David
The making of a servant king
Audio at-
http://jubilee-church.org/sermons/2004/02/series-on-david.htm
* How can we learn to be meek rulers?
* We must all be leaders in our homes, at work on our street
* Leaders influence rather than being influenced
Why study David the servant king?
* He models meekness and leadership
* He is described as being ‘the man after God’s own heart’
* Jesus was described as the ‘Son of David’
* He shows us much of the character of God
* David is an inspiration to us in many areas- prophecy, worship, theology, care of others, leadership, a sense of mission, repentance, community life, faith in God, etc….
* The bible devotes many chapters to him
The making of a servant King
* The contrast between Saul and David
* The growth of meekness in David
* Our response to this
Saul - how not to do it!
* Samuel had rightly perceived that in choosing to have a king Israel had rejected God as king over them
* But God chose Saul for them and anointed him as King
* It is God who raises up kings and deposes them
* Saul began well but seemed to forget who’s kingdom it really was
Romans 13:1-2
* 1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Saul- the ‘head and shoulders’ man
* Saul was tall, impressive, eager to please and enhance his own power
* 1Sam 14:52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.
* Should we ‘attach people to ourselves’ for our own ends or allow God to join us to people to serve them?
* Are you a follower of a man or of God in a man?
* Are you holding back* Are you critical* Are you an observer?
Are you with us?
* 1 Chron 12:18 ‘Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said:
"We are yours, O David!
We are with you, O son of Jesse!
Success, success to you,
and success to those who help you,
for your God will help you."
So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.’
* Saul was a man anointed by God who nonetheless chose to ignore aspects of God’s word
* Saul represents man’s way of running a kingdom
* David represents God’s way of running a kingdom
Absolute obedience required
* 1 Sam 15:17 Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel* The LORD anointed you king over Israel. 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, ’Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.’ 19 Why did you not obey the LORD * Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD ?"
Rebellion like witchcraft
* 1 Sam 15:22-23 22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD *
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD , he has rejected you as king."
The paradox of Saul
* Little in own eyes yet eager for power
* Seeking things for himself
* Unwilling to submit to a higher authority
* Not submissive himself but controlling and dominating others
* God hates rebellion
* Anarchy is not in Gods plan, but nor is domination
The making of a servant king
* How did God turn a shepherd into a great but humble King?
* How can I learn from this in fulfilling God’s plans for my life?
* How can I serve God and his people exercising authority with love* How to learn to lead others
* We need many servant leaders as we continue to grow- why not you?
* Servant leaders serve for God and the people not for their own fulfilment or ends
What’s in your heart?
* David a humble shepherd, despised by his family & not included in the dinner invite
* Not ‘I need counselling’ or ‘I can’t achieve anything’
* 2 Sam 17:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
* God seeks a humble teachable heart
* The call brings emotional healing and a purpose to live for- an answer for the question‘Why am I here?’
The call is not always for now
* David now knew he was to be king but patiently waited for the Lord to fulfil his promises.
* Can you wait* Can you trust?
* Or will you try and manipulate your ‘success’?
* Do you view your ‘call’ as a possession or are you continually amazed by it
* 2 Sam 18:23 "Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?"
Faithfulness in the small things leads to larger assignments
* 1 Sam 17:32-7 David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. …..Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God." 37And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"
You can’t make it on your own
* 1 Sam 18:1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul
* God divinely does this sometimes
* The two ‘rivals’ would do nothing to harm each other and much to help
* Saul’s attitude couldn’t be more different - 1 Sam 18:8 ‘And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?"
Who is God joining to you?
* 1 Sam 22:2 And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them…..
* Do you see someone you wouldn’t normally get on with or do you see the army?
Don’t touch the Lord’s anointed
* 1 Sam 24:5-7 Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed." 7So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul.
* But David didn’t stick around under such a leader!
Meekness tested to the limit
* 1 Sam 25:32-3 David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from avenging myself with my own hand!
* David wasn’t always meek- the insult stirred his anger
* God often restrains our sin
Let God fight your battles for you
* 1 Sam 25:37-8 In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 38And about ten days later the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.
Our response
* Are we a grasping Saul or a serving David?
* Who’s kingdom are we building*
* What is in our hearts?
* What small step do we need to faithfully act for God in?
* Are we under authority so we can exercise it?
* Do you have rivals?
* Who is your Jonathan?
* Have you said ‘I am yours’ to a local church?
