Victims and Victors

TITLE: Victims and Victors (How Are the Mighty Fallen?)

TEXT: I Samuel 30:19; 2 Samuel 1:19

2Sa 1:17-27—_And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: 18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) _

19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. 26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

1. Victims - _How are the mighty fallen? _(2 Samuel 1:27)

1. Are we losing?

Are we losing ground in the battle? It is hard to convince church people that we are losing.

• Our president says we are not a Christian nation
• Highest use of prescription drugs is in the bible belt

Website--Over the past decade, the number of substance abuse treatment admissions for individuals 12 and older has more than quadrupled nationally from 2.2 percent to 9.8 percent, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Many don’t recognize their addictions for what they are precisely because they have the pretense of a legal prescription to fall back on.

• Perversion spreads unrestrained - don't ask don't tell
  We are losing-- Mightyfallen-suicide--  Full retreat - cast off shields  Retreat to Gilboa \

  Enemy bragging - in his book the god delusion -- "god is not dead but he should be." Richard Dawkins

  Philistines hung their bodies on the wall --- Publish it not lest enemies rejoice

2. Why are we losing? \

Saul and Jonathan were fighting while handicapped. They fought valiantly but a battle they were not fit to win.

Jonathan and Saul died valiantly as two heros
   Skilled men of war
    Courageous men of valor
 

But they fought a battle they couldn't win because of sin, unfit for battle & they were outmatched by the enemy.

• Achilles heel of the Believer is sin
• Lack of commitment
• Resisting Gods will
• Unskilled in Word, Prayer and Spirit

How are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war perisheth?

One main cause of Israel’s defeat was the Philistines weaponry advantage with the bow. The Philistines were able to kill from long distance, while the courageous and veteran Jews were only prepared for close combat.

2 Samuel 1:[18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow:

Not knowing the skill of the bow was instrumental in their loss

Long range -- they were destroyed at long distance They fought a battle they couldn't win -- outmatched ,unprepared, unfit for battle

1 Samuel 31:3—_And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

Because of this they Relied on flesh instead of the Spirit. (We need simple obedience) \

1Sa 10:11 … all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

18:10 … evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

19:20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.

**Saul humbled **himself but proved not himself in obeying the Word beyond that night

24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? \

2. Victors -David Recovered All (1Sa 30:19)

And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

David was returning from a victory while Saul was defeated
Saul fought philistines & fled to gilboa losing all. David fought the amalekites and recovered all. \

1. Principle must be more important than Convenience.

• David spared Saul

1 Sam 24:10-Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed.

• David slew the Amalekite liar Because Saul was God’s anointed

    EXCUSE: “the skin of the truth stuffed with a lie.”
  

   
**2. Gods direction must be sought and followed.
**      Pray again about the big and small   David asked --should I go?
Saul was fighting God’s will while David was completely resigned to it \

2Sa 5:19 And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

2Sa 5:23 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. 25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

**3. We must learn of our master: Skills – prayer/bow
**Main cause of Israel’s defeat was the Philistine’s advantage of the bow, therefore David responds later by Teaching Judah the bow

Ps144:1_ Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:_ \

   We must be taught & We must learn. We must be taught how to trust God and learn.

Ho 4:6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Pray that ye enter not into temptation -- Have to pray – Truth -- Spirit of God
Solomon prayed the words that david spoke. II Chron.6:41-42; Ps 132:(1,) 8-10,(16)

4. Our goal must be absolute victory-- no compromise \

• Compromise will never win against satan. He will get the better end of the deal every time.

• David was pursuing his enemy while Saul was retreating

David recovered all. Saul lost all \

**Saul saved Agag. **1Sa 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag,

**David destroyed them **2Sa 22:38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.

**5. We must be winning at home if we are to win abroad
**David was fighting to recover his family and his mens families

Saul was tormented of the devil in his own mind. He could not pray for himself, let alone his nation.

**6. Favor with God must be sought after and protected at any cost.
**Sin makes us unfit for fellowship and battle. Saul went into battle with sin in his heart

Why did Saul lose favor with god?
 -Murder hate malice  -Envy jealousy  -pride and impatience -Disobedience

REMAIN HUMBLE BEFORE GOD AT ANY COST.

James 4:6—But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.