Finding Water In The Desert

Finding Water In The Desert
Psa 63:1-11, 2 Sam 15:13-30, 16:1-2

Joke:
It seems there was a certain man stranded and lost in the desert of Death Valley. He was crawling across the burning sand, dying of thirst, when he happened upon a necktie salesman. “Can I interest you, sir, in a nice, new, hand-dyed silk necktie?” the salesman queried. “Have you lost your mind?” the man gasped. “I am dying of thirst and you want to sell me a necktie?!” The salesman shrugged his shoulders and went on his way, while thirsty man resumed his crawling. Finally, after hours of crawling in the desert sand the man came upon an unbelievable sight. There, in the middle of the desert, was a huge restaurant with flashing neon lights and a parking lot filled with cars. The desperate man mustered the energy and crawled to the restaurant’s front door. He whispered to the restaurant’s doorman, “Please, help me in. I am dying of thirst and must have something to drink.” The doorman replied with a disapproving frown, “I am sorry, sir, gentlemen are not admitted to this restaurant without a necktie.”

Tonight I want to preach on "Finding Water In The Desert" David knew what it was like to be in the desert, and to be thirsty. Yet, it was not water, or drink that he most longed for, but it was a thirst that only God could quench. In the story tonight from 2 Sam 15, and 16 we see the desert that David finds himself in. It was a desert that was physical, emotional, and mental in nature. There cannot be much more horrible than having your own flesh, and blood stab you in the back, and that is what David is experiencing

I. The Place He Is Situated ! V.1

a. It was a place of desertion.
David had great affection for his son Absalom, but theirs had been a off and on relationship.
During this time Absalom had rebelled against his father, and proclaimed himself as king ! He gathers a rather large following. And out of fear for his life, David has to abandoned the throne, and leave Jerusalem. Deserted by his son, he wanders into the wilderness ! Have you ever been in a place of desertion. You sense that your friends have forgotten you.........that even your family has abandoned you...........you feel that even your faith has failed you !

b. It was a place of destitution.
David has to get out of town. The coup is orchestrated by his own son. Though he is still the King. He is momentarily a King without a throne. As he descends down through the valley, he is cursed, called names, and has stones thrown at him ! It is a place far removed from a throne !

c. It was a place of desolation.
Barren, dry, without water. It seemed like a God-forsaken place !

*Notice David’s response in this land ! How do we respond when we come to such places in our lives ?

II. The Presence He Is Seeking.

a. The Earliness of His Seeking.
We need to seek God early !

1. We Need To Seek Him Early In Our Development.
Ecc. 12.........Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth. It is so vital that we reach and teach young people in the early days of Development.
Notice the words of the Psalmist in Psa 90:14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
If we want his mercy early, and be glad all of our days, then we must seek him early !

2. We Need To Seek Him Early In The Desert.
Sadly, many times we try to