David - Intro
THE LIFE OF DAVID
David, a man used so greatly by God, a man servicing God's purpose with all his being, in spite of his weaknesses and failures, a man after God's own heart.
By the grace of God, and his empowerment, David loyally served God's purpose in his own generation and by study of how he used his life for the Lord, we can better understand how we may better serve in our generation.
We are living in a time of near instant everything. Emails and instant messages along with texts in place of talking fly around the world at almost light speed. Every hour must be filled with some necessary task and monthly calendars are filled before the month begins.
But God's word tells us that this state of things will not last forever. The last chapter in the Bible is the 22nd chapter of Revelation. We see in that conclusion of all things that in the end there will only exist three things, God, Heaven & Earth united in the New Jerusalem, and the servants of the Lord, who will be in eternal service and worship. Scripture promises only these things at the end of all things.
All that lasts in the universe apart from God and His new creation will be those who have disciplined themselves to serve the Lord, in mortal life and therefore in eternity. Because of this promise we should be willing to think about who these servants of God are and how they serve.
Until very modern days in which biographies are printed for us in book form, the single greatest source of information about how lives were lived was from the Bible and its teachings.
The Bible brings us almost 3,000 characters in it's 66 sacred books. Most of these people are mentioned and not mentioned again. Some are mentioned only slightly more than others. A few are brought to us in more than just a few words to indicate how important their lives are in God's eyes for our teaching.
Of the many people brought out by scripture, one man was chosen by God to be set forth with more importance in the Bible than any other, except Jesus himself. That man was David.
In the King James Bible David is mentioned 1085 times. He appears in 141 chapters. The power of these statistics should awaken us quickly to just how important God considers David to be for His children to study and understand.
God himself, through the lips of Paul in Acts 13, provided His own testimony to the life of David:
“And when He had removed him (King Saul) He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.”
What does someone look like who is “after God's own heart”? Such a man is a servant in harmony with God, waiting to obey all that God reveals. That man will look like David, who was the Lord's servant all his days. David was God's man, willing to serve Him, and willing to assure that all praise and glory flowed only to God. His heart was after God and for God.
1st Kings 15:5:
“Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite”.
David is the Lord's primary example in the entire Old Testament of the faithful life devoted in service to the Lord, seeking first His righteousness, and when coming short of that goal, surrendering in full confession and true repentance.
While imperfect in some things, David sought the righteousness of God, and dedicated his life to the Lord's will and service. This is how he came to be “a man after god's own heart”.
What made David, God's servant, such an example for us?
David's life was on God's mind.
He was not the oldest of the brothers of his family. He was not the largest, nor the strongest. When God's prophet Samuel arrived to anoint a king, Samuel said to Jesse”
“... Are here all thy children? And he said there remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, send and fetch him: for we will not sit down until he come hither”. (1 Samuel 16:11)
God's choice of David, over all of his older brothers, is a picture of the special type of grace in which the older will serve the younger, seen in Abel, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
David's life was disciplined.
God uses hard working and disciplined people. When Samuel sent for him, he was exactly where he was supposed to be, watching the flock. Even after he became famous for killing Goliath, David often returned back home to tend the flock. Sheep are helpless, dirty, and fairly dumb, needing a watcher who would be steadfast in his purpose to protect them. He was trained in this solitude and by the quiet reality of this life. God saw this integrity and loyalty and chose David, a man who was trustworthy and could be counted upon.
David's life was empowered by the Lord.
Just as He does for every believer, the Spirit of God came upon David.
(1st Samuel 16:13)
“Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.”
All power rests in and comes from above.
David's life was an example of godliness to others.
One of Saul's servants told the king, “Behold I have seen a son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him”. (1st Samuel 16:18)
Others were watching the life of David, just as there are some that watch our lives. What are they seeing?
David's life displayed true humility.
He never sought the spotlight. He had a job to do and he simply did it. He was consistent, faithful, dependable, and humble, never minding who got the credit.
After he was anointed all he did was to return to his duties in the fields tending the sheep. He did whatever was necessary. He tended sheep. He answered the call of Saul and came to play the harp. He carried food to the battlefield for his brothers. He became a soldier to fight for Israel and he served as an advisor to Saul in his cabinet. He sought no personal praise. He did whatever he was called to do.
David's life ministered to others.
He played his harp for Saul when the dark moods overcame the king and Saul would become refreshed and well (1st Samuel 16:23).
God wishes us to comfort others. He wants us to be the salt of life, adding flavor and to be a light to others, pointing others to Christ. Even after he became king, David was still willing to help others who needed help and comfort.
David honored God with his work and habits.
When one lamb seemed to be lost to a lion from the flock, David took it from the lion's mouth and killed the lion. He did the same with a bear. (1st Samuel 17:34-25). He risked his own life for one lost sheep. Such attention to even one lamb was remarkable, and Jesus even said in Luke 16:10 that one who is faithful in what is least will be faithful in much.
David's habits were disciplined and consistent, habits seen by and used by God in those He chooses.
David honored God with his life.
When David brought the food to his brothers at the battlefield, he saw how intimidated the army was by Goliath. He said to those close to him:
“... For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1st Samuel 17:26)
David's older brother was angry at these words. He felt David only wanted to see the battle. But David was not deterred and he knew that the Lord's honor was at stake and he was willing to risk his own life to uphold it.
David honored God's name with his mouth.
Today to even speak publicly of God in our world is frowned upon. His truth is minimized, His word is neglected, His people are ignored. All efforts are on removing Him from every public place and every public discourse. Who is standing for the Lord today?
David stood for the Lord in his day. He said to Goliath:
“... in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied... this day the Lord will deliver you into my hand... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel”.
David was loyal to the Lord's name. The Lord was loyal to David, giving him the victory.
David dedicated his treasures and trophies to the Lord.
David took the head of Goliath to Jerusalem. We saw later that he had dedicated the sword of Goliath to the Lord as it was wrapped in a cloth behind the altar of the Lord when David needed it while he fled from Saul.
1st Chronicles 18 teaches that he took the spoils of war, gold & silver from the defeated nations to Jerusalem to be dedicated to God. God gave much to David and David gave much back to God.
1st Chronicles 29:3 teaches:
“... because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house.”
David was God's example of how someone who is “after God's heart” lives.
We, like David, should seek to be a servant in harmony with the Lord. Just as He did in the life of David, God wants to use our lives to honor him, to praise Him, and to do His will while we are here and can serve him.
David was “GOD-HEARTED”. He had a heart to serve God's purpose for his life.
Is that our desire? Is our heart for God? Does He have our whole heart?
There is no limit to what God will do with a life and heart that gives back to him, serves him, and wishes only to uphold His purpose, not our own.