But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
1 Samuel 13:14
How do you win the heart of someone you truly love? You try to behave in ways that please them. You try not to offend them in any way. David’s life was one of submission and dedication to his tasks. As a shepherd boy, he made sure his sheep were protected even if it meant risking his own life to do it. He loved them as though he was showing affection to a fellow human or a son.
His heart was pure and golden. God loved David for who he was and how he cared for his sheep. He did not have any issue putting Israel under him because he knew that those qualities would make him a great king. Despite being king of Israel, David never changed his ways of his love for God. David was still a humble king despite his flaws.
David is a symbol of what God’s salvation for us through Christ is for us. Despite our many sins and many flaws. God’s love for us remains intact. Our salvation is our belief in Christ as our savior and our ability to live as children of God who confess his goodness to the world and make disciples of unbelievers.
God’s favor upon David was intact because of his undying belief in him and his humility despite being king of Israel. David made it no secret that every victory he led the Israelites to was not his own making but rather the work of the Lord. The faith he showed in killing Goliath despite his obvious handicaps showed God and his people that he was indeed fearless and sure of the fact that the Lord was with him.
For the choir director; according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
Psalm 62:1-2
My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.
David demonstrated his faith in songs and wise sayings. These utterances were true reflections of everything he felt inside his soul. The Lord does not look at what man demonstrates outside to other people but he searches their hearts to find out what they truly are. David was indeed everything he proclaimed.
He was a man was was completely reliant on the grace and favor of the Lord. He relied on God as his stronghold, his rock, and his salvation. He knew where he was from and how far the lord had brought him. He had absolutely no doubts about the role of God in his life. From a humble shepherd boy to the king of Israel.
When Samuel inquired about the sons of Jesse and who was to be anointed as Saul’s successor, his name wasn’t even mentioned. In the eyes of men, David was a nobody. He was not fit to be king of Israel. He didn’t look strong enough or fit for the part. Who you are in the eyes of God is what is most important and not who you are in the eyes of man. He did not rely on his own mind but he always sought the the council of the Lord.
David was far from a perfect man. He was sometimes overcome by the weaknesses of man. He had a troublesome child who sought to kill him and take his throne. He had the same issues that normal people have. What made David valuable to God was his humility and his continuous faith and love for God no matter what situations he found himself in.
The biblical figure of King David has been a source of inspiration and fascination for people around the world for centuries. From humble beginnings as a shepherd boy to becoming a great warrior and eventually the king of Israel, David’s life is full of valuable lessons that we can apply in our own lives. In this blog post, we will delve into some of the key lessons we can learn from the life of David and how they can positively impact our own journeys.
Lessons from the Life of David
David’s faith
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.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”
1 Samuel 17:37
One of the most prominent lessons we can learn from David is his unwavering faith in God. From an early age, David demonstrated a deep and personal relationship with God, which guided him through various trials and tribulations. Whether facing the giant Goliath or navigating political turmoil, David relied on his faith as a source of strength and guidance.
As we face our own challenges, we can find solace in developing a strong faith in something greater than ourselves. No matter what situation you are in, you will always face challenges. You may be praying for something that is taking too much time to be answered.
You may have been falsely accused of something and going through the consequences for it. It is important to like David, show faith in the Lord always. David always knew in his heart that the Lord would deliver him victory no matter how dire the situation or the battle looked. Until God has delivered you out of your predicament, do not lose faith in Him.
David’s Humble Beginnings
And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
1 Samuel17:20
David’s story reminds us that our background or current circumstances do not define our future. Despite being the youngest and considered the least likely candidate for kingship, David embraced his identity as a shepherd and honed his skills. He used his unique abilities to protect his flock, which later proved invaluable in his battle against Goliath.
We too should acknowledge and embrace our own talents and gifts, leveraging them to achieve our own greatness. The beginning of the story hardly matters. It doesn’t matter how you begin a race but rather how you finish that race. David rose from a shepherd to a king. He was not born in a palace. He was hand-picked by the Lord because of favor and grace. It doesn’t matter where you were born, where you started, or where you came from.
You can write your own scripts for your future. By the grace of God, you can achieve or become a victory that others will speak about. David’s name was heard across all the lands because of his friendship with the Lord. It didn’t matter what battles he faced or was presented with, he overcame all of them. Use the little qualities that you have as your seeds from God and grow from strength to strength.
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David’s perseverance
Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed.”
1 Samuel 19:11
David’s journey to kingship was far from smooth. From being anointed as the future king to facing rejection and betrayal from King Saul, David had numerous opportunities to give up. However, he remained faithful and persistent, relying on God’s promises. These experiences taught him the importance of perseverance and trusting in God’s timing.
In our own lives, perseverance is key to overcoming challenges and reaching our goals. Your life will not be smooth sailing because you are promised victory in the end. There will be curves and bumps in the road because not everyone close to you would want you to succeed. There may be family members who may want you to fail because you would make them look bad by comparison.
There are people who will try to sabotage your progress and cause you to stall in life. David was relentless. He was going to get to where the Lord had destined for him no matter the circumstances he faced. Knowing God was with him always reassured him. And even if he was in a bad situation because of a betrayal, he was going to overcome with through strength from God.
David’s repentance
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.”
2 Samuel 11:15
Despite being remembered as a great king, David was far from perfect. His affair with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband Uriah serve as reminders of the consequences of yielding to temptation. However, what sets David apart is not his sin, but his ability to acknowledge and repent for his wrongdoings.
His psalms of repentance documented in the book of Psalms are a testament to the power of seeking forgiveness and learning from past mistakes. David was a king and no one could question his tactics for Uriah even though it was designed for him to face certain death so he could take his wife. His punishment was severe from God. He was stripped of a life for the life he took and he wasn’t allowed to build God’s temple as a result of the uncleanliness he showed.
Despite all of this, he was still humble enough to repent of his sins. He sought the face of God and he was forgiven. This shows that God is ever willing to draw his children to Himself no matter how far they have fallen. It doesn’t matter what sins you committed in the past, if you are ready and willing to beg forgiveness from God and repent of that sin then it’s not too late for you as David showed.
David’s loyalty
Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.
1 Samuel 20:42
Throughout his life, David cultivated deep and meaningful relationships. His friendship with Jonathan, his unconditional love for his son Absalom, and his loyal bond with his mighty men are examples of his ability to forge strong connections.
These relationships were built on trust, loyalty, and mutual support. In our own lives, we can learn from David’s example to prioritize authentic relationships in our families, friendships, and communities. David was a man of genuine love. He loved his friend, he loved his people and he loved his children. Despite Absalom’s rebellion, David still loved and prayed for him.
He was willing to go face-to-face with Goliath to save his people. Developing real and authentic relationships with people means that you deeply care about them and will be moved to help them if the need arises. Learn commitment, loyalty, and friendship from David.
