Tag: The Life of David

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Sermon Audio: David’s Last Words
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 23:1-7
Duration: 22:57
Size: 15.7 MB

The Life of David
David’s Last Words
II Samuel 23:1-7

I do not think that these are literally the last words of David. More likely, these words are David’s testimony about the coming kingdom.

King David’s last words bear testimony to future generations as well.

I. The King’s Identity (II Samuel 23:1)
David was identifying his humble origin. David was the youngest of Jesse’s seven sons.

David was chosen by God not because David’s heart attracted God to him but because God’s heart was set on David.

II. The King’s Inspiration (II Samuel 23:2-3b)
The first eight lines of David’s last song were preparatory for what was to follow.

III. The King’s Instructions (II Samuel 23:3c-7)
Nevertheless, these words were a promise through David about a future ruler who would be a righteous ruler who ruled in the fear of God.

David’s instruction regarding the promise of future blessings is that his, and our, hope and joy should be focused on God’s covenant of grace.

David was warning all readers of future destruction that awaited all who did not embrace God’s covenant of grace.

You’ve got to decide whether those signs are there to save you or to ruin your fun. You’re of age-you decide.

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Sermon Audio: David’s Song of Deliverance
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 22:1-51
Duration: 28:44
Size: 19.7 MB

The Life of David
David’s Song of Deliverance
II Samuel 22:1-51

It is a marvelous song in which David praises God for the many ways in which he delivered David.

I think that David had a wonderfully clear understanding that God was his designer, creator, and fixer.

I. The Context of Praising God for His Deliverance (II Samuel 22:15-17)
He saw how the Lord had delivered him on numerous occasions from many enemies.

II. The Content of Praising God for His Deliverance (II Samuel 22:2-3)
In Matthew 5-7 Jesus was teaching his disciples how to live as citizens of his kingdom in world full of sin.

So, a “fortress” protects one from the enemy. A “shield” also protects one from the attacking missiles of the enemy.

As David contemplated the ways in which God had delivered him from so many situations, he praised God for being his savior.

In his stronghold, he had a strong sense of God delivering him from attacks.

When David was young and constantly on the run from Saul, it seems that he knew every hill, every valley, every cave, and every place to hide from Saul. It was in these places of refuge that God provided a refuge and safety for David.

David praised God for being his strength, shield, savior, security, and safety.

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Sermon Audio: David’s War With the Philistines
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 21:15-22
Duration: 22:41
Size: 15.5 MB

The Life of David
David’s War With the Philistines
II Samuel 21:15-22

It involves battles with four different giants.
Scholars debate whether this narrative is from early in David’s life or later in his life.

But enemies constantly threatened David and his kingdom. By opposing David, these enemies were also opposing God.

I. God Destroys Enemies by Preserving His Anointed (II Samuel 21:15-17)
It is more likely that he was much older now and prone to weariness.

God always has a way of preserving his anointed.
Think of Noah.

II. God Destroys Enemies by Honoring His Servants (II Samuel 21:17,18,19,21,22)
David is given the credit for these victories because he was God’s anointed king on earth.

It is right to honor God’s servants for faithful service.

III. God Destroys Enemies by Fulfilling His Promise (II Samuel 21:16,18,20,22)
The point of author in telling us about the demise of these four giants is that God is always faithful in fulfilling his promise.

If you have put your trust in Jesus Christ, God will bring you safely to your promised eternal home.

IV. God Destroys Enemies by Silencing His Enemies (II Samuel 21:20-22)
So, God destroys enemies by preserving his anointed, by honoring his servants, by fulfilling his promise, and by silencing his enemies.

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Sermon Audio: David Avenges the Gibeonites
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 21:1-14
Duration: 28:53
Size: 19.8 MB

The Life of David
David Avenges the Gibeonites
II Samuel 21:1-14

These chapters look back over the whole period of David’s reign (and earlier). The text is not arranged chronologically but thematically.

As we consider the account of David avenging the Gibeonites, it may feel as if God has a little black book called “Le Petit Maurice.”

I. The Offended Must Be Appeased
I don’t think it is a stretch to add a worldwide coronavirus pandemic to the category of “natural disaster.”

We believe that man was made in the image of God, that every person is of intrinsic worth before God, and that every individual has a right to the fullest possible opportunities for the development of life abundant and eternal.

Although God told David that the reason for the famine was Saul’s slaughter of the Gibeonites, he did not tell David what to do to correct the injustice.

We should always go to the Lord in prayer and ask him if our difficulty is because of some unconfessed sin.

II. The Guilty Must Be Punished (II Samuel 21:7-9)
The author quickly takes us back to this horrible account, as he writes in verses 8-9.

They may have protested that they were acting on their father’s and grandfather’s orders, but under Old Testament solidarity laws, God held them liable.

III. The Devoted Must Be Rewarded (II Samuel 21:10-14)
It undoubtedly did not take away her grief, but David’s action bestowed dignity upon the slain.

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Sermon Audio: David and the Rebellion of Sheba
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 20:1-26
Duration: 24:24
Size: 16.7 MB

The Life of David
David and the Rebellion of Sheba
II Samuel 20:1-26

But, even before he arrived in Jerusalem, another rebellion arose against David, which David considered even more dangerous than Absalom’s rebellion.

But David, like all of us, fell into sin. David’s failure showed that his kingdom was not the promised, eternal kingdom of God.

I. Rebellion (II Samuel 20:1-2)
David returned to Jerusalem with just a very small part of his kingdom still intact.

II. Sadness (II Samuel 20:3)
These precious women suffered because of David’s sin.

III. Instability (II Samuel 20:4-13)
Joab was extremely strong-willed and also extremely loyal to David, even though he at times disobeyed David.

IV. Deliverance (II Samuel 20:14-22)
Joab let her know that if she gave up Sheba, he would not destroy the city.

V. Administration (II Samuel 20:23-26)
However, the kind of leadership that is essential is humble and servant-hearted, not proud and ambitious.