David - Shepherd Boy, Musician, Worshipper

 

Bible Character Study  [David]

Shepherd boy, musician, worshipper

Ever met a man who thrives in adversities, well meet David. An abandoned out-of-town duty of tending sheep became military, music and theology schools. A lion or bear comes after his sheep, he goes for the animal.

Night time was for music training all the while loving God and writing poetry for him.

Beloved, perspective matters; you are only disadvantaged, if you think so. Turn your adversities to testimonies.

*But David persisted. "I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats," he said. "When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! [1sam 17:34-36]*

*In the same way all seven of Jesse's sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Then Samuel asked, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse replied. "But he's out in the fields watching the sheep and goats." "Send for him at once," Samuel said. "We will not sit down to eat until he arrives."[1Sam 16:10-11]*

*But when David's oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. "What are you doing around here anyway?" he demanded.."What about those few sheep you're supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!" "What have I done now?" David replied. "I was only asking a question! [1Sam 28-29]*

*You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments.[Amos 6:5]*

*skill and anointing*

Some portray skills and anointing as being mutually exclusive, but that is not true. God does not need you to be skill-less for him to use you.

David was anointed, he had a relationship with God, yet he possesses well honed skills in warfare, shepherding (management) and music. *Beloved, never undervalue personal and professional development, God values it.*

*Saul said to his attendants, Find someone who plays well and bring him to me. One of the servants answered, I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him [1Sam 16:17-18]*

*It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.  [Psalms 18:32-34]*

*Facing Goliath*

David and Goliath is one of the best known stories in the Bible, a most unlikely outcome. While we consider it a David-Goliath fight, David saw it differently.

It was a God-Goliath fight to him and the outcome was as clear as day in his mind.

He only saw the greatness of God and not the size of Goliath. *If only we can consistently learn to put God in view, we will be saved of the so many worries we carry*.

*David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"[1Sam 17:26]*

*Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine[1Sam 17:36-37]*

*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. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 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."[1Sam 17:45-47]*

*Understanding God*

A major reason for David's success was his understanding and knowledge of God beyond the letters of the law. He ate the showbread and gave his men to eat because he knew God is a good God who sees the heart.

It was the same understanding of God that prevented him from hurting Saul because no man will go unpunished by shedding (anointed) blood to achieve selfish aims. Beloved, take time to know God, it has great benefits.

*And the priest answered David and said, "There is no common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least kept themselves from women." Then David answered the priest, and said to him, "Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was sanctified in the vessel this day." So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread which had been taken from before the LORD [1Sam 21:4-6]*

*And he said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD."  So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. [1Sam 24:6-7]*

*Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice." 

But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? [1sam 26:8-9]*

*As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed...  let's go." [1Sam 26:10-11]*

*Costly mistake*

One moment of indiscretion and David brought untold problems to himself and his family. If only he had gone to war like he was supposed to. Truth is God forgave him and still loved him, but his adultery and murder reaped for him death disgrace and loss of children.

The devil is looking for inroads beloved, don't give him an opening. A little sin can bring a tsunami harvest. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

*Vs1-In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army*

*Vs2- But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing*.

*VS 3- The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite."*

*Vs4- In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, "Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die." [2Sam 11:1-4]*

*Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.' "This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.'" [2 Sam 12:10-11]*

*Giant Killers*

I believe the most important duty of a leader is to raise other leaders and David exemplified this perfectly. Several of the valiant men of David were giant killers like him, unlike Saul who could not produce one giant killer.

More impressive, is the caliber of men who were raised by David: the debtors, disgruntled etc and they became mighty men, that is leadership. *Develop those under you beloved*. 

*During another battle at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of his spear was as thick as a weaver's beam! [2Sam 21:19]*

*So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men. [1Sam 22:1-2]*

*These are the names of David's mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. [2Sam 23:8]*

*A lasting covenant*

A covenant of mercy, permanent king on throne and forbear of Christ. David caught something. Even though he was not perfect, he was always in good standing before God because of his heart.

He did not become big in his eyes, nothing was too big to give to God and when he did miss it, once it was pointed to him, he genuinely repented. *Beloved, guard your heart, keep it simple*.

*The Lord said, "I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant. I have sworn this oath to him: 'I will establish your descendants as kings forever; they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.'" [Psalms 89:3-4]*

*Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David. Indeed I have given him [as] a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people. [Isaiah 55:3]*

*In that day the heir to David's throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place. [Isaiah 11:10]*