A GOD-DOMINATED HEART

God-Attentive Living in the Midst of Mess

I Samuel 21, 22

"Every time we enter a holy place and become aware of the presence of a holy God, we leave either better or worse."

--Eugene Peterson

There can be no neutrality in the presence of a Holy God!

Holy places are often called sanctuaries. We need sanctuary or refuge because life is messy. Relationships cause hurt.

Here in I Samuel, David's life too is a mess. He has gone rapidly from a lowly shepherd to the anointed-king-in-waiting, having killed a giant and become the king's son-in-law.

1. Sanctuaries are MANY.

Places, songs, even the heart of a believer can be sanctuaries.

David's anxiety over being hunted by Saul, among other things, forced him out of his shield of faith (a sanctuary) into another one that was run by a priest, Ahimelech. However, in this sanctuary, rather than calling on God, he tried to solve things on his own.

2. Sanctuaries reveal there is more to life than our CIRCUMSTANCES.

Entering a sanctuary to use God like David and Doeg did will not be tolerated by God. The purpose of sanctuary is to submit ourselves to God and to be filled with His power and presence. Do we submit ourselves to this blessing? David and Doeg did not in this story. But, David eventually did (as always), recognizing the error of his ways.

Are we allowing God's sanctuary to supercede our circumstances?

3. Sanctuaries are both for WORSHIP and for HELP.

David's use of the bread was allowed by Levitical law, so it was legitimate help.

Worship is not defined in terms of style of music or preaching, but as Romans 12:1-2 says: surrendering to God and being transformed in the midst of our mess. This turns out to be help! As in the Psalms "… soar on wings like eagles…"