Lessons from the life of David
King of Israel
Part 1 - David the Shepherd
Background
Background
THEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
David was...
GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
This is a map of Israel. Before David became king, armies of neighboring nations often invaded Israel, stealing or destroying farm crops, making Israelites pay taxes to foreign kings, or even making Israelites their slaves. After David’s 40 years as king, Israel had peace, and the neighboring nations had to pay taxes to Israel.
David was...
- in Jesus' Family Tree.
- author of many Old Testament Psalms (prayer songs)
- "A man after God's own heart" - Perfect? No! David failed many times, but he always turned back to God in repentance and faith. He understood that God wants to forgive sinners.
- esteemed as Israel's greatest king. Why?
- David trusted God.
- David led the people to worship God.
- God allowed David to secure Israel’s boundaries, and give peace to the nation.
- God gave David a 500-year dynasty of 15 generations of kings after him. However, very few of those kings shared the measure of faith in God that David had.
- God promised that the Savior, the Messiah (Christ) would come from David’s family. (See Jeremiah 23:5,6; Matthew 1:1)
GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
This is a map of Israel. Before David became king, armies of neighboring nations often invaded Israel, stealing or destroying farm crops, making Israelites pay taxes to foreign kings, or even making Israelites their slaves. After David’s 40 years as king, Israel had peace, and the neighboring nations had to pay taxes to Israel.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
400 years earlier, Israel escaped from Egypt and settled in the land that God had promised Abraham and his descendants. During those 400 years, Israel had no central (or federal) government. (See the Old Testament book of Judges.) The Israelites asked the prophet Samuel to appoint a king for them, so they could "be like other nations," have a strong federal government (1 Samuel 8), and have a regular army for defense. Samuel asked God, and God told Samuel to choose Saul to be King (1 Samuel 9). Saul was young, strong, tall, humble, and he loved God.
But after he became king, Saul’s attitude changed. He rejected God’s direction. Samuel told Saul, "Your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of His people, because you have not kept the Lord's command."
POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Early in Saul’s reign, the enemies that bothered the Israel were the Ammonites, from the east. God gave Israel victory in battle against the Ammonites. But later, the Philistines in the west attacked Israel often. Because Saul had turned his back on God, Saul had more difficulty in defeating the Philistines.
Saul's son, Jonathan, loved God and he was very successful in battle (1 Samuel 14). As we will see in future lessons, David also was a soldier in Saul's army for a short time. David's success in battle made him popular, and made Saul jealous. Jonathan and David became good friends, and Jonathan protected David from Saul's attempts to kill David.
400 years earlier, Israel escaped from Egypt and settled in the land that God had promised Abraham and his descendants. During those 400 years, Israel had no central (or federal) government. (See the Old Testament book of Judges.) The Israelites asked the prophet Samuel to appoint a king for them, so they could "be like other nations," have a strong federal government (1 Samuel 8), and have a regular army for defense. Samuel asked God, and God told Samuel to choose Saul to be King (1 Samuel 9). Saul was young, strong, tall, humble, and he loved God.
But after he became king, Saul’s attitude changed. He rejected God’s direction. Samuel told Saul, "Your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of His people, because you have not kept the Lord's command."
POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Early in Saul’s reign, the enemies that bothered the Israel were the Ammonites, from the east. God gave Israel victory in battle against the Ammonites. But later, the Philistines in the west attacked Israel often. Because Saul had turned his back on God, Saul had more difficulty in defeating the Philistines.
Saul's son, Jonathan, loved God and he was very successful in battle (1 Samuel 14). As we will see in future lessons, David also was a soldier in Saul's army for a short time. David's success in battle made him popular, and made Saul jealous. Jonathan and David became good friends, and Jonathan protected David from Saul's attempts to kill David.
Where in the Bible do we
find information about David?
find information about David?
We first meet David in 1 Samuel 16. The rest of 1 Samuel is David's story before he becomes king. 2 Samuel reports the life of David as king. 1 Chronicles repeats the story of David as king, with some additional information
Who was David?
(David's Call to become King)
(David's Call to become King)
1 Samuel 16:1-13 [NIV]
The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."
But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me."
The Lord said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate."
Samuel did what the Lord said.
When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"
Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab [Jesse's oldest son] and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord."
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 man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Then Jesse called Abinadab [his second son] and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The Lord has not chosen this one either."
Jesse then had Shammah [his third son] pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the Lord chosen this one."
Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The Lord has not chosen these." So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?"
"There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."
So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.
David was the youngest of 8 brothers. Because of his age, his own family held him in low esteem.
Because David was a shepherd.
He had a lot of time alone to meditate on God's Word and God's working in his life. We see David's faith and insights on God's character expressed in his Psalms.
Because David was a shepherd.
He had a lot of time alone to meditate on God's Word and God's working in his life. We see David's faith and insights on God's character expressed in his Psalms.
Psalm 8
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens...
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
David had to battle wild animals.
1 Samuel 17:34-37
David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.
"Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine [Goliath] will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
David had to battle his own sinful heart.
1 Samuel 16:18-23
One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him."
Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." ...David came to Saul and entered his service...
Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
David became became physically strong and mentally alert.
Psalm 119:98-105
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word...
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
David became spiritually sensitive.
Psalm 139:1-6
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O Lord.
You hem me in--behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
David became a fine musician.
1 Samuel 16:18-23
One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him."
Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." ...David came to Saul and entered his service...
Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
David understood God as shepherd, and his own role as a shepherd-king.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
All these shepherding experiences prepared David to be a
- soldier,
- worship leader,
- king, and
- forerunner of the Good Shepherd, Jesus.
Principles for us
Lessons from Saul:
When God appoints a leader for His ministry, there is no guarantee that the leader will be faithful to his appointment.
When a God-appointed leader turns his back on God, God can (and will) remove him from his position of leadership.
Lessons from David's brothers:
Physical attractiveness, abilities, and social position matter little to God.
He is far more concerned that we have inner character.
Lessons from David:
The calling of God is unexpected.
God chooses to use someone
whose heart is touch with God,
whose character is reflects His character,
who is available.
God is less concerned with our ability
as he is concerned about our availability.
God enables us for ministry by giving His Holy Spirit in abundance.
When God appoints a leader for His ministry, there is no guarantee that the leader will be faithful to his appointment.
When a God-appointed leader turns his back on God, God can (and will) remove him from his position of leadership.
Lessons from David's brothers:
Physical attractiveness, abilities, and social position matter little to God.
He is far more concerned that we have inner character.
Lessons from David:
The calling of God is unexpected.
God chooses to use someone
whose heart is touch with God,
whose character is reflects His character,
who is available.
God is less concerned with our ability
as he is concerned about our availability.
God enables us for ministry by giving His Holy Spirit in abundance.