King David
David is one of history’s most beloved characters! He is still, even today thought of as Israel’s greatest king! This all despite the fact that he was a seriously flawed individual. He was a known adulterer, and murderer. Yet his heart after the Lord and his noble qualities far outweigh the negative.
The life of David is too huge to fit into one class. So tonight we will be very specific in what we focus on. We will directly find the things that shaped David’s heart, specifically, the “6 C’s”.
David was born in tumultuous times. The cultural backdrop was huge for his entrance into leadership. Born the youngest of 8 sons to Jesse of Bethlehem, he grew up in a time when the identity of a people revolved around their tribal affiliation. Life centered around your village. You looked to the other villages for help, for alliances if needed. Leadership for this “loose confederacy” was the province of leaders of each tribe and village. But when any “special challenge” arose, God had anointed a unique group of folks to deal with these: THE JUDGES!
The last great Judge was Samuel the prophet. He served a crucial role in the selection of Israel’s first 2 kings! His first King was none other than Saul. Saul eventually ran afoul of God’s plan! His demise was the prologue to David’s rise. So David’s destiny was undoubtedly tied to Israel’s 1st king!
David did not have a “burning bush”. His call was neither as immediate nor as dramatic. Most leaders calls are like this. They are gradual. Sometimes they sneak upon us. Sometimes they are methodical and progressive. First it could be seen as just a direction towards some assignment. Clarification may only come after the journey has begun! Sometimes this can take years!
When Samuel went out to anoint his second King it was quite different. While he was mourning the fall of Saul God said basically “Quit crying. Go get me a new king!” So he went to Bethlehem. And we all know the story, David was the last son presented to ol’ Sam and though no one else saw ANY leadership in him, God said “this is the one”. When God wants you he will call you! No one saw it coming, but God did!
Do you think we ever define our own list of qualities for spiritual leaders that do not line up with God’s parameters? EX???:
We aren’t sure what David thought of the proceedings. Can you imagine being ripped out of work and being told “Hey we need you for this thing. You’re gonna' be a king dude, let’s go!”?????? But it was clear that 2 things happened in his heart after that day:
1- Very shortly he became very concerned with his kingdom!
2- He developed an ENORMOUS respect for the office of King.
EX: he called it “the anointed” (I Sam 12:3, 26:9)
David did not try to immediately take his throne. He did no try to overthrow anyone. He did not take his rightful place by force, even when he had the chance!! He decided to order his life around God’s call! He showed this through determination and patience. Even in his worst times, he remained undaunted in his belief that he’d be king! God had promised and God would deliver!
What about us? Are we certain enough of our calls to let it become the center of life’s experiences? Do we center out life around God’s call? Are we patient? Are we convinced? Do we have faith? Do we too believe that God has promised and God will deliver!
He finally rose to national prominence due to a “little lunch date gone bad” J! From this event David learned 3 leadership lessons:
1- Leadership took raw courage! It had to come from within and be real!
2- Many leaders will have to overcome scorn and objection. They will have to believe in themselves and accept other’s low estimations of their abilities. (EX: His brother ridiculed his desire to fight and Saul objected to it!)
3- They MUST be motivated by God’s honor and not their own!! They have to realize that the call is to serve God and themselves!
In order to become King David had to fight! He fought Goliath, Saul and his family, the Jebusites, his own son etc…. Without question his life was rough and bloody! But he ALWAYS pressed on. Had David turned away from any of these conflicts, he would have turned from his life mission!
What did he learn/ what came from the following specific conflicts:
Saul-
Absalom-
Just like David, today’s spiritual leaders will face all kinds of conflict! Some will be from outside, MOST will be from within. How well we are grounded in our faith and belief will define how we react!
Can you now see how conflict shapes our hearts!
David was not a leader who was a loner. Throughout his life he craved community. He always kept people around him. God used his community as a powerful heart-shaping tool!
I want YOU to tell me some people from David’s community who you think shaped his heart!:
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This was David’s most famous title. He truly had a passion to know God. Even when he blew it David always fell towards God! Whenever he sinned, he repented, learned and moved on! HE DID NOT LET TRAGIC MISTAKES DEFINE HIM IN A NEGATIVE WAY! That is HUGE!!!!!!!! We have such a problem with this!!!
Why do you think David was so adept at this?
It was because David had a REAL relationship with God and he always longed to have more! Their relationship was so strong that their conversations STILL inspire millions who themselves seek after God’s heart! The Psalms are like reading David’s “spiritual diary”!!
What were the key elements to this relationship?
HONESTY and PRAISE !!!!
Read Psalms 139:21 and Psalm 103:1.
David said to God whatever was on his mind! He would complain, cry, ask for help, praise or even argue! He would pray against his enemies. He would even praise himself at times!
David was REAL with God! He was honest! Whatever state of mind he was in, that is how he went to the Lord that day! Because he wanted TRUE communion with the Lord and he thought it fruitless to hide anything from God!
Once Again a Shepherd
This is one area in David’s commonplace life that I think shaped his faith. It gave him new ways to talk about the Lord of Israel! EX: protector, watches over, etc…. In the time of Moses God was seen as on the mountain and living in fire and smoke--- unapproachable. David painted a picture of a God intimately involved with and concerned for his people! Shepherding gave David some imagery that he would use to describe God’s love: Read PSALM 23…. Where do you think this came from?
This job also developed in David a wonderful and great appreciation for God’s handiwork and creation! Everything he witnessed in this lush land inspired him to worship the Lord!
We can learn SO much from David. Are you willing to be like him? Will you have his courage? Will you run from God when you fail? Will you shape your life around HIS plan and glory? Only you can make that choice!!!
Have you ever turned from God after failing? When? Why?
What surroundings inspire YOU to worship God?
In what way do you MOST relate to David?
READ as much as you can about Paul for next week!