Sermons
The Life of David
The Life of David
From Faithful Dependence to Dominance
Introduction:
1. The life of David is a life of both triumph and tragedy.
2. While he experienced many great victories and the elation and elevation that went with it he also experienced great sadness. His sorrow must have been overwhelming.
3. Life has its triumphs and its tragedies and many of them we bring on ourselves based upon the choices that we make.
4. Be they right or wrong the challenge is always to depend on the Lord and when we fail, to humble ourselves and come back to the Lord.
Discussion:
I. We are going to begin David’s story in the Valley of Elah (1 Sam. 17).
A. Eliab, David’s oldest brother, said, “Why have you come down here?” Eliab was angry
with David.
B. You know the story.
1. The Philistines were camped in the mountains before the Valley of Elah. Israel was
camped in the mountains on the other side of the valley.
2. Every day in the morning and again in the evening Goliath, the Philistine giant, came
and taunted the Israelites. He challenged them to send out a man to fight with him.
3. The Philistine tactic worked. Apparently all in the Israeli army were intimidated by
Goliath. And why shouldn’t they be? He stood better than 9 feet tall. He was the
Philistine champion. His armor was incredible because of its size and weight.
4. He said, “Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. If he is able to
fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against
him and kill him, then you shall become our servants.”
a. Someone was going to die in that fight.
b. But sacrificing one’s life was only the beginning here. It would involve
consequences on all Israel. How would you like to be the one who died and
brought slavery on all your people? So, as you think about it, there is good
reason for pause as you considered the situation.
5. Surely Eliab as the oldest son would feel the intimidation of Goliath. Surely he
recognized the situation and the consequences of failure. Maybe that’s why he is
mad. He seems to be in a powerless position.
6. But then there is David. He’s the youngest of Jesse’s sons. Been feeding the sheep
and has been sent to bring his brothers something to eat.
7. There is a lot of dressing up for battle and going out and shouting the war cry going
on but no one is volunteering to fight Goliath.
8. Like people do the soldiers were talking. “The man who kills Goliath will be enriched
by the king. He’ll give him great riches and give him his daughter and make his
father’s house free in Israel.”
9. David says, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of
the living God?” So David began asking questions about what might happen to
the man who killed Goliath. He was giving the impression that he might be the man
for the job. Then he openly volunteered!
10. They tried to dress David for the job, but the armor was too big. Instead he took a
stick, a sling and five smooth stones from the brook. He didn’t even have a six-
shooter.
11. He killed the giant with one shot and cut off his head with his own sword.
C. The king exalted David, the people began exalting David, the women exalted David and
Saul become intimidated by David and tried to kill him. And all of this was because
David was dependent upon the Lord. Even though he was but a youth, and ruddy and
handsome in appearance the Lord was with him and he rose through the ranks of men
and became very highly exalted in the kingdom. He married the king’s daughter and
Jonathan, the king’s son was his best friend.
D. But this was only the beginning of his glory.
1. He was exalted to the position of King.
2. He defeated the Moabites.
3. He defeated Hadadezer.
4. He defeated the Arameans.
5. He defeated the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek and he devoted the
silver and gold that were spoils of the war to the Lord.
6. The Lord helped David wherever he went. He reigned over all Israel. Administered
justice and righteousness for all his people.
7. He was even kind to Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, who was crippled in both
feet (2 Sam. 9:6-13).
E. David’s life up to this point was one of triumph and victory. He had founded his life on
his relationship with the Lord. He acted in faith. He had been gracious, even to king
Saul, who had tried to kill him. He had demonstrated kindness. God had blessed him
with kingship and deliverance from his enemies. But his life is about to take a radical
turn.
II. Never underestimate the power of a single event in your life. Often a single event can determine your future. Often a single event is a reflection of what is in your heart. The second part of David’s life is tragic.
A. Reading of 2 Sam. 11:1-5.
1. David was a man of power. He sent Joab to battle the Ammonites.
2. David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
3. He sees a woman.
4. He found out she was the wife of Uriah the Hittite.
5. He sent messengers.
6. He took her.
7. He lay with her.
8. A pregnancy resulted.
B. David has abused his power and position. He will continue to do so.
1. Reading 2 Sam. 11:6-13.
2. He sent to Joab.
3. He sent Uriah to his house. Uriah could not go to be with his wife while the ark,
and Israel and Joab were camping in the open field. But David had taken his wife
while he was camping in the open field as David’s servant.
4. David made him drunk. But still he did not go to his house.
5. David sent a letter by Uriah’s own hand that lead to Uriah’s death.
C. The Lord sent Nathan.
1. God said, “I anointed you king. I delivered you from Saul. I gave you your master’s
house, your master’s wives I put in your care. I gave you the house of Israel and
Judah. I would have given you more than these.”
2. “Why have you despised the word of the Lord? You have despised Me.”
3. David confessed his sin. He was forgiven, but there were consequences.
4. The child died.
D. Amnon raped his half sister Tamar (2 Sam. 13:1-19).
1. Amnon abused his power.
2. David had abused his power.
3. Absalom, Tamar’s brother bided his time (2 Sam. 13:20-22). David knew of the
situation. He was angry.
4. Ultimately Absalom killed Amnon.
a. He abused his power.
b. He commanded his servants.
c. Amnon was killed and Absalom fled.
d. David mourned for his son every day. Amnon was dead, but David was
comforted, but he mourned for Absalom.
E. When Absalom returned to Jerusalem.
1. He abused his power and took control of the kingdom.
2. David fled the city.
3. He abused his power again and took the concubines of David (2 Sam. 16:20-23).
4. Absalom was slain by Joab, the commander of David’s forces. His hair caught in
a tree he was left suspended unprotected, disempowered, vulnerable.
5. David is grief-striken. “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had
died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
6. David returns to Jerusalem as king.
7. In an event where David numbered his forces, apparently trying to determine his
military strength, a pestilence was sent among the people at 70,000 men died.
David is trying to determine his military power. But God was the power behind his
victories. Can you imagine living with this on your conscience? Your lack of faith
results in the death of 70,000?
Conclusion:
1. The life of David is a life characterized by triumph and tragedy.
2. Faith involves dependence upon God. It involves humility.
3. Abuse of power whether that means you exalt yourself over another sexually or in some other way is never looked upon favorably in Scripture.
4. Your life can be a life of triumph from beginning to end if you depend upon the Lord. It can turn into a tragedy with abuse of power.
5. Will you give your life into the Lord’s hands?
