1 Samuel 23:15-29 – Strengthened in the Wilderness

Jon Beck

These are my sermon notes for Sunday morning, May 17. They’re not a full manuscript—just a listening guide to help our Tabernacle Church family to follow along. I encourage you to add your own notes as you listen each week. The service will be available on YouTube by Sunday afternoon. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, our Prayer List, and more on our church website.

1 Samuel 23:15–29

Intro

  • David has obeyed the Lord, but the pressure has not disappeared.
  • Saul is still pursuing him. David is still in the wilderness.
  • Betrayal is increasing, fear is rising, and isolation is growing. Yet God is still sustaining His servant.
  • The Christian life is not simply about starting faithfully. It is about remaining steady under pressure.

Strengthen Yourself in the Lord – vv. 15-18

  • David is in the wilderness, but he is not outside God’s care.
  • Jonathan comes to David and strengthens him in God by reminding him of God’s promise.
  • Saul is not sovereign. God is. God’s Word is greater than present danger.
  • Strengthen yourself with what God has already said. Stay in the Word and surround yourself with people who point you back to the Lord.

Strengthening Yourself in the Lord Today

1. Strengthened by God’s Word

  • Jonathan reminded David of what God had promised.
  • Today, we strengthen ourselves through Scripture.
  • Read it. Write it down. Meditate on it. Preach it to yourself.
  • Romans 15:4; Psalm 119:105; Joshua 1:8

2. Strengthened by Godly People

  • David needed Jonathan.
  • We need people who speak truth and point us back to God.
  • We also need to be that kind of friend to others.
  • Hebrews 3:13; Proverbs 27:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:11

3. Strengthened by Christ’s Presence

  • Jonathan could only stay for a moment.
  • Christ is with us always, in us by His Spirit, and interceding for us.
  • He never leaves or forsakes His people.
  • Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5; Romans 8:34; Colossians 1:27

Trust God’s Sovereign Hand – vv. 19-28

  • The Ziphites betray David to Saul, and Saul uses spiritual language while resisting God’s will.
  • David is pushed deeper into the wilderness, yet God’s hand is still ruling over every detail.
  • God preserves David through ordinary circumstances when Saul is called away by the Philistine raid.
  • Trust God’s sovereign hand when people disappoint you, circumstances tighten, and the way forward feels unclear.

Keep Moving Forward by Faith – v. 29

  • David is preserved by the providence of God.
  • The wilderness journey continues, but David keeps going.
  • God’s will will be done. His hand will guide. His people can keep pressing on in faith.
  • Keep walking by faith. Keep obeying. Keep pressing on.

The What Now

  • Do not drift from the Lord when pressure mounts.
  • Strengthen yourself with what God has already said.
  • Trust His sovereign hand when people disappoint you and circumstances tighten.
  • Keep walking by faith, even when the wilderness continues.
  • God may not remove the pressure right away, but He will sustain His people.

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