaver recounts from 1 Samuel how David spared Saul's life twice, demonstrating that David acted righteously and waited for God to give him the kingdom, rather than taking vengeance.
The Principle of Sowing and Reaping: Weaver explains Psalm 18:25-26 as a biblical principle: God shows Himself merciful to the merciful, pure to the pure, and froward to the froward, akin to Galatians 6:7-8.
God's Government of the Humble and Proud: Weaver expounds verse 27, showing that God saves the afflicted but brings down the proud, citing 1 Peter 5:5 and James 4:6.
God as the Source of Light and Deliverance: Weaver comments on verse 28, emphasizing that God enlightens our darkness and is the source of all illumination and deliverance.
Applications: Faith, Obedience, and Praise: Weaver applies the message by highlighting the correlation between faith and works, blessings and obedience, and the need to constantly praise God for His benefits.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

David's deliverance was by grace, not works

Although David says the Lord rewarded him according to his righteousness, this refers to the righteousness of his cause and conduct, not meritorious works, because all human righteousness is as filthy rags.

Weaver argues from Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:12, and the context of David's actions toward Saul that David's righteousness was relative and grace-based.

Good works are a manifestation of grace, not its source

Ephesians 2:10 and Philippians 2:12-13 show that believers are created for good works which God works in them, so any good is evidence of grace.

Weaver states: 'Our works do not save us... they are merely a manifestation of grace.'

David's restraint toward Saul demonstrates righteous deportment

David had the right to self-defense but chose not to kill Saul, waiting for God to give him the kingdom, thus showing the cleanness of his hands.

Weaver recounts 1 Samuel 24 and 26, where David spares Saul and says, 'The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed.'

God's moral government operates on a principle of reciprocity

Psalm 18:25-26 teaches that God responds to people according to their own character: merciful to the merciful, froward to the froward.

Weaver explains: 'With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful... every man shall have his meat weighed in his own scales.'

Vengeance belongs to God, not man

Romans 12:18-21 commands believers not to avenge themselves but to leave room for God's wrath, as David did with Saul.

Weaver quotes Romans 12:19: 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord,' and applies it to David's conduct.

Obedience and humility are prerequisites for divine deliverance

To be delivered, believers must act obediently and righteously, showing mercy and humility, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Weaver cites James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5, and concludes: 'How do we act if we want to be delivered? The answer is we must act obediently and righteously.'

Scripture References

Psalm 18:20-28: The main passage expounded; David speaks of being rewarded according to his righteousness and the principle of God's dealings.
Ephesians 2:8-10: Used to show salvation is by grace through faith, not works, but believers are created for good works.
Isaiah 64:6: Cited to prove that all human righteousness is as filthy rags.
Romans 3:12: Quoted to emphasize that no one does good.
Romans 8:8: Those in the flesh cannot please God.
Titus 3:5: Salvation is not by works of righteousness but by God's mercy.
Philippians 2:12-13: Believers work out their salvation because God works in them to will and to do.
Isaiah 26:12: God has wrought all our works in us.
1 Samuel 18:8-11: Saul's envy and first attempt to kill David with a javelin.
1 Samuel 18:17-27: Saul's deceitful offer of his daughters to ensnare David.
1 Samuel 19:9-16: Saul's second attempt to kill David and David's escape with Michal's help.
1 Samuel 23:24-28: Saul pursues David in the wilderness of Maon but is diverted by a Philistine invasion.
1 Samuel 24:1-22: David spares Saul's life in the cave at En Gedi, cutting off his robe instead.
1 Samuel 26:1-25: David spares Saul a second time, taking his spear and water jug while he sleeps.
Romans 12:18-21: Believers are to live peaceably, not avenge themselves, but overcome evil with good.
Galatians 6:7-8: The principle of sowing and reaping, paralleling Psalm 18:25-26.
1 Peter 4:19: Those who suffer according to God's will should commit their souls to Him.
James 4:6: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5: Believers are to be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud.
1 Samuel 2:30: God honors those who honor Him, and those who despise Him are lightly esteemed.

Historical References

Charles Haddon Spurgeon: Quoted regarding free grace as the foundation of mercy and the uncaused love of God.
John Gill: Quoted explaining that David's righteousness refers to the righteousness of his cause and innocence toward Saul.
John Calvin: Quoted on how God's rewards proceed from free grace, not human merit, because He forgives the blemishes in our works.
Pastor Bob McCurry: Mentioned as a friend whose saying 'God is the slowest person you'll ever get hooked up with' is quoted, and who gave wise counsel during personal attack.

Important Quotes

Free grace lies at the foundation. Rest assured, if we go deep enough, sovereign grace is the root, or is the truth, which lies at the bottom of every well of mercy.

Spurgeon's quote establishes the foundational theme that all deliverance is rooted in God's sovereign grace.

Lord, Thou hast ordained peace for us. For thou hast wrought all our works in us.

Scripture quote used to prove that any good works originate from God.

God, as a just judge, rewards every man according to his works, but he does it in such a manner as to show that all men are indebted to him, while he himself is under no obligation to anyone.

Calvin's explanation that God's rewards are gracious, not merited.

With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful. With an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright. With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure. And with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward.

The key biblical principle of reciprocal dealing from Psalm 18:25-26.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves. But rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.

Romans 12:19 quoted to illustrate David's restraint and the believer's call to leave vengeance to God.

The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed.

David's words showing his respect for God's authority and his refusal to take the kingdom by force.

For them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

1 Samuel 2:30 used to emphasize the correlation between obedience and divine blessing.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does understanding that our good works are a manifestation of God's grace, not a means to earn His favor, change the way we view our own obedience?

[Context]

Weaver emphasized that works are evidence of grace, not its source, citing Ephesians 2:10 and Philippians 2:12-13.

[Question]

In what situations are we most tempted to take vengeance into our own hands, and how can David's example of sparing Saul help us trust God's timing?

[Context]

Weaver used David's restraint in 1 Samuel 24 and 26 and Romans 12:18-21 to teach against personal vengeance.

[Question]

What does it mean practically to 'work out your own salvation with fear and trembling' in light of God working in us?

[Context]

Weaver explained Philippians 2:12-13, emphasizing that we are to apply and manifest the grace God has given.

[Question]

How does the principle 'with the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful' challenge our attitudes toward those who have wronged us?

[Context]

Weaver expounded Psalm 18:25-26 as a principle of God's moral government, akin to sowing and reaping.

[Question]

Why is it difficult to wait for God to exalt us or vindicate us, and what practical steps can help us cultivate patience?

[Context]

Weaver noted that David waited for God to give him the kingdom and that impatience is a common struggle.

[Question]

In what ways do we sometimes try to 'help God' accomplish His purposes, and what are the dangers of doing so?

[Context]

Weaver admitted he has wanted to help God innumerable times and highlighted the problem of impatience.

[Question]

How can we cultivate a habit of praising God for His daily benefits, even in the midst of trials?

[Context]

Weaver concluded with an application to bless the Lord and not forget His benefits, referencing Psalm 103.

Applications

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