King David

King Saul was the first king of Israel.

Saul is an example of how God reaches out to man, but all too often, man still rejects God.

Saul was chosen by God to be the first king, a man that the Israelites were looking for to lead them. God gave them what they wanted, a tall and handsome man.

God revealed himself to Saul, and gave him signs. God filled him with the Spirit to enable him to win over his enemies and deliver his people.

But Saul never received the LORD as his God. He was filled with pride. Being filled with pride, he would not accept responsibility for what he did, but blamed others. He made of show of worshiping God, but it was out of pride to look good before people.

God rejected Saul as king for his rebellion.

God is

Merciful

Gracious

Showing himself

Communicates with man

Just - disciplines and punishes

The account of King Saul is not a good one. The Spirit leaves Saul, and he is then tormented by an evil spirit. He spends the rest of his days looking out for himself and his family, but he is doomed to die.

David is the next king of Israel.

This series is an overview of the scriptures, so we will not be going in great depth in the life of David. I encourage you to read through 1 & 2 Samuel on your own. Today, I want to just give an overview of David’s life, and see what God reveals to us. In David’s life we see hope, something we sorely missed in Saul. Why? What was different? Was it that David was so much better than Saul? That David did not sin like Saul did? Most of you know, that David did sin. But there was a difference. Let’s look at that today.

King David - reigned 1011/10 - 970/960 BC

We first learn of David in 1 Samuel 16

David the Shepherd

1 Samuel 16, God sends Samuel to anoint a new man king, one after his own heart.

Samuel follows the Lords command to go to Bethlehem to anoint a son of Jesse as the next king.

Jesse had 7 sons, the first three of which were tall and handsome. God shows Samuel that he does not look on the outside but what is on the inside.

1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

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 people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

After all 7 were rejected by God, Samuel asked, and found out that there was still another son, the youngest, David. David is the one God chose, and Samuel anoints him.

David the Musician

Then we learn that Saul is tormented by an evil spirit. One of his servants knew of David from his lyre playing and songs. David is brought in to give Saul relief from the evil spirits.

David the Warrior

1 Samuel 17 is the account of David and Goliath. David emerges as a great warrior who kills tens of thousands of the Philistines. He does this not because he is so great, but because of his faith in God.

David the Wanted

1 Samuel 18 shows us how Saul began to fear David’s success, and wanted him dead. First, he tried to pin him to the wall with a spear. Then he tries to make him a targeted man by making him his son-in-law.

1 Samuel 19, Saul tells his leaders to kill David, but Jonathan intervenes. However, Saul again tries to spear David, and then sends men to kill him in his home. David escapes.

1 Samuel 20, Jonathan and David make a covenant to care for and protect one-another and their offspring. Saul plots again to kill David, but Jonathan helps him to escape.

1 Samuel 21-30, David is on the run from Saul. Twice he has the opportunity to kill Saul, but he does not, because God anointed Saul to be the king, and David knows that God will remove Saul in his time. Then, David will be king.

1 Samuel 31, Saul dies.

David the King

2 Samuel 1, David hears of the death of Saul and Jonathan, and writes a song in their honor.

2 Samuel 2-3, David becomes king of Judah, but is in a war with Saul’s remaining son, Ish-Bosheth who is ruling over Israel.

2 Samuel 4 Ish-Bosheth is murdered, and David kills the murderers.

2 Samuel 5 David becomes king over all of Israel, and conquers Jerusalem, making it the capital.

2 Samuel 6 David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.

The Davidic Covenant

1 Samuel 7 David wants to build a temple for the Lord. The prophet Nathan says go ahead, but then God speaks to Nathan and gives a message to David through him.

is the Davidic Covenant

2 Samuel 7:16 NIV

Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ”

David praises the Lord in prayer.

King David’s Glory Years

2 Samuel 8 tells us of the continuing victories over his enemies.

2 Samuel 9 tells us of his kindness to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth.

2 Samuel 10 David defeats the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 11 David does not go out to war.

David the Sinner

2 Samuel 11 David did not go out to war

David see Bathsheba

David commits adultery

Bathsheba is pregnant

David calls her husband back from the battle and tries to get him to sleep with his wife, but fails.

David sends word to Joab, his general, with a plan to ensure that Uriah dies in battle.

David takes Bathsheba as his wife.

What do we see about man?

Man

Disobeys God

Tries to cover it up

David confronted

2 Samuel 12 The Lord sends Nathan to confront David.

2 Samuel 12:7–13 NIV

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ” Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.

Why did God take away David’s sin?

Saul said, “I have sinned,” and he was not forgiven. David says it, and he is forgiven. What is the difference?

God sees the heart.

And, God has chosen to give us a glimpse into David’s heart, but including David’s repentance in the scriptures.

Psalm 51 NIV

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Where is hope?

When man owns his sin

When man repents

When man confesses

God forgives

God makes man righteous

Psalm 32 NIV

Of David. A maskil. Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

David pleads with God, repenting in sackcloth and ashes. He does not eat. The child dies.

There are still consequences for sin. David accepts those consequences humbly.

This is the difference between Saul and David. Saul did not accept the consequences humbly. That showed his heart of pride, and lack of true repentance. David accepted the consequences, owning the sin as his own, and the fault of no other. David showed true repentance. God sees the heart, and forgives and credits righteousness.

Psalm 32:1–2 NIV

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

There is hope!