Sermon: After God's Own Heart Summary: King David demonstrates that to be a person after God's own heart, your life must be one of constant communion, love, and loyalty to God in such a way that you consider the Lord's will before acting, and accept God's way of doing things in his own timing. Know: The Christian life begins with communion with God in such a way that he transforms your character to be like him. Feel: The desire to commune with God in a deeper way Do: Reflect on the nature of your connection, communion, dependence, and faith in God. Identify areas of strength and weakness and consider ways to strengthen your relationship with God in such a way that you learn to embrace your weakness and depend on his strength. Text: 2 Sam 1-5, selected texts Scripture Reading: Isa 40:28-31 Intro: 1. Ever watched an eagle or some other bird like it fly? Impressive a. They fly up and up and up to new heights b. God enables his people to do this 2. Reminded of this when God selects David to be king a. Man after God's own heart b. Only a man after God's own heart would be suitable for God c. What does that mean? d. Will be exploring this question in the first part of 2 Sam 3. First, some background leading up to this a. David on the run from Saul b. Saul an unfit king, he was self-centered, not follow God's will - Supposed to wipe out Amelekites, punishment for Exodus - Amelekites had attacked stragglers at the rear - thugs/terrorists - Saul did not obey then, and at other times - Saul would lose his kingdom and his lineage, dynasty will change c. God was with David, success, Saul tried to kill David out of paranoia d. David on the run from Saul, lived in wilderness - Many malcontents came to him, became David's mighty men - David pretend to ally with Philistines - Achish, King of Gath gave David Ziklag - David out fighting, came back home with men -- City burned, city stripped, women children gone -- Amelekites had come while they were gone -- David's men grieved and angry, wanted to stone David -- David inquired of the Lord, God said go, David attacked, retrieved wives, children, all their plunder, nothing lost - Had just come back home to Ziklag 4. Picture the scene I. 2 Sam 1-5 - Account of David's transition to the throne A. 1:1-27 - First section, News of Sauls Death 1. From an Amelekite who had come from Saul's camp a. Said Saul & Jonathan were dead b. How do you know? Asked David c. Amelekite said he saw Saul mortally wounded, Saul requested him to kill him, so he did 2. Amelekite had taken his crown and bracelet and gave it them to David, thinking to win David's favor. 3. David's reaction - Probably not what the Amelekite expected a. Tore his clothes, mourned & fasted, so did David's men b. (1:13-16) - Killed Amelekite for striking Lord's anointed c. Composed and taught Song of the Bow (v.19-27) - Showed the depth of his emotion - v.21 - Let it not rain or grow - land mourns - v.24-25 - Sings of bravery & accomplishment - v.26 - Especially mourns Jonathan d. David did NOT rejoice at their deaths - Usually don't see David rejoice at death of enemies - David seems to be an emotional man - Depth of his emotion often comes out in songs B. 2:1-7 - Second Section - David's limited Kingship in Hebron 1. (2:1-4) - David first "inquires of the Lord a. Has made a lifelong habit of doing this - 1 Sam 22:10 - While on the run from Saul, Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him - 1 Sam 23:2 - Inquired of the Lord whether to rescue Keliah from the Philistines, Lord said yes, even though the men were afraid - 1 Sam 30:8 - When Amelekites plundered Ziklag and took the women and children (David's men were talking of stoning him) - 2 Sam 2:1 - What to do after Saul died - 2 Sam 5:19 - Whether to defend against Philistines who came against after anointed King over all israel - 2 Sam 5:23 - Inquired of the Lord about battle movements b. Unlike Saul, David is deeply connected to God c. The Psalms ALSO show he is a man connected to God - David's longing was always to be near to God - His joy was to be with God - His satisfaction was in pleasing God - His life was bound up with God 2. God gives David an answer, David is patient with the answer a. David has waited on the Lord a long time so far b. Now David's reign is a limited reign 3. David still shows his respect for the Lord's anointed (2:5-7) a. Never lost sight of the fact that Saul was the Lord's anointed b. Showed respect for the crown in life and death c. When men of Jabesh Gilead rescued Saul's dead body from Philistines, he commended them for faithfulness C. 2:8 - 4:12 - Rival Reigns - Ishbosheth/Abner and David - contrast 1. Ishbosheth - Son of Saul a. From human standpoint, he the legitimate heir b. Power behind Ishbosheth is human - Abner - (2:8-9) - Abner "made" Ishbosheth King - Abner did Political maneuvering and power plays c. Represents man's choice - Saul was man's choice, so his sons would be too 2. David - Son of Jesse, tribe of Judah a. From God's standpoint, he is legitimate King b. Power behind David is Yahweh himself - No political maneuvering or power play - God chose David from the sheepfold - Demonstrated God's power with Goliath - God's power through David's victories c. Represents God's choice 3. David NEVER lifted a hand against Ishbosheth or Abner a. Joab killed Abner using deceit after Abner made allies with David - David lamented Abner & refused to eat - Ordered everyone to lament Abner - David "cursed" Joab (3:33-39) b. Saul's men assassinated Ishbosheth - David had them executed in disgrace (4:9-12) c. Later, David showed kindness to the remaining family - Mephibosheth, 9:6f D. 5:1-25 - Monarchy is fully established - no more contenders for throne 1. (5:1-5) - All of Israel anoints David as King 2. 5:6-25 - David establishes the kingdom a. Captured stronghold of the Jebusites - Jerusalem b. Alliance with Tyre, Tyre provides building material for his palace c. Defeats and pushes back the Philistines , and eventually neutralizes them as a real threat 3. (5:12) - Significant verse a. David realized that Yahweh had established him as King b. This was not ultimately David's doing, but God's c. David always depended on Yahweh for everything 4. *Truly, he is a man after God's own heart a. He was not a man to act independently of God b. He relied on God daily c. Easy to see how David relied on God in troubled times d. But David also did so when things got better II. Lesson for us? We need to wait on God A. David is a man after God's own heart 1. Model for leadership 2. Model for a believer in general B. What do we learn about waiting on God from David? 1. Need to inquire of God a. We see that this is what characterized most of David's life - He didn't make a move without inquiring of God - Philistines are surrounding us! What would you do? - David inquired of God first - (Jas 4:13-17) - We need to inquire of God first too -- To just go about our business without inquiring of God is arrogant -- "If God wills it" should always be first -- We need to seek God's will b. What does it mean to inquire of God? - It may seem David's answers were superior -- Assume God always spoke directly -- But 1 Sam 22:10 - indicates it was through the priests -- What did priests use? Urim and Thumin - We actually have greater resources than David -- We have the word become flesh > Can understand God better -- We have Bibles -- study, read, etc. - Inquire of God through the Word - It is primary - Secondary sources include: -- Godly parents, elders, ministers, brethren c. Also means to pray - See David is man of prayer, especially in Psalms - Eph 1:18 - Pray for eyes of heart to be enlightened - Eph 3:16 - Pray to be strengthened by the Spirit - Jas 1:5 - Lack wisdom, ask God 2. Need to patient & obedient to God a. David did not force things, waited on God's timing b. For years, lived as a fugitive among his enemies - He lamented this, but waited on God - He didn't shake his fist at God - He didn't take matters into his own hands and go after Saul c. After Saul was dead, God said to rule half a kingdom d. In other words, be patient & obedient - Heb 6:15 - Abraham patiently waited, obtain promise - Jas 5:7 - Be patient like farmer who plants 3. Embrace your weakness a. Sometimes David seem weak, sentimental, softee, indecisive b. David knew he was nothing in himself c. Wrote repeatedly in Psalms that God was his strength d. Saul was a man who tried to display strength in himself - That why he wanted to display booty and prisoners of war in victory parade after a battle, rather than destroy in all in obedience to God, 1 Sam 15 - David seemed to be okay with and embrace his weaknesses, -- (2 Cor 12:9) - Power perfected in weakness -- (2 Cor 12:10) - When I am weak, I am strong - From the day God chose young David from the sheepfold, he displayed power of God in David's weakness - This allowed David to soar to new heights C. ILL: When it comes to soaring, usually think of Eagles 1. Did you know that they are one of the weakest flyers? a. Wings so large, flapping is difficult b. Makes gaining altitude very difficult 2. Their wings are made for soaring a. They wait for the rising air to lift them up b. Lift them so high, they are like specks c. Then fold wings back, dive at 50-60 mph 3. (Isa 40:28-31) - Shall soar on wings like eagles a. Soaring on wings doesn't mean flapping hard to lift self up b. In an admission of weakness, we extend wings & wait c. Eagle remind us if wait in the Lord, will soar d. God send a wind to lift us up 4. Saul was a flapper, David was one who soared a. Saul ignored God and flapped with all his might, & fell b. David waited on God, opened his wings & soared D. We need to inquire of God in our weakness, and be patiently obedient 1. When we do this, we commune with God 2. This was David's passion, blessing, joy, life 3. It can be yours as well Concl: 1. Don't be a flapper, trying to do it on your own 2. Learn to rely on God, you have to (inv) 3. Be a person after God's own heart, seek his will, in the word, pray, in weakness, commune with God, and you will soar above it all. -------------------------------------- Small Group Notes: Waiting on the Lord Summary: King David demonstrates that to be a person after God's own heart, your life must be one of constant communion, love, and loyalty to God in such a way that you consider the Lord's will before acting, and accept God's way of doing things in his own timing. Open: - Which animal describes you best? Lion, bull, fox, weasel, dog, calf, cat, duck, other________________ Explore: 2 Sam 1-5 1. Discuss what in these chapters demonstrates that David was a man after God's own heart. 2. Why did David punish rather than reward those who eliminated his enemies, such as Saul, Abner, and Ishbosheth? What does this say about David? 3. How did David often make decisions in his life? What was the result of this? (1 Sam 22:10; 23:2; 30:8; 2 Sam 2:1; 5:19, 23) 4. Unlike Saul, David typically did not flaunt his power, prestige, etc. What does this say about David? 5. Now that David had peace, he could build a house for himself. Read Psalm 30 at the dedication of the house. What does this say about David? Apply: 6. What do you learn about being a person after God's own heart from this lesson? 7. What are the greatest challenges for you in becoming a person after God's own heart? 8. What role does weakness play in becoming a person after God's own heart? 9. What is God calling you to do? Prayer: (Don't forget the empty chair, make a list of people to invite)