DAVID


A. "HAVE YE NOT READ WHAT DAVID DID" - MATT. 12:3
  1. Background to this question:
    1. The disciples plucked and rubbed some ears of corn and ate
    2. That was on a Sabbath day
    3. The Pharisees saw it and found fault with it claiming that by so ding the disciples broke the Sabbath day
  2. Our Lord's answer:
    1. He called their attention to what David did when he was hungry - I Sam. 21:6
    2. In referring to what David did - eating the shewbread which only the priest was to eat, He showed that life was more important than the day; that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath day - Mark 2:27
    3. The Pharisees made a mountain out of a molehill
B. "HAVE YE NOT READ WHAT DAVID DID?"
  1. This thought-provoking question about one of the outstanding Bible characters embodies a number of important truths worthy of our prayerful consideration about the life of David:
    1. Which began in obscurity - cared for a few sheep of his father - I Sam. 17:28
    2. But David's greatness as a man of God, a great warrior had its roots in the experience of his youth when caring for the few sheep of Jesse his father - I Sam. 21:17
    3. That was the time when David learned that the true secret of usefulness and achievement is found in knowing the Lord - I Sam. 17:21-43
  2. David was a talented man:
    1. He was a minstrel - "a cunning player on the harp" - I Sam. 16:16
    2. He was a poet of first rank in sacred history; most of his Psalms are heart- touching poems
    3. He was a man of great faith - His faith won Israel many battles - saved the day of the army of Israel on many occasions - I Sam. 17
    4. David was a man of prayer - three times a day - morning, noon and evening - Ps. 5:3; 55:17
    5. He was a man of God; this in spite of his many shortcomings and sins - Acts 13:22 The critics of the Bible overlook the deep penitence of David - Ps. 55
C. A GREAT SPIRITUAL LESSON
  1. The life story of David has left upon the pages of sacred history many immortal demonstrations of the great secrets of success:
    1. A living connection with God in his early youth prepared David for the many duties of his life as a great soldier; a great king and a man of God - Eccl. 12:1-6
    2. David sinned grievously against God and God had these sins recorded faithfully
    3. But David grieved over his sins and was deeply penitent over them
  2. The true greatness of David is found in his close relationship with God - this is important:
    1. His faith in God was demonstrated in the hour of crisis; the hour of sorrow, the hour of victory and in the hour of hope for the future - Ps. 23
    2. His love for Israel made him the symbol or prototype of the King of Kings. So close was David to his people that the Lord promised to establish his throne forever and by having the Son of God perpetuate that throne - Luke 1:31-32
  3. The wonderful and abiding lesson of the life of David is found in the experience:
    1. Of all who make the god of David their God; who have faith in the God of Israel; and who dare to do exploits for God - Dan. 11:32
    2. God is no respecter of persons, what he did for and through David He will do for anyone of His children - Acts 10:34-35
    3. God had a David, He, also had an Abraham, a Jacob, a Joseph, a Daniel and a Paul
    4. So that you, dear brother and I might learn the secret of usefulness to humanity and to God, God had the life story of David recorded in sacred history
    5. This story was not one-sided, but rather complete - exposing the sins of David and extolling his many virtues
    6. All for your admonition and mine, upon whom the end of the world has come - I Cor. 10:7-11


Design © John Bryant 2011