David: The Price of Greatness
King David. Israel’s greatest king. Jesus Christ’s human ancestor. Writer of a great portion of the Book of Psalms. Great warrior. One of the more flawed personalities recorded in the Bible. Yet, a person God acknowledged as a “man after My own heart.” The history of Israel, and of Christianity cannot be told without mention of this great man. Many admire him, many want to be like him. But how many are willing to pay the price of greatness?
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? […]
Psalm 22:1
These painful words, echoed by Jesus on the cross, were first spoken by David. And in these few words, we get a glimpse of the difficult path to greatness that David endured.
Background:
It was known in Israel that its leadership would come from the tribe of Judah.
The sceptre will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until he comes to whom he belongs
and the obedience of the nations is his.
Genesis 49:10
In jealousy of its neighbours, Israel demanded for a king who would lead them to war (1Samuel 8). They no longer wanted God as their King, nor did they remember that God had already decided to give them his chosen king. In response to their request, God obliged and gave them a king from the tribe of Benjamin. His name was Saul. King Saul was an insecure king, who met the people’s requirements for a king. With time, he let pride and disobedience rule him and as a result God rejected him as king.
In keeping to His original plan, God went to the tribe of Judah for His chosen king. He sent Prophet Samuel to anoint His choice of king. And it is here that we are introduced to David.
1. The Overlooked Son
[…] the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people […]
1 Samuel 13:14
Well, David’s family did not get this memo. When Prophet Samuel visited Jesse, so as to anoint his son, it did not occur to him to bring David to Samuel.
Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”[…]
1 Samuel 16:10-11
The response Jesse gives Samuel shows us the little regard he had for David, as far as being anointed by God, was concerned:
[…] “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.”
1 Samuel 16:11
He had no intention of relieving David of that responsibility. It was only at the insistence of Samuel that David was called away from his task and anointed.
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power […]
1 Samuel 16:13
Did the view of his family change after this anointing?
When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
“Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?”
1 Samuel 17:28-29
- As far as God was concerned, David was the next leader of Israel. A man after his own heart.
- As far as Jesse was concerned, David was but a young shepherd boy whose brothers were more deserving of the anointing.
- As far as Eliab was concerned, David was a conceited person, with a wicked heart who needed to go back to the desert to take care of the “few” sheep.
Yet, his family’s opinions did not dim the call of God on David’s life. As David put it:
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts,
O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Psalm 139:15-17
Lesson 1:
God’s opinion concerning your life should be greater than any other person’s opinion about you.
2. The Stage is Set
David was overlooked for his own benefit. For it was during this time that God prepared him for the stage he had for him.
Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Philistine army had the giant Goliath who challenged and frightened the Israelite army. Noone from Israel’s camp was brave enough to face him. This was the stage that God had for David. And it was for this stage that God had silently prepared David for.
a) He was a faithful shepherd
☆He never abandoned the “few” sheep for which he was responsible.
When his father sent him to check up on his brothers who were in Israel’s army, David ensured the sheep were provided for, in his absence.
Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed […]
1 Samuel 17:20
☆ He risked his life for the sheep
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.
1 Samuel 17:34
b) He developed a relationship with God
David was placed in circumstances that taught him dependence on the faithfulness and might of God.
Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who has delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”[…]
1 Samuel 17:36-37
c) He was comfortable in his own identity
Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic[…] “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:38-40
On the foundation of this preparation, David went forth towards Goliath, who insulted and cursed him by his gods. How did the young shepherd fair against the “champion” Goliath?
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.
1 Samuel 17:50-51
That day, Israel knew David.
Lesson 2:
“Who despises the day of small things?”[…]
Zechariah 4:10
We shall continue from here ☺