“David SANG THIS SONG TO THE LORD ON THE DAY THE LORD RESCUED HIM from all his enemies and from Saul…He sang: “The LORD is my ROCK, my FORTRESS, and my SAVIOR; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my SHIELD, the power that saves me, and my PLACE OF SAFETY. He is my REFUGE, my savior, the one who SAVES ME FROM VIOLENCE.” (2 Samuel 22:1-3)
“The LORD rewarded me FOR DOING RIGHT; He restored me because of MY INNOCENCE. For I HAVE KEPT THE WAYS OF THE LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil. I have followed all His regulations; I have never abandoned His decrees. I AM BLAMELESS BEFORE GOD; I have kept myself from sin. THE LORD REWARDED ME for doing right. He has seen my innocence.” (2 Samuel 22:21-25)
WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY ABOUT DAVID?
- DAVID’S FAITH: David’s first (and his most well-known) accomplishment was his defeat of the Philistine giant, GOLIATH. It took courage to face a sword-wielding giant with nothing but a sling and some rocks. Before throwing the stone that would take the giant down, David declared, “…this entire assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword or by spear; for THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S, and He will hand you Goliath to us!” (1 Sam. 17:47). David gave God credit for defeating Goliath before the giant was hit by the stone. It was through his faith that God empowered him to be successful. This giant-killing faith remained with David HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
- DAVID’S TRUST: Even though Saul was a constant threat to his life, David had respect for him as king and spared his life on more than one occasion. When David had an opportunity to kill Saul in a cave, he chose not to. He said, “May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me; but MY HAND SHALL NOT BE AGAINST YOU. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you” (1 Sam. 24:12-13). David showed complete trust in God, which meant it was NOT IN HIS HANDS TO STRIKE DOWN THE KING God had put in command. David knew that God had proclaimed him to be the next king, but unlike Saul with the burnt offering, DAVID WOULD WAIT UNTIL GOD REMOVED SAUL, rather than taking the matter into this own hands. He also was relying on God to save him from the wickedness of Saul, who sought to destroy him.
- DAVID’S LIFE: When David sinned he prayed, “Create in me A CLEAN HEART, O God, and RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. RESTORE TO ME THE JOY of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.” (Psalms 51:10-12) Samuel said to Saul, “…now your kingdom will not endure; THE LORD HAS SOUGHT OUT A MAN AFTER HIS OWN HEART (David) and appointed him ruler of His people, because YOU HAVE NOT KEPT the LORD‘s command.“ (1 Samuel 13:14)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham