9. BACK WHERE HE BELONGED

9. BACK WHERE HE BELONGED

2 Samuel 21:15-22

David is taken out of the battle, and others, are brought forward to fight his battles for him.

PART 1: CONTRIBUTORS TO EXHAUSTION

Exhaustion often comes when…

1. We’ve been fighting the same enemy for too long. The strength drained from David when he had to face that old enemy one more time. We battle exhaustion (Psalm 55:48).

1 Kings 19:1-4 – with all of the success God had given him, and been faithful to him; yet, one little woman threatened Elijah’s life. After all he had seen God do; he was overcome with fear and became exhausted.

2. Our physical needs are left unmet. Our physical needs have a lot to do with vitality verses exhaustion – taking care of the bodies that God has given us (2 Samuel 17:27-29).

1 Kings 19:3-9 – Elijah was absolutely overwhelmed. He said “I just want to sit here and die.” This is a biblical example of severe depression. The angel came to feed him, because his physical needs were unmet.

In Exodus 16 God gave Israel manna to eat. He has made physical provision for us as well. God had promised to provide for all of our physical needs to be met; but our hands have to reach out and gather them up.

3. I feel as if I am the “only one” (Psalm 12:1-3). We can see David’s exhaustion in this psalm – he felt as if he was the “only one.”

1 Kings 19:9-10 – in theses verses Elijah is saying that he is the “only one” and that is overwhelming for a person. We have to get down on our knees and say “Lord, give me the strength that I need, for I am weary.” Everything does not rest upon our shoulders.

4. God desires to change our roles. We can grow weary because God wants to end that particular responsibility and move us somewhere else. We have to be open to that. When it is continued weariness, we need to step back and ask God “Do you want a change here?”

2 Samuel 21:15, 17b – God chose to take David from the battlefield, and put him back in the palace, back on his throne, where he would do business there. He tells him that through his exhaustion.

Another reason that he let David sit out is so that other hero’s could arise, and be successful and victorious.

2 Kings 2:7-15 – the double-portion was the portion of the firstborn. Elisha was looking for the blessing of the one whom he had served. The responsibilities had changed. God told Elijah “I am going to bring someone to assist you.”

This is the only time in Scripture where we get to see a description of an actual rapture – the “catching away.” In 1 Thessalonians 4:16, the words “with a shout” are “the charioteer inside his horses.” I have a feeling that we are going home riding in chariots of fire, just like Elijah!

PART 2: COMBATING EXHAUSTION

1. Be sure to recognize and respond to the need to retreat (Mark 6:30-32). A “solitary place” means to come away and retreat; do absolutely nothing but just joy and bask in His presence. Just retreat. Christ will tell you to take some time off every now and then, and steal away some moments with the Savior.