THE BACKGROUND - DAVID (1)

INTRODUCTION

Someone once said, “As we consider the record of Bible characters, how often we find ourselves looking into a mirror. We are humiliated by the reminder of how many times we have failed.”

1 Corinthians 10:11 ASV 1901

11 Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

Considering characters from the Bible can reveal truth like nothing else.

It is easier for us to understand principles of truth when we see them acted out in the lives of Bible characters.

With this in mind, we are going to embark on a study of the life of David – there is written more about David than any other character in the whole Bible.

A fact sheet on David

David’s name appears 1034 times in the Bible - 28 books contain reference to him (42% of the 66 books)

66 chapters tell the story of David

The story of Abraham and Joseph in 14 chapters each

The life of David is too important to refer to only on occasion, because there is so much of it.

There is so much of David’s life we can relate to

In the course of his time on earth, David was a shepherd, a musician, a songwriter, a poet, a warrior, a servant in Saul’s court, a fugitive, a king, a saint, a sinner, a lover, an adulterer, a father, a type of the Messiah, a prophet, a husband, a success, and a failure.

In each of these capacities David encountered in life – he did so in much the same way we do – he struggled.

David is the young shepherd who killed a giant – yet, fell prey to his own lustful impulses toward a woman.

He is the king who killed thousands of men – including the righteous husband of the woman who was carrying his child.

David’s life was not all success – he experienced bitter failure, and yet, his life was ultimately a glory to God.

How could that be? Well, I hope that is one of the things we learn as we study the life of David.

DISCUSSION

STARTING AT THE BEGINNING

David took the throne of Israel in about 1013 BC

He was in the middle of three important kings during a period of history called the “United Kingdom”

The three important kings were Saul - David - Solomon

David’s story really begins, though, amid the sound, smells, and sight of the sheep pens of his father Jesse.

The beginning of David’s story is told in...

Psalm 78:70–72 ASV 1901

70 He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds: 71 From following the ewes that have their young he brought him, To be the shepherd of Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. 72 So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

But we need to go back even farther than this if we are to understand the man and his times.

In order to understand God’s calling of David, we have to go back some 40 years, beyond the calling of Israel’s first king, Saul.

BACKGROUND LEADING UP TO DAVID

In the period prior to Israel’s great kings, the country was on a downward slide away from God

The judges that had governed Israel for some 300 years were dead

Eli, a godly man, served as High Priest for a number of years and then he died, leaving two sons to take over his job who were totally unqualified for the job.

The Bible says of them...

1 Samuel 2:12 ASV 1901

12 Now the sons of Eli were base men; they knew not Jehovah.

Apparently Eli, while a godly man himself, did not teach his sons and so pass on the faith. What about today?

The sons of Eli were thieves, immoral, and caused the people to abhor the worship of God – as a result, God called for the death of Hophni and Phinehas.

A young boy whom Eli had taught became judge – his name was Samuel

Sadly, Samuel repeated the mistakes of Eli...

1 Samuel 8:1–3 ASV 1901

1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

It has been said that the church is never more than one generation away from extinction – this is certainly true if we do not pass our faith on to our children.

It was at this low time that Israel began to beg for a king that they might be like the nations around about them.

1 Samuel 8:5 ASV 1901

5 and they said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

Samuel warned them where this desire would lead…

1 Samuel 8:18–20 ASV 1901

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye shall have chosen you; and Jehovah will not answer you in that day. 19 But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay: but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

They would not listen – later this would come back to haunt them

A key to understanding some of what is written in 1 Samuel is noticing the contrast between Saul and David

You see, Saul was the people’s choice, and 40 years later David would be God’s choice

If you want to get a good idea as to whether it is best to insist on your own choice or God’s – contrast the outcome of the reigns of Saul and David.

Let’s take a look at a point in Saul’s life that closed the door on his leadership and caused God to reach out for David. This will set the stage for the life story of David.

1 Samuel 15:1–3 ASV 1901

1 And Samuel said unto Saul, Jehovah sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of Jehovah. 2 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

1 Samuel 15:9 ASV 1901

9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

1 Samuel 15:10–15 ASV 1901

10 Then came the word of Jehovah unto Samuel, saying, 11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And Samuel was wroth; and he cried unto Jehovah all night. 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a monument, and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal. 13 And Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of Jehovah: I have performed the commandment of Jehovah. 14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

Saul said, “I have performed the commands of Jehovah” - Had he?

He blames the people

Did you also notice Saul’s reference to God?

Speaking to Samuel, he called the Almighty “Jehovah thy God …”

Saul did not have a relationship with God himself.

In the next verses Samuel makes it clear to Saul that partial obedience is not considered by God as obedience

1 Samuel 15:17–19 ASV 1901

17 And Samuel said, Though thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Jehovah anointed thee king over Israel; 18 and Jehovah sent thee on a journey, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. 19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of Jehovah, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah?

Saul for the moment stuck with his original excuse

1 Samuel 15:20–21 ASV 1901

20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of Jehovah, and have gone the way which Jehovah sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God in Gilgal.

No, Saul, you did NOT utterly destroy the Amalekites – you spared the CHIEF Amalekite, and your cover up is no good either

1 Samuel 15:22–23 ASV 1901

22 And Samuel said, Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

God wants our obedience – not just our worship!

Half hearted obedience is a big sin – Samuel called it rebellion

God ultimately rejects half-hearted obedience…

1 Samuel 15:26 ASV 1901

26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

Saul makes a lame attempt at repentance, but it proves too little, too late...

1 Samuel 15:27–28 ASV 1901

27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, Saul laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, and it rent. 28 And Samuel said unto him, Jehovah hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou.

That “neighbor” would be a young boy, still at this time, at home with his parents in Bethlehem – David

David, by the providence of God, because of the disobedient attitude of Saul, would be the next king.

CONCLUSION

As we study the life of David we need to consider a question that I believe this study will address

What is God looking for in us?

What does it take to please God?

A comparison between the lives of David and Saul gives a tremendous expose on just exactly what God wants from us.

Both kings, at times, disobeyed

Yet, one was excepted and the other rejected – WHY?

Some years after the death of King David, God makes a statement about David that will clear up this mystery...

1 Kings 14:7–8 ASV 1901

7 Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, 8 and rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee; and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes,

David was not perfect

But the right attitude and desire was there

More than anything David wanted to do what was right - he did not always do it, for he was weak like you and me

What is it that God is looking for in men and women today? What pleases Him?

God is looking for people who will give Him their whole heart.

God is looking for people who will surrender their whole lives to Him

Are you that kind of person?