"IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?"

1 SAMUEL 17:2

A. WHEN GREAT JUDGMENTS HAPPEN, THERE MUST BE GREAT GUILT. WHEN A NATION, CITY, OR FAMILY IS BROUGHT INTO DANGER, IT IS WISE TO INQUIRE INTO THE CAUSE
  1. David, doubtless, under divine inspiration, came to visit his brethren on the battlefield:
    1. He saw how the hearts of the soldiers of Israel fainted in the face of Goliath, the challenger.
    2. David thought of the situation as a reproach to all of Israel.
  2. He offered to meet the challenger -- this to the dismay and displeasure of his brethren:
    1. It was in answer to the belittling by his brothers that he asked the question of our text. "Is there not a cause?"
B. OUR TEXT RAISES A THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTION - "IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?"
  1. The army of Israel was in total dismay at a time when courage and daring should have been one of the evidences of their strength:
    1. Their leader, the king, had been rejected by the Lord - 1 Sam. 15:28
    2. The morale of the army was very poor; it was unprepared to meet the challenger - 1 Sam. 17:11
  2. It was at this time that God made David the man of the hour:
    1. To save the honor of God and Israel.
    2. His concept of offering his service to his nation in the hour of crises was far more inclusive than his brethren comprehended.
  3. Is there not a cause?
    1. Achan's sin affected a whole nation -
      1. The Lord refused to join Israel in battle against their enemies because there was a curse in the midst of the camp of Israel - Josh. 7:1-26
      2. The whole family of Achan was affected by his sin.
    2. That was true in the experience of David and the children of Israel - 2 Sam. 24:1-14
    3. That was true in the experience of Jonah and the mariners connected with the ship he attempted to flee in - Jonah 1:4-15
    4. That shows that we are responsible, at all times, for the fate of others.
C. OUR OPENING TEXT IS A PENETRATING AND HEART SEARCHING QUESTION
  1. Why are things with us as they are?
    1. Are they an accident over which we have no control?
    2. Or is there a cause or reason for it all?
  2. Let us take a brief look into the experience of nations and individuals:
    1. Ancient Israel went into captivity, had its cities laid in ruin, its youth destroyed. Why? Was there a cause for it?
    2. The answer is yes; there was a cause -- sin, rebellion against God, idolatry; there was no other choice for God, but to cast them off.
  3. Let us consider, briefly, some individuals:
    1. Two brothers in the family; of them God said, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" - Rom. 9:13
    2. Was there a cause for making such a great difference between two brothers? Yes, there was! Esau was an infidel, and Jacob loved the Lord.
    3. Cain and Abel; two brothers in the same family, both religiously minded, yet, God accepted the sacrifice of Abel, and rejected the offering of Cain - Gen. 4:1-9
    4. Was there a cause? Yes, indeed, sin in the heart of Cain was the cause.
  4. Our God is reasonable:
    1. He invites men to come and reason together with Him - Isa. 1:16-19
    2. When we get into difficulties or into tight places, let us ask ourselves the question of our text - "Is there not a reason or cause for my present situation?"
    3. If our bodies break down before we feel it is time, can there be a cause for that? The answer must be yes, there is a cause; sin against our body is the reason.
    4. We must ever remember that the Bible says, "whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap" - Gal. 6:7, 8
    5. Life is not a chance, not an accident; if things happen there must be a reason, a cause for it all.


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