Sunday Message, July 4, 2010
Series: Walk Through the Bible
Title: The Making of a Godly Man David
Scripture: 1 Samuel 16: 1-13
When you first meet someone what do you tend to look for which makes them attractive to you?
Physical appearance possessions - talents education life style intelligence accomplishments faith potential character
How would you like to be judged by others?
What does God look at when he looks at us? What is he looking for?
This is one of the most important questions to ask ourselves.
And just as important to have a good answer for this question.
Hopefully we will begin to answer this question today as we look into Gods word.
God is looking for someone he could use to lead his people-
Last week on our journey we looked at the first King of Israel the people demanded a King and God gave them what they were longing for even though he told them what you want is not the best for you he even clearly warned them that if you go down this path it will lead to disaster.
They decided they knew better than God and got what they wanted.
Saul great potential but he had no heart for God- God gave him opportunity to follow him gave him guidance and revealed himself but Saul rejected God lived for himself pride ruled his life and the kingdom was taken from him.
(1 Samuel 13:13-14 NIV) [13] "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. [14] But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD'S command."
There is a clear clue in this statement which should get our attention the person God looks for is that individual who has a heart for God.
The next King we know will not be like Saul there will be one major difference he will be a man after Gods own heart- Saul did not have a heart for God he went through the motions but it was merely a game to him- he followed his own path to destruction.
We know who this man is- this should help us determine what God looks for the next King is David This is who Samuel was talking about he didnt know it was David specifically at his time but he knew whoever this King was going to be he would be a man after Gods own heart.
One of Samuels last assignments is to go and anoint this next King- find this person
1 Samuel 16: 1-13
God tells him to go to the family of Jesse in Bethlehem. He has the father bring in his sons the first one the oldest would be the most logical choice
Look at your response to the question in the reflection questions - what gets your attention- what do you look for in others. How much is outward appearance?
Older hopefully more responsible- more experience in that culture the oldest was given more of the family fortune so this great honour should be given to him. Their culture and tradition looked to the oldest to take on greater responsibility and greater inheritance.
But God doesnt adhere to our cultural practices and traditions what we have done for years or centuries as a people may not line up with Gods choice and desire for us.
Just because we have always done it this way does not mean God is bound by our practices.
We may say well this is our culture this is the way we have been conditioned if our practice or the practices of a culture is not in line with Gods desire and practice we abandon our cultural practices.
We live in a culture that at one time was very much influenced by Judeo/ Christian morals and values but over the past generation 50-100 years we have embraced a moral code that is post Christian and at times anti - Christian- to go along with what everyone is doing or what our culture is practicing will cause us to go against Godly practices.
Sexual promiscuity is generally a norm everyone so they say is having sex before marriage- we see it in the movies on TV- last week on the news they were given out condoms to a grade one class and it was a point of debate if that would be acceptable.
Homosexuality is presented as an acceptable alternative lifestyle to speak against it as not following Gods desire sexual behaviour is a not tolerated in the eyes of the world intolerant judgmental But Gods word clearly presents Gods view that such practices are not his plan desire for us will we follow the cultural practices?
Whatever your cultural background you need to evaluate your own practices behaviour in light of Gods truth does it line up with how God would desire me to live?
When Samuel comes I believe he is a bit more than surprised when the oldest son comes in -he looks good enough to be a King the people would accept him as it goes along with their expectations- but God says no he is not the one I have chosen.
Bring in the next son he too is passed over bring in all the sons 7 of them- and Samuel must have thought did I get the message wrong this is the right family do you have any other son?
Yes the youngest but he is too young doesnt fit the profile of a King- he likes to write to poetry plays music he is out looking after the sheep a job given to someone who couldnt do any thing else- he is inexperienced in battle he is young the youngest- he certainly is not King material- he doesnt look like a King act like a King what will the people think?
Samuel say bring him in he come in and God says this is my man. Samuel anoint him as the coming King.
What set him apart from all the rest - He is a man after my own heart.
Man looks on the outward appearance - God looks upon the heart. Vs 16: 7
We first judge people by outward appearance especially in our culture- Appearance is a multi - billion dollar industry- our economy needs us to buy into the view that looks is all that matters.
From the top of our head products to colour our hair- grow our hair style our hair remove our hair to cosmetics to look younger look tanned perfume to smell good body lotion to manicures facials lifts - tucks diets to look slim- cloths we wear to make a statement I am cool so I paid 10 more for the designer brand.
Now I am not down on looking good I am glad most of us use deodorant -
But to present it as this is the most important quality in your life and this is the number one criteria you should look for- Leads to major problems of self esteem- personal identity crisis feeling rejected beautiful people are looked upon as ugly because they are not a size 0.
Leads to physiological issues with anorexia - obsessed with outward appearance destroys the inner life.
It leads to relationship destruction many marriages the guy or gal are obsessed with outward appearance this is their number one criteria the hottest looking girl or the hunk .
I am not down on good looking people but I hope there is more to you than just the outward appearance.
As we have focused on the outward the divorce rate has increased this is a contributing factor see we may marry the best looking girl in high school but 10 15 years later somehow many of them do not look the same.
Many go out looking for looks again.
When you look for someone look beyond the looks you may be in for a big surprise or find there is more or even less under the skin.
Look at Saul he had all the outward qualities but lacked the most significant quality to be truly successful.
As we get to know people more we can usually see a little more into the heart of the person. We might start to see the strength of their character more than the strength of their arm. We may perceive the height of their integrity as much as the height of their head.
The heart is hard to see- Most people tend to try really hard to hide their heart put on a mask so others will not see the real person. our heart is the real us our convictions- what is valuable to us what we are passionate about it is what motivated us- keeps us going what we will sacrifice for- give our time to our money to our self to.
David opens his heart to us- We see the heart David had for God expressed in the Psalms he wrote poetry expresses the inner joy struggles and inner perspective he had on life.
To be a man after Gods own heart - David as a young man and through out his life had a deep compelling desire to know God and experience an intimate relationship with him.
That is why he said I love your word I meditate on your word - your word is like honey to me it satisfies nourished me draws me close to you.
he would have had the books of Moses the law 10 commandments-
But in the law he didnt see rules and regulations but he saw Gods heart God was for him so he could experience life to the fullest- giving meaning purpose power- he spent time allowing the word to wash over him and see more and more of Gods love, mercy, holiness, and justice how he was among the chosen ones God was using to display his glory in this world.
As he heard the stories and read of the creation account created in Gods image created to know the one who gave him life - how God delivered the nation form slavery he saw God in every action every step God had a plan and purpose for his people and it amazed David I want to know more about this God and experience his mercy love and purpose in my life.
Do we love the word because in it we can know the heart of God for us? Much preaching today doesnt touch much on God many sermons could be delivered by Dr. Phil quick help steps to live a easier life David wasnt looking for the easy road in life he was looking to God to lead him through his life.
The Apostle Paul reflecting on Israels history and how God used Israel to bring for the Messiah say this..
(Acts 13:22 NIV) After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'
He will do everything I want him to do. Wow, how simple is that and yet how hard is that for us to emulate? David was willing to do whatever God asked him to do. God knew his heart. He knew that David loved Him and would do whatever He asked him to do.
We see this in his encounter with Goliath the account most of us associate with David. 1 Sam 17
His desire to know God and experience God goes back to his youth when he was a shepherd looking after his father's sheep. As he told Saul before venturing out to confront Goliath: "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Even then, David had a courage that came not so much from knowing his own strength but
David's dependence on God is very clear in many Psalms: The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. - Ps 23.
Lord you are my shelter my Rock fortress deliverer
He trusted God to lead him provide for him daily
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He worshipped God praised him for who he is and what he has done-
To be a man after Gods- does it mean David never had a set back or difficulty in life- NO
Psalm 23:4 yea thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death you are with me your rod and staff they comfort me -
David knew a reality we all experience he lived on this side heaven challenges setbacks opposition form within and without.
Right after being appointed King Saul marks him as a man to be eliminated- Saul basically had a contract out on him most of 1- 2 Samuel is David fleeing from Saul.
As King he had major family conflicts his own son wanted to take the throne from his father and raised up a revolt to kill his father David had to run for his life to escape his own son is killed in the pursuit.
A good number of Psalms are where are you God come to deliver me hear my prayer- keep me safe vindicate me God.
Yet in all the struggles - set backs David continually came back to God God you are faithful God I place my hope in you you are worthy of my praise who is there to turn to but you.
Was he perfect never stepped out of line never made a mistake- well we know the only perfect person to walk this earth was Jesus Christ - from what we know about David and what he even writes about himself we know he was not perfect he had his struggles in life and his failures in life sin captured his heart- he had a weakness for women commits adultery - he even plotted the killing of a trusted friend to cover up his affair. 2 Samuel 11-12
God uses a prophet to confront him with his sin 2 Samuel 12: 13 David said to Nathan I have sinned against The Lord..
David when confronted with his sin does not blame others or tries to justify his failure he acknowledges his sin he confesses I have sinned and repents turns from his sin and turns to God for forgiveness and restoration.
Psalm 51 :1-10
David was a man who had a heart for God God used him in a mighty way to lead his people deliver his people
What made him a man after of Gods own heart from youth he had a desire to know and experience an intimate relationship with God he knew Gods heart God loved him was for him willing to empower him.
God is love and loving compassionate caring forgiving holy just and trustworthy.
We should live as holy a life as we can and we can live a very holy life with the Holy Spirit's help. We should read and mediate on God's word. We should be people of prayer, praying without ceasing. Yet if we really want to be men and women after God's own heart, we need to start doing what He asks us to do. It is not always easy, it is not always fun and it is often without human reward or recognition, but who do we serve, man or God? Who do we want to please, man or God? Who do we want to think highly of us, man or God?
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