Back To Life, Back To Reality Series

Introduction:

A. The story is told of three men who began talking one day about their wives.

1. The first man said, “When we got married, I told my wife in no uncertain terms that from now on she would have to do all the cooking. Well, the first day after I told her, I saw nothing. The second day I saw nothing. But on the third day when I came home from work, the table was set, a wonderful dinner was prepared...and there was even dessert.”

2. The second man spoke up, “I sat my wife down and told her that from now on she would have to do all the shopping, and also do all the cleaning. The first day I saw nothing. The second day I saw nothing. But on the third day when I came home, the whole house was spotless, and in the pantry the shelves were filled with groceries.”

3. The third man sat up straight, pushed out his chest and said: “I gave my wife a stern look and told her that from now on she would have to do all the cooking, shopping and housecleaning. Well the first day I saw nothing. The second day I still saw nothing. But on the third day I could see a little bit out of my left eye.”

4. That’s how life is sometimes – it hits us right between the eyes, and we come crashing back to reality.

B. I’ve borrowed the title for today’s sermon from a catchy, funky song from the 1990’s recorded by En Vogue.

1. It’s a phrase we often sing, in our family, when we want to express the experience of getting back to reality.

2. That’s something that David surely experienced in the aftermath of killing Goliath the giant.

3. We might say that the toughest trials come just after the victory.

4. That’s certainly a time when we are often most vulnerable to temptation, and to discouragement – at least that’s been my experience.

5. Following David’s victory over Goliath, David stepped into an arena which was almost more than he could take.

C. How gracious of God to give both us and David only one day at a time.

1. I’m convinced that one of the best things that God does for us is to keep us from knowing what will happen beyond today.

2. We are to take life one day at a time – that’s the way God dispenses life, right?

3. I wonder how many people think that a few days after David killed the giant, he took the throne.

4. Well, in case you were one who thought that, you need to know it didn’t happen that way.

5. As a matter of fact, the aftermath of the giant-slaying led David into one of the deepest, longest, and darkest valleys of his entire life – David was 30 yrs old when he became king, so that was 10 to 15 years later.

6. This young man who had proved himself faithful among the sheep and on the battlefield went from the highest pinnacle of success and popularity, to the lowest point of despair as he became a fugitive on the run from a demented king.

D. I’m getting a little ahead of myself, let’s review last week’s lesson for just a minute.

1. Last week we witnessed the young David, not yet 20 years old, a man who had never worn a uniform in the army of Israel, who had never once run into the battlefield or had never carried a sword, ran out onto the battlefield, faced a giant almost 10 feet tall, and overcame him with one throw of a sling.

2. As a result, David gained instant prominence and popularity. He became a national hero.

3. The people began to sing his praises, and Saul made good on his promise to enrich the man who killed Goliath.

4. David became a permanent member of the king’s court.

5. All of this happened overnight – very few people could take all that in stride, but David did.

6. David really did have the right kind of heart. – humble, and faithful.

E. At this point, as David’s life unfolds, four different relationships become very significant.

1. God’s hand was on David, for sure.

2. Ultimately, God was going to use him as the greatest king in the history of Israel, but in order to do that, God had to shape him and sharpen him.

3. David was about to enter the crucible of pain and suffering – which is usually the best training ground for spiritual growth and preparation for leadership.

4. Let’s look at each of these significant relationships that developed in David’s life, and see what lessons the Lord would have us learn from them.