The David Principle

Tonight I want to share a few thoughts with you about ministry from the life of David.

1) The potential of your call is not based on outward appearance. It is directly related to the internal postures of the heart.

When the Lord sent Samuel to anoint the next king over Israel Samuel looked initially through carnal eyes. 1 Samuel 16:5–11 “And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.”

David who wasn’t invited to even appear before the prophet ends up being anointed king. Not everyone in your life will understand or affirm the call of God on your life.

David was a man after God’s own heart.

God chose David because David would do whatever God wanted him to do.

Acts 13:22 “And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’”

An obvious question is how could God still call David a man after His own heart when David committed such terrible sins, including adultery and murder?

David’s Character was on display in many of the Psalms as well as the Historical books of the old testament. His life was opened up for all to examine. David’s life was a portrait of success and failure, and the biblical record highlights the fact that David was far from perfect.

But what made David a cut above the rest was that his heart was pointed toward God. He had a deep desire to follow God’s will and do “everything” God wanted him to do. He was a man after God’s own heart. :

Part of why David is called a man after God’s own heart is that he had absolute faith in God. We see this demonstrated in 1 Samuel 17 where a shepherd boy slays a giant.

David loved God’s law. Psalm 119:47–48: “For I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.”

David was a man after God’s own heart in that He was truly thankful. It is truly one of David’s finest characteristics. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:4, ESV).

After he sinned, He was truly repentant. Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance to God: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!" Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

David was a worshipper. 73 of the 150 Psalms give direct reference to David as the author. Many of those Psalms are centered around worship and giving praise to God.

David was a man of prayer and presence. He created rhythms of worship and prayer. He mediated on God’s word allowing it to permeate every aspect of who He was.

Like David the external factors in our lives do not qualify or disqualify us from the call of God. God is looking at the condition of our hearts just as He did with David. We must give attention to the internal posture of hearts to learn to exercise absolute faith in God, learning to love His word, living thankful, repentant, and as a worshipper of Jesus.

2) The anointing on David’s life didn’t propel him immediately to kingship.

After Samuel anoints David he enters into service under Saul. Saul is being tormented by a distressing spirit from the Lord. He seeks out a worshipper to play skillfully to relieve himself of the distressing spirit.

Being anointed doesn’t remove the process of growing and maturing.

God used David’s talents to bring him before the king so he could learn the nature of kingship. David was a shepherd not a king. God used David’s heart of worship to position him in the palace. He wasn’t on the throne. He was a servant. Through serving David learned what it looked like to be king.

David had a faith that was tested.

While he was a shepherd boy he killed a lion and a bear.

He fought and killed Goliath.

Saul resents David after he kills Goliath because of a song sang by women.

Saul attempts to kill David out of Jealousy multiple times, and treats David unjustly.

David served as a commander in Saul’s Army fighting his masters battles. He behaved wisely during this time.

David becomes the kings son in law.

After another attempt on his life David flee’s from the presence of Saul.

David learns to lead while he is on the run as many different people gather themselves to him.

David lived a life of honor. He could have killed Saul but didn’t want touch the Lord’s anointed.

At one point even the people he was leading turned on him and wanted to stone him.

Through all of these experiences David learns the greatest lesson of all. Trust in God. He learned covenant over physical strength. David didn’t ask to be anointed as king, he didn’t ask to become kin to the current king. He didn’t ask to be empowered with leadership. He didn’t choose to be on the run as a fugitive from Saul. He simply loved God and carried a heart of worship and obedience.

Why God allowed him to experience the things He did is for another time, but the reality is without the experiences he went through he would have probably never turned out to be the king that He was. Don’t allow what you go through in the maturing process to determine the nature of the call. Simply choose to fix your heart and mind on the Lord, and follow His lead in your life.

Your experiences are preparing you for what is to come. Don’t worry about how long before you “arrive” in a place of authority. Serve faithfully, learn, live a life of honor, and allow God to promote you in due time.

In the waiting David learned to strengthen himself in the Lord. He created habits that would lead him into the presence of God when he was distressed. He would come out with the answer and assurance.

3) The David Principle

One final area that I want to share with you about is what I call the David Principle. In 2 Samuel 24, King David errors by decreeing a census of Israel and Judah. The result of his decision brought judgement on the nation. The Lord brought a plague on the nation and 70,000 people died.

Read 2 Samuel 24:13–25. (Read)

A few leadership lessons from the story.

What you do as a leader always affects more than just you.

It is easy once your in church leadership to be generous with what doesn’t belong to you. Administration and personal sacrifice are two totally separate things. When it comes to the Lord. Do not offer to him that which cost you nothing. David could have just took the threshing floor and the items needed for the sacrifice. He said no. He would buy it a price. Without the price it would never be His offering to the Lord. Your offering to the Lord will never be replaced by your administration of His affairs.