2 Samuel 1, 1 Samuel 30, 26-31
KINGLY QUALITIES
Let's pretend for a moment. Let's make believe that the United States of America has decided to become a monarchy. And I mean an absolute monarchy. The King would have total control. What qualities would you want that King to have?
From what you know about King David, what qualities made him a good king?
Some day the Lord Jesus is going to reign. What qualities does He have that will make Him the best King ever?
We have been studying the life of David in 1 Samuel.
We might call these studies, "David, the early years."
Tonight we are making the transition from studying 1 Samuel to studying 2 Samuel. We are also beginning the study of "David, the king."
As we make this transition I want us to see three kingly qualities David demonstrated. These are three qualities worth imitating by us, and also three qualities demonstrated by our own King, the Lord Jesus Christ.
DAVID SHARED WITH OTHERS
DAVID STOOD FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
DAVID SORROWED OVER LOSS
BACKGROUND
David had been hanging out with the Philistines.
He was forbidden from participating in battle against Israel.
He returned home to find Ziklag burned looted by the Amalekites. The women and children were all taken captive.
Under God's direction David followed.
They attacked the Amalekite camp and recovered everyone.
Not only did they recover their own materials, but the Amalekites had been on raiding parties, and had much spoil, much of which belonged to parts of Judah.
While David was on his mission, there was a battle between Israel and the Philistines. The Philistines won this battle and Saul and his sons were killed.
David has returned to Ziklag.
DAVID SHARED WITH OTHERS
READ 1 SAMUEL 30:26-31
It seems that the loot was substantial.
Remember David's city had just been destroyed.
Money was probably needed to rebuild.
David's share of all the spoil would have made him independently wealthy.
Instead of hoarding it, he shared it.
Some of it would have gone to cities that had also been raided by these same Amalekites.
Some of it would have gone to friends who had supported him over the years.
Some would have gone to places that helped protect him.
It would be easy for us to see this as a political move on His part. However, at this point he did not know that Saul was dead. He wasn't buying votes.
I believe that David shared out of a generous and grateful heart.
God had blessed him by giving him victory over a far larger Amalakite force. God had returned his family and the families of all his men. God had blessed Him with a huge amount of stuff!
We as Christians should also share out of gratitude.
What have we to be grateful to God for?
Galatians 6:9-10 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. [10] As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
2 Corinthians 9:7 - Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
The outstanding Baptist preacher, Dr. George W. Truett, was helping a struggling congregation raise money for their church building. They still needed $6500. Truett found the response weak. With only $3000 pledged he said in exasperation, “Do you expect me to give the other $3500 needed to reach your goal? I’m just a guest here today.” Suddenly, a woman near the back stood. Looking at her husband seated on the platform recording pledges, she said in a shaking voice, “Charlie, I wonder if you would be willing for us to give our little home? We were offered exactly $3500 cash for it yesterday. If the Saviour gave His life for us, shouldn’t we make this sacrifice for Him?”
Truett reported that the fine husband responded with equal generosity. “Yes, Jennie, I was thinking the same thing.” Turning to Truett, he said, “Brother Truett, if it’s needed, we’ll raise our pledge by $3500.” Silence reigned for a few moments. Then some of the folks began to sob. Those who fifteen minutes earlier had refused to do more now either added their names to the list or increased their donations.
In a short time, their goal had been achieved, and Charlie and Jennie didn’t have to forfeit their home. Their willingness to sacrifice had stimulated others to similar generosity.
Leslie B. Flynn, in Resource, July/August, 1990 http://www.bible.org/illus/g/g-13.htm#TopOfPage
David shared.
We are to share.
But our king, the Lord Jesus also shared.
How did Jesus share during His Ministry?
Read and Comment on Philippians 2:5-9
How does Jesus share now?
Answered Prayer - John 14:13-14 - And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Spiritual Gifts - Ephesians 4:7-8 - But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. [8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
1 Peter 4:10-11 - As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
His Presence - Matthew 28:20 - and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
John 14:18 - I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
His Prayers - Hebrews 7:25 - Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
1 John 2:1-2 - My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: [2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
David knew how to share.
The Lord Jesus knows how to share.
It should prompt us to share.
DAVID SHARED WITH OTHERS
DAVID STOOD FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Read 1 Samuel 31:1-7
Read 2 Samuel 1:1-10
How do we reconcile the two accounts?
I believe the Amalekite was lying.
He might have even watched what had happened.
He probably expected a reward from David. He thought this information would make David happy, because Saul had been David's enemy.
The Amalekite received the last surprises of his life.
First of all in 2 Samuel 1:11-12 we find that David and his men go into mourning for Saul and Jonathan.
Secondly, the Amalekite finds that he is in big trouble.
Read 2 Samuel 13-16 - Although David knew that he was going to be king, he had never taken matters into his own hands.
Even when he could have, he failed to take Saul's life or to allow his soldiers to do so.
David's feeling was that God had anointed Saul King, and nobody had any right to take Saul's life, no matter how meanly he had acted towards David.
David was not perfect. David was guilty of many sins. But in spite of his failures, David did strive to stand for righteousness.
Righteousness is a kingly quality.
Proverbs 14:34 - Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Righteousness is a quality of our Lord.
Psalms 11:7 - For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
Isaiah 53:11 - He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isaiah 11:1-5 - And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Of course, we are not righteous, apart from Christ.
Romans 3:10 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Now that we know Christ as Savior our behavior should be righteous.
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
1 John 3:7 - Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
What are some practical ways that you can think of that we should stand for righteousness?
DAVID SHARED WITH OTHERS
DAVID STOOD FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
DAVID SORROWED OVER LOSS
2 Samuel 1:17-27 - READ AND COMMENT
David's mourning for Saul is interesting.
He sorrows for Saul as if Saul had never hurt him.
I think this was only possible because David forgave Saul.
As a king, David would need to have empathy with those he was leading. A good leader hurts with His people.
And that leads us to thinking about the Lord Jesus.
Jesus, of course, bore our sorrows on Calvary.
Isaiah 53:3-4 - He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Jesus also wept over Jerusalem.
Luke 19:41-44 - And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35. It says Jesus wept.
Why do you think Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus?
I like to think that he was entering into the suffering of his servants.
Jesus does that today.
Hebrews 4:15-16 - For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We are to follow the example of our King.
Romans 12:15 - Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Galatians 6:2 - Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Hebrews 12:3 - For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
DAVID SHARED WITH OTHERS
DAVID STOOD FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
DAVID SORROWED OVER LOSS