What about David’s mother?
PR 31:10 A good woman is hard to find and worth far more than diamonds. 11 Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. 23 Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. 25 She always faces tomorrow with a smile. 26 When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. 27 She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. 28 Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: 29 "Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!" 30 Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
On this day that we honor mothers, it’s good for us to think about how much you really do. Being a mother is not an easy task. When a child has reached 18, a mother has had to around 18,000 hours of child-generated work. Did you know that women who never have children enjoy the equal time of three months a year in free time!
According to the Bible Jesse had seven sons: Eliab, Abinadab, Shimeah, Nethanel, Raddai, Ozem and David. The Bible also says that David had two sisters, Zeruiah and Abigail. However, they are never called daughters of Jesse, but daughters of Nahash. This has lead to speculation as to whether they were daughters of David’s mother from an earlier marriage with one certain Nahash. On the other hand, some believe that Nahash could be another name for Jesse, or the name of David’s mother.
If you recall the story of when Samuel came to Jesse’s house to anoint one of his sons to be king he went through seven of them and the Lord did not want them. Jesse said he had one more son and he was out tending sheep. It seems to me that David was a neglected son and Jesse did not spend much time with him so some one had to raise him and I believe it was his mother. His mother raised him in the right way for the Bible says that he became a man after God’s heart. I want to review David’s life to see what qualities he had instilled within him because of his mother. We could say that he was a poet but also a warrior, he was a champion but also an outlaw, he was a builder but also an administrator, he was very kind to people but also a murderer, he spoke the truth but he also lied and he was shepherd but also a king. In the Bible there are some 62 chapters written about his life. Some believe he also attended the school that Samuel taught. We know that he was selected by God. 1 Samuel 13:14 “The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already chosen him to be king over his people."16:1 “Now fill your horn with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my new king." God gave David his heredity, temperament and environment from his mother that fit him to become the man that God knew would be a good king. It was when David was 16 that Samuel showed up at Jesse’s house to anoint him as a king. It would not be for about 13 years later that he would become king. After he was anointed he went back to caring for sheep. David made good use of that time like learning how to play the harp that brought him to the palace to meet king Saul. He also learned how to use his sling which helped him to slay a giant that everyone feared. You might be thinking that you are just leading a common life without much going on. God takes us from normal life to what He desires. Every day we should live as though we are going to be used by God because we are and there need to be doing the best that we know how to do. When Saul needed music to sooth his mind it was David out in his field that was called to play for him. His practicing with a sling every day made him stand with boldness in the face of a nine foot giant. How are you preparing each day to be used by God?
After David was anointed king and when he joined Saul’s army he was rejected because he was doing a good job in battle. “Saul has slain his thousands, but David has slain his ten thousands.” David had learned early in life what rejection was as his brothers did not like him. David spent many years being hunted down and therefore had a lonely life. That is why many of the Psalms that we read relate to what our lives are like.
David gained his characteristics from his mother. As we have Mother’s Day I want us to see these characteristics as what needs to be in our lives.
1. Versatility was one of his qualities. He could use a sling or staff with ease. He also knew how to hold a sword or scepter with the same skill. He knew music as well how to speak well.
Mothers, part of your job is to instill a respect for the Bible, another responsibility is to instill an authentic faith. But these two elements are only preliminary for the most important job you have that of instilling within your children a desire to minister. Our kids are to learn the Bible and grow in their faith so that they can become difference makers in their world. So they can share their faith with others. So they can minister in the church and in their school. So they can serve those who are hurting. So they can serve as missionaries. So they can identify their spiritual gifts and use them on a regular basis. The truth of the matter is this: we are saved in order to serve. We are to be disciples so that we can disciple others. We are equipped so that we can evangelize. We are sanctified so that we can be sent to a lost and dying world.
2. he had a good temperament. He knew the heights of delight and the depths of depression. He was capable of emotions and was not stranger to tears. He knew how to love and was able to give comfort to those going through a hard time. We see in his Psalms that he was able to express a low time in his life and also the times he felt as all heaven was opened to him.
Moms, if you want to instill authentic faith in your children then you better take your own faith seriously. If you’re just going through the motions spiritually your kids will eventually see it, and tragically, may do the same thing when they are older. As you demonstrate your faith consistently by reading the Bible, praying, attending worship, bringing your kids to programs that help them grow spiritually, and by participating in the life and mission of the church, you will send a strong message to your children. I heard about a pastor who had a long conversation with someone about becoming a member of his church. When he was done the young man said he was ready to join. The pastor was curious so he asked him, “What did I say that convinced you to join the church?” The man answered, “It was nothing I ever heard you say. It was the way my mother lived.”
3. He was physically in good shape. People saw him as man who could work hard whether in battles, building or administrating. He used his hands to kill a bear and lion that had one of his lambs in their mouths. He was a good runner. He was well coordinated. He knew how to survive in the wilderness with 600 men to take care of.
Have your heard about the father who was trying to explain the concept of marriage to his 4-year-old daughter. He got out their wedding album, thinking visual images would help, and explained the entire wedding service to her. When he was finished, he asked if she had any questions. She pointed to a picture of the wedding party and asked, “Daddy is that when mommy came to work for us?
4. He also displayed moral and physical courage. Before he met the giant he had met a bear and lion. As he met the giant he said, “You come to me with sword and spear but I come to you in the name of the Lord.” He was not fearful when facing a giant and we need to be strong when we face giants in our life.
Susannah Wesley had some parenting guidelines that helped her as a mother: Control self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save his soul. Teach the child to pray as soon as he can speak. Give the child nothing he cries for and only what is good for him if he asks for it politely. To prevent lying, punish no fault, which is freely confessed, but never allow a rebellious, sinful act to go unnoticed. Commend and reward good behavior. Strictly observe all promises you have made to your child.
Have everyone applaud mothers and give thanks to God for them.
5. He had charm as he received praises of people for what he did. His wife Michael showed her love by helping him escape from men who were sent to kill him. He had friend named Jonathan whom he loved as a brother. He was a hero of his men. “You are worth more that 10,000 of us.” Three of his men went through enemy lines to get him a drink of water. A priest that knew he was on the run gave him some bread to eat. He had a friend king Hiram who gave him many materials for the building of the temple. 1 SAM 18:16 “But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.”
Maybe you have heard about the teacher instructed on the properties of magnets for an entire class. The next day he gave his students a quiz. The first question read like this: “My name begins with an “M,” has six letters, and I pick things up. What am I?” Half the kids in the class wrote, “Mother.”
6. He displayed patience and self-restraint. While he was being chased by Saul who wanted to kill him he did not fight back even when he had opportunity to kill him. He waited for God to work the plan out for him to become king. Even when Saul had been killed David took the life of the one who claimed that he had slain him. Whatever God sent David received with thanksgiving and was calm in how God worked. Isaak Walton “David was said to be a man after God’s heart, because he abounded more with thankfulness than any other that is mentioned Holy Scriptures.”
7. He was know for his writings. The Psalms are still read after 3,000 years after they were written. As he wrote he identified with all in the temptations, trials and joys of life. His name is penned to 73 or more Psalms. His writing also gave us many pictures of Christ and his life including his suffering, death, resurrection, ascension and coming kingdom.
Mothers, it is never too early to start teaching the Bible to your children and, it’s never too late to start if you haven’t already. There is nothing that can replace your role in your child’s life. God wants to use you to instill within your children a respect for the Bible.
Four scholars were arguing over Bible translations. One said he preferred the King James Version because of its beauty and eloquent old English. Another said he liked the New American Standard Version for its literalism and how it moves the reader from passage to passage with confident feelings of accuracy from the original text. The third scholar was sold on the New Living Translation for its use of contemporary phrases and speech that capture the meaning of difficult ideas. After being quiet for a moment, the fourth scholar admitted: “I have personally preferred my mother’s translation.” When the other scholars started laughing, he said, “Yes, she translated the Scriptures. My mom translated each page of the Bible into life. It is the most convincing translation I have ever read.”
Mothers what kind of Bible is your child reading when her or she observes your life? Are you looking for ways to instill a respect for the Word of God into the lives of your children? Remember, you can make a significant spiritual impact on your children with or without the help of a father.
8. He showed ambition in his spiritual and personal life. His greatest concern was for that God may receive glory for what he did and said. In his conflict with Goliath it says, “And David spoke to the men that stood by him saying… what shall be done to the man that… takes away the reproach from Israel. For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” He stood before the giant for God’s glory.
A mother has to be more interested in having her children know the Bible than be able to speak another language before they are 5-years-old. She will also be more interested in the souls of her
children than in their bodies or in their clothes. She wants them to know eternal life more than have great success in this life. She desires their relationship with Jesus of more importance than their popularity in the world. She wants their standing before God to be more secure than their social status. She desires that their spiritual life be whole rather than their intellectual, musical, or athletic accomplishments. A mother who passes along a faith that is real is without a doubt a praying woman. Any home in which faith is passed on from generation to generation has to be a home of prayer. How productive is the setting in your family for the reproduction and the promotion of real faith in the lives of your children and grandchildren? Mothers, are you passing along a legacy of real faith to your kids?
9. He was generous with his heart. He as a man and as a king could have been ruthless but showed forgiveness of his enemies. In spite of all that Saul did to David (He twice threw a spear at him as he was in the same room with him) he spared his life a least two times when he could have done his life in. Only godliness gives us the power to forgive when we have been done a wrong.
10. He had a good attitude towards God.We see this over and over in the Psalms. David had big plans to build a house for God but was denied. He did not pout but went about to make it possible for the one to build the temple to have all the materials they would need. There is a phase that you may have heard: “If momma isn’t happy, nobody’s happy!”
I want to applaud you mothers who take the task seriously of making a spiritual impact in the lives of your children. As Proverbs 31:28 says, “Her children arise and call her blessed…” We stand up this morning and call you blessed thanks for pouring your lives into ours.
