Tag: The Life of David

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:08 — 16.6MB)

Sermon Audio: David Flees to the Philistines
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 27:1-28:2
Duration: 24:08
Size: 16.5 MB

The Life of David
David Flees to the Philistines
I Samuel 27:1-28:2

Even though David had God’s promises reiterated to him on numerous occasions, he got weary of being on the run from Saul.

Affirm that every character in the Bible–with the exception of Jesus Christ–is flawed, totally depraved, and sinful in nature.

I. David’s Plan (I Samuel 27:1-4)
But despite all these assurances that were given to David, he began to feel the pressure of being stalked and hunted and chased for more than seven years.

We make so many mistakes when we do not go to the Lord in prayer, and seek his guidance on a matter.

II. David’s Place (I Samuel 27:5-7)
Without knowing it, Achish gave David a place that David actually co-opted eventually into Judah.

III. David’s Practice (I Samuel 27:8-12)
According to a recent study, people who tell small, self-serving lies are likely to progress to bigger falsehoods, and over time, the brain appears to adapt to the dishonesty.

IV. David’s Predicament (I Samuel 28:1-2)
David was in a real predicament because he was being conscripted to go and fight against his own people.

And yet, even though David’s faith faltered, God was faithful to him and preserved him for his future calling.

When Gladys and the orphans made it through, they proved once again that no matter how inadequate we feel, God is still God, and we can trust in him.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:47 — 18.4MB)

Sermon Audio: David Spares Saul’s Life Again
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 26:1-25
Duration: 26:47
Size: 18.3 MB

The Life of David
David Spares Saul’s Life Again
I Samuel 26:1-25

Moreover, whereas Saul’s behavior remained essentially unchanged from the previous occasion, we see significant growth in David’s faith in this second incident.

In today’s lesson, we read how David and Abishai took Saul’s weapon from him while he–and all his guards–slept.

I. A Faithful Servant Is Patient (I Samuel 26:1-12)
The Lord was supernaturally protecting David and Abishai while they snuck right into the middle of Saul’s camp.

We may not know what God is doing, but we do have God’s word, and God calls us to obey his word while he works out his will for our lives.

II. A Faithful Servant Is Encouraged (I Samuel 26:13-16)
God encourages his faithful servants with some token, some evidence that he has not forgotten his word and promise to them.

III. A Faithful Servant Is Distressed (I Samuel 26:17-20)
A faithful servant is distressed when not able to be in the presence of the Lord.

IV. A Faithful Servant Is Hopeful (I Samuel 26:21-25)
A faithful servant’s hope is in the Lord and not in man. David trusted the Lord to reward him for his faithfulness.

As Christians, we are all dominoes in the chain reaction set off by Jesus 2,000 years ago.

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Sermon Audio: David and Abigail (Part 2)
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 25:32-44
Duration: 26:06
Size: 17.9 MB

The Life of David
David and Abigail (Part 2)
I Samuel 25:32-44

Feelings festered and other incidents occurred that finally resulted in the shooting death of Ellison Hatfield in 1882.

You may not think it out loud, but you really want to do something about what has been done to you.

I. David’s Response (I Samuel 25:32-35)
One moment he was filled with murderous rage; the next moment he was completely calm.

II. Nabal’s Death (I Samuel 25:36-38)
Abigail told him about how she had intercepted David and prevented David from killing Nabal and all the male members of his household.

We need to remind ourselves that the Lord will meet out retributive justice, always after we die but sometimes before we die.

III. David’s Vindication (I Samuel 25:39a)
When you are wronged, rebuffed, scorned, slighted, rejected, or even hurt, let the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between you and the one who has wronged you.

IV. David’s Wives (I Samuel 25:39b-44)
Still, we should observe that David’s polygamy failed to uphold God’s design for marriage and would in the end lead to great harm to both David and his household.

This remarkable aspect of David’s conduct is strikingly similar to Jesus who did not come, in his first coming, “to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:50 — 16.4MB)

Sermon Audio: David and Abigail (Part 1)
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 25:1-31
Duration: 23:49
Size: 16.3 MB

The Life of David
David and Abigail (Part 1)
I Samuel 25:1-31

David became really upset because of Nabal’s actions, and he very nearly acted in a way that could have been disastrous for him. Thankfully, the Lord intervened in David’s life.

I. A Man Who Does Not Fear the Lord (I Samuel 25:1-13)
A. The Request (I Samuel 25:1-9)
Bible scholars say that it was customary at shearing time, which was also a feast, for wealthy landowners to share their wealth with others.

B. The Refusal (I Samuel 25:10-11)
His foolishness–like all true foolishness–concerns his relationship to the Lord. All sin is sheer foolishness, for it is the contradiction of God.

C. The Retaliation (I Samuel 25:12-13)
We are vulnerable at such moments, not only to the flushes of our own sinfulness but to the influences of demonic suggestion.

II. A Woman Who Does Fear the Lord (I Samuel 25:14-31)
A. The Apprisal (I Samuel 25:14-17)
Apparently, even Nabal’s own servants did not have a high view of him, calling him a “a wicked man.”

B. The Action (I Samuel 25:18-19)

C. The Anger (I Samuel 25:20-22)
He was about to do something that would ruin his future, for if he had killed Nabal and his household, David would have been no better than Saul.

D. The Appeal (I Samuel 25:23-31)
Therefore, Abigail asked for David’s forgiveness for this insult and made restitution by providing him with various foods.

But in his marvelous mercy, God’s restraining providence prevented David from doing something that would have damaged his credibility and caused him great regret.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:51 — 17.8MB)

Sermon Audio: David Spares Saul’s Life
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 24:1-22
Duration: 25:51
Size: 17.7 MB

The Life of David
David Spares Saul’s Life
I Samuel 24:1-22

Though initially fearful of Saul, David’s trust in God grew, and in his sovereign, providential care of him.

God was calling David to turn the other cheek, even though Saul was insanely jealous of David and wanted to kill him.

I. A Test for God’s Servant (I Samuel 24:1-7)
In any event, David’s men saw Saul’s presence in the cave as a wonderful stroke of providence, which is why they urged him to go and take care of Saul.

The meaning of this incident, surely, is that God was testing David. In a sense it was the ultimate test of trust.

II. An Appeal to God’s Justice (I Samuel 24:8-15)
The recognition of that voice and the instant realization of how near he had come to eternity must have pierced Saul’s heart like an arrow.

He quickly realized–fortunately, before it was too late–that he could leave the timing of justice to God.

III. An Assurance of God’s Faithfulness (I Samuel 24:16-22)
Bad men will commonly go no farther than this in their confessions: they will own they are not so good as some others are; there are those that are better than they, and more righteous.

So, David was teaching his men that if they wanted David as their king, they would have to trust God, just as he did, to establish his kingdom in his time and in his way.

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Sermon Audio: Saul Pursued by David
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 23:15-29
Duration: 20:54
Size: 14.3 MB

The Life of David
Saul Pursued by David
I Samuel 23:15-29

Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven.

I. God Provides Encouragement When Needed (I Samuel 23:15-18)
A. The Threat (I Samuel 23:15)
It is likely that David was discouraged because Saul had come out to seek his life.

B. The Friendship (I Samuel 23:16-18)
But Jonathan came to David and strengthened his hand in God.

II. God Provides Protection When Needed (I Samuel 23:19-29)
A. The Threat (I Samuel 23:19-24)
Undoubtedly, word of Saul’s slaughter of the entire town of Nob prompted the Ziphites to take preventive action.

B. The Escape (I Samuel 23:24-29)
If we were watching a movie of this scene, the music would be at a crescendo and we would be on the edge of our seats waiting for Saul and his men to capture David and his men.

God provides protection to you and me when we need it too.

God is exceedingly capable of protecting his people in a myriad of ways.

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Sermon Audio: David Saves the City
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 23:1-14
Duration: 23:21
Size: 16.0 MB

The Life of David
David Saves the City
I Samuel 23:1-14

One sign of David’s trust in the Lord is seen in how he sought the Lord’s guidance in different circumstances.

You want to follow the Lord, and so you want to know God’s guidance in your life.

When David sought guidance from the Lord, the Lord directed him (through the ephod) to go to Keilah and also to get out of Keilah.

I. God Guided David Regarding an Attack (I Samuel 23:1-5)
A. The Report (I Samuel 23:1)
The people of Israel recognized that David was more likely to act as a king should act by defending the people against enemy aggressors.

B. The Requests (I Samuel 23:2-4)
Here is where we see the shepherd’s heart of David. He knew that his men were afraid; indeed, they had just told him that they were “afraid here in Judah.”

C. The Result (I Samuel 23:5)
He saved the people of Keilah, which was something that Saul should have done.

II. God Guided David Regarding an Escape (I Samuel 23:7-14)
A. The Report (I Samuel 23:7-8)
B. The Requests (I Samuel 23:9-12)
But, they were likely terrified of what Saul might do to them and their town, having heard that Saul had wiped out the entire town of Nob.

C. The Result (I Samuel 23:13-14)
To be sure, David had one narrow escape after another while on the run from Saul. But, God was sovereignly protecting him.

1. The Word of God (objective standard).
2. The Holy Spirit (subjective witness).
3. Circumstances (divine providence).

David showed us that we should seek God’s guidance in all circumstances.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:40 — 17.6MB)

Sermon Audio: David’s Growing Confidence in the Lord
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 22:1-23
Duration: 25:39
Size: 17.6 MB

The Life of David
David’s Growing Confidence in the Lord
I Samuel 22:1-23

Apparently, these two episodes in David’s life enabled him to realize that in spite of his fear, the Lord was still sovereignly watching over him and protecting him. So, from this point on we see David’s growing confidence in the Lord.

After David learned that King Saul really did intend to have him killed, David fled from him.

I. David’s Preparation (I Samuel 22:1-5)
A. The Place of David’s Preparation (I Samuel 22:1)
We don’t know how long David spent in the cave of Adullam, but it was during this period that David’s confidence in the Lord grew again.

B. The People During David’s Preparation (I Samuel 22:1-4)
David and the four hundred men, along with wives and children, stayed in the stronghold, which is the cave of Adullam.

C. The Prophet During David’s Preparation (I Samuel 22:5)
In the arrival of Gad the prophet to his refuge at Adullam, David must have seen a return of God’s favor for him.

II. David’s Predicament (I Samuel 22:6-23)
A. The Slaughter by Saul (I Samuel 22:6-19)
Then Saul summoned Ahimelech and all the priests at Nob to come and see him, which they did.

Moral failure has consequences, sometimes disastrous consequences.

B. The Sorrow of David (I Samuel 22:20-23)
David’s sin accomplished God’s promise that he would punish the descendants of Eli with their destruction, save for one only.

David was hated by Saul who wanted him and his followers destroyed. Similarly, Jesus is hated by Satan who wants him and his followers destroyed.

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Sermon Audio: David as a Fugitive
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 21:1-15
Duration: 24:37
Size: 16.9 MB

The Life of David
David as a Fugitive
I Samuel 21:1-15

Saul’s son Jonathan warned David that his father indeed wanted to kill David. And so, David became a fugitive from Saul for many years.

King-elect David had been a good soldier for a number of years too.

1. David Visited Ahimelech at Nob (I Samuel 21:1-9)
It is not exactly clear why David went to visit Ahimelech the priest at Nob.

A. David Told a Falsehood (I Samuel 21:1-2)
David claimed to be on a secret mission from King Saul, with his men hidden away nearby. That was a blatant falsehood.

B. David Asked a Favor (I Samuel 21:3-6, I Samuel 21:8-9)
That is, the bread on hand was the bread of the Presence, which was set out each Sabbath and replaced the following week with fresh bread.

Jesus warns us against excessive rules that make the Lord’s Day a burden.

C. David Missed a Foe (I Samuel 21:7)
But rather than correct our error, we do nothing because we have become paralyzed.

2. David Fled to Achish at Gath (I Samuel 21:10-15)
A. David Became Afraid (I Samuel 21:11-12)
Sometimes we make really big mistakes, even sinning in the process.

B. David Feigned Insanity (I Samuel 21:13-15)
Here is the lesson: Any believer can fall, and can fall far and fast.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:02 — 15.1MB)

Sermon Audio: Jonathan’s Warning
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 20:1-42
Duration: 22:02
Size: 15.1 MB

The Life of David
Jonathan’s Warning
I Samuel 20:1-42

Jonathan devised a plan to find out whether this was true and, if true, to warn David about it.

The article concludes with the following advice: “No matter what social network you’re on, you can buy your way to popularity.”

I. The Cause of David’s Fears (I Samuel 20:1-23)
A. The Problem (I Samuel 20:1–11)
The problem was that David was convinced that Saul was trying kill him.

B. The Promise (I Samuel 20:12-17)
But now, Jonathan knew that David would replace his father Saul as king over Israel.

C. The Plan (I Samuel 20:18-23)
If he told the boy that the arrows were beyond him, then David would know that Saul was still determined to kill him, and that he should flee.

II. The Confirmation of David’s Fears (I Samuel 20:24-42)
A. David’s Absence (I Samuel 20:24-29)
Jonathan told his father that David was in Bethlehem. This was not true, and it really was unnecessary to lie. But he did.

B. Saul’s Anger (I Samuel 20:30-34)
C. Jonathan’s Arrows (I Samuel 20:35-42)
In fact, Jonathan and David only met one more time years later before Jonathan’s untimely death.

Jonathan chose covenant loyalty to David, the God-anointed future king of Israel, over loyalty to his father, Saul.