AUTHORITY IN THE EARLY LIFE OF DAVID

A man after God’s own heart Epitaphs of David A man after God’s own heart 1 Samuel 13:14b The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart Acts 13:22 I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all My will

Served the purpose of God in his generation   Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep…

David, My servant   Pslam 89:20a I have found David my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him.

Early Difficulties Samuel’s Fear 1 Samuel 16:1,2a Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons”. But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it he will kill me”.

Samuel’s Assessment 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart”.

Saul 1 Samuel 17:33 Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth”.

The army’s fear of Goliath 1 Samuel 17:10,11 Again the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together”. When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

Problems at the battle scene Big Brother 1 Samuel 17:28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle”.  

Accolades bring jealousy 1 Samuel 18:6-9 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. 7 As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands,     and David his tens of thousands.” 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.

Bringing God into the fray FACE OFF   Bringing God into the fray 1 Samuel 17:36,37a Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God. And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine”.

Trash talk vs God talk 1 Samuel 17:42-4742 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!” 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 deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, 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.”

To the battle line 1 Samuel 17:48-54 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath[a] and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp. 54 David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.

Why were people drawn to David?   1 Samuel 16:12b,13a And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he”. Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Took a stand, a risk, a responsibility. Courageous faith “The fellowship of the Unashamed”

Great leaders inspire. Winners train, losers complain. Leadership Great leaders inspire. Winners train, losers complain.   Leaders maintain a hopeful attitude, even in the face of discouraging setbacks, constant criticism and abundant opposition. People don’t follow discouraged leaders; they follow those with persistent hope. A leader takes people where they otherwise would not go. People would rather follow someone who is real than someone who is ‘right all the time’.

David, Also a follower 1 Samuel 17:15 He did what his father told him to do, which involved being bi-vocational for a while. “But David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock at Bethlehem.”

Carried out Saul’s orders 1 Samuel 18:5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered (acted wisely); and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

Followed Jonathan’s counsel. 1 Samuel 19:7 Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these words. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as formerly.  

More reasons people are drawn to David   Steadfast submission to authority, even under extreme duress. Everyone loves a musician! And look who was helping him compose songs! He accepted the riff-raff of society and molded them into a loyal band of valiant warriors. He endured the big shots, the “sons of Zeruiah” (his cousins). Behind all this was a man with a deep personal relationship with God. Psalm 23

Final Thoughts Most Christians will profess to be under God’s authority but when it comes time to recognize authority expressed in human leadership, it suddenly gets a lot harder. We like being a servant, until we’re treated like one.   This is true of loving God vs loving people, being honest with God vs being honest with people; Christian values with their foundation in God tend to get tested in human community. Can the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22,23) be developed without fellowship/community? Join a home group. “Iron sharpens iron.” Mingle w/children. Eat some food that you didn’t choose. Become one of Christ’s Mighty Men and Women (2 Samuel 23:8-24; Heb 11.)