1. I Samuel 21:1-9 1 David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”

2. I Samuel 21:1-9 2 David answered Ahimelech the priest, “The king charged me with a certain matter and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about your mission and your instructions.’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place.

3. I Samuel 21:1-9 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.”

4. I Samuel 21:1-9 4 But the priest answered David, “I don’t have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here – provided the men have kept themselves from women.”

5. I Samuel 21:1-9 5 David replied, “Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men’s things are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!”

6. I Samuel 21:1-9 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the L ORD and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.

7. I Samuel 21:1-9 7 Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the L ORD ; he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s head shepherd.

8. I Samuel 21:1-9 8 David asked Ahimelech, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s business was urgent.”

9. 9 The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one.” I Samuel 21:1-9

10. #3 Facing Your Giants: “Desperate Days”

11. A desperate man sits in the corner of the assembly... dry mouth, moist palms, heavy heart. feels so out of place in a room of disciples. just violated every belief he cherishes. hurt every person he loved. spent a night doing what he swore he’d never do. sits & stares... Doesn’t speak. if these people knew what I did...

12. Could be... addict thief child beater wife cheater she-single, pregnant, confused any person - hopeless, hapless, helpless

13. 1. David is Desperate

14. Just two or three years ago: Tending flocks Anointed by Samuel From serenading sheep to serenading Saul Michal married him Saul hated him (6 attempts on his life) On the run - goes to church

15. Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest; and Ahimelech came trembling to meet David and said to him, “Why are you alone and no one with you?” (I Samuel 21:1)

16. David rushes to the small town, seeking sanctuary from his enemies. David is desperate.

17. David lies 2 David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has commissioned me with a matter and has said to me, ‘Let no one know anything about the matter on which I am sending you and with which I have commissioned you; and I have directed the young men to a certain place.’ 3 “Now therefore, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.” (I Samuel 21:2-3)

18. Ahimelech’s response: 4 The priest answered David and said, “There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.” 5 David answered the priest and said to him, “Surely women have been kept from us as previously when I set out and the vessels of the young men were holy,

19. though it was an ordinary journey; how much more then today will their vessels be holy? 6 So the priest gave him consecrated bread; for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before the L ORD, in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away. (I Samuel 21:4-6)

20. 2. Desperation’s Wavering Faith

21. Not too long ago: All he needed was a sling. Refused armor & sword of Saul. Now requests a sword from a priest (21:8)

22. What happened? Lost his God focus. “Goliath” is on the big screen. Desperation has set in.

23. No place to hide. No food to eat. No recourse. No resource... teen-aged & pregnant. middle-aged & broke. old-aged & sick. Where can the desperate go?

24. God’s church? Will they find an Ahimelech someone with a heart for desperate souls. God’s sanctuary?

25. A sanctuary is where I like David, get bread and a sword, strength for the day and weapons for the fight.

26. Application: What is there for the church to learn? There are desperate David's all around needing to be nourished and equipped. If you are going to err, err on the side of compassion, (see Matt. 12:1-5).

27. Application: What does David teach the desperate? Seek help in the midst of God’s people. David stumbled, desperate souls almost always do. At least he stumbled into the right place.

28. Our original story: breathless, disheveled man sitting in the assembly. size of congregation - a dozen or so. location - a borrowed room in Jerusalem with the door shut. Peter cowers in the corner with the other runaways wondering what God has for them.

29. He brings bread for their souls. So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”( John 20:19)

30. He brings a sword for the struggle. And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:22)

31. Bread and Swords He gives both to the desperate. STILL