God Works in Mysterious Ways

Order of Service

• Announcements
• Call to Worship — Psalm 117
• Hymn — From All That Dwell Below the Skies
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — 1 Timothy 3:16
• Hymn — Before the Throne of God Above
• Sacrament of Baptism
• Prayer
• Offering
• Hymn — Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
• Sermon
• Hymn — I Am Not Skilled to Understand
• Benediction — Psalm 121:7-8

---

Sermon Title: God Works in Mysterious Ways

Scripture: 1 Samuel 22

I. A Mysterious Refuge

A. David flees to the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1-2)

1. David's family joins him, likely fleeing Saul's bloodlust
2. A "motley crew" of 400 men — the distressed, indebted, and bitter in soul — gather to him
3. David's low estate mirrors Christ's: tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners flocked to the one who said "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden" (Matthew 11:28)

B. David's parents find refuge with the king of Moab (1 Samuel 22:3-4)

1. Moab was a historic enemy of Israel, yet provides shelter
2. This refuge traces back to David's Moabite great-grandmother Ruth — Yahweh arranged kindness long beforehand
3. Small acts of faithfulness, entrusted to God's sovereign hand, bear fruit in ways and times beyond our comprehension

II. Mysterious Allies

A. The prophet Gad appears (1 Samuel 22:5)

1. The first mention of Gad in Scripture; he will appear again in 2 Samuel 24 as God's spokesman of judgment on David's census
2. From 1 Chronicles 29 he appears to have been a faithful companion of David until David's death
3. God had been silent through chapters 19–21; Gad's word breaks the silence David lamented in Psalm 13
4. New covenant Christians have something more sure than a living prophet — the closed canon of Scripture (2 Peter 1:19-21); Paul's greatest ally in prison was his Bible (2 Timothy 4:13)

B. The priest Abiathar escapes and joins David (1 Samuel 22:20-23)

1. By chapter's end David has been given both a prophet and a priest
2. In 1 Samuel 23 Abiathar brings the ephod so David can inquire of the Lord
3. David's prophet and priest foreshadow Christ, who is Prophet, Priest, and King in one person — giving his people God's final word, interceding for them, and reigning at the Father's right hand (1 Timothy 3:16)

III. A Mysterious Judgment

A. Saul's massacre of the priests at Nob (1 Samuel 22:6-19)

1. Saul displays every mark of a paranoid egomaniac — accusing his own servants and son of conspiracy
2. Doeg the Edomite, mentioned as a planted detail in 1 Samuel 21:7, reports David's visit to Ahimelech
3. Saul summons and wrongly condemns Ahimelech, then orders the slaughter of 85 priests, along with women, children, infants, and livestock — usurping divine prerogative in issuing the ban as though he were Yahweh
4. Saul's only remaining ally is Doeg the Edomite — a descendant of Esau, historically Israel's chief enemy (mentioned four times across chapters 21–22)

B. God's judgment on the house of Eli is fulfilled (1 Samuel 2:33)

1. God had promised that all descendants of Eli's house would die by the sword; Abiathar alone escapes, fulfilling the word that one would be spared "to weep his eyes out"
2. God uses wicked instruments to carry out his judgments: Assyria against the northern kingdom, Babylon against Judah, and wicked men placing Christ on the cross

C. The cross as the ultimate pattern of mysterious judgment bringing salvation

1. God's enemies throughout history believe they are fighting against him, but are actually carrying out his purposes
2. For those hidden in Christ, even evil's assault works for them (Romans 8:35-37)
3. The victory of the Christian is secured through the very instrument of apparent defeat — the crucified King; great indeed is the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16)