“Right & Wrong” 

Pastor David Moore 

Old Testament reading: 1 Samuel 24:1-22

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” So Saul took
three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the
Wild Goats. He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself.
David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said
to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” 

Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward, David was conscience-stricken
for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my
master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” With these words David
sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way. 

Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him,
David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, “Why do you listen
when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord
delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my
hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand!
I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am
guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 

May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but
my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch
you. “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the Lord
be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by
delivering me from your hand.” 

When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. “You are
more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told
me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.” So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. 

If God does not exist, then there are no underlying values to the world. ~D. Moore 

New Testament reading: Matthew 5:20-26

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, you
will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to the people long ago,
‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry
with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ is answerable to the
Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something
against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come
and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are
still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the
officer, and you may be thrown in prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last
penny. 

Theme: Today, the topic is about the brokenness of man and the only way a person can change is through the power of Christ dwelling in believers. Christ dwelling in a Christian will restore relationships to a healthy state. 

The Pharisees were very zealous, possibly courageous, very obedient, but they weren’t very (a)_____________. 

They weren’t (b)_____________ or (c)_____________ or (d)_____________. 

“If you belong to my (e)_____________, then God begins to work a (f)_____________ in you, a quality of character
in you through the Spirit that changes every part of your life.” 

Jesus’ Kingdom, he says, can bring about a (g)_____________ that transforms (h)____________. 

Lovelessness (is murder). 

“Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Galatians 3:11 

So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something
against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then
come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24 

The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart. ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 

This week:
Think about the concept lovelessness (is murder).
Ask Christ to cleanse your heart and apply grace and forgiveness in your relationships—as Christ has freely given us grace and forgiveness in our (heart) lives. 

Have a good week, God bless. 

Answers: (a) humble (b) sensitive (c) compassionate (d) welcoming
(e) Kingdom (f) righteousness (g) righteousness (h) relationships