David, Part 1 Series

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS SERIES

5 – DAVID, PART 1

This morning, we’re continuing our sermon series on the subject of “Close Encounters”

And we’ve been talking about how that each of us, can have CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD

And lest you think that you’re…

--not holy enough

--too sinful

--not worthy

What we’ve been learning over the last few weeks is that those in the Bible who had the CLOSEST ENCOUNTERS with God, were people like you and me

People who…

--failed

--sinned

--were flawed

And this morning, we’re going to be talking about another one who fits that category, and his name is David

Now, already, we’ve looked at…

--Adam

--Abraham

--Joseph

--Moses

Next week, for Mother’s Day, we’ll be talking about the unnamed woman with the issue of blood

But this morning, we begin a 2-part look at the life and close encounters of David

David…

--that sweet psalmist of Israel

--that giant killer

--that one who danced before the Lord with all His might

--that who served his generation in the will of God

There’s no doubt, but that this man had CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God

And today, we will be looking at Part 1 – David’s life up through his sin with Bathsheba, and then two Sundays from today, David’s life after his sin with Bathsheba

Let’s read…

Psalms 78:70-72 ( KJV ) 70He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: 71From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. 72So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

INTRODUCTION

Epitaphs – we know what they are – the things that will be put on your grave

I like this one

Behold and see as you pass by

For as you are, so once was I

As I am now, so will you be

Prepare unto death and follow me

And someone came by and added these words underneath…

To follow you, I am not content

Until I know for sure, which way you went!

Max Lucado, writes of one far more sad…It was found on the grave of Grace Llewellen Smith, Sleeps but rests not, Loved, but was loved not, Tried to please, but pleased not, Died as she lived – alone

Epitaphs can say a lot about a person

And as we think about the life of the great King David, if his grave marker could be found today, no doubt would these words be etched out – HERE LIES KING DAVID – A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART!

Because of all the things we could say about David…

--he was a poet

--he was a singer

--he was a musician

--he was an author

--he was a lover

--he was a king

--he was a failure

--he was a leader

But of all the things we could say about him, this fits him best – A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

For this is what God called him, TWICE!

And without question, David is a MAJOR PLAYER in the Word of God, for no one person has so much influence in all the Bible

Charles Swindoll points out that…

“So powerful was David that 62 chapters of the old Testament are devoted to his biography, and no less than 59 references in the New Testament call people’s attention to this man – more, by far, than any other biblical character.”

Jerry Vynes points out that David’s name appears in the first chapter in the New Testament, and it appears in the last chapter of the New Testament

And really, when you think about it, there’s not any…

--serious student of the Bible

--person who really wanted to know how to be used by the Lord and work for the Lord

--spiritually hungry person

That would not look very carefully at the entirety of the life of David

And that’s what I want to try to do in these two messages

Because one of the things that blesses people most is about David is that of all the Bible characters, he’s most like us!

I mean…

--he had his moments of greatness, and moments of weakness

--he had his times of triumph, but his time of tears

--he had his times of glory, but his time of shame

But yet, despite all of this, there’s no question by that he had CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God

And the reason is because DAVID WAS A WORSHIPPER!

When David…

--triumphant, he worshipped

--sinned, he worshipped

--fought, he worshipped

--died, he died worshipping

In fact, the Bible says that he danced before the Lord with all his might

I ask you to lift your hands and you go half-way!

But if you want to have close encounters with God, you’ll need to worship!