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!
It was David who said…
•Psalms 34:8 ( KJV ) 8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
•Psalms 42:1 ( KJV ) 1As the [deer] panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
•magnify the Lord with me, come let us exalt His name together
•I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord
•Psalms 23:1-6 ( KJV ) 1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
David was a WORSHIPPER, and lest you think worship is going out of style, the Bible says that in the last days, He will restore the tabernacle of David
When it comes to worship – GET USE TO IT!
God says, I INHABIT THE PRAISES OF MY PEOPLE!
So the very first thing that we learn about David was that He was a WORSHIPPER!
Now, let’s look at PART 1 of David’s life
I want to divide it out in these sections…
--David’s Calling
--David’s Crisis
--David’s Coronation
First of all, let’s look at…
1. DAVID’S CALLING
Let me paint the picture, King Saul was reigning in Israel, and he had lost touch with God
And the Bible says that God told the prophet Samuel to go and anoint the next king
And so he went down to Jesse’s house and all his sons passed before him, but one
And God said – I don’t look at the outward appearance, but I look on the heart!
And so David was anointed to be king!
And what was David doing? Tending the sheep
Isn’t it amazing how God calls people from insignificant places
There are some who can’t do anything unless there’s an audience!
And guess what happened after David was anointed? Did he print up business cards? NO! He went back to doing what he was doing!
So many times when we feel the call of God and sense the touch of God, we want to go next week!
But there was a timing, and David had a lot to learn
And then a little while later, Jesse told his son David, go and take some cheese and some milk to your brothers
This is the anointed King and he’s carrying cheese and milk!
And guess what happens, down there Goliath was threatening the armies
And David heard it
And David said, “I’ll go and take care of this”
And they said, “You can’t.” He said, I’ve already tacked a lion, and a bear
Here’s a point – you can’t beat big enemies until you beat smaller enemies!
And so David went out and won the victory of the giant called Goliath!
It was over quick…
Three words – Chunk, plunk, thunk
And they began to sing his praises
And Saul didn’t like that at all!
Which brings us too our second point
2. DAVID’S CRISIS
Because for David, all hell was about to break loose
Saul set out to kill David
But Saul’s son David, Jonathon, became his best friend
And there’s a beautiful story of how Jonathon stripped before David
1 Samuel 18:4 ( KJV ) 4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his belt.
And that’s the way we are to do before Christ!
And so David went on the run, and he found himself reigning over a cave!
1 Samuel 22:1-2 ( KJV ) 1David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him. 2And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
And these same 400 men, turned out to be the mightiest men on the earth
I don’t have time to get into it, but the Bible says 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11…
--there was one man who killed 800 at one time
--there was one who slew a lion in a pit on a snowy day (and some of you can’t get out of bed when it rains!)
--one man stood on a piece of ground and the whole army of the enemy advanced and this man by himself held that ground!
It really matters who you hang around!
Proverbs 13:20 ( KJV ) 20He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
And twice, David had a chance to kill Saul and he didn’t
He said, “I’ll not touch the Lord’s anointed!”
You had better learn to respect authority!
And then, finally, David said to himself, I’ll never be king!
1 Samuel 27:1 ( KJV ) 1And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
You ever been discouraged?
And so he goes and lives in another country, and nothing goes right
You know, that’s happened several times in scripture…
--Ruth
--Prodigal
--David
And then there came that crisis at Ziglag
But God told David, you shall RECOVER ALL
In your lowest moment, in your most disobedient moment, if you’ll trust God, YOU WILL RECOVER ALL!
And then, finally,
3. DAVID’S CORONATION
He was crowned king
He didn’t assume it
It came to him!
But it was only a small part for 7 years – just in Hebron
Again, there are some people who don’t want to do anything unless it’s a big thing
But finally, he was crowned king at the age of 40 over all Israel
And as I close this part of David’s life, let me mention the story of Methiboseth
When a new king comes in, they are supposed to kill all the other king’s family
But David said…
2 Samuel 9:1 ( KJV ) 1And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
What grace! And they found out that Jonathan’s son was still living
And here’s the story – when Saul’s kingdom was collapsing, Methiboseth was only a little boy and when the nurse was fleeing, she dropped him, and he became lame in his feet
And he lived in the farthest place away from the capital of Jerusalem, called Lo-debar, hiding from the new king
And King David summons him and said, “From now on, you’re gong to eat at my table. And not only that, you’re going to have a full restoration of all you had before your accident!”
And what a picture of grace…
--Some of you were dropped
--We were all hiding from the king
--We all had the death sentence on us
But now, we’re eating at his table
And I can imagine what happens at dinner table…
The meal is fixed and the dinner bell rings and along come the members of the family and their guests. Amnon, clever and witty, comes to the table first. Then there’s Joab, muscular, masculine, walking tall and erect like a commanding general. Next comes Absolam. You talk about handsome! From the crown of his head to the soles of his feet, there is not a blemish. Then there is lovely Tamar, the beautiful daughter of David. In comes Solomon, from his study in his regal robes, as well. And wait – just as they are about to eat, they hear clump, clump, clump, and here comes Mephibosheth, hobbling along. They can’t start without him!
Talk about grace!
That’s what God has for you!
Come to Him today!
