2021-06-20: The Life of David — David and God’s Protection

Sermon Audio: David and God’s Protection
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 19:1-24
Duration: 22:38
Size: 15.5 MB

The Life of David
David and God’s Protection
I Samuel 19:1-24

God, in his marvelous providence, protected David from Saul’s numerous attempts to kill him.

If we have been a Christian for any length of time, we know that being a Christian does not mean a trouble-free life.

I. David Was Saved from Saul by Jonathan (I Samuel 19:1-7)
By going to Saul and speaking to him on David’s behalf, Jonathan was doing something very risky.

II. David Was Saved from Saul by Elusion (I Samuel 19:8-10)
Since the Lord is not the author of evil, he simply permitted the harmful spirit to afflict Saul.

III. David Was Saved from Saul by Michal (I Samuel 19:11-17)
Maybe she knew what the watching messengers meant because she had grown up in Saul’s house.

IV. David Was Saved from Saul by the Spirit of God (I Samuel 19:18-24)
David went to Samuel because he knew that Samuel was a man of God.

Normally, in the Old Testament, the Spirit of God came upon various individuals to equip them with power to perform or speak God’s will.

The point of biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns.

2021-06-13: The Life of David — David and Saul’s Jealousy

Sermon Audio: David and Saul’s Jealousy
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 18:6-30
Duration: 22:54
Size: 15.7 MB

The Life of David
David and Saul’s Jealousy
I Samuel 18:6-30

But, it wasn’t long before Saul became extremely jealous of David.

The Concise Oxford English Dictionary defines jealousy as being “envious of someone else’s possessions, achievements, or advantages.”

I. Saul’s Jealousy (I Samuel 18:6-11)
Saul was envious of David’s achievements as expressed by the women who came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, and lauding David’s achievements over Saul’s.

II. David’s Ascendancy (I Samuel 18:12-16)
There are six references in this chapter to love, with David as the object of that love.

III. Saul’s Schemes (I Samuel 18:17-27)
Saul thought that if the Philistines killed David, his hands would be clean of David’s blood.

But Saul did not reckon that the Lord was with David.

IV. David’s Success (I Samuel 18:28-30)
We should see that David was successful because the Lord was with him.

2021-06-06: The Life of David — David and Jonathan’s Friendship

Sermon Audio: David and Jonathan’s Friendship
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 18:1-5
Duration: 21:43
Size: 14.9 MB

The Life of David
David and Jonathan’s Friendship
I Samuel 18:1-5

In other words, how many of your online friends would help if you were in trouble?

I. Love Is Expressed in Attitudes
A. Love Is Strong
Some time prior to the battle between Goliath and David, Jonathan and his armor-bearer went to a Philistine garrison and killed twenty Philistine
soldiers.

It seems to me that Jonathan’s love for David was strong because Jonathan saw in David what he himself had: a love for God and for the people of God.

B. Love Is Selfless
And because he trusted fully in the Lord, he was freed from the trappings of self and selfishness.

II. Love Is Expressed in Actions
A. Love Is Covenantal
A covenantal love between friends is committed, dedicated, and loyal.

B. Love Is Giving
The robe that Jonathan gave to David was not just any robe. It was his royal robe.

Jonathan quickly understood, as no-one else at the time did, that God had anointed David to be the next king over Israel.

2021-05-30: The Life of David — David and Goliath (Part 3)

Sermon Audio: David and Goliath (Part 3)
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 17:41-58
Duration: 21:52
Size: 15.0 MB

The Life of David
David and Goliath (Part 3)
I Samuel 17:41-58

So, with the Philistine armies on one hill and the Israelite armies on the other hill, David went with staff in hand to the brook and chose five smooth stones.

Everyone who looked at the upcoming battle between Goliath and David would have said that it was a terrible mismatch.

I. The Boasting of Goliath (17:41-44)
This really was the true confrontation: the gods of the Philistines versus the God of Israel, the false gods versus the true and living God, Jehovah.

II. The Response of David (17:45-47)
But David rebuked Goliath for blaspheming the true and living God.

III. The Victory of David (17:48-54)
Sometimes worldly weapons seem stronger and more powerful than God’s weapons, but that is not the case.

IV. The Inquiry of Saul (17:55-58)
But actually, Saul was not wanting to know who David was; he wanted to know who David’s family was.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
In other words, “Blessed is God’s savior who comes in the name of the Lord to defeat our enemy.”

2021-05-23: The Life of David — David and Goliath (Part 2)

Sermon Audio: David and Goliath (Part 2)
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 17:31-40
Duration: 25:26
Size: 17.4 MB

The Life of David
David and Goliath (Part 2)
I Samuel 17:31-40

But, instead of the two armies slugging it out, the Philistines put forward a champion named Goliath of Gath, who was nine feet nine inches tall.

I hope that’s how you feel about your relationship with God, that you want to give him your best.

I. David’s Readiness for the Battle (I Samuel 17:31-33)
He was astonished that an uncircumcised Philistine should defy the armies of the living God.

David was like his greater Son, Jesus, whom the Lord later sent to be the savior of sinners.

II. David’s Reasons for the Battle (I Samuel 17:34-37)
The ultimate aim and object of our salvation is that we may glorify God… The essence of salvation is to bring us into the state in which we do glorify God.

III. David’s Resources for the Battle (I Samuel 17:37-40)
So, I am a bit baffled why he thought that his armor would even fit anyone, let alone young David.

David went into battle against Goliath with the following resources, “He went to the conflict with a blazing concern for the honor of God, with confidence in the certainty of his promises and with the power of the Spirit of God.”

However, David points us to his greater Son, Jesus. Jesus willingly went to battle against Satan on behalf of his people.