DAVID
THE SHEPHERD KING
#1
• 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.”
– The Bible speaks of the example we have (1st
Corinthians 10:11)
– Considering
characters from the Bible can reveal truth
1 Cor
10:11
like nothing
else. It is easier
understand
Now these
things happened
to themforasusantoexample,
and
principles
truth
we seeupon
themwhom
actedthe
outends
in theof
they were
writtenoffor
ourwhen
instruction,
lives
of Bible
characters.
the ages
have
come.
– 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.
•
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.”
• 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.
• 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.”
• 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)
– The life of David is too important to refer to only on occasion,
because there is so much of it.
• 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
STARTING AT THE BEGINNING
78:70-72
•PsDavid
took the throne of Israel in about 1013 BC
70 He
also
chose
Hisofservant
And took kings
him from
thea
– He
was
in theDavid
middle
three important
during
sheepfolds;
From the
carethe
of the
ewesKingdom”
with suckling
period 71
of history
called
“United
lambs
He three
brought
him To shepherd
people,
And
– The
important
kings wereJacob
Saul His
- David
- Solomon
Israel
His inheritance.
72 begins,
So he shepherded
them according
• David’s
story really
though, amid
the
to the integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful
sound, smells, and sight of the sheep pens of his
hands.
father Jesse.
– The beginning of David’s story is told in Psalm 78:70-72
– 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
1 Sam 2:12
– The judges that had governed Israel for some 300 years were
dead
Now
sons
of Eli
were
men;
they did
not
– Eli,the
a godly
man,
served
as worthless
High Priest for
a number
of years
and the
thenLORD
he died, leaving two sons to take over his job who were
know
totally unqualified for the job.
– The Bible says of them (1st Samuel 2:12)
– 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.
BACKGROUND LEADING UP TO
1 Sam 8:1-3
DAVID
And it came about when Samuel was old that he
• In
the period prior to Israel’s great kings, the
appointed his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of
country
was
downward
away from
his firstborn
was on
Joel,aand
the name ofslide
his second,
God
Abijah;. they were judging in Beersheba. 3 His sons,
however,
not walk
in his
turned became
aside after
• A
youngdidboy
whom
Eliways,
hadbut
taught
dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice
judge
– his name was Samuel
– Sadly, Samuel repeated the mistakes of Eli (1st
Samuel 8:1-3)
– 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.
BACKGROUND LEADING UP TO
DAVID
• In the period prior to Israel’s great kings, the
1 Sam 8:18-20
country
was on a downward slide away from God .
"Then you will cry out in that day because of your king
• A
young boy whom Eli had taught became judge –
whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD
his
name
Samuel
1 Sam
8:5 wasyou
will
not
answer
in that day." 19 Nevertheless, the
and
they
said
"Behold,
you have
grown
old,
refused
tohim,
listen
tothat
the voice
ofbegan
Samuel,
they
• Itpeople
was
at
this to
low
time
Israel
toand
begand
for a
your "No,
sonsbut
do there
not walk
in be
ways.
Now
king
said,
shall
a king
us,appoint
20around
thatawe
king
that
they
might
beyour
like
theover
nations
for us
to judge
usalllike
all
the nations."
also
may
be
like
the
nations,
that our king may judge
about them.
us and
go out before us and fight our battles."
st
– 1 Samuel 8:5
– Samuel warned them where this desire would lead … 1
Samuel 8:18-20 … they would not listen – later this
would come back to haunt them
BACKGROUND LEADING UP TO
DAVID
• In the period prior to Israel’s great kings, the country was on
a downward slide away from God .
• A young boy whom Eli had taught became judge – his name
was Samuel
• It was at this low time that Israel began to beg for a king that
they might be like the nations around about 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.
1
Sam 15:1-3
15:10-15
1 Sam
BACKGROUND LEADING UP TO
Then
the wordsaid
of the
LORD
came
to Samuel,
11you
" I regret
Then Samuel
to Saul,
" The
LORD
sent mesaying,
to anoint
as
DAVID
that
have
made
Saul
king,
for he
has
turned back
following
king Iover
His
people,
over
Israel;
now
therefore,
listenfrom
to the
words
• the
In
the
period
to says
Israel’s
great
kings,
country
was
on a was
downward
Me
and
has
not
carried
outthe
My
commands."
And
Samuel
of
LORD.
2 prior
"Thus
LORD
of the
hosts,
'I will
punish
Amalek
slide away from God .
for what he and
did to
Israel,
he LORD
set himself
against
on the
way
distressed
cried
outhow
to the
all night.
12 him
Samuel
rose
• A young boy whom Eli had taught became judge – his name was
while
hethe
wasmorning
coming to
upmeet
from Egypt.
3'Now
go and
Amalek
and
early
in
Saul; and
it was
told strike
Samuel,
saying,
Samuel
utterly
destroy
has,
andbegan
do he
not
spare
him;
but
putthey
tofor
death
• It was
at this
lowthat
timehe
that
Israel
toset
begup
fora
amonument
king
that
might
"Saul
came
to all
Carmel,
and
behold,
beman
likethen
the
around
about
them.onoxdown
both
andnations
woman,
child
and infant,
and sheep,
camel
himself,
turned
and
proceeded
to Gilgal."
13 and
Samuel
• A key to understanding some of what is written in 1 Samuel is noticing
donkey.'
came
Saul, between
and Saul
said
toDavid
him, " Blessed are you of the
the to
contrast
Saul
and
LORD!
have
carried
out the
command
ofclosed
the LORD."
• Let’s Itake
a look
at a point
in Saul’s
life that
the door14
onBut
his
1
Sam
15:9
leadership
caused
God
reach
out forof
David.
This willinset
Samuel
said,and
" What
then
is to
this
bleating
the sheep
mytheears,
stage
for
the
lifepeople
story ofspared
David. Agag and the best of the sheep, the
But
Saul
and
the
and –the
lowing15:1-3,
of the9 oxen which I hear?" 15 Saul said, "They
1
Samuel
oxen,
the fatlings,
the
lambs,
all that was
good,
and were
not the
have– brought
from
the and
Amalekites,
for the
people
spared
1 Samuelthem
15:10-15
willing to• destroy
but command
everything
despised
and
said, them
“I and
have utterly;
carried
of the
LORD”
- Had
he? God;
best of theSaul
sheep
oxen,outtothesacrifice
to
the
LORD
your
• He
blames
theutterly
people destroyed.
worthless,
that
they
but the
rest
destroyed."
– Did
youwe
alsohave
noticeutterly
Saul’s reference
to God? He called the Almighty “LORD
your God …” Saul did not have a relationship with God himself.
BACKGROUND LEADING UP TO
DAVID
•1 Sam
In the 15:17-19
period prior to Israel’s great kings, the country was on a downward
slide away from God .
Samuel
said, "Is it not true, though you were little in your own
• A young boy whom Eli had taught became judge – his name was
1
Sam
15:20-21
eyes,
you
were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And
Samuel
Saul
said
Samuel,
" Iover
did obey
the
of
•Then
It was
at this
lowto
time
that Israel
began
to beg
for
aand
kingthe
thatthe
they might
the
LORD
anointed
you
king
Israel,
18voice
LORD
be like and
the nations
around
about
them.
LORD,
went
on
theand
mission
on
which
the LORD
sentthe
sent
you
on
a
mission,
said,
'
Go
and
utterly
destroy
• A key to understanding some of what is written in 1 Samuel is noticing
me,
have
brought
back
the kingthem
of Amalek,
andare
sinners,
the
Amalekites,
andAgag
fight against
until they
theand
contrast
between
Saul
and
David
destroyed
Amalekites.
21obey
"But
the
people
•have
Let’sutterly
take a look
at "Why
a pointthe
in Saul’s
that
closed
the
door
on his
exterminated.'
19
then
didlife
you
not
the
voice
of
leadership
andthe
caused
God
to reach
out
for David.
This will set
the
took
some
of
spoil,
sheep
and
oxen,
the
choicest
of
the in
the
LORD,
but
rushed
upon
the
spoil
and
did
what
was
evil
stage for the life story of David.
destruction,
sacrifice
thepartial
LORD
your
the
of verses
the to
LORD?"
•things
In sight
thedevoted
next
Samuel
makes to
it clear
to Saultothat
obedience
is not
God
at considered
Gilgal." by God as obedience
– 1 Samuel 15:17-19
• Cafeteria religion
– Saul for the moment stuck with his original excuse (1 Samuel 15:20-21)
BACKGROUND LEADING UP TO
DAVID
• In the period prior to Israel’s great kings, the country was on a downward
slide away from God .
• A young boy whom Eli had taught became judge – his name was
1 Samuel
Sam 15:22-23
"Has
as much
in that
burnt
• Samuel
It was atsaid,
this low
timethe
thatLORD
Israel began
to begdelight
for a king
they might
be like theand
nations
around about
offerings
sacrifices
As in them.
obeying the voice of the
• A key to understanding some of what is written in 1 Samuel is noticing
LORD?
Behold,
to obey
is better
the contrast
between
Saul and
David than sacrifice, And to
ofpoint
rams.
23 "For
rebellion
theonsin
• heed
Let’s than
take athe
lookfat
at a
in Saul’s
life that
closed is
theas
door
his
andAnd
caused
God to reach out
for
David.
Thisand
will set the
ofleadership
divination,
insubordination
is
as
iniquity
stage for the life story of David.
Because
you have
rejected
the
word
the obedience
• idolatry.
In the next
verses Samuel
makes
it clear to
Saul
that of
partial
is not considered
by God
as obedience
LORD,
He has also
rejected
you from being king."
• 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
– God wants our obedience – not just our worship!
– Half hearted obedience is a big sin – Samuel called it rebellion
1 Sam 15:27-31
As Samuel turned to go,Saul seized the edge of his robe,
and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, " The LORD has torn
the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your
• In the period prior to Israel’s great kings, the country was on a downward slide away from
God .
neighbor,
who is better than you. 29 "Also the Glory of Israel
• A young boy whom Eli had taught became judge – his name was Samuel
not
lie low
or time
change
His
mind;
for
not
amight
manbethat
He
• will
It was
at this
that Israel
began
to beg
for He
a kingisthat
they
like the
nations
around about
them. His mind." 30 Then he said, "I have sinned;
should
change
• A key to understanding some of what is written in 1 Samuel is noticing the contrast
Saul
and
Davidme now before the elders of my people and
but
please
honor
1between
Sam
15:26
• Let’s take a look at a point in Saul’s life that closed the door on his leadership and caused
before
Israel,
and
go
back
with
me,
I may
But
Samuel
said
toThis
Saul,
"I
willstage
notforthat
return
with
you; forthe
God to
reach
out for
David.
will set
the
the life
story
ofworship
David.
• LORD
In the have
next
verses
Samuel31
makes
itSamuel
clear of
to Saul
that
partial
obedience
is not
considered
your
God."
So
went
back
following
Saul,
you
rejected
the
word
the
LORD,
and
the
LORD
by God as obedience
Saul
worshiped
the
LORD
• and
No, Saul,
you
did NOT
destroy
the Amalekites
– you
spared the CHIEF Amalekite,
has
rejected
youutterly
from
being
king over
Israel."
BACKGROUND LEADING UP TO
DAVID
•
and your cover up is no good either
God ultimately rejects half-hearted obedience … 1 Samuel 15:26
–
–
–
Saul makes a lame attempt at repentance, but it proves too little, too late (1 Samuel 15:27-28 )
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
• As we study the life of David we need to consider a couple
of questions 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 representation on just exactly what God wants
from us.
– Both kings, at times, disobeyed
– Yet, one was accepted 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)
1 Kings
14:7-8
• David
was not perfect
Go, say
to the
Jeroboam,
says
LORD God of Israel,
• But
right attitude'Thus
and desire
wasthe
there
• MoreI than
anything
David
wanted
to do the
whatpeople
was right and
- he did
not
" Because
exalted
you
from
among
made
always do it, for he was weak like you and me
leader
My people
Israel,
8 and
kingdom
• you
What
is it over
that God
is looking
for in
mentore
andthe
women
today?
away
the house
Whatfrom
pleases
Him? of David and gave it to you — yet
you
been
Mywho
servant
David,
who
keptheart.
My
– have
God isnot
looking
for like
people
will give
Him their
whole
– God is looking and
for people
will surrender
their
lives totoHim
commandments
who who
followed
Me with
all whole
his heart,
Are you
kind was
of person?
do–only
thatthat
which
right in My sight;