Learning from a Giant Killer
Selected Passages
Lessons from the life of David
December 30, 2007
Evening Message
This message was written with the aid of two major sources
David: A man of Passion and Destiny by Charles R Swindoll
David: A man after God’s own heart by J. Vernon McGee
Introduction
If I asked you who the most prominent character of the Old Testament was, I would likely get a variety of answers. There are several good choices because there are so many memorable people.
Adam: He is the source of the entire human race and his failure set into motion the work of salvation
Noah: He is the ultimate survivor through a life of radical obedience to God
Abraham: He is the source of the nation of Israel and the example of living faith in God
Moses: he led the people out of their bondage in Egypt and to the Promised Land. Moses was likely the greatest leader in all of the history of Israel
Joshua: He was the great warrior leader who led the conquest of Canaan
Elijah: He was likely the greatest of all the prophets and was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire.
Of all the characters in the Bible, David has one of the most pivotal roles in Israel’s history. The life of David is recorded in sixty two chapters of the Old Testament and 59 separate references in the New Testament. (David: A man of Passion and Destiny p. 195)
Think of everything that links to David:
The succession of Saul
The unification of Israel under one king
The greatest expansion of Israel in history
The temporary subduing of the Philistines
The promise of the Messiah
The linage of Jesus
The kingdom of Israel at its apex
The family line of kings that fills Old Testament history
The construction of the temple (David planned and Solomon built)
All of these things are part of the life that David led and the legacy that he helped to create. David truly was the greatest hero of Israel’s history. He led a life of courage, compassion and contrasts. David lived a life of destiny and legacy. As we look at the life of David we learn a number of valuable lessons for life.
True greatness comes only from God (2 Samuel 7:8-9)
8 "Now then, tell my servant David, `This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. 2 Samuel 7:8-9
When chapter seven opens, David is at a time of peace. God had given him peace from all of his enemies. As David is sitting in is palace made with cedar wood, an example of his vast wealth, he becomes concerned with the Ark. He wanted to put the Ark in equally lavish housing instead of the tent in the tabernacle.
David had the desire to build a temple to house the Ark of the Covenant. He sought the counsel of Nathan, the prophet and begins to make plans for the construction of a glorious temple. Nathan returns with a message from God that David is not the man to build the temple. There was nothing wrong with David’s desire. There was nothing wrong with David wanting to pursue this task for God but he was not the man for the job.
Even when God says no to David, He reminds him of all that he has accomplished. God raised David from the sheep pen to the king’s palace. He made David into a great hero by simply being with him wherever he went. David also was given peace by God destroying his enemies. Make no mistake David was blessed by God.
God however teaches David an important lesson, greatness come only from God himself. Look at what God tells David: I will make your name great. David could do nothing to make his name great but when he allowed God to have control of his life, then he would become great.
The same is true of us as well; there is nothing that you and I can do to make ourselves great. We might be able to get some recognition here and there but to have true greatness that comes only from God.
Allow the heart of God to lead your life (1 Samuel 13:13-14, 2 Chronicles 16:9)
13 "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now 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."
Saul could have been the greatest king in the history of Israel. He had all of the gifts and graces to be an incredible leader. Saul had been a humble man before he became king but he did not remain humble. He stepped away from the leadership of God and followed his own direction. The cost was high, Saul lost his kingship and eventually his life.
Samuel identifies the kind of person David was and would become later in life. He was a man after the heart of God. What does this mean? David followed God and desired the things that God desired. David had a heart that belonged to God. Even in the midst of his greatest failures David still pursued God.
God is still searching for people who will give their hearts completely to Him.
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
This is good news for us because we can be a people after God’s own heart. The desire of God is that we would share the desires of His heart. To be a person after God’s own heart is to be someone who pursues having a heart like God’s. It is the desire to become more like Jesus. In essence, it is the pursuit of being holy.
Difficulties are meant to be faced with faith (1 Samuel 17)
4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.
Goliath was a difficulty of massive proportions. He was a one man army and no one wanted to face him in single combat. If the truth was told, Israel likely didn’t want to face the Philistine army with him at the front line. The one man juggernaut would have spelled doom for their army and they would likely loose the battle.
David hears the challenge issued by Goliath and asks for the right to face him in battle. Remember that David is a teenager at this point in his life. What a bold decision! Why did David decide to face Goliath when everyone else was afraid? Look with me at verse 45 – 47.
45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands."
David did not place his confidence in his own abilities. Instead he placed his life and his future in the hands of God. David won a much greater battle that day. He won the trust battle. We may not have to face down giants but we will face hardships and challenges. There will always be difficulties in life. We make the choice in how we will face them. David faced his difficulties with faith in God. He literally told Goliath that God was going to give him victory before the battle ever took place.
One of the biggest problems in the church today is not a lack of commitment but a lack of faith. Everything in the church rises and falls on faith. David proves this point beautifully. Look at what faith did for his life. He went from being a zero to being a hero. When everyone else was focused on their fear, David was focused on his faith. The same is true for us as well.
We have nothing and are nothing without our faith. When the church faces difficulties, this is a daily occurrence, we need to not look to our own resources and abilities; we need to look to God. Not only look to God but place our trust in Him to deliver us and guide us to be His people. We need to move from our fears to focus our faith on God.
Live a lifestyle of grace (2 Samuel 9)
9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, "I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table." (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) 11 Then Ziba said to the king, "Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do." So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was crippled in both feet. 2 Samuel 9:9-13
Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul. The ancient custom was for the new monarch to send for the former king’s family and have them executed. This would give a strong message to any who would oppose the new king and would eliminate the most likely enemies. David easily could have done this and had every right to do so.
The goal of David was to bring blessing to Mephibosheth because of his friendship with Jonathan. This is one of the most beautiful stories of grace in the Old Testament. David gives Mephibosheth everything that he lost when Jonathan died. He regained his place in the palace, he regained his place at the king’s table and he regained his rightful place in the king’s palace. Instead of death, David brings blessing. Instead of killing, David shows grace.
We too have suffered from a fall, the fall of Adam and Eve. Our fall was spiritual and it also effected us physically. Our fall has left us wounded and broken just like Mephibosheth. Just like David went to the rescue of Mephibosheth, Jesus came to our rescue with an empty tomb. Jesus now offers back to us everything that we lost from the fall, a place with Him. David shows a Christlike manner of grace.
Conclusion
Greatness comes only from God
Remember anything that brings real greatness comes only from God. It is God who makes us great, not us.
Allow the heart of God to lead your life
Let God have the leadership of your life. Allow His heart to have His way with your life
Face difficulties with faith
When difficulties arise in your life, let faith be the guiding force.
Live a lifestyle of Grace
