Misfits! How God uses people who don't 'fit in'.
Misfits!
God often uses the outcasts or the 'misfits' to do great works.
1 Samuel 22:1-2 – “So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him. Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him.”
This is one of the darkest moments of David’s life. He had risen to glory as young boy by slaying the Israel’s tormentor Goliath. He was given high position in the kingdom and praised by many. All this attention attracted jealousy.
When God is doing a mighty work in someone’s life, it should attract the attention of the world.
Saul had attempted to kill David many times, David hadn’t seen his wife, he was alienated from his family and friends, even his closest friend Jonathon (the king’s own son).
The armies of Israel were seeking after him. The same people that David had put his own life on the line for were seeking to kill him. Just like Christ: He risked everything only to have his own people attempt to take his life.
David finds himself living in a cave. Gone is the glory of his former life. In fact, immediately prior to this, David had approached the priests at Nob. He had been wandering through the land of Israel, hungry and without means of defense.
He lies to the priests and is given bread and a sword. One of Saul’s spies runs and tells Saul the story and the priests are killed.
Can you imagine the burden on David’s heart when he hears that the priests have been killed for helping him? Often times we feel responsible for those around us. We seek to help them no matter what the cost to our own spiritual health. Some things are forever beyond our control. Some of us have the Godly desire to help people and often help at our own peril. We do it to feel needed or to remove guilt…but we should ‘cease striving’ and let God be God.
So this is David’s life. He’s living in a cave with the all of the misfits. Did you catch that? He was the leader of those whom society had cast off. The debtors, those in distress, those who hated their former lives…they looked to David for strength.
It was in this cave while hiding from his persecutors that he pens the beautiful song found in Psalm 57 “ My soul takes refuge in You....I will cry to god…who accomplishes all things for me…He will send from heaven and save me.”
If we could only have a faith like that! A faith that would praise God through the storms of life.
And now we get to the best part of the story.
1 Samuel 23:1-2 – “ Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.” So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah.”
Notice when David needed guidance or wisdom, he turned straight to God. Pretty bold don’t you think? He asks God a direct question and he gets a direct answer. God is sending the band of misfits to fight the Philistine army. Can you imagine?
1 Samuel 22:3-5 – “But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?”
I would be scared as well, but they had God on their side. They should’ve known that because of their faithful leader. How many of us have God on our side but we’re still afraid to act when God calls us to follow Him? Why do we refuse to follow down the path he has laid before us? Is it because of fear?
“Love knows not fear….perfect love casts out fear.” I John 4:18 You can’t love the Lord if you don’t trust Him…and if you trust Him…there is nothing to fear. Imagine the faith of Abraham stepping out…not knowing where the Lord was leading in his life…but starting on the journey none the less.
The misfit army looked around and said we’re scared among our own people…we’re rejected and defeated here…how could we possibly stand against the Philistines?
Verse 4 – “Then David inquired of the Lord once more. And the Lord answered him and said, “ Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand. 5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines; and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.”
Wow! The organized, tormentors of Israel are defeated by a band of people that society had cast out. God can do an amazing work for those who have struggled to find their place in this world. There’s a place for you in God’s kingdom.
A Second Story
2 Kings 7:3 – “Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die?”
The capital of Judah, Samaria is under siege by the Aramean army. The king of Aram is seeking the life of God’s prophet Elisha. The people are starving within the city gates.
Satan often starves us into surrender, doesn’t he? There they sit in the city gates. No food coming, no people going out. They’re stuck. If we starve ourselves of the bread of life…if there is no bread coming in…then there is no witnessing going out. We can’t feed others when we are hungry..and Satan separates us from the source of life and we die spiritually.
The king of Israel is seeking to kill Elijah just to get the siege over with. When we’re starved spiritually…we start to destroy each other with gossip, lack of affection and meaningful relationships.
So here is this group of lepers. They weren’t allowed to commune with the regular people. They would form leper colonies and live among each other because no one would have anything to do with them.
They are starving outside of the city…stuck in between the army of the Arameans and the gates of the city. They say “Why do nothing until we die?” As Christians, we should ask ourselves that same question…why do nothing for the Lord until we die?
2 Kings 7:4 – “If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ then the famine is in the city and we will die there; and if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we will live; and if they kills us, we will but die."
They are using very good logic. They were as good as dead anyways.
Now get this image in your head. 4 lepers…physically handicapped…are making their way toward the Aramean camp.
2 Kings 7:5-7 – “ They arose at twilight to go to the camp…there was no one there… For the Lord had cause the army of the Arameans to hear a sound of chariots and a sound of great horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “ Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.” Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents and their horses and their donkeys, even the camp just as it was, and fled for their life.”
This army that Israel was powerless to defeat…God caused to flee because of four approaching lepers. Now I don’t know how many of you can clear out a room when you walk into it…that’s not amazing…just scary…but these four sounded like an entire army coming towards the camp of the Arameans.
There is an army of angels surrounding God’s people. There is a battle being waged for our souls, but we are not left without the protection of heavenly agents. If only we walked in that confidence everyday, what message would that send to world?
So the lepers enter the deserted camp and discover much food and silver and clothing. They are rejoicing at this, marveling at it and then their conscience gets the best of them.
Verse 9 : “ Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”
The king wanted nothing to do with them…the people wanted nothing to do with them…yet they still went to share the good news. Friends, the world wants nothing to do with God. “The carnal mind is enmity with God.” But that shouldn’t encourage us to hide our light under a bushel.
I believe with all my heart that Jesus is the answer to all of life’s problems and I’m gonna share that because it’s wonderful, life changing news.
Upon receiving the news of the lepers, the armies of Israel went into the camp of the Arameans even though they thought it was a trap…and plundered the camp. Then the people who had been paying five shekels of silver for dove feces were able to purchase a measure of fine flour for a single shekel and two measures of barley for another.
This was fulfilling the prophesy of Elisha that persuaded the king to spare his life. God is good, isn’t He?
Do you see how he works in the most unexpected ways, through the most unlikely people?