I guess one of my favorite characters in the Bible is King David.
The thing about David was that he had a heart for God – he fell into sin and he was human – in fact the things that we can look at about David that show us that he was very human.
However the very fact was that God found in Him something that was pleasing to him.
The bible says - in 1 Sam 13 ;14 the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people,
The people had called for a king - they wanted to be as the other nations - they wanted a human leader - this was never God’s desire – he wanted them to be a people that were different – that had Him as their leader – the Lord as the head over that nation.
He had appointed priests to stand in on behalf of the people - to offer sacrifices for the people’s sin that they might be able to approach God. And he appointed prophets to speak on His behalf. So the people had their human leaders – those that in a sense were extensions of God Himself. But they demanded more and asked Him for a King. Samuel the prophet was indignant at the people for calling for a human leader but God spoke to Him and said
1 Sam 8:7 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.
He appointed them their king - 1 Sam 9: 2 …… whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.
A man who was strong in the area of his human ability and his talent – the very thing that the people wanted! But it did not take long for this man to show his true colours - the first charge that was to simply wait 7 days for Samuel to come down to offer the sacrifice and to show him what to do. Saul however took matters into his own hands because Samuel seemed to be late in coming and did what he was not qualified to do and offered up the sacrifice before the people
This was the task of the priest - not the king – and he acted foolishly - just as he was doing his thing Samuel arrives and says - what have you done..
But Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,
1 Sam 9: 12- 14 therefore I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.' So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering." And Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.”But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."
The second task given to Saul was to wipe out the Amalekites. These people give us a picture of the devil – they were an evil race that would pray on the weak. Their tactics were to pick of the stragglers and to kill them. a picture of the enemy of our souls. That Jesus role was to destroy the works of the enemy – for this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the evil one. Saul - who seems to always think he knows better takes matters into his hands and rather than destroy the Amalekites. His charge was quite straight forward - destroy everything - do not let anyone or any thing survive. person or even animal. Saul however killed the majority of the people but kept the animals and even allowed the king of the Amelakites to live.
Thinking he had done a real good job he comes back to the prophet Samuel and reports on all that he had accomplished. Samuel however is not impressed and says that powerful scripture - 1 Sam 15: 22 -23 And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king."
It didn’t take long – this human leader to fall back on his own abilities and talent - he made a decision that seemed plausible - that seemed reasonable to him - that he should keep all the good stuff – after all God is reasonable..
There was a good reason why the lord wanted to destroy this evil people and Saul had failed. Ironically it is ultimately an Amalekite that takes Saul's life and reports it to David. This man Saul - even though he was obviously a strong leader was not a leader that the lord could use.
God looks for people who have a submissive and humble heart –
Saul in many ways speaks to us a human government that relies on ability and strength - interestingly the human attributes that he had – he was a head and shoulders taller than all the other people. This guy was a big fellow - his head speaks to us of his mind being strong and his shoulders of human strength. Even though he was God’s leader - he was firmly in charge.
Yet God found a man ‘after His own heart’. David - even as a young man when the Lord first found him he found this David someone that pleased him. What were the attributes of David – what was it that God found that was after his own heart. As I said earlier he had his flaws – he was very human yet there was something different about David. God so honoured him that Jesus was called the son of David. Even as a young man when the lord first found him - there was tenderness toward the lord … he would sit in the meadow watching his father’s sheep and play on his harp before the Lord.There is a connection between music and God.. In the book of revelations we see the angels around the throne of God singing and worshipping. Even Lucifer himself was created by God to be the worship leader in heaven… I believe God is attracted to worship – he is attracted to those that want to come into His presence and worship him
Worship – Greek proskuneo, pros-koo-neh'-o; mean. To kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand; to fawn or crouch to, prostrate oneself in homage - do reverence to, adore
David from youth was an interesting man.
1 Sam 16:18 "Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him."
As a young man he had a longing to sing and make music ….
David as a young man learnt that his expression of love toward God through music was a fundamental thing - an important part of his developing passion. All through David’s life we find him penning songs to the Lord - expressions of his heart to His heavenly father. in good and bad times. David would express his love for the lord through his music…
Music is powerful medium - for Good and for Bad. Often the Music that you enjoy, is a reflection of what is in your heart. Music can be a rebellious force that the enemy will use to coerce people to be filled with rage and hate… or it can be a force that can bring tremendous peace and joy.
Many of the early composers understood the power of music.Many of them were Christians that would write music that glorified God and even today as you play their music it will bring a sense of calm and peace.. Handel - for instance was a lover of God - His messiah was a reflection of his love for God – it s very inspiring piece of music. You can often tell the level of a person’s spiritual development by the music they listen to.
When I was first saved I went from very heavy rock & blues to Fisherfolk – an acoustic band from the UK that sang fairly soft gentle music… because I fell in love. When you are in love you will want to hear things that speak of that love… even in the world – when someone is in love music is often a vehicle to express that love.
I have heard it said that music is Amoral – in other words neither good nor bad – yet the closer we are to the lord – the more we will want to listen to music that attracts Him and his presence…So David was able to express his heart to the Lord through his music and song.. He had learnt the power and passion of worship. Scripture gives us a wonderful picture of David when the ark of the Lord was returning to Jerusalem – he danced before the Lord and before the people - with the sounds of trumpets and shouting. The ark of God represents in scripture - the presence of God – so David as he danced and worshipped bringing the presence of God back to the city.
What were some of the other attributes of this man after the heart of God?
The philistine giant Goliath was continually intimidating the people of God and mocking them - because of his great size he thought he was invincible. But along came a very young shepherd boy - David who asked a very simple but telling question. Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that dares to taunt the armies of the living God? He didn’t see his size or his stature and even listen to his taunts but simply he understood that he was a part of the family of the living God… and this philistine was the enemy of God.
We find David overcoming the giant – not with amour or skill but with a faith that nothing is too hard for God. He had an unshakable understanding that he and God were a majority – that it didn’t matter how high this man was - or how big he was - He could overcome him through God…It was not the stones that he threw that overcame Goliath but his faith that God would be there..
One of the attributes that David had that attracted God to him was that he simply believed him. He understood that God had promised victory and he was acting on that promise. He didn’t look at circumstances or his abilities he simply looked to God.
Circumstances will come and they will go – there is nothing surer - but if we take the Lord at His word and trust in the promises that He has given to us we cannot fail.
It is impossible to fail. The only reason we do fail is we resort to our rational thinking and we look at the circumstances and we see the giants and we see the obstacles and they are stronger and bigger to us than the promises.
David - had sight that few of us have – but all of us should and can have. He saw that God is able. The thing that attracts God to a people is when He sees that they really believe in his promises and they have not resorted to their own thinking and their own understanding.
If we contrast this to Saul who had a very substantial word from God and yet he resorted back to his own understanding.
If you have the word of the Lord and you are believing him - tests will come – in fact everything might look like he has forgotten you - or that the thing he has promises cannot come to pass - but if you are truly believing in the Lord He will do just as He said he will do. When we believe in the Lord -it is always by faith - that we get what we believe for…
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. This man – or rather this boy who had a heart after God saw a great victory for Israel - yet never do we see David saying hey look at what I did!
Another attribute that attracted God was that he considered himself nothing – many of us would race out and build a ministry Giant killers international… with a logo and letterhead... But David understood that this victory belonged to God… and all glory is His alone. He was not driven by a need for recognition or a need to affirm his status as a man - rather we find David simply returning to the sheepfold. Until he is summoned by Saul
The lord sees fit to place young David as this man’s minstrel – to play for him and I am sure to learn by watching Him. The Lord had already said to David that He was to be the king - Samuel had prophetically declared it so - yet this did not cause David to seek this position but rather - it humbled him and he simply became as a servant.
Even as we see Saul losing the plot and becoming more and more unstable and ultimately trying many times to murder David in jealous rages… we find David never lifting his hand against the king.
He was not about to undermine him either politically or literally … He was loyal even in the face of threat and possibly death - he knew that if this was God’s choice for His life then the Lord would make a way. He understood the principle that says ‘He makes a way where there is no way
But the Lord chose to use these obstacles and people as a training ground for his servant. He had big plans for David and all the things he went through - God allowed to get him ready to reign.
It is so easy to see within the church those are trying to build their kingdoms or their reputations with their abilities.
But the bible says unless the Lord builds the house we labour in vain….
If we build it or obtain it with our natural strength or skill – it will take all our skill to keep it… Humility is one of the characteristics that attracts God - 1 Peter 5:5 says
Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Humility is not about feeling lowly or rejected but is all about us having a good and proper perspective of ourselves. And seeing that others are more important than we are… Jesus was the Son of God yet he surrendered his life for humanity
Phil 2: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
He shows us that true humility is a surrendering of ourselves - and becoming a servant.
I believe that a principal that is found in scripture
Phil 2:3 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself;
Is the whole pattern of humility…? I have seen people try to seem like servants - try to look humble - but true humility is considering others
Even the lowly - the least – the no ones - the rejected - even the horrible as more important that you. If the church literally would start to do that the world would be transformed – because people would see Jesus. The thing that drew people to him was that he was humble in heart - he loved them – he cared for them - they sensed his sincerity...
People can tell when you’re faking that you like them – they can tell when you tolerate them – especially the lowly - they can see a phony at 20 paces… David was found at Adullam running from King Saul who was trying to murder him. At Adullam we find 400 men attach themselves to David.
But these were no ordinary men – the bible says 1 Sam 22: 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
These were basically 400 misfits! The Hebrew words for distress and debt and discontented could also be translated disabled in debt and bitter. So we have a group of Disabled, indebted and bitter of heart men gathering around David Men that were fugitives from the law – who were running from their responsibilities and their actions and looking for a place to belong.
And David - because of his heart transformed these very ones to become what scripture calls David’s mighty men. Men that were devoted and loved him – because they knew that he really loved them. True humility and compassion will always attract the presence of the Lord. As we worship Him and seek to humble ourselves – he will come and fill this temple. I believe that the Lord desires to come and visit our nation – He desires to push aside our barriers and our blindspots and welcome his presence.
With His presence comes refreshing and invigorating peace. Peace that passes all understanding.
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