Tag: The Life of David

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:09 — 16.6MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 4:1-12

The Life of David
David and Ish-Bosheth
II Samuel 4:1-12

Today’s lesson picks up when Ish-Bosheth hears the news of Abner’s death, and what happens to Ish-Bosheth after that.

Sometimes, people even try to order their lives or community through unjust means.

I. Courage Fails When We Ignore God (II Samuel 4:1)
So, news of Abner’s death caused Ish-Bosheth’s courage to fail. And not only Ish-Bosheth, but all Israel was dismayed.

Don’t live as if God is not sovereign over all things.

II. God Will Fulfill His Purposes (II Samuel 4:2-4)
Even today, let us believe that God is fulfilling his purposes.

III. Poor Theology Does Not Cover Sin (II Samuel 4:5-8)
The problem was that their theology was not only poor theology, but it was also wrong theology.

Poor theology, however, may give temporary comfort, but if it is wrong, it will never cover sin.

IV. God’s Saving Work Leads to Gratitude (II Samuel 4:9)
Gratitude is a natural response to salvation. It does not require coercion or encouragement; to the extent that the individual understands what has happened, gratitude will flow organically and abundantly from their heart.

V. God’s Judgment Rests on Sinners (II Samuel 4:10-12)
You and I are sinners. God’s judgment will fall on us unless we turn to Jesus and ask him to have God’s judgment fall on him.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:44 — 16.3MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 3:22-39

The Life of David
David Mourns Abner
II Samuel 3:22-39

David was seeking to establish God’s kingdom of peace on earth.

The fact is that Jesus Christ is perfect, and we are not.

I. God’s King Is Peaceful (II Samuel 3:22-23)
Instead of conflict there was now peace, as David received Abner into his fellowship.

II. God’s King Is Innocent (II Samuel 3:24-30,37)
Nevertheless, Joab, unknown to David, sent messengers after Abner and summoned him back to Hebron.

David was innocent of all wrongdoing.

III. God’s King Is Good (II Samuel 3:31-36)
David pointed his people–and us–to the true king, King Jesus. Jesus is good. He is always good.

IV. God’s King Is Gracious (II Samuel 3:38)
King David was showing himself to be a gracious king to those who came to him seeking reconciliation.

V. God’s King Is Gentle (II Samuel 3:39)
David was gentle toward Joab and Abishai. It takes great strength to be gentle.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:45 — 18.4MB)

Sermon Audio: David Joined by Abner
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 3:1-21
Duration: 26:44
Size: 18.3 MB

The Life of David
David Joined by Abner
II Samuel 3:1-21

Israel was led by General Abner and his puppet king, Ish-Bosheth, and Judah was led by King David.

They study the issue of peace around the world and publish their findings in a document called the Global Peace Index.

War is a terrible thing. Our world has never known a time without war.

I. God’s Kingdom Is Threatened by Personal Failure (II Samuel 3:1-5)
Those in the house of David included Joab, commander of David’s army (although he doesn’t appear in today’s narrative), and David, who was ruling as king over Judah.

From the beginning of creation, marriage was intended by God to be a covenant union between one man and one woman.

What sin are you justifying because everyone around you is doing it?

II. God’s Kingdom Is Helped by Justified Rebuke (II Samuel 3:6-11)
But Abner’s pride would not allow himself to submit to the truth that was in the rebuke.

III. God’s Kingdom Is Advanced by Demanded Restitution (II Samuel 3:12-16)
Restitution is “the restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner.”

IV. God’s Kingdom Is Established by Reconciling Peace (II Samuel 3:17-21)
Abner affirmed that he would gather all Israel and bring them to David so that David could become king over all Israel.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:49 — 19.1MB)

Sermon Audio: David Anointed King of Judah
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 2:1-32
Duration: 27:49
Size: 19.1 MB

The Life of David
David Anointed King of Judah
II Samuel 2:1-32

The way was finally opened for David to become king over Israel. But, even then, David was anointed king over only Judah and not yet all Israel.

The article was about Peggielene Bartels, secretary to the Ghanaian embassy in Washington for 30 years.

God had promised David that he would be the next king over Israel.

I. God’s Kingdom Is Inaugurated by Divine Guidance (II Samuel 2:1-4a)
David was seeking divine guidance from God regarding the establishment of his kingdom.

God’s kingdom is like a mustard seed. It starts small and grows into something that is really big.

II. God’s Kingdom Is Extended by Winsome Appeal (II Samuel 2:4b-7)
There is a wonderful winsomeness about David’s appeal to the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead to submit to his kingship.

III. God’s Kingdom Is Opposed by Rebellious Opposition (II Samuel 2:8-32)
King David now met with rebellious opposition. And this rebellious opposition to the kingdom of God will continue until Jesus returns.

God’s kingdom will triumph. God’s kingdom will prevail. And God’s kingdom will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:01 — 16.5MB)

Sermon Audio: David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 1:17-27
Duration: 24:01
Size: 16.4 MB

The Life of David
David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan
II Samuel 1:17-27

David and all the men with him mourned and wept and fasted for Saul and Jonathan and for the defeat of Israel at the hands of the Philistines.

To signify the importance of Saul’s death, none other than David, who came to be known as “the sweet psalmist of Israel”, wrote a national lament for Saul.

I. Lament for the Loss to a Nation (II Samuel 1:17-18)
It was not merely a personal and private expression of his grief, but it was a public expression of grief.

He wanted it to become motivation for their response to the attack of the Philistines.

II. Lament for the Loss of Mighty Leaders (II Samuel 1:19-24)
Of course, by the time that David heard about Saul’s death, the Philistines would have already broadcast the news all over Philistia: “We won! Philistia beat Israel! Dagon defeated Yahweh!”

It is right to mourn the loss of mighty heroes.

Nevertheless, now that Saul and Israel had been defeated, there was reason to mourn.

III. Lament for the Loss of a Dear Friend (II Samuel 1:25-27)
There is something that is irretrievably lost when a loved one dies. It is certainly appropriate to lament that loss.

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Sermon Audio: David Hears of Saul’s Death
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 1:1-16
Duration: 26:36
Size: 18.2 MB

The Life of David
David Hears of Saul’s Death
II Samuel 1:1-16

The end of First Samuel describes the death of King Saul. The beginning of Second Samuel describes David hearing of Saul’s death.

David was another person whose life was dramatically changed by the news of a death.

As we begin to learn about the reign of King David in 2 Samuel, we are led to believe that God’s king will at last rule over God’s people in God’s way.

I. The Problem with Telling Lies (II Samuel 1:1-10)
He knew that the Philistines had an overwhelmingly powerful force, and that the Israelites were facing a formidable and powerful enemy.

He embellished his story by saying that he had killed Saul, thinking that David would be pleased and reward his action.

II. The Appropriateness of Expressing Grief (II Samuel 1:11-12)
Some may think that David would have been glad to see Jonathan dead, because that would erase any opposition to David acceding to Israel’s throne.

We live in a world that is hostile to God and the people of God, and true shepherds and believers grieve for the people of God who suffer at the hands of God’s enemies.

III. The Necessity of Having Fear (II Samuel 1:13-16)
There is such a thing as a healthy fear, a godly fear, a fear that preserves us from sinning.

Do I always tell the truth?
Do I express grief over the loss of others?
Do I have a godly fear of displeasing my heavenly Father?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:24 — 19.5MB)

Sermon Audio: The Death of Saul
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 31:1-13
Duration: 28:23
Size: 19.4 MB

The Life of David
The Death of Saul
I Samuel 31:1-13

The author of First Samuel could have concluded chapter 31 by saying, “And now you know the rest of the story.”

In other words, at exactly the same time that David was striking down the Amalekites and rescuing his people from “the enemies of the Lord”, Saul was being attacked by the Philistines 100 miles to the north of David, with a very different outcome.

I. The Defeat of God’s People (I Samuel 31:1-3,7)
Presumably, the men of Israel moved on to Mount Gilboa to escape the chariots of the Philistines. But, there were far too many Philistines, and the army of the Israelites was defeated on Mount Gilboa.

II. The Certainty of God’s Judgment (I Samuel 31:4-6)
Saul was mortally wounded. He was dying. He knew that he was dying, and perhaps he also knew it might take hours or days before he died.

Meanwhile, 100 miles to the south, David’s success was in stark contrast to Saul’s defeat and death.

III. The Dishonoring of God’s Name (I Samuel 31:8-10)
God’s name is dishonored whenever we surrender to the idols of pride or lust or despair or greed or anger or any other violation of God’s Law.

IV. The Help of God’s Men (I Samuel 31:11-13)
“Saul’s reign began with his deliverance of Jabesh and ends with Jabesh’s ‘deliverance‘ of Saul.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:36 — 15.5MB)

Sermon Audio: David’s Wives Are Captured
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 30:1-31
Duration: 22:36
Size: 15.5 MB

The Life of David
David’s Wives Are Captured
I Samuel 30:1-31

Chapter 30 tells us what happened when David and his men arrived back in Ziklag.

I completely lost the sense of God’s presence. God was silent. And he remained silent for two years.

I. God’s Servant Is Distressed (I Samuel 30:1-6a)
Once they arrived in Ziklag, they discovered that the city had been burned, and no bodies were there.

Do you feel that things cannot get any worse? And then they do?

II. God’s Strength Is Provided (I Samuel 30:6b-10)
But, when his back was against the wall, when he was in significant distress, he went to his heavenly Father.

III. God’s Providence Is Indispensable (I Samuel 30:11-15)
God’s providence is indispensable in turning tragedy to triumph.

IV. God’s Grace Is Recovered (I Samuel 30:16-25)
A works-oriented view says that we get blessing for ourselves.

A grace-oriented view says that we receive God’s blessing only by his grace.

V. God’s Generosity Is Shared (I Samuel 30:26-31)
And I opened my mouth as I wept aloud, and I was surprised at what I heard coming out of my mouth. I heard, “I love you Jesus.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:22 — 16.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Saul and the Medium of Endor
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 28:3-25
Duration: 23:21
Size: 16.0 MB

The Life of David
Saul and the Medium of Endor
I Samuel 28:3-25

Today’s lesson is about Saul and the final hopelessness of a person who thought he was right with God but in fact he was not.

I. The Desperation (I Samuel 28:3-6)
Now, however, Saul desperately wanted some spiritual guidance, but Samuel was no longer alive.

II. The Defiance (I Samuel 28:7-14)
He literally had to go around the Philistine army to get to Endor.

In his defiance against God, Saul was seeking guidance from the spirit of someone who had died.

III. The Danger (I Samuel 28:15-19)
This clearly was not what Saul wanted to hear. He was hoping to get some relief for his distress.

IV. The Despair (I Samuel 28:20-25)
Now he eats his last meal, prepared by a witch, and goes forth to certain death.