Lessons from the life of David

… In the twenty-fifth day of Siloam, Jude, John, Paul, and chapter 18. John chapter 18, verse thirty-seven. I was there for a sudden attention. I thought of communion, the example of this I had received. This end was not borne, and for this cause he made the world, that I should be there with him unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice. Now that's all I want to read here. The Lord Jesus is at this very moment king, and he was king even here on earth. He is still not crowned as king. As a matter of fact, he has not been crowned as king. He was king when he was anointed of the spirit of God at the river Jordan, just as he was in fact a priest, although he was not a priest officially until he was raised. He was king when he was anointed of the spirit of God at the river Jordan, just as he was in fact a priest, although he was not a priest officially until he was raised and taken back to Jordan. Solution of God, as I have preached forever after the order of Melchizedek. However, he is a king, but he is not raised as king. And I would like to look at some things, dear friends, from the Old Testament in connection with the history of David, that have a very striking bearing upon this matter. The day is coming when Christ will take his throne. Meanwhile, he is a sufferer, cast out of men, despised and rejected, and the believer is identified with Christ in that character. You know how it's good to be linked with the Lord Jesus, at a time when he is still suffering. I would like to mention first, that it is most wonderful to see that in the history of David, there is constant learning, having to be restrained, put down, going through suffering and trial, until eventually he reaches the throne. What about the Lord Jesus? We see him here on earth, a man of sorrows and disguise, rejected of men. When you think of him, going through a pathway of suffering such as he did, does this not seem all the more attractive to you, that here is one who is worthy of reigning as king? One who has learned and experienced what it is to be subject, learned of evil, by the things which he suffered. Solomon, remember, gained the throne while it was in a state of settled conquest. David had completely subdued all nations round about him. Solomon was put on the throne without having to go through anything like David had. Which one of those ten would you rather have had for a king? Solomon or David? Solomon's reign was the most illustrious, the most magnificent, that earth has ever seen. Which would you rather have? The reign of Solomon or the reign of David? I say far, far rather the reign of David. Even though there were things that were not right in David's reign. And in the case of Solomon, he went far astray, eventually. He even worked a casualty. He oppressed the people, too. But however, the Lord Jesus has proof and experience. One who is absolutely faithful when in times of trial and distress and suffering, one all again devoted to the will of God, one who could not be moved from that path of simple devotional being, how can one see this? He is worthy, then, of the highest glory, one who is truly faithful in every deep thing. Now, let's be accustomed to the greater thing, the reign of the Lord. Shall we turn to 1 Samuel, chapter 16? You will have noticed in what we have read that the Lord says, I have said that I am a king to this end was I born, for this cause came I into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth. This is the true character of a king at any time, and certainly it was true of the Lord Jesus here on earth. Bearing witness to the truth. The king is one who comes out from the presence of God to bear witness to the truth of God. The priest, on the other hand, is one who goes in the presence of God, there to have his soul laid thoroughly bare before God. And, of course, he may be an intercessor as well, praying to the people. It is granted the intercession. It is granted to know what a true priestly character is. We haven't known that. We won't know what a kingly character is either. But the priest is one who goes into God's presence, practices his dear presence. But then coming forth from God's presence to bear witness to the truth is another thing. And, in one respect, every true believer has royal, kingly character, just as he does a priestly character. And in David we find a picture of Christ in his saints. Christ, if you will, in the church today. At a time when Christ is not recognized by the world, yet God has his throne. He has been anointed God. David had been anointed at this time, chapter 16, where we find the act of anointing of David, and yet he did not reign for many years. He was chased, a fugitive, by Saul for many years. At first, as you'll see here, there was a good deal of recognition of David up to a point. And that soon was completely dissipated. And Saul turned against David in bitter animosity. The world's against Christ. Dear friends, let us realize the world is no different than it ever was. I know we try to curry the favor of the world, make the world feel nice toward us. We like to be a little bit popular in the eyes of the world. But, dear friends, it is not what it says. Why? If anyone is the enemy of the world, why is he the enemy of God? The world is just the same. So in David's view, we find something of the opposite. Now here, after he's having been anointed, we read in chapter 16, and verse 15. And Saul's servant said unto him, Behold now an evil spirit from God cometh unto thee. Let our Lord now command thy servant who is before thee to seek on a man who is a cunning player on an arm, and it shall come to pass that the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that ye may play with this man, and thou shalt be well. And Saul said unto his servant, Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me. Then answered one of the servants and said, Behold, I have seen the son of Jesse, the deathly knight, that is cunning in play, and a mighty godly man, and a man of war, and prudent in marriage, and a calmly person, and the Lord is with him. Wherefore Saul sent Messerson to Jesse, and said, Send me David by his son, which is with the sheep. And Jesse took an apple, and ate with the bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David came to Saul, and stood before him. And he had loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, By David, I pray thee, stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight. And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took him apart, and placed him in his hand. So Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. Very remarkable, is it not, that here David was God's choice for king, and yet David was serving King Saul. The Lord Jesus is certainly God's choice for king. God has no other choice. And yet the Lord Jesus is serving the need of mankind today, and is doing this in his saints, in the church of God. It's good to see how there are various different circumstances in which David is tested. You and I are going to be tested in various circumstances too. If you're a believer, you're going to be tested, and you're going to be humbled, and God will do it intentionally, to bring everyone of us down, in order that we might learn how to walk in quietness and submission to the will of God, even though things are altogether against us, and are hard to bear. Learn to take things to heart, and go through them with God. And the blessing at the end is going to be all the greater. Dear friends, if only we would take this to heart, our souls would be greatly blessed. Now here in the first passage, which I want to discuss, we have something of the king's characteristics, at the time of his being anointed, but not reigning. And the first is here, the truth of God in ministry. Now I'm going to give you a few points, and that's the first one I want to stress. David played his hand, played his harp. Being a servant to Saul, he ministered. Now the harp, no doubt, is very beautifully pictorial, of the word of God. David had a harp of ten strings when he was older. I'm very sure he didn't always have only one string either. Neither did we. Do we know the word of God well? Are we able to play the harp well? Why not? Are we enjoying the things of Christ? Are they really vital to us? Are they precious? No, but David learned a great deal in reference to playing his harp while he was there with the sheep, alone. You and I too can learn something of the truth of God, and learn also how to be able to give it to others who are in need. That's the time when we are alone in the presence of God. Take time to get alone with God. I hope every believer here will have a real concern about that. Do you take time every day of your life to be just simply alone with the Lord? I hope you do. I know. I used to work. I had a job every morning to do. I had to go early to work, and it was not too easy to get up early in the morning. But you know, after you've done it a few times, it's not so hard to get up an hour early before you have to go to work. An hour earlier, so that you can take time with the Lord. Time to study the word of God and for prayer. You say, an hour is not too much for me, is it? Suppose you make it happen. You don't like making ten minutes anyway. You take ten minutes, really I mean, in the presence of God. And just realize, it's God's presence I need. Now David learned that. And he learned to play the harp well. No doubt, the songs that he composed were all set to music. But at any rate, the harp speaks of the word of God. And here is the truth of God's intention. Are we doing what we can for the health and blessing of others? Now here, King Saul was certainly not even the same man. Sad to say, he went to his death in the same condition. I don't believe that man has ever gone to God. The Spirit of God came upon him to enable him to carry out the administrative functions of a king. You may ask the question, how is it the Spirit of God came upon such men as the Old Testament? David said, take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Was the Spirit of God dwelling in David the same way he does in David today? Not in the same way, no. No more than he was in Saul. But the Spirit of God came upon Saul to enable him to carry out the duties of a king. And then when Saul proved that he would not be subject to God, when he had defeated the Ammonitites and then he took the king captive instead of killing him, and sparing the sheep of the oxen, the best of them. Then God said, all right, since you have rejected me, I have rejected you from being king. And the Spirit of God left Saul. And an evil spirit from God troubled him. The ways of God are equal and just. This is a true principle in government. If Saul is rejecting the word of God, very well, all right. Let him have the contrary. If he doesn't want God, the Spirit of God can require the need of him. If he doesn't want God, all right, he can have an evil spirit. Dreadful alternative. But however, it's at that time that he asks for somebody to minister to him in order to soothe him so that the evil spirit will depart from him. You know the word of God has wonderful power. The truth of God ministers has marvelous power. It can have effect in the world around us. It can have effect on governments. Dear friends, let's remember this. You and I are not here to try to change things in the governments of this world. David was not here for that purpose. David had a right to govern and he didn't. He didn't try to change things at all. When he had opportunity to kill Saul, we know he didn't do it. Nevertheless, we have David here ministering. Here is the path the Church of God shall minister the truth of God in the midst of a world that is so completely contrary to God. It was true of Christ. Ministering God's word. Think of the wonderful privilege you and I have. If we are members of the body of Christ, we are given the Spirit of God by whom we might be enabled to minister that which is of God. So, the gospel, yes. The gospel of the grace of God to the world. What are we doing about it? The truth of God to believers. What are we doing about it? Using every opportunity we can in being a help to souls who are in need. I'm not asking how many souls have been converted through you. Saul was never converted through David playing the harp, was he? That may have been a failure. No, it wasn't. David was rightly representing God. And the Church is here to rightly represent God. No matter what the results are. And that's good to remember always. Give the truth. The truth of the word of God. You're not responsible for the results. Just so long as it is taken, give it. Now, there are many who will take it for a time and will be really comforted by it. And yet will never convert. And it's sad to consider that. That was so with Saul. Governments of this world have been benefited and blessed by the ministry of the word of God, but they haven't changed it. And we're not here to change the world. We're here to give the truth that will save souls out of the world. However, David kept this up. It says here that Saul loved him greatly. But that was only for a time. That love soon changed to hatred after David had defeated the giants. And Saul saw that David was going to get a little more honor than he did. And from then on, things sure changed completely. We're told that Saul threw his javelin at him while he was playing his harp. And David avoided him in his presence twice. That tells you something doesn't it? Doesn't it tell you that David didn't stop because he was badly treated the first time? Don't give up here, friend. You may be badly treated when you give the word of God. Don't give up. Supposing a javelin is thrown at you. It can't touch you at all unless God loves you. So that as regards to the word of God, let us give it. It's the truth. It's worthwhile. It's valuable. The Lord Jesus poured it into the truth. And get the truth deeply embedded in your soul so that you'll be understanding to speak the truth. He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. Now that's a contrast to a man who has a vision or a man who has some kind of imagination. Some kind of thought that is on a business line. When you have the word of God, you can speak it faithfully. Now in chapter 17, shall we read? In verse 48. We all know the history, I'm sure. Even the children know this history. And came to pass when the Philistiner rose and came in and drew nigh to meet David. Then David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistiner. And David put his hand in his bag and hooked against the stone and slammed it. And smote the Philistiner in his forehead. As the stone sunk into his forehead, he fell upon his face with fear. So David prevailed over the Philistiner with a sling of the stone and smote the Philistiner while there was no sword in the hands of David. Therefore David ran and stood upon the Philistiner and took his sword and drew it out of the sheath thereof and slew him and cut off his neck therewith. When the Philistiner saw their champion was dead, they fled. Here we have again a different set of circumstances. David at first praying for Saul. Now David facing the enemy. Here is the truth in conflict. And how grand to see this. That David was not at this time an accomplished warrior. In fact, Saul said about an hour ago, a youth. And this man a man of war for his youth. You know there are many great controversies in the world. Men who are well able to argue matters of it. But you know, just one word of God can often bring another down so deeply. All the answers you say can be brought down just with the word of God. The stone speaks of this, don't you have it? He had five stones, he only needed one. You know you have the truth of God ready at any time. And you can meet all the power of the enemy with just that which is the same God for the time being. So David had it ready. Five smooth stones, no doubt they tell us something too. Those stones had laid in the brook for a long time in order to become smooth. I suppose we have a picture there of the deliverer. He being constantly subjected to the word of God. The word flowing over the soul, water, speaks of this too, you know. In order to be smooth looking. And sometimes it takes a long time of training before one is going to be used of God in such a way as David was. But he was used. And all he needed was the one stone. Here is truth then in conflict. When the trouble arises, he's ready for it. Now he was not emotional. But he was one who was thoroughly confident of the victory God was going to gain that day. And he could go straight forward to meet his own time without any quiver of fear. So could the deliverer. I wonder if you and I can face the enemy in thorough, honest, confident. Take the word of God. And don't make it a matter of arguing about the word. Take the word itself. You know there was a man named Samuel Millan in the last century. A very remarkable preacher of the gospel of grace. Travelling on a train one occasion. It was one of those trains where people sat opposite each other. He was talking with a colonel sitting beside him about the Lord. And a man opposite began to get very angry about the fact that he was talking that way about the Bible. He didn't like to hear that. Mr. Millan turned in his Bible to a passage and read it. Nothing more. Just read the passage. The man got very angry. And had something more to say. So Mr. Millan turned to another scripture to answer what the man said the second time. And went on a few times like that. And finally the man who was so bitterly angry got up and stopped in front of the car which was a railroad car. The colonel beside him said to him, what was wrong with you? Well that man was absolutely insulted. Why didn't you put him in his place? Mr. Millan said to him, Colonel what do you have by your side? A sword. And when you face the enemy what do you do with it? Do you argue about it? Do you argue about a copy of the sword you have? No he said, I plunge it into him. That's just what I do. Give the word of God. That has a sense. It may hurt you. It may cut you in half. Eventually there might be some lessons for you. But the word of God, how bright it is. Let's learn to use our Bibles as well. Now if it comes to a matter of conflict, let's remember we're not here to insult anybody. And yet we're here to have the word of God so implanted in our heart that when it's gave in the Bible, we're ready for it. The church of God should certainly be ready for it. Because the Lord Jesus is not ready. Every occasion of the world is being laid exactly on a meeting. I think we'd be wise enough all of us to study the New Testament to see the way that the word of Jesus met the various opposites of the enemy. If we want to be able to use the word of God ourselves. Well the Lord encouraged us all to understand it. We're going to turn to the next chapter please. Verse 5, chapter 18. Now turn down, look down to the same chapter, verse 14. Verse 13, the middle of the verse. And he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely and followed his way, and the Lord was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. Verse 30, the middle of the verse. David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was much set by him. At this time Saul had begun to turn against David. And what did David do about it? You know how easy it is for us. When someone turns against us, and maybe someone that has no real reason for it at all, Saul didn't have any reason for it. When one turns against us, the very first thing we generally do is get our back up. We don't like it. We resent it. What have I done to deserve this? But dear friends, how important for Saul to seek to learn the lesson God has in him. David, it says, went out with us whoever Saul sent him. Even after Saul had been eyeing David and had thrown his gavel at him, nevertheless David still went out with us whoever Saul sent him. That character of obedience is a wonderful one to see. God's government is seen very strikingly in the history of David. And how grand, if you and I were something of what it means to bow to the government of God, David could see something further than just the things that he had to say. He looked beyond it. He looked at God. God had after all anointed Saul to begin with. And God has put in authority those who are there today, in power and authority. All right, let me be certain of this. Subject to authorities in government in so far as it does not interfere with the authority of God. Even order, even though things are going to be hard to bear, even though your tax rates are too high. I know we often think about things like that. But nevertheless, it's good to be subject. And David was learning those things. The Lord Jesus showed the very same spirit as David. When they asked, does not your master take tribute? And Peter said, yes he does. So when Peter came to the Lord, the Lord stopped him. He said, Peter, on whom did the kings of the earth take tribute? Of their own children or strangers? Of strangers. Then the Lord said, are the children free? Actually, it is not actually incumbent upon the Lord to pay this tribute at all, the temple tax. But he said, nevertheless, let the assentment be done. No one can capture and put into the seat. And the first fish comes up to bite. Enough money to pay for D&D. Go. But when it comes to things that are merely material, we can easily let them go. When it comes to the truth of God, we cannot let it go. The truth of God is worth living for and dying for. It's a sacred trust given to the hands of the leader. But it regards those other things. Let us be willing to bear whatever suffering does come up and bear it for the Lord's sake. Now, along with this, we read that David went out and came in before the people. What do we read from that? Doesn't it tell us that he had a good, clear, honorable testimony? He had nothing to hide. He went out and came in before the people. And all of Israel loved David. They saw that there was an honorable character there. You remember, in the case of the Lord Jesus, we are told in Luke's Gospel, Chapter 2, that he increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God men. How long did that last? While he was in his youth, that was the case. Because, of course, there was one whose character and conduct was thoroughly irreproachable. And of course, they would see this by Luke. He is worthy of our approval. Until the day when he began to preach the word of God. And just as soon as he did that, you have to remember, they took him to the brow of the hill where everybody cast him down. Because he was affirming God's righteousness over everyone. Now, David here, he was looked at very well for some time by Saul. And eventually, going on to Herod. Saul thought that God had right, and David was likely connected with God's righteousness. David was actually, in fact, the king of Saul versus Herod. However, David's character still stands out beautifully, doesn't it? Three times as we read here, we are told that he behaved himself wisely in all the ways. On that very account, Saul was afraid of him. Supposing he had fought back against Saul, would Saul have been afraid of him? No. You know, dear friends, they should remember that. Don't fight back. Remember, let God defend you. You know how well it is for a priest or a believer. Let God be your defender at all times. And by no means fight back against abuse, things that are wrong, things that you don't like. Now, if it's the case of the people of God being harmed, it's a different thing. That's certainly very different. Fight the good guy in faith who seeks the help of those souls and preserves them from the attacks of the enemy. But to fight for our own rights is not Christian. The Lord Jesus did not do it. And David here, he just did the act wisely. Let's remember to seek God wisely in reference to all of our associations, whatever contact we may have with others, whatever relationship. Let's seek grace for God to act wisely, sober, not good for young men, young women too, older women, to get a reputation for stability and honor. To get a reputation for fighting back, that's another state of reputation. How much better to have a reputation for walking simply and steadfastly, obeying the word of God. So here David behaved himself wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. Here we have truth in conduct. Now he's a different set of circumstances, but beautifully we see his conduct, his righteousness, even when things were not going right. Now however, you'll find this even accentuated if we turn to chapter 24. Verse 2, Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goose. He came to the sheepfolds by the way of the cave, and Saul went in to cover his feet, and David and his men remained beside the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thy enemy into thy hand, and thou mayest do to him as it should seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the shirt of Saul's robe, and came to pass afterwards that David had parted from him because he had cut off Saul's shirt. And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master. The Lord's advice is just what I have against him, being he giveth thee an eye to the Lord. So David stayed in the service of these words, and took them not to rise against Saul. Very beautiful incident in the history of David. Saul takes three thousand men to fight against whom? David, a man who is not in the least degree incensed against Saul. He had no occasion whatever for doing this. And let us give no occasion to anyone for engaging in persecution against others. Did we suffer persecution? All right, very well. But don't let us give you occasion. David did not. Now however, here Saul is lying into a cave to lie down for a while to sleep. And here David is inside the cave. If the decisions had been reversed, what would have happened? David would have been killed very quickly, wouldn't he? But oh no. David and his men are there, and they can easily kill Saul, and that is what his men want to do. No. David would wait until the time that God removed Saul to be a king. He was not going to reign before the time, like Christians want to do. They would like to reign now. Isn't it a temptation to all of us to want to be something right now? We want to get some recognition. We want to get a little bit higher. It is such a natural thing. Instead of being willing to go lower, there was a fall of everything, willing to take the very lowest place, to be despised, to suffer in prison, and to die in prison. And yet I'll tell you that life, the end of that life was far more beautifully bright than the life of any king was. That is the end of the life of any king. I don't think there is one king in all of Scripture, in all of Israel, whether Judah or Israel, who had a really bright and good life. I think that over. You see, when reigned, he goes too much to a man's head. He likes to do nothing. He wants to be something. But suffering, and suffering for Christ's sake. You know, there is real joy in that. And the apostles thought it so. Wouldn't your car rider be like Paul? Suffering in prison, dying there for Christ? Isn't that reigning like Solomon did, and worshiping Isaac? I'm going to tell you. Well, in this case, David rose to power of the Lord, and he went to church. The church was all broke. And then his heart smote him because he did that much. Now, that's certainly something to consider, isn't it? There was a tender thought. He thought after his initiative he'd done that far. You know, there's a lesson there. If there is someone who is very strongly against you, and trying to do his harm continually, it may be that we're able to bear it, and not fight back. Thanks God, that's true. And yet, when the occasion arises, we might be in a position where we can expose that man before other people, so other people see how bad he is. David, you see, exposed Saul by cutting off his shirt. What about you? Then he thought after his intuition that he had done that far. Why should we expose a person who is doing us harm? Is it necessary to do it? No. I say definitely not. If it's only a matter of doing me harm, don't expose him even twice. The Lord will break those things down to their proper level eventually. Don't get angry enough at him even to expose him, even without foreign words against him. I know they would probably like to see some people get shown off that they're too daring. The Lord didn't even expose Judas, did he? And so Judas exposed himself. And so grace can wait. And faith can wait for God to bring things to their true level. I think that's the most wonderful principle. Now David acted upon that principle in many respects. In some acts, he did not do it. He made a blunder in the case of one man named, while I remember, his name being LePoul. He got very angry in that occasion. And it was only him judging from killing that man, and a great many more in his household too, hindered by the faith of that man's wife, Abigail. And he realized that he had certainly been reserved, and by the faith of that wife. However, let us all take this to heart. We are not here to defend ourselves, to fight for ourselves, or our own rights. We're here to bear witness to the truth. In this case, dear friends, we have truth in suffering. We've seen before truth in ministry, then truth in conflict, truth in conduct, and now truth in suffering. How beautiful to see the faith of David here. We're just going to look at one last scripture in the 2nd Samuel, chapter 4. David is no longer suffering here. Saul has been killed in battle, and David is raised to the throne. We'll read verse 9 of chapter 4. ...and said unto them, As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul, I love him personally. When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking you have brought me good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in sick life, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings. How much more, when which man hath slain a righteous person in his own house upon his death, shall I not therefore now require the blood of your hands and take you away from the earth? And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the fools of Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the tomb of Eretz Adonai in Hebron. These are two men, raised up from the ashes, who after David had taken the throne, saw a good opportunity of killing Ish-bosheth, who was a pretender to the throne. He was of the line of Saul. Abner set him up, wanting him to be king. And as evident as it could be, the man was so weak that he couldn't possibly ever take the throne. He would make a weak king. But there were some who wanted to be king. Greek Abner Deanna saw the opportunity of getting into this house, and killing him, and bringing his head to David. Look what we've done for David. See what David does? This is not the kind of friends that David wants. He tells them so. And they themselves had a right to take him away from the earth. Here is truth in raining. You know, when the Lord rains, it's those who have suffered with him who are going to be rewarded. It's not those who are seeking by some wicked means to get into this good grace. He sees through every kind of article. Men would like to get into a place like this. They were pretending to be friends with David. Look what we've done for you, David. We've killed his prostitutes. You won't have anyone to contend against who is king. David is your first and your father. He's yours if you want to put him in the kitchen of the throne. It was not these men. And David would not even kill Saul, let alone Saul's son. Now, if I can't bring him news that it was not actually said that he had actually killed Saul, whether he did or not is questionable perhaps. But anyway, when he says it, David had him killed too. He is not going to have that kind of friends. The kind of friends the Lord wants for us are those who are true in heart. Those who are willing to suffer. Not those who take the law into their own hands. After all, a man like this who takes the law into his own hands and fights for David could just as easily turn against David and take the law into his own hands. …