King David, Human David
Psm 78:70-72
Ted Haggard leader of one of fastest growing churches in
America. Spiritual giant. Giant sinner. His career ended after being discovered using drugs and being
involved in homosexuality.
Jim Bakker. Powerful leader, charismatic preacher. Had one of the largest TV ministries
ever. Went to jail for tax evasion and
fraud after cheating out hundreds, possibly thousands of people out of money to
pay for his lavish lifestyle.
ZENTATSU RICHARD BAKER one of best Buddhist teachers in
America was convicted of having affairs with his students.
You could create a list that would take forever to read of
Catholic, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and any other religious leaders who rose
to great heights only to be brought down by their human side.
David would be on that list too. Today, we’ll look at what made him a man after God’s own heart
and what made him a man who broke God’s heart.
Hopefully we’ll learn some lessons to keep us from falling into the same
mistakes he made.
PRAYER
I. King
David
A.
Physical king,
1.
As we pick up the story of David’s life, we look at him
finally becoming king of Israel.
2.
This has been no small feat.
For almost 15 years, he had been on the run.
3.
Talk about a long dark period. Can you imagine knowing you are God’s chosen, yet year after year
you live on the run driven by the man you were supposed to replace.
4.
Can you imagine living in caves when you should be living in a
palace?
5.
It would make you begin to doubt God’s promise to you. It would make you wonder if following God is
the right move for your political career.
6.
All that comes to an end and David reigns over Israel …
almost.
7.
" In the
course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns
of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?”
“To Hebron,” the Lord answered." (2 Samuel 2:1, NIV)
8.
vs 11 tells us he stayed there 7.5 years being a limited king.
9.
But now he is king even if only over part of the country
rather than all of it.
B.
Spiritual king
1.
We see a little of what God saw in David during this time.
2.
Rather than be petulant over not taking over right away, he
patiently served however God called him to serve.
3.
What a great lesson for us.
a)
We might have dreams of doing great things for God.
b)
Sometimes God only calls us to do little things.
c)
A true test of our faith is when we can serve contentedly in
those small areas while we wait to be called to something bigger.
4.
By being faithful to following God’s will, the elders of the
country eventually come to him and ask him to rule the entire country.
5.
For the first 20 years of his reign, he followed God and God
blessed him mightily.
a)
The country grew and prospered.
b)
He became a major player in world politics.
c)
He defeated all his enemies.
d)
His country’s borders went from 6000 square miles to 60,000
square miles.
e)
After living in caves for so long, he was now living the life.
II. Human
David
A.
David became so involved in public life that he lost control
of her personal life.
1.
We saw what happened to Eli when he was so focused on being a
good priest that he ended up being a bad father.
2.
Samuel went down the same road.
3.
So does David.
4.
On the throne, he was decisive and great.
5.
In the home, he was indecisive and permissive.
6.
It cost him dearly in the years to come.
a)
One of his sons rapes one of his daughters.
b)
Another murders the rapist.
c)
2 sons lead revolts against their father.
7.
Even then, the only response we see from David in these
matters is that he became angry.
8.
He never gave his children the discipline needed to guide
them.
B.
David indulged himself in the extremes of passion
1.
Have you ever noticed how many great people seem to be too
passionate for their own good?
2.
The passion that makes them great leaders often comes out in
darker ways.
3.
Whatever David did, he did it with all his heart.
4.
When he went into battle he fought until the bitter end
bringing victory when other’s would have quit and lost.
5.
When he loved, he loved with all his heart.
a)
He wasn’t content with one or 2, no, he had more than he could
handle.
b)
He had 8 that were named, many other unnamed wives and then a
whole slew of concubines.
c)
He was his passions that led him into the affair with
Bathsheba.
d)
Because of those passions, Uriah and many other innocent men
died so David could protect his sin.
6.
When he spent his time in leisure, he took it to the excess
even lying around when he should have been off to war.
C.
David became a victim of self-sufficiency and pride
1.
Rather than fully trusting God, he began trusting in himself
instead.
2.
He wanted to know how great his kingdom was that he built.
3.
Joab tried to talk him out of that mistake, but he would have
none of it.
4.
70,000 people died because of his pride.
III. Lessons for Today
A.
Nothing is more important than cultivating a Godly family
1.
Too many people have sacrificed their family on the ladder to
success.
2.
Too many preachers have lost their family trying to save the
world.
3.
Nothing in this life is worth the souls of your family. Don’t ever lose sight of that.
B.
Prosperity can be perilous times as well as times of blessing.
1.
Sometimes our lives are too good for our own good.
2.
We start thinking we can rely on ourselves rather than God.
C.
Faithfulness to God needs to be a life-long ambition
1.
I’ve seen far too many good Christians walk away from God.
2.
David started out so well, but got caught up in his own success
and it cost him for the rest of his life.
3.
You may be a wonderful mature Christian, but don’t think
you’ve ever got to the point that you don’t have to keep your guard up.
4.
Satan is just waiting for you to think you don’t need God
quite as much as you did before.
5.
Be faithful to God now, stay faithful to God always.