Every Crutch Removed

In this poignant message covering 1 Samuel 18–21, Chuck Swindoll explores one of the most bewildering seasons of David’s life. Following his public triumph over Goliath, David does not step immediately into glory but instead enters a period where “the bottom drops out” and God systematically removes every earthly source of security he has. Swindoll argues that God often strips away our “crutches”—people, positions, or things we lean on—so that we learn to lean entirely on Him.

The sermon traces David’s losses in five painful stages. First, he loses his position in the army as Saul’s jealousy turns violent. Second, he loses the support of his wife, Michal, who helps him escape but is left behind in a web of deception. Third, he is separated from his mentor, the prophet Samuel. Fourth, he is forced to part ways with his best friend, Jonathan. Finally, David loses his own self-respect in Gath, where he is reduced to feigning madness to survive.

Swindoll integrates powerful insights from A.W. Tozer and Martin Luther to illustrate that while the process of being stripped is agonizing—like extracting a tooth—it is necessary. We cannot fully possess God until our hands are emptied of our toys and substitutes. The message concludes with a call to trust God as the only “bullwark never failing,” encouraging believers that there is nothing wrong with leaning, provided we are leaning on the Lord.

Message Key Facts:

• The Three Characteristics of Crutches: Swindoll identifies three dangers of relying on earthly supports:
  1. They become substitutes for the Lord: We lean on them instead of the “Everlasting Arms” (Deut. 33:27.
  2. They keep our focus horizontal: We look around at people and bank accounts rather than looking up.
  3. They offer only temporary relief: Like a pill, they may tranquilize the storm, but they cannot provide permanent stability.
• The Five Crutches Removed from David:
  1. His Position: David went from a high-ranking commander to a fugitive when Saul threw a spear at him.
  2. His Wife: David had to leave Michal behind; Swindoll notes she eventually became a “snare” to him.
  3. His Mentor: David fled to Samuel at Naioth, but had to leave again when Saul pursued him.
  4. His Friend: David and Jonathan were forced to say a final, emotional goodbye, separating for safety.
  5. His Self-Respect: In a moment of total desperation, David acted insane—scratching gates and drooling—to survive in Gath, the hometown of Goliath.
• Saul as a “Civil War”: Swindoll describes King Saul not just as a villain, but as a man who became a “living Civil War,” torn apart by jealousy, suspicion, and an evil spirit.
• A Mighty Fortress: Swindoll shares the story of Martin Luther, who, while hidden away in a secure fortress, felt “everything is lost.” It was only when he left that security and returned to the danger of the real world that he penned the hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, realizing God was his true support.
• The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing: The sermon relies heavily on A.W. Tozer’s concept that things must be “torn from our hearts” like a root from the soil so that God can enter and dwell there without a rival.
• “Step Between Me and Death”: Swindoll highlights David’s confession to Jonathan that there was “hardly a step between me and death,” illustrating the extreme fragility of life when supports are removed.

Message References:

• 1 Samuel 18–21: The primary narrative covering David’s flight from Saul and the loss of his supports.
• Deuteronomy 33:27: “The Eternal God is a Dwelling Place… and underneath are the Everlasting Arms” (Identified as the only acceptable “crutch”).
• Isaiah 41:10: “I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.”
• 1 Samuel 20:3: David’s desperate admission: “Truly as the Lord lives… there is hardly a step between me and death.”
• 1 Samuel 21:13: David’s humiliation: “He disguised his sanity before them… and let his saliva run down into his beard.”
• 1 Samuel 19:10: The moment of crisis: “Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear.”

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll