INTRODUCTION, In our first four messages in the life of David, we have seen him in a stage of preparation. His anointing, his battle with Goliath, his friendship with Jonathan and his dealing with Saul have all happened to prepare him for his rightful place – King of Israel.
It is the preparing to be King that David learns some valuable lessons.
Lesson #1 – Waiting on God – anointed at approx. 17 our passage tonight take place when he is 30, it took 13 years fro God to prepare this man to be HIS man.
Lesson #2 – Opportunities comes when we step out in faith. THIS IS A BIG LESSON TO LEARN – When he faced the giant he stepped out in faith and was victorious – yes he had had smaller victories before but never a giant. I wonder how many times we remain in God’s waiting room because we simply rest on our past accomplishments rather than step out on faith.
Lesson #3 – Relationships are vital in developing our character.
Jonathan, he learned the importance of a deep friendship –
Sacrifice
Love
Commitment to one another
Saul, he learned how to depend on God in the face of adversity.
Hated
Hunted
Remained faithful
Wise lessons for a soon to be King
Someone has said - Today’s preparation determines tomorrow’s achievement.
Tonight I want us to look at 3 of David’s decisions to see how God was preparing this man for His service.
READ TEXT 2 Samuel 2:1-11
1. David asked the Lord what he should do
With the death of Saul David was able to freely move about the country.
What a contrast is seen between Saul and David.
1 Sam 28:6, Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. – not receiving an answer he approached a witch.
David on the other hand inquired upon the Lord and the Lord answered him.
Rather than go to Jerusalem to set up his Kingdom, David asked the Lord should stay in the southern region, in the city of Hebron – a special place.
Abraham had lived in the region of Hebron – building an altar to the Lord in the area.
Joshua gave Caleb the city of Hebron as an inheritance for his faithfulness after Israel had wandered for 40 years.
The land of Judah would have a prominent spot in David’s life as well as be the tribe, which would remain faithful to God years later.
Do you inquire of the Lord?
How do you make decisions when it comes to life choices?
A Thousand years after David inquired of the Lord, Jesus taught us to…
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matt 7:7-8
and in Matt 18:19, "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
It sounds simply does it not, but we often times we rely to much on our flesh rather than our spirit. David on the other hand was committed in spirit to talk with God – maybe that is why he was known as a man after God’s own heart.
I wish I could tell you he always inquired of the Lord but I want you to note his…
2. Davis’s disastrous decision
READ TEXT 3:1-5
While David inquired of the Lord about his Kingdom – it seems he did not ask the Lord about his family. This would later be a disaster.
David did not simply have 6 different children he had six different wives. All in all David had 8 named wives as well as several unnamed who gave him children.
He had 20 sons and 1 daughter.
The disastrous decision was that David would not discipline his children
Rebellion of Absalom (2 Sam. 15-18) Forced David into exile
Amnon raped his half sister Tamar (2 Sam 13), David’s response 13:21 he was furious, yet it was Absalom he was the one who punished Amnon
Late in David’s Life another Son tried to take David’s throine
I King 1:5-6, Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, "I will be king." So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. (His father had never interfered with him by asking, "Why do you behave as you do?"
While David knew great professional success his family broke his heart.
Men our first ministry is to our family – we are the spiritual leaders of our homes and we are to be the ones who make spiritual decisions for our families.
Eph 6:4, Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Col 3:21, Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart.
We need men in our church to be champions for our children, for to long we have relegated teaching of children to women, what is needed today is for our children to see men in levels of ministry
3. David returns the ark
READ TEXT 2 Samuel 6:1-5
There was an absence in Israel - The Ark
There was a requirement of God – Do not touch it
There were rewards for God’s property
There was relief when the ark was returned.
