Shiloh Sunday Service (Sep 15th 2019)
Speaker: Pastor James Park
Sermon: "A Man After God's Heart: The Life of David (Part 3)"
Scripture Reading: Psalms 18:28; Acts 13:22
Seeking fellowship with God
David in Hebrew is “דָּוִד (Dawid),” meaning “beloved and friend.” Truly David was loved by God and had a special and intimate relationship with God so much that God says to David; “You are after my own heart.” Thus the secret to being loved by God is to seek God’s heart and His will. Thus, David became God’s lamp and God fulfilled His will through David, and Jesus Himself came as the offspring and the descendant of Abraham and David (Matt 1:1). David was a pathway where the Messiah could come into this world. We too need to be this pathway as we come upon our general assembly. God does not need a lot of people for He is looking for that one that is truly intimate with Him and spending time in fellowship with our Lord through the Word and prayer.
Summary of the life of David
Born in 1040 BC, David lived to 970 BC for a total of 70 years. At the age of 15 in the year 1025 BC, David has his first anointing and receives the promise of becoming king. Then, from the year 1020 – 1010 BC, David experienced a ten-year refuge from King Saul. Thus, before he became king over Israel, there was a period of suffering and trial for David. This teaches us that success does not come overnight for there is a process and training in the wilderness that God wants to take us through to mold and refine us into a vessel for His use. At the age of 30 in 1010 BC, David becomes anointed for the second time and becomes King at Hebron and reigns for seven years to 1003 BC. At the age of 37 years old, David receives his third anointing and becomes king of the united monarchy; over all of Israel in 1003 BC. It was during this time that God established a covenant with David as the “Lamp of God.” Thus, after becoming king over the entire nation of Israel, God established the “Covenant of the lamp” with David.
David’s childhood until his first anointing
David had the influence of a godly mother which he learned humility. David was a shepherd and took care of the small things and he went unnoticed being the youngest of his Father Jesse’s sons. However, he was faithful and humble in the things that were given to him. David also had the influence of the Prophet Samuel. Samuel became the official prophet over Israel at the age of 30 and he lived from 1132 BC until 1015 BC for a total of 117 years (1 Sam 4:1). For 25 years of his life, he lived with David from 1040 to 1015 BC and had a fatherly influence on David and transmitted his faith and was the one who anointed David. However, Samuel died in the middle of David’s fleeing from King Saul. So, during David’s childhood, he had the influence of a godly mother and a spiritual father like Samuel in which God was training him up.
Likewise, we need to transmit our faith to our descendants as Abraham was commanded to do (Gen 18:18-19). As parents, we need to teach the Word of God diligently to our children (Deu 6:7). We must train up a child in the Lord when they are young so that they will not depart from the faith (Prov 17:22). This teaches us that having a spiritual mentor is very important to guide us. God’s history of redemption is according to God’s exact plan and God has called us for this very moment in time just as He delivered Israel on that very day after 430 years (Ex 12:40-41). Likewise, Jesus came at the fullness of time according to God’s plan (Gal 4:4).
David’s rise and Saul’s fall
Saul’s reasoning for wanting to kill David was due to his victory over Goliath for David becomes known to the people publicly (1 Sam 17:45-58). David went from being unknown to the most popular person in the nation in a moment. When God raises us up all it takes is one moment and no man can bring us down. When we try and elevate ourselves, it will all come tumbling down for it is God who builds the house and when He builds the house, it is enduring (Psa 127:1-2). Secondly, the women praised David saying, “Saul has killed thousands and David has killed ten thousand,” which caused Saul to become jealous (1 Sam 18:7-11). Thirdly, Saul pursues David and he begins his ten years of flight from Saul from 1020 – 1010 BC. For God forsook Saul and was now raising up David (1 Sam 19:11).
David’s rise and Saul’s fall
Saul’s reasoning for wanting to kill David was due to his victory over Goliath for David becomes known to the people publicly (1 Sam 17:45-58). David went from being unknown to the most popular person in the nation in a moment. When God raises us up all it takes is one moment and no man can bring us down. When we try and elevate ourselves, it will all come tumbling down for it is God who builds the house and when He builds the house, it is enduring (Psa 127:1-2). Secondly, the women praised David saying, “Saul has killed thousands and David has killed ten thousand,” which caused Saul to become jealous (1 Sam 18:7-11). Thirdly, Saul pursues David and he begins his ten years of flight from Saul from 1020 – 1010 BC. For God forsook Saul and was now raising up David (1 Sam 19:11).
Conclusion: The one who seeks to build the church is the one after God’s heart (Matt 6:33; Eph 2:21-22). Therefore a seeking after worldly things first, we need to seek Him first and He will add all things to us. Secondly, we need to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). Thirdly, the one who evangelizes is after God’s heart for God’s heart is seeking the lost (Luke 19:10). Through the wilderness training, David was able to confess to God and said; “You are my rock and refuge and my shield and you Father illumines my darkness” (Psa 18:1-6, 28). God’s Word will take away all of our darkness and we will become a shining lamp before God.
