1. Recently we heard of the passing of Barbara Bush – wife of former President George H. W. Bush; and mother of former President George W. Bush
2. But, who George Washington’s Mother? (Mary Ball Washington); Abraham Lincoln’s Mother? (Nancy Hanks Lincoln) – virtually unknown women but influenced our two most famous Presidents
3. Influence of One
If you own a Bible in your native language, you can thank William Tyndale, who yielded his life for the principle of translating Scripture. Tyndale was born near the end of the 1400s, attended both Oxford and Cambridge, and fell in love with the Scripture. He determined to make the Bible available in English, but such a project was illegal in England. Fleeing to Germany, Tyndale worked on his translation of the New Testament. Copies were smuggled back into England, and Tyndale went to work on the Old Testament. He was betrayed, arrested, strangled, and burned at the stake. His Bible was banned, but its influence was irreversible. Ninety percent of his words and phrases were passed into the King James Version, published in 1611.
One person’s dedication to God’s calling can make a difference for multitudes. We might not live to see our legacy, and only in heaven will we learn how greatly God used us on earth. The full calculations won’t be tabulated until the Lord returns. “Therefore … be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
If God spares my life, before many years pass, I will make it possible for a boy behind the plow to know more Scripture than you do. William Tyndale to a critic
4. An Obscure Person of Great Influence Psalm 86.16 (NIV)
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
5. We do not know the name of David’s Mother, but she had a great impact on him and the world through him
I. Some People We Know in Scripture
A. Famous Mothers
1. Eve
2. Jochebed (Moses and Aaron)
3. Hannah (Samuel)
4. Elizabeth (John B)
5. Mary/Miriam (Jesus)
6. But we don’t know the name of David’s mother
B. David’s Family
1. David’s father – Jesse and his seven brothers (Eliab was oldest; Abinadab; Shammah. . .)
2. Great detail about his ancestry with Ruth, Boaz, and their son, Obed, father of Jesse, father of David who would be the ancestor of Jesus
3. But we don’t know the name of David’s mother
C. David – ULTRA Famous
1. Psalmist (Psalm 23)
2. Lion and Bear
3. Goliath
4. “Man after God’s heart” (Acts 13.22 cf. 1 Samuel 13.14)
a. David did nothing worse than Saul and Saul lost the Kingdom
b. Must be a heart issue
c. David’s heart and repentance Psalm 51.1-4
5. But we don’t know the name of David’s mother
II. What We Can Deduce About David’s Mother
Proverbs 31.26-30
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
A. Faithful to LORD; to Family
B. Persevering
C. A Sense of Humility as Reflected by Her Son – Psalm 84.10
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
III. Why Is This Important?
A. Influence of Faith Begins at Home 2 Timothy 1.3-5
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
B. Influence is Often Quiet Like Leaven (Caught More Than Taught) Matthew 13.33
33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
C. The Approach of Love Over Self 1 Corinthians 13.4-7
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
D. The Showy Goes Away as Quickly as it Comes Ecclesiastes 9.11
Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.
[Peter’s brash boasts and results – walking on water; denials; declaration of Messiah and rebuke of Jesus
1. We know a handful of spiritual giants from the Bible. They all started just like you and me.
2. There will be many great people in heaven that we don’t know yet – David’s Mother will be one
3. Preference of faithful anonymity to famous failure
4. Bobby Knight and a Servant Spirit
Several years ago Fred and Marlene Nichols stopped at a service station near Mobile, AL to ask for directions. A truck crashed into their car, severely injuring Mrs. Nichols. Mr. Nichols needed to accompany his wife to the hospital but was unsure what to do with their car and belongings. A stranger assured them that he would look after their possessions.
Mr. Nichols recognized the stranger as Bobby Knight. He was fresh from guiding Indiana University’s basketball team to the 1987 NCAA championship in New Orleans and in route to Atlanta to receive the Coach of the Year Award. Knight laid aside his position and became the servant of people in need.
5. Jesus said: The greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 23.11)
