“WANTED DEAD!”

Sunday 4-19-15 (Las Grutas, Argentina)

Scripture reading:  1 Sam 22    Ps 17, 35    Matt 6

S.  Ps 17:15 …Because I have done what is right, I will see you.  When I awake, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face to face. NLT

O.  I would not want to trade places with David.  We often see him as a hero, and that he was, but what a troubled life he lived!  When we read Psalm 17 and 35 and many other psalms, we recognize that for years David was marked as enemy number one of King Saul, not “wanted dead or alive”, just “wanted dead!”  He could not know a comfortable night’s sleep.  Someone was stalking him.  Someone would report his location to the authorities.  He constantly pleaded with the Lord to protect him.  But in the verse above, David, knowing he may not live through another night… by faith sees beyond the sleep of death, beyond days, months and years… into eternity and with confidence says to God, “When I awake, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see You face to face!”

A.  Many of God’s heroes have been among the most tormented: Jeremiah and many other prophets, the apostles (all dying as martyrs except John, who survived being boiled in oil and banished on an island), yes, and a long list of missionaries and many of God’s most faithful Christians today.  I guess I would prefer not to be one of God’s heroes if it means that there would be a reward out for my head. 

P.  Blessed Lord, life seems such a frail thing.  Yet, like David, I have witnessed Your divine care and repeated evidence of Your protection for me.  The enemy stalks us with lurking sickness, potential accidents and certain death at the end of the line… (unless Your rapture snatches us away.)  But with joy I thank You, my Savior Jesus Christ, that I can see beyond these fleeting days, months and years into a glorious eternity.  And because of Your sacrifice at Calvary, I can say along with your servant, David, “When I awake, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see You face to face!”  Amen.

Ralph

1.   Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ who died for me?

o    Refrain:
Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!

2.   Only faintly now I see Him,
With the darkened veil between,
But a blessed day is coming,
When His glory shall be seen.

3.   What rejoicing in His presence,
When are banished grief and pain;
Death is swallowed up in vict’ry,
And the dark things shall be plain.

4.   Face to face—oh, blissful moment!
Face to face—to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ who loves me so.