David, part 1 Living under grace in a world of law Mike Taylor - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

David, part 1 Living under grace in a world of law Mike Taylor Forest Community Church Sunday 26 January, 2020 https://mikepreaching.wordpress.com/

Who was David? One of the key figures in the Old Testament:  Abraham  Moses  David  Elijah

Who was David? The second king of the united kingdom of Israel and Judah.

How do we know about David? 136 chapters in total:  42 chapters (1 Samuel 16, though 2 Samuel, to 1 Kings 2)  19 chapters (1 Chronicles 11-29) partial repeat  73 psalms directly attributed  2 more psalms attributed in NT

How do we know about David? 136 chapters in total:  42 chapters (1 Samuel 16, though 2 Samuel, to 1 Kings 2)  19 chapters (1 Chronicles 11-29) partial repeat  73 psalms directly attributed  2 more psalms attributed in NT Gives a clear three-dimensional picture.

“A man after God’s own heart” “Now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” — Samuel speaking to Saul, 1 Samuel 13:14.

“A man after God’s own heart” “God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart’.” — Paul preaching in Pisidian Antioch, Acts 13:22.

“A man after God’s own heart” What exactly does this mean?

“A man after God’s own heart” What exactly does this mean? One definition: The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. — Proverbs 24:16. But I want to take a broader view.

A brief prehistory  Stone age: up to 3300 BC

A brief prehistory  Stone age: up to 3300 BC  Bronze age: 3300-1200 BC

A brief prehistory  Stone age: up to 3300 BC  Bronze age: 3300-1200 BC  Bronze age collapse: 1200-900 BC  Iron age: from 900 BC

A brief prehistory  Stone age: up to 3300 BC  Bronze age: 3300-1200 BC  Bronze age collapse: 1200-900 BC  Iron age: from 900 BC David lived from about 1040-970 BC.

A brief prehistory Tel Dan Stele (840 BC) Probably written by Hazael of Aram-Damascus. “I killed Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel, and I killed Ahaziahu son of Jehoram king of the House of David, and I set their towns into ruins and turned their land into desolation.”

A brief prehistory Tel Dan Stele (840 BC) Probably written by Hazael of Aram-Damascus. “I killed Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel, and I killed Ahaziahu son of Jehoram king of the House of David, and I set their towns into ruins and turned their land into desolation.”

Old Testament culture Primitive and alien:

Old Testament culture Primitive and alien:  Treating women as property — multiple wives

Old Testament culture Primitive and alien:  Treating women as property — multiple wives  Toxic concept of honour — Ahithophel’s advice

Old Testament culture Primitive and alien:  Treating women as property — multiple wives  Toxic concept of honour — Ahithophel’s advice  Brutality in warfare — no Geneva convention

Old Testament culture Primitive and alien:  Treating women as property — multiple wives  Toxic concept of honour — Ahithophel’s advice  Brutality in warfare — no Geneva convention  Unforgiveness — maybe (mis)learned from God's words

Old Testament culture Primitive and alien:  Treating women as property — multiple wives  Toxic concept of honour — Ahithophel’s advice  Brutality in warfare — no Geneva convention  Unforgiveness — maybe (mis)learned from God's words  Human sacrifice in many societies

David is a preview We need to see David against the backdrop of his world.

David is a preview As David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. — 1 Samuel 16:13. Because of this, he lives like a man under grace.

David is a preview He is very far from perfect. We immediately think of Bathsheba.

David is a preview He is very far from perfect. We immediately think of Bathsheba. And he was often merciless with enemies: David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. — 2 Samuel 8:2.

David is a preview But there is a great deal to admire:

David is a preview But there is a great deal to admire:  Trust in God (Goliath, 1 Samuel 17)

David is a preview But there is a great deal to admire:  Trust in God (Goliath, 1 Samuel 17)  Readiness to forgive Saul repeatedly (1 Samuel 24, 27)

David is a preview But there is a great deal to admire:  Trust in God (Goliath, 1 Samuel 17)  Readiness to forgive Saul repeatedly (1 Samuel 24, 27)  Enthusiasm for worship (returning the Ark, 2 Samuel 6)

David is a preview But there is a great deal to admire:  Trust in God (Goliath, 1 Samuel 17)  Readiness to forgive Saul repeatedly (1 Samuel 24, 27)  Enthusiasm for worship (returning the Ark, 2 Samuel 6)  Sincere repentance when he sinned (Psalm 51)

David is a preview But there is a great deal to admire:  Trust in God (Goliath, 1 Samuel 17)  Readiness to forgive Saul repeatedly (1 Samuel 24, 27)  Enthusiasm for worship (returning the Ark, 2 Samuel 6)  Sincere repentance when he sinned (Psalm 51)  Kindness towards (some) enemies (Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 9)

David is a preview But there is a great deal to admire:  Trust in God (Goliath, 1 Samuel 17)  Readiness to forgive Saul repeatedly (1 Samuel 24, 27)  Enthusiasm for worship (returning the Ark, 2 Samuel 6)  Sincere repentance when he sinned (Psalm 51)  Kindness towards (some) enemies (Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 9)  Gratitude to God (many psalms, e.g. Psalm 26:7) “singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all your wonders.”

Shimei: the good and bad of David

Shimei: the good and bad of David As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. “Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. […] David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David. — 2 Samuel 16:5-7, 13-14a.

Shimei: the good and bad of David As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. “Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. […] David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David. The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way. — 2 Samuel 16:5-7, 13-14a.

Shimei: the good and bad of David

Shimei: the good and bad of David As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him. “My lord the king, please forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. I know how much I sinned. That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Israel to greet my lord the king.” …

Shimei: the good and bad of David Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shimei should die, for he cursed the Lord’s anointed king!” “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!” David exclaimed. “Why have you become my adversary today? This is not a day for execution, for today I am once again the king of Israel!” Then, turning to Shimei, David vowed, “Your life will be spared.” — 2 Samuel 19:18b-23.

David's last recorded words are to Solomon

David's last recorded words are to Solomon “Remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.” — 1 Kings 2:8-9.

What can we learn? David was a mixture:  Filled with the Holy Spirit  Very much a man of his time

What can we learn? David was a mixture:  Filled with the Holy Spirit  Very much a man of his time Was that a good enough excuse for him?

What can we learn? We are very much people of our time. Is that a good enough excuse for us ?

What can we learn? We are very much people of our time. Is that a good enough excuse for us ? Unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven! — Matthew 5:20.