Series OT Bible Heroes:
We are going to discuss over the months of May, June and July OT Biblical Heroes. Many current day Statistics show that there is a shocking lack of knowledge of basic Bible knowledge among Americans. This is particularly puzzling in view of the availability of Bibles and Bible related materials in this country. The Bible has been and still is the best-selling title in America. Twenty-five million copies of the Bible are sold annually. Americans spent 2.4 billion dollars on Bibles in 2006. But those pesky surveys show that the majority of Americans are biblically illiterate. Illiteracy ranks high among the Christian community. There are two basic reasons why Bible illiteracy rates are high. Americans simply are not reading the Bible. Many churches do not emphasize Bible learning in their educational programs or services any more.
http://www.studycenter.com/downloads/Bible_Literacy_Crisis_in_America.pdf
Barbara Miller in her paper “Bible Literacy: Crisis in America”, Sept 2006 states the following:
The Baptist Standard, a publication of the Texas Baptist Convention, reveals that the Gideon’s International distribute annually in excess of 45 million Bibles. This computes on the average at 86 Bibles distributed every minute. With the rampant availability of Bibles and Bible related materials and given the obvious respect the Bible garners in America, how can there possibly be a Bible literacy crisis in America? Statistics quoted in the December 2000 issue of The Baptist Standard confirm accounts of Bible illiteracy:
• A Gallup survey shows that fewer than half of Americans can name the
first book of the Bible (Genesis), only one-third know who delivered the
Sermon on the Mount (many named Billy Graham, not Jesus), and one quarter
do not know what is celebrated on Easter.
• A 1997 Barna Research poll showed 12 percent of Christians think
Noah’s wife was Joan of Arc. Eighty percent of born-again Christians
believe it is the Bible that says "God helps them that help themselves."
• In conjunction with the October release of the animated feature, “The Ten
Commandments”, Kelton Research questioned 1000 Americans on their
knowledge of the biblical Ten Commandments. The Baptist Standard, December 4, 2000.
Even though 80 percent could name the ingredients of a Big Mac
(McDonald’s), only 6 in 10 could name the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not
kill.” Most of the participants in the Kelton Research survey recalled the
names of the four Beatles but many could not recall one single commandment.
Bible illiteracy is not just confined to the unchurched secular population
of America.
According to Gary Burge, professor of New Testament studies at
Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, there is a crisis of basic Bible knowledge in
the church also – especially among youth.
• In an article published in Christianity Today in 1999, Burge wrote about
surveys which are administered by Wheaton College to incoming freshmen to
assess their knowledge of the Bible. These students, who represent every Protestant denomination in America, are asked basic Bible questions. Following are some of the results quoted by Professor Burge:
• One-third of the students tested could not put the following in sequential
order: Abraham, the Old Testament prophets, the death of Christ, and
Pentecost.
• Half could not sequence the following: Moses in Egypt, Isaac’s birth,
Saul’s death, and Judah’s exile.
• One-third could not identify Matthew as an apostle from a list of New
Testament names.
• One-third could not identify the book of Acts as the location of Paul’s
missionary travels; half did not know that the Christmas story was in
Matthew, half did not know that the Passover story was in Exodus. 5
Burge decided to test yet another level, high school youth, with a
25-question test.
• Eighty percent could not place Abraham,
Adam, Moses, David, Solomon, in chronological order.
• Only 20 percent knew that Paul’s travels are recorded in the book of Acts.
• Only 33 percent could locate the Sermon on the Mount in the New
Testament.
• Eighty percent could not locate the Lord’s Prayer.
• In a report on America’s religious illiteracy, USA Today reported that 50
percent of high school seniors think Sodom and Gomorrah were married.
With 92 percent of Americans owning a Bible, why is there such a lack of
basic knowledge of the Bible?
We all need to be reminded why we should read and study the Bible. Here are some good reasons from http://www.studycenter.com/downloads/Bible_Literacy_Crisis_in_America.pdf
A. We are commanded by Jesus and God to read it.
B. The Bible is God’s living letter to humanity.
C. The Bible provides the answers to all of life’s issues.
D. The Bible reveals the future.
It is time for Christian America to get back to the Bible and learn the eternal lessons from it. I believe our existence as a nation depends on our reverence for God and His Word.
So we are going to move our series “Family Matters” to August and spend the next few months learning about OT Biblical Heroes.
http://www.whatsyourstoryonline.com/: Quote: Stories are powerful. Stories give meaning to who we are and how we became who we are. Stories help us understand how life happens, and they give value to our experiences. Some of the most powerful testimonies to Christian faith come not from lists of accepted doctrinal beliefs (though they’re important) nor from recitations of biblical principles (also important), but from the enlivened re-telling of how God has acted, overtly or covertly, in each of our lives.
Video Illustration: Blue Fish TV Abraham’s perseverance.
T.S. – The first person from the OT that I would like to address is David’s Story.
Sermon: David’s Story
Thesis: David’s story can be summarized like this: A nobody becomes a somebody who then becomes a fugitive and ends up in the end the King of Israel.
Introduction:
There are 66 chapters that speak about David in the Old Testament. As a matter of fact, there are more references to David in the Bible than any other person.
David’s life story is an amazing story of the extremes one person can face in a lifetime:
• Early years extremes:
o From seclusion to fame
o From being a nobody to a somebody.
o From forgotten to living legend
o From least to greatest
o From the runt of the family to the most powerful
o From seclusion to popularity
o From the pasture to the palace
o From poor to rich
• The middle years extremes:
o From fame to shame
o From somebody to a fugitive
o From hero to fugitive.
o From hero of Israel to outlaw
o From celebrated to despised
o From loved to hated
o From man of honor to liar
o From security to insecurity
o From hero to villain
o From applause to boo’s
o From married to separated
o From royalty to fugitive
o From riches to poverty
o From sanity to insanity
o From respected to disrespected
o From loyal servant to traitor
• The later years extremes;
o From a fugitive to a king
o From running for his life to running a nation.
o From the cave to palace
o From outlaw to the law giver
o From little to much
o From disrespected to respected
o From saint to sinner
o From blessed to cursed
o From giver to thief
o From man of honor to man of dishonor
o From lover to murderer
o From pure in heart to wicked heart
o From rebuked to repentance
o From repentance to forgiveness
o From father to fatherless
o From functional family to dysfunctional family
o From King to fugitive
o From respect to disrespect
o From fugitive to king again
o From Secure in God to security in numbers
o From Life to Death.
Summary of the extremes: His life is filled with mountain top experiences and low valley dramas. He is slaying giants one day and acting like a crazy man on another day. He is living in riches and then living in poverty. He would be in a palace one day and hiding out in caves on another day. He was respected one day and rejected on another day. He could play the harp and enter into the presence of God and then on another day fall into sin and alienate himself from the one He loved the most. The book of Psalms reflects on David’s highs and lows.
But as I have over the years studied David’s life it tells the story that life is not always fair, that victories can bring jealousy, that being in the wrong place at the wrong time can cost you your integrity and honor. It tells me that our families are impacted by our good choices and by our bad choices. That sin can destroy a person’s life if they do not repent.
Maybe the most consistent thing about David is: That a person is capable of loving God with his whole heart and still end up committing murder, adultery and sin.
Talk about a life filled with the extremes in life!
David’s name means, “beloved” and God calls this man in Acts 13:22-23:
After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him; ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do’ “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.
Yes, David was noted as a man after God’s own heart. David fit the description in I Samuel 13:14 “… the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him leader of his people…”
In the Old Testament the term heart, implied emotions, the reason, and the will (Vine, 547). So when God raised up David, He raised up an individual whose heart was directed by God’s emotions or we could say God’s desires and dislikes, God’s reason of right and wrong, God’s will to be done and not David’s will.
The term heart in the New Testament and Old Testament comes to mean a man’s entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and the emotional elements. Vine notes, “The heart is used figuratively for the hidden springs of the personal life.” (547).
Max Lucado states, ”God does not see the same way you or I see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (Book: Facing Your Giants)
Ephesians 6:6 refers to those who “do the will of God from the heart.”
David sought God with his whole heart and his life reflected it (even in the extremes of his life). Remember, David’s epitaph as given to him by God is, “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”
T.S. - So today let’s look at our first OT Biblical Super Hero:
I. David’s early years – Could be summarized as from seclusion to fame or from a nobody to a somebody overnight.
a. To be somebody you need to have a fully devoted heart to God – it’s not an option but an essential quality God is looking for.
i. David’s heart was wrapped up in God!
1. God cares about what’s on the inside of you not the outside appearance!
ii. His heart was blazing for God!
1. It burned Hot. It burned intensely. It sizzled for the Lord.
iii. His heart was burning passionately for God!
1. Passion- is defined as an intense emotional drive or excitement.
a. Swindoll notes, “The first quality God saw in David was spirituality. ‘The Lord has sought out …a man after His own heart? Seems to me, it means that you are a person whose life is in harmony with the Lord. What is important to Him is important to you. What burdens Him burdens you. When he says, ‘Go to the right,’ you go to the right. When He says, ‘Stop that in your life,’ you stop it. When He says, this is wrong and I want you to change,’ you come to terms with it because you have a heart for God. That’s bottom line Biblical Christianity” (6).
b. Do you want to be somebody? Then let your heart burn passionately –completely for Him. He is looking for individuals who are completely sold out to Him.
i. David was so engulfed in God that his life in public and in private reflected his love for the Lord!
1. When you study David’s life you discover that he came from an isolated place where no one new his name. But it was back on the fields where he developed a fully devoted heart to God (I Samuel 16:11-13, and 19 –after his anointing).
2. His one on one encounters with the Lord in the fields developed his mature heart.
3. It was in solitude where he grew spiritually. His early life encompassed private time with the Lord.
4. To become fully devoted to God happens first in your private time with the Lord.
c. It’s amazing how the Lord trains a lot of leaders in solitude.
i. Just research this out for yourself – Just a few – Moses, David, John the Baptist, and even Paul.
1. David worked out in the fields mostly in isolation from others but this time alone with the Lord helped Him become somebody.
2. In reality this was David’s training ground to help him to handle the future public life that was coming.
3. Jesus himself reflects the importance of solitude with God and how important it is to sustain you in public life.
a. Swindoll states, “Solitude has nurturing qualities all its own. Anyone who must have superficial sounds to survive lacks depth. If you can’t stand to be alone with yourself, you have deep, unresolved conflicts in your inner life. Solitude has a way of helping us address those issues” (9).
b. Swindoll adds, “Men and women of God, servant-leaders in the making, are first unknown, unseen, unappreciated, and unapplauded. In the relentless demands of obscurity, character is built. Strange as it may seem, those who first accept the silence of obscurity are best qualified to handle the applause of popularity” (10).
d. In the daily grind of life – God was at the center of David’s life!
i. In the lowly tasks of shepherding he still served God – he shepherded for God, protected the sheep for God, played praise and worship to God while working.
1. It’s important to realize that to be fully devoted to God in your heart means he is a part of your life in private – this is what thrusts nobodies into some-bodies.
2. David saw God in his mundane day to day tasks and he used those opportunities to become more saturated in God.
3. He did not serve God to be seen of men –he just loved God- No show! No way! No how! God was David’s central focus in his teen years.
a. Seems impossible – a teenager! But it was true!
b. David’s heart was exactly what the Lord was looking for and desiring in His people.
c. God looks for individuals who are fully devoted to Him and then he turns them into somebody.
e. The nobody meets a giant one day
i. David’s heart was fearless for God-no giant scared him off (I Samuel 17)!
1. His heart was so in tune to God that he feared nothing because he knew where his strength came from to slay any giant foe (I Samuel 17:32-37).
2. You may be thinking, “How did he do it?”
a. You know kill bears?
b. You know kill lions?
c. You know kill giants?
d. You know evade a King and his army without having a nervous breakdown?
e. Have you ever heard the phrase “Perfect love casts out fear!”
i. NIV 1 John 4:15-18 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
3. His fearlessness really goes back to his relationship with God.
a. He knew God-He experienced God in an intimate way-he did not doubt God’s strength or ability. He was absolutely convinced that Goliath was toast! Why because God –NOT -David was going to deal with this giant.
b. David knew and realized that Goliath was not challenging him or even Israel’s army but he was literally challenging the Living God- The Champion.
i. Ma Lucado stated the following in “Facing Your Giants”:
1. “Giants. We must face them. Yet we need not face them alone” (page 8)
2. Focus on giants-you stumble. Focus on God-your giants tumble” (page 9).
c. He knew where his strength came from – He had a reality check as to who God is and who Goliath was (I Samuel 17:40-50)!
i. Swindoll states, “”So often, when facing our own giants, we forget what we ought to remember and we remember what we ought to forget…Not so with David! He says, ‘You know why I can fight Goliath, Saul? Because the same God who gave me power over a lion and a bear will give me power over Goliath. It is God who will empower me…so just let me at him”(44).
ii. David said on one side of the ring is Goliath-big, tall and ugly. On the other side of the ring was God – The Great I Am! The Beginning and the End, The creator of the universe, the all powerful one, the one who was everywhere, Jehovah, Yahweh, the one who holds the world in His hand. Not a spear but the whole world!
iii. This is going to be a slaughter – Goliath You going down with a big thud!
iv. This is why a nobody became a somebody-He knew who he was with God as His protector and provider!
f. Do you want to be somebody? Then learn David’s secrets to success. Do you want to make you mark in history? Live like David did. Act like David did.
i. Have the three character traits that David had–these will be the traits that will thrust you from a nobody to a somebody. Lets recap them:
1. Have a heart that is fully devoted to God!
2. Have a heart tuned into God’s station!
3. Have a heart that is fearless for God!
II. David’s middle years, from fame to shame – from a somebody to a fugitive.
a. When David does the right thing for God and becomes a somebody Saul gets jealous and forces David to become a fugitive.
i. David has the Spirit of the Lord on Him. He defeats the giant Goliath – He brings a great victory to Israel. Saul hears the praise for David Saul has killed his 1,000 and David has killed his 10,000. Saul hears this praise and the evil spirit stirs him up. He becomes jealous and his heart is prompted to strike out at the hero.
ii. Saul see’s David as a threat not a blessings – Is it not obvious why? When an evil spirit is leading our lives and influencing our interpretation of life we will always be in opposition to the people led by the Spirit and living for the Spirit of God. They will always be seen as a threat not an ally!
b. Scripture Text: 1 SAMUEL 16:14-23; 17-19
c. When you become a somebody for God you will become a target.
i. The truth of life is this: When you become a somebody people will scrutinize your every word - your every action of even lack of words or lack of action.
1. People love to tear somebody’s back down to nobodies!
ii. Saul became jealous of David’s success.
1. Earthly Wisdom-Those who study bees tell us when a honeybee drives its barbed stinger into flesh, it becomes so firmly imbedded that the only way the bee can escape is to leave the stinger behind. This, however, is sure to cause the death of the bee. It receives such a wound that it cannot possibly recover. So it is with us. Sometimes we sting others because they are a little better than we are. Being jealous of them, we not only leave the sting in those who happen to disagree with us, but the act brings about spiritual harm to ourselves. If our zeal embitters others, it will multiply bitterness within our own hearts. Thus, when others feel the bitterness of our zeal, they will surely come to the conclusion that we do not possess Jesus Christ who descended from heaven to give us new life. (Illustrations of Bible Truths).
iii. Saul feared how successful David was – it was intimidating!
1. Saul also realized that David could not be as successful as he was without God’s anointing.
iv. Saul knew he could lose the Kingdom because of the anointing of the Lord on David.
1. He was not going to give up his kingship without a fight.
v. The people liked David and Saul did not like that!
1. Not only was David successful repeatedly in battle – the people liked him – his own family liked him and this made Saul even more jealous the popular new hero of Israel.
vi. Saul was gripped by an evil spirit:
1. Evil spirits cause the following:
a. Jealousy
b. Hatred
c. Anger
d. Fear
e. Torment
f. Will cause you to commit murder
g. Will cause you to persecute and slay the innocent
vii. How does a somebody deal with another somebody like Saul?
1. David – fled
2. David – loved
3. David would not touch God’s anointed
4. David – sought counsel
5. David sought God
6. David cried out to God
7. David did not allow the Bait of Satan to take root!
8. David served on
d. Somebody’s need to know that there are times in life that can become tough and they need to know who they can lean on for help.
i. What should a fugitive do and not do when he is under pressure?
1. Do you run to the Prophet of God (I Samuel 19:18-24)?
a. Yes, The Lord did a miracle to deliver David but for some reason David left and went to Jonathan.
2. Do you run to your friends ( I Samuel 20)?
a. Do you seek advice and help from them?
b. David sought the help of Jonathan – who at first did not believe what David was saying. He checked it out only to discover that His father threw a spear at him. His eyes where open and he helped his friend escape.
i. This is true friendship!
c. How do you know when you have an intimate friend?
i. Swindoll gives us four character traits of true intimate friends his book “DAVID” (53,54):
1. An Intimate true friend is willing to sacrifice (I Samuel 18:4)
2. An intimate true friend is a loyal defense against others (I Samuel 19:4, 5).
3. An intimate true friend will give you freedom to be yourself (I Samuel 20:41).
4. An intimate true friend is one who is always encouraging (I Samuel 23:15,16).
3. Do you run to your spouse (I Samuel 19:9-18)?
a. You should but don’t be surprised if a non-loyal spouse lies about you and does not go with you when you are on the run.
b. A loyal spouse would have went with David not stayed in the palace.
c. A true loyal lover is one that stays with you through the good and the bad.
d. A true a loyal spouse is one who will not lie about you or stab you in the back.
4. Do you run to the priests God’s representatives (I Samuel 21:1-9)?
a. Yes you should but do not lie. David lied to Ahimlelech?
b. David here collapses from the pressure of being a fugitive.
c. He deceives the priest and gets Goliath’s sword and some food.
d. The result of this encounter and lies cost the priests at Nob their lives in (I Samuel 22:6-23)
i. You cannot blame David for this Saul takes the responsibility.
ii. But David’s actions created a negative reaction to these men of God.
e. When you are under pressure- pray- but don’t be surprised by how God answers your prayers and who he sends to your aid (I Samuel 22:1-5, Psalm 34).
i. How would you like to lead what God sent David?
1. Illustration of youth acting like these 400 individuals.
ii. His family- You know the family where Dad forgot he had another son. You know the one where the older brother accuses David of having a conceited and wicked heart.
1. I am sure they came with positive words for David.
a. Way to go David! You have created a big mess!
b. You are so into yourself!
iii. The distressed –and in trouble
1. The Hebrew word -matsowq- means everyone who was in distress- ones disabled by their anguished hearts and emotions.
a. It means as Swindoll states, “What a group! ‘Everyone who was in distress’ came. The Hebrew word here, zuk, means not only ‘in distress’, but ‘under pressure, under stress.’”(74)
b. So here came hundreds of stressed out people to help David?
iv. The ones in debt-nasha- those taxed heavily and under huge credit card debts.
1. These where the ones who Swindoll states, “Could not pay their bills.”
a. So we have all the ones who cannot manage money and are under extreme agony because of their financial state.
b. May be they came for a free ride on David?
v. Then the discontented ones, and angry ones
1. The word here is -mar nephesh -meaning they where the bitter ones-the angry ones.
2. Swindoll notes,” …means to be in bitterness of soul, to have been wronged and mistreated.”
vi. Can you imagine this scenario- they start showing up in groups- David starts to notice that his cave is filling up with the malcontents of Israel.
1. The rejects, the complainers – I’m sure he started jumping for joy!
2. Believe it or not these where the future leaders of the nation of Israel – the ones who would later be called “David’s mighty men of valor.”
3. David was not alone God sent him men who needed to be trained and raised up for the Lord!
4. How in the world do you lead a bunch like this?
a. Ritter gives us some insight from Psalm 34 how David did this (3,4):
i. Many believe that this Psalm was penned in the cave after the 400 malcontents showed up.
ii. He led them in praise- Psalm 34:1
iii. He assured them of God’s protection- Psalm 34:7
iv. He drew their attention to the Lord so they would trust him.
1. To the distressed – Psalm 34:8
2. To those in debt – Psalm 34:9
3. To the discontent – Psalm 34:18
b. Ritter also gives us helpful advice on how to help people like this, “When presented the opportunity in the refuge of preparation, seize the opportunity to pour your life into people. God brings them into our lives for the purpose of being influenced for His glory and purpose. Discouraged people don’t need critics. They hurt enough already. They need encouragement. They need a word. They need a place to heal and a confidant; a comrade in arms, a caring, willing, and available someone (4).
i. Amazing how God heals us as we help others!
c. Ritter also reminds us of Psalms 78:72 “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”
f. David is chased by Saul and his army for years and yet David always takes the high road with this king.
i. There were times when David could have slain Saul but he refused.
1. He refused to do the road of revenge and instead sought to give the gift of mercy and forgiveness.
ii. Max Lucado stated, “See your enemies not as God’s failures but as God’s projects” (Page 49).
1. David did this.
iii. David’s willingness to honor others even his enemies is what also opened the door for him to become the King of Israel!
III. A fugitive becomes King and goes from rags to riches again.
a. The only way a fugitive can become king is to have the qualities of patience and humility. These two character traits will always propel a fugitive into a leadership position for the Lord.
i. Texts: II Samuel 1-5:5: Key verses:
ii. II Samuel 2:1: “In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord . ‘shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?’ He asked. The Lord said, “Go up.”
1. Notice David was a successful leader because he always inquired of the Lord what to do.
a. He looked to the Lord for direction in war, in famine, and in life as a leader.
iii. II Samuel 2:4: “Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there anointed David king over the house of Judah.”
iv. II Samuel 3:1: “The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.”
v. II Samuel 4:1-12: 1When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed. 2Now Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Recab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, 3because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim and have lived there as aliens to this day. 4(Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled. His name was Mephibosheth.) 5Now Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest. 6They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Recab and his brother Baanah slipped away.7They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah. 8They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to take your life. This day the LORD has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.” 9David answered Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of all trouble, 10when a man told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! 11How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!” 12So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.
vi. II Samuel 5:1-5: All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, `You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’" When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
b. Why would a fugitive become a King? Because he had the character! David modeled in his life the character traits of the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-26:
i. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
ii. David’s life reveals that he had these attributes in motion.
1. He was faithful to God.
a. In the quiet fields watching the sheep
b. In the midst of battle and wartime with giants
c. In the days of being a fugitive on the run
d. In the days of being a king over Israel and living in a palace (Note he does get into trouble for a while but he does eventually repent!)
e. In the days when some in his own family rebel against him.
iii. He had peace in the midst of fighting Goliath he was not an emotional wreck. While being chased as a fugitive by King Saul he demonstrated a heart at peace.
1. Because of his faith and trust in God he had peace-a few times he panicked but when he refocused on God he calmed down.
iv. He had integrity. And it was demonstrated through his acts of gentleness, kindness, goodness and self-control.
1. The way he dealt with his men.
2. The way he kept his word
3. The way he dealt with Saul
4. The way he stayed true to his beliefs in God
5. The way he dealt with Abigail
6. The way he dealt with the people who killed God’s anointed -even though they were out to get him- David demanded justice - rightness.
v. He had patience
1. David knew how to wait on the Lord! We will talk about this more later.
2. Do you know how to wait on the Lord?
vi. He had humility
1. I believe David could see that pride destroyed King Saul and therefore he would never let pride take root in his life.
2. He constantly gave himself reality checks – just read Psalms 3-41.
3. Do you have humility?
vii. He had a love for God
1. Psalms is full of David’s love songs to the Lord.
2. His worship was driven out of his love for the Lord.
3. He genuinely loved everything about the Lord even His correction.
4. Do you love God’s correction?
viii. He had the joy of the Lord and was not ashamed of it.
1. He danced before the Lord –out of pure joy!
2. He was not ashamed of his joy for the Lord even though others where.
3. His love for God drove Him into the arms of Joy!
4. Do you have the joy of the Lord?
c. All these qualities set a fugitive on the path to becoming king.
Conclusion:
David died leaving a mark in history for all of eternity to talk about and for us to learn from. We all need to leave an eternal legacy with our lives by being role models for others, by investing into others, and by giving sacrificially to God’s work.
Texts: II Samuel 23, I Kings 2:1-12, I Chronicles 28, 29
Let us revisit a few passages I Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart.’
We have the Lord’s last words about David in Acts!
Acts 13:22 “…I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”
Important point: But remember this about our imperfect hero – He sinned, he lied, he committed adultery, he stole and he committed murder – yet – he is known for being a man after God’s own heart.
So let me ask, “How would you’re life be summarized in the end by others? What would they say?”
How about by God what would He say?
For David it’s time to death- the time when you heart stops beating. We are going to look at the death of David – the king. Death is evident for all it’s when your lungs no longer take in breath when you receive a flat line on the monitor and go from here to eternity.
Truth is everyone dies! You will die! But what will your mark in history be?
David’s mark was summed up in Acts 13:22 where the Bible says he was man after God’s own heart.
He went down in history noted as a man, a king who sought after the heart of God. We have been exploring David’s life today and we have learned a lot.
• A nobody becomes a somebody
• A somebody becomes a fugitive
• This fugitive had integrity
• A fugitive becomes king
• A king falls into sin but finds revival
• A king dies with honor and the admonition of the Lord
Our king comes to the end of his life and speaks his last few words. His life is coming to an end but his life will leave a mark for eternity – he will leave a legacy for all to learn from.
This is David’s Epitaph:
“David a man after my own heart; he did everything I wanted him to do.” (GOD)
