This Sunday we had the privilege of having Rev. Burress McCombe, Associate pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, preach from Psalm 19.

That is the shocking, countercultural reality of the gospel: where the world expects defeat, the gospel often advances in greater power. Where the world sees rivalry as a threat, Paul sees Christ being lifted up. The very circumstances that should have crushed his spirit instead became reasons for his joy, because his ultimate concern was not his reputation, not his comfort, not even his freedom—it was the exaltation of Jesus’ name.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians overflows with joy, encouragement, unity, and generosity – those are the sorts of themes you wouldn’t expect from someone behind bars. Which is exactly why Philippians is so powerful! It shows us that true joy isn’t rooted in circumstances, but in Christ Himself.

The family is not a hindrance but a blessing. God’s design for marriage and children is not merely good for society—though it certainly is—it is first and foremost good for you. Psalm 128 paints a picture of the flourishing life under God’s blessing, and at the heart of that picture is the family.

So while our culture increasingly devalues or distorts the family, Psalm 128 calls us to celebrate it. God’s design is not a chain holding us back, but a gift that leads to joy, fruitfulness, and peace.

It doesn’t matter if you ignore, dismiss, or resist God’s Word, because His Word will stand no matter what. As Rick Phillips said, “Sadly, Saul’s life was a bitter record of God’s way forsaken and God’s pardon forfeited by his refusal to repent.” If you’re taking notes this morning, we’ll be looking at our passage in three parts: first we see that God’s Word is unshakable, second, rejecting God’s Word brings shame, and yet, as we’ll see, God’s plan will prevail.

The reality is, to varying degrees, we’ve all seen and experienced bad situations only to get worse.

Which is exactly what happened to David in 1 Samuel 30. Since learning about Saul’s jealousy of David in 1 Samuel 18, David has had a streak of tough situations, and here, we read of a situation that has gone from bad to worse.

Are we faithfully and uncompromisingly marching with the Lord or have we drifted towards making an alliance with the very people who oppose Him?

Often when people are desperate, hard-pressed, and searching for answers, they will turn to the mystical, the dark, or anything that offers even a glimmer of control or comfort—no matter how dangerous or deceptive it may be. In their hunger for direction or relief, people will grasp at horoscopes, psychics, tarot cards, spiritualism, or ideologies that promise peace but ultimately lead them further from truth.

Doesn’t that describe Saul? He's a man desperate for answers, who turned to a medium, or as the woman has been popularly referred to, a witch, for answers, making it one of the most unusual stories in the entire Bible.

David's story reminds us that peace that costs you your Christian integrity is no peace at all. In fact, moral compromise in order to maintain the peace always comes at a cost. David compromised in three key ways: first he neglected worship (vv. 1-4), second he trusted in practical solutions (vv. 5-7), and ultimately, he suffered the costly consequences of both (vv. 8-28:2).

What on earth could God be teaching David by forcing him, on three separate occasions, to flee Saul? What exactly is the point? I think the lesson is actually a very simple one: God was preparing David to be king in Israel, but he wasn’t preparing him the way you and I would expect. God had promised David that he would one day be King, and yet, Saul still sits on the throne.

The Lord was preparing David for the throne in the wilderness, where his life was in constant tension between promise and fulfillment. But it’s in that tension, in that season of wilderness waiting that David’s faith and dependence upon the Lord was ultimately tested.

This Sunday we had the privilege of having Rev. John Carroll preach from Psalm 1.

The church—God’s family, His people—can sometimes become a hotbed of conflict. And I hate to say it, but sometimes we Presbyterians can be the worst offenders. Don’t believe me? Come to a presbytery meeting sometime.

So much of the ministry of the church is about pursuing peace and reconciliation in the midst of conflict. 

Ordaining ruling elders is the most important transition in the life of a church plant. Yet, many church planters have an unrealistic vision for the officer training process.

This Sunday we had the privilege of having Rev. Aaron Roberts from Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, VA preach from Matthew 5:13-16.

In a culture that celebrates retaliation, that says, “Don’t get mad—get even,” 1 Samuel 24 gives us a radically different picture. It shows us that mercy is not weakness, and that true strength is found in relying on God’s justice and timing more than our own instincts.

If someone was to ask you, how does God preserve his people? What would you say? What does God use in order to keep folks close to him even through the darkest times?

If you’re like me, your first thoughts are probably things like Bible studies, prayer, church attendance. I think God does use all of those things, but he’s certainly not limited by them.

There are probably a lot of ways to answer that question. I don’t necessarily think there is only one answer. I think God uses a whole host of different things to keep and preserve his people.

What about faithful friends? Would that be one of the first things that come to mind?

Isn’t that exactly what we just read about in our passage? As David sat, wallowing in his despair, God sent him a faithful friend to encourage him (vv. 15-16), remind him of God’s promises (vv. 17-18), and which gave him the strength to carry on (vv. 19-29).

The problem with this opinion-saturated world isn’t just noise—it’s confusion. In times of crisis, when we actually need clarity, the sheer volume of voices can become overwhelming. Where do you turn when you’re hurting? Who do you trust when life starts to unravel?

In 1 Samuel 23, David is facing a real crisis. He’s on the run, hunted by a paranoid king, trying to do what’s right but with no easy answers. And it’s in this wilderness moment—surrounded by uncertainty—that we see what true wisdom looks like: not following every voice, but seeking the voice that matters most.

At some point, I’m sure you have looked out at the world and thought that injustice, wickedness, and evil will prevail over what is good, and it’s in those moments we ask ourselves, where is God?  

But the truth is, God is not indifferent, distant, or passive about the injustice and evil that takes place in this world. God’s justice may not be immediate, but it is inevitable. He will work out all things for his glory and our good.

When we’re desperate, we don’t just need answers—we need peace, safety, and security. In a word, we need refuge. We need God to meet us in the fog, to slow us down, and to remind us that His truth still holds, even when we can’t see clearly.

Our passage reminds us of three things this morning: first, the world often promises false refuge (vv. 10-15), but it’s the Lord who provides true refuge (vv. 22:1-2), and it’s his truth that will guide our path (vv. 3-5).

The prominent English Puritan and theologian, Thomas Watson, wrote in his work, A Body of Divinity,

“When the prodigal son came home the father was glad, and made a feast to express his joy; so, God rejoices when a poor sinner comes in, and lays hold of his mercy. What an encouragement to believe in God! He is a God of pardons. Mercy pleases him.”

And just as the Lord mercifully provided for David, He mercifully provides for you and me.