8/10/2019 January 18 Looking Back Looking Ahead

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January 18, 2015

LOOKING BACK

Pursuit: David, a man and his God 1 Samuel 22:1-2; Psalm 142Coping With Caves

The prayinist prayer I ever prayed, my feet was a sticken up and my head was a sticken

down. Willie Brown. I dont know him, but I like him. How about you? What have been someof your best prayers? Likely, they have come from a cave. Not a hole in the earth, butmaybe a hole in your marriage, or the illness of a loved one, your own internal cave of rejectionor fear. Whatever it is, God, and David, understand.

Thinking It Through (agree/disagree consider/contemplate)

Oh God, what's wrong with me? Why does nothing ever work out?

~ Helen Fiedling, Bridget Jones Diary

I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that Ihad nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficientfor that day.

~Abraham Lincoln

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.

~ Oswald Chambers

Prayer makes your heart bigger, until it is capable of containing the gift of God himself.

~ Mother Teresa

Working It Out

1. Where did your mind go to when you were listening to this messageand why?

2. What words or phrases stood out to youand why?

3. Are you in any caves right now, and how does this Psalm instruct you in coping

with it?

8/10/2019 January 18 Looking Back Looking Ahead

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LOOKING AHEAD

Pursuit: David, a man and his God 1 Samuel 24 and 26

Core

As Davids riveting saga continues, we find him faced with a God-given opportunity to put an

end to the bizarre and unjust threats on his life by King Saul. With his most trusted friendsurging him God has given your enemy into your hands! David made a choice that reveals histrue character within. Sometimes it is good fortune and answer to prayer that is the deepest

test of whats inside us, what were made of, whats at our core.

1. Read 1 Samuel 24 and then chapter 26 and list as many parallels as you can to thesetwo separate but eerily similar incidents.

2. With these two chapters in mind read the chapter sandwiched in between - 1 Samuel25. Can you see reasons why the author (Samuel) purposed to include these three

chapters in this order how they relate? (This is worth some digging and research.)

3. Take a closer look at Sauls responses (24:16-22 and 26:21-25) and reflect on what welearn about the core of Sauls life.

4. Consult a Bible atlas or do some online exploring to trace the geographical movementsof David in these chapters.