Distressed, Discontented, or in Debt?

"David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men." - 1 Samuel 22:1-2

What we have here is a story about David during the time of his rejection. He was running from Saul who was chasing after him and trying to kill him. David had already been anointed King of Israel but there was another man on the throne. The man who was unapproved of God was sitting on his (David's) throne persecuting him and those that sympathized with him.

So all these people flee Saul and come to David; and all of the folks that come to him are in one of three classes of people. The only kind of people that came to him were people that were either in distress, discontented, or in debt.

David here in his rejection is a picture of Christ in his rejection. We know this from the New Testament. We know that one day Jesus will come back and when He comes back He will take the throne that belongs to Him. We all know that He is the one who should be King of this world. But the Bible says that Satan is the king of this world and when Christ comes back the Antichrist will be sitting on his throne. But He is in rejection right now (you and I are living in the days of his rejection) just as David was when he was in this cave.

And just as Saul (his enemy) was trying to seek him out and bring harm to his people, Satan is abroad today trying to seek out and destroy God's children like Saul was trying to do to David.

Now when David was in rejection he went down to this cave and when he was in this cave all these sorts of people came to him. When they came to him he became captain over them while they were there. At t end of verse 2 the Bible says that there were 400 men and everyone of these 400 men was in distress, discontented or in debt.

These 400 would end up becoming David's elite; they would end up becoming the "in" crowd. You know why they were the in crowd??? Because they were wealthy, well-educated, personable, fun to be around, cool, came from the right families? Absolutely not! It's because they were in distress, discontented, and in debt.

If they were not one of those three things they didn't make it in. Let me tell you today that unless you're one of those three things you'll never come to Christ. In all my years of witnessing to folks I have never, not once seen a person come to Christ that wasn't one of these three things.

Unless a man is in distress about his sinful condition, discontented with the world's system or realizes he owes God a debt he cannot pay he is never come to Christ and get saved. And let me tell you furthermore unless you're one of those things you'll never amount to anything in service for Christ.

These three classes of men existed in David's day. There were those who were in distress - they were persecuted and oppressed by Saul. There were also those who are discontented - that means they were bitter in their souls. The circumstances and experiences of life in the kingdom had soured them. There were also those who are in debt - they were about to lose their property and could have been sold into slavery.

Let's look at a couple things about those that came down to that cave. Who they were, what they did, and why they did it. I believe this story has something we can all glean from.

1. All Those That Came, Came Down

Now, let's look at this thing here little bit more closely. The first thing these guys had to do was they had to go down. The Bible says in verse 1 "they went down thither to him." They went down. Let me tell you this morning if a person is going to come to Christ unless he is willing to come down. Humble himself and come down. That's just how it starts you know. If you're going to come to Christ you've got to be willing to humble yourself and come down.

Now I know the hyper-dispensationalist teaching that all a man has to do in this age is to get saved is to just "believe", I understand all that. Really I do. I understand all that quite well. I understand that you can't find the "prayer alter" in the scripture, I understand that you can't find the "pulpit" in the scripture, I understand that you can't find the "piano" in the scripture, and I understand that you can't find the "organ" in the scripture, and I understand you can't find the "Sunday school" in the scripture and I understand all that... but you can't find the "bathroom" in the scripture either as far as that goes. And you sure can't find an "automobile" scripture! I understand all that hyper-dispensationalist hair-splitting junk!

All that mess comes from the same place. All that hair-splitting junk comes from a person's heart not being right. Let me tell you something, if a person's heart is right though they'll come down; they'll come down, brother. They'll humble themselves and come down.  So, let me tell you this morning that the first thing God saves a man from is himself. You'll never get saved unless you first realize that you can't do it yourself; until you realize that your self-righteousness cannot save you. You've got to be willing to come down, brother! That's just what these men did here.

That was the first qualification. They had to be willing to come down. And if you're going to follow Christ that's the first thing you're going to have to do as well. You're going to have to come DOWN: surrender your self-righteousness, your self-will.

Rom 10:3-4. "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

The first thing God has to save you from is your sense of how wonderful you are, how you've never killed anybody, and how you've never done anything wrong. The average person today does not believe that there's anyone who's evil enough that God would have to send them to hell for all of eternity, let alone that He'd send them. Let me say again you'll not be able to follow Christ unless you're willing to come down like these men did.

2. Those That Were in Distress

The next kind of guy that came down there was a fella who the Bible says was in "distress". There were men here who had been persecuted and oppressed by Saul. You see, David was a long time in breaking away from Saul. There were many who were loyal to Saul but were finally forced to flee because their lives had become endangered, just as David's was. As a result many of those men fled and joined up with David.

Just as in David's day, many folks have felt the injustices of this world, it's unfairness. There are many today who are discouraged and downtrodden. There are many who are living in this present world who are hurt, heartbroken, and aren't even sure if there's anyone who can help.

Many today are trying to find a way out of their troubles and are appealing to all sorts of things in search of an apparent "remedy". Some turn to drugs, some turn to alcohol, some to immorality - all in search of comfort and solace from their problems. The truth is that today, just as they were in David's day, people are in distress. There is nothing new under the sun.

People battled discouragement, distress, and depression emotionally in David's day just as they do today. They suffered physically and spiritually just as we do today. Let me tell you why I find this encouraging and why you should too... The problems they faced were the same and I submit to you that so was the answer!

Do you know why Jesus came?? Do you?? Luke 19:10 sums it up perfectly "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost".

That's right He came not just to save those who were lost and undone in their sin and in the world - the Bible say He came seek THEM out! That's me right there. I don't know about you but He sought me out. When God got a hold of me I was headed as fast as I could away from Him. I was searching for satisfaction and solace in anything I could find. I was in discouraged, depressed, and as down as I could be, but the day I got DOWN on my knees waved the white flag "DISTRESS" the Lord looked down with love and grace and accepted me with open arms.

That's what these men did. They were in distress and they knew it - they went down to that cave and called out to the rejected King and he took them in. 

3. Those That Were Discontented

Then next king of fella David had down there with him was the guy who was Discontented. Let me start out by saying right now if you're content with the world, and all the things in it and all the things it has to offer you'll never get saved and you'll never do a thing for Christ. Do you know why you don't see many of the rich and famous people get saved?? Do you know why you don't see many of the big business "Wall Street" types get saved?? Do you know why you don't see many of the movie stars in Hollywood get saved?? Do you want to know why not many "wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called"?? Why all those people on the front of Life, Time, and People magazine and all that mess hardly ever get saved??

If you want to know why most of those people never get saved I can tell you why. It's because they're content with the things of this world! They're satisfied, brother! They've got all they need right here and if your content, and satisfied with the things of this world you're never gonna make it either.

These men weren't, these men weren't content at all. They weren't content with anything was going on in the world. They weren't content with anything the king of "their world" had to offer.

You take a guy like that says "I'm tired, I'm just fed up with this ole world, I'm tired of drinking, I'm tired of running around with women, I'm tired of living in filth, I'm tired of people, I'm tired of sports, I'm tired of all the sin...NONE of it satisfies me anymore!" You take a guy like that... He couldn't go to Saul.  That guy right there he comes to David and David says come on in.

Let me tell you that today there is one to whom you can go as well. He is The Lord Jesus Christ, the rejected King. He is fair than ten-thousand, and He says "come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest " Matt 11:28.

Just like the woman at the well He says I've got something to offer you. "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:7. "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" John 7:37.

You see, this world is a cheat. It claims to be able to satisfy but it never can.

Hey take it from me; I've been out there. I've tried everything this world has to offer. NONE of it satisfies! From drinking $300 a bottle Scotch to robbing drug dealers in foreign countries and getting high on their "products" all week! IT DOESN'T SATISFY!! From having the finest clothes money can but to flying in private Learjets to go on hunting trips. IT DOESN'T SATISFY!! I've been out there and I can tell you the ONLY feeling you get after waking up from a night/week/month or even a year (yes I've spent even over a year "sojourning" in the "far country") of fulfilling carnal desires is EMPTINESS! Hey, if this ole world can satisfy you then you're not like me, brother. You're not like me. I tried to find satisfaction and came up empty. Thank God for the day when I admitted to Christ that I was discontented and he received me with open arms and said "Come unto me"! If this world satisfies you then you'll probably never get it. You see these men here were discontented and the rejected King said you're in; if you're willing to come down here then you can come in!

"All my life long I had panted
 For a drink from some cool spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.
Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings;
Through His life I now am saved."

4. Those That Were in Debt

Alright now you have those that came down, and were in distress physically, emotionally and spiritually and you have those that were discontented with the world and the things in it - David said to both come on in. Now let's look at the next kind of person David had down there with him- those that were in debt.

Those that were in debt, you say? Who is that? That's the kind of fella that realizes that he owes God a debt he cannot pay.

"Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow"

If I wanted to find out today where you stood with Jesus Christ I wouldn't have to ask you too many questions. All I'd have to ask is "Do you realize sitting here today that you owe Jesus Christ a debt that you cannot pay?"

That's really what it boils down to. If somebody were to say "No, as a matter of fact I didn't realize that" they'd be outside the camp. Anybody with any sense would know that they were in debt.

Rom. 3:23 "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"

Rom. 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

You say well I'm going to change that, I'll leave here today and not sin anymore. Okay… I doubt you can but even if you could what about the debt you already owe? That's like you loaning someone $100 and then they come to you the next week and ask for another $100. You ask them what about the $100 I gave you last week? They say don't worry about that I'll pay it back. You say okay and give them the money. Then you don't hear from them for a year and run into them on the street. You say "Hey! Where's my $200"? They say oh… I made a resolution and I'm all set, I'm on the straight and narrow now. My resolution is that I'm not going to ask to borrow money from you ever again.... (Huh???) Well that's great! But they still owe you $200?

Every person here today owes God a debt that they cannot pay. The only way to settle that debt is to go down to him and ask him to forgive it and let me tell you about the authority of the Word of God that He will! "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom 5:8 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

That's with these men did. They were debtors and they knew it! They went down to the rejected King and presented themselves as such. Let me say today that's still all that's necessary. Unless you realize you are a debtor and that you owe Jesus Christ a debt that you CANNOT pay, you'll never come down to Christ. You'll never get it.

That's when I did.  One day I realized I owed God a debt that I could not pay and I went down to the rejected King. I came down by faith and through his grace he restored me and made me whole! He offers the same to all if you'll just come down to Him and receive Him by faith.

May I ask you today have you done that? Have you?

May I ask you, are you in Distress today?? Is there something that is weighing on your heart so heavy that you think you're about to collapse, that you don't know how much longer you can take it?? Would you be willing to take that burden to Christ and let Him bare it with you?

May I ask you if you're Discontented today?? Are you Discontented with the world, with the hand it's dealt you? Are you Discontented with the failure of sin to satisfy? Are you searching for something that will TRULY satisfy the longings of your heart and soul? May I recommend the Lord Jesus Christ to you? Would you be willing to take and drink of the "Living Water" that He offers?

May I ask you today if there is a Debt you feel you owe someone? Our sins separate us from God, but Christ has made a way to restore our account with Him. Would you be willing to accept the payment Jesus has already made? It's there. It's available. All you must do is accept it.

If you'd like to do that may I recommend that you call out to Jesus and tell him: "Lord, I know I'm a sinner. I know that because of my sins I owe a debt I cannot pay. I know that sin, and the things of this world can never satisfy like you can. I need you. I'm asking you now, Lord, ask best as I know how to come into my heart and be my Savior. Please come into my heart and help me to follow you as I ought to. Please guide me, lead me, and help me to live the victorious Christian life in Your will."

If you'll pray that or something similar to it, by the authority of the Word of God, Christ promises He will do just that.

If there is anything I can do for you please don't hesitate to contact me at jgpickens@victoryforChrist.com. Even if it's just to pray for you, I'd be happy to help. God bless!