David a man after the heart of God.
Amos 9: 11 “On that day I will raise up The [i]tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old;
Who is David? David is the 2nd King of Israel
His titles in the bible
Shephard : 2 Samuel 7:8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel.
Armor bearer: 1 Samuel 16:21 So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.
Army commander: 1 Samuel 18:5 Whatever mission Saul sent him on; David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.
King’s Son-in-Law – Married Saul’s daughter Michal (1 Samuel 18:18)
Prince over Israel –2 Samuel 6:21 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord.
King over Judah – First anointed king of the tribe of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4).
King over Israel – Anointed ruler over all Israel at Hebron (2 Samuel 5:3).
Christians have given him many name based on his zeal for God.
- The psalmist of Israel.
- The man after the heart of God.
- The killer of thousands.
What were his attributes?
He focused on exalting God.
Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a]I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 27 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”
Psalm 34 – “The Lord is near to all who call on Him”.
Psalm 139 – “O Lord, you have searched me and known me” .
Psalm 19 – :For the director of music. A psalm of David.1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.3 They have no speech; they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer “”
Trusting God to defeat Goliath. Samuel 17
Respecting God and not killing Saul because he was anointed by God. 1 Samuel 24
Coming to God for advice in every one of his actions as king.
1 Samuel 2:1-7 “In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered. 2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3
1 Samuel 23:1-6 “When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,” 2 he inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” 3 But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!” 4 Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.” 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah.
1 Samuel 23:10 David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will.” 12 Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will.” 13 So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.
Repenting and Surrendering to God after he sinned.
Acts 13:22 “After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’”
What were his accomplishments
1. Prepared to build a house for God.
1 Chronicles 22:2–14 “So David commanded to gather the aliens who were in the land of Israel; and he appointed masons to cut hewn stones to build the house of God. And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails of the doors of the gates and for the joints, and bronze in abundance beyond measure, and cedar trees in abundance; for the Sidonians and those from Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
2. Bought music instruments in Israel.
1 Chronicles 23:5 Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose.”
3. Established 24 worship in Israel.
1 Chronicles 9:33 Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.
4. Conquered all the land of Israel.
2 Samuel 7:10-13 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders[a] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
5. Established Jerusalem as the capital city, called the city of David.
2 Samuel 5:6-9 David Conquers Jerusalem. 6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.
8 On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.[a]” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”
9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces[b] inward.
What we learn about our God in the story of David.
1. CreateS greatness from simple. : unknown man from an unknown family becomes king.
1 Samuel 16:19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
- GEDEON -from threshing flour.
- Joseph, foreign slave.
- Esther-foreigner who was afraid to hide her identity.
2. God is A systematic a master planner: He takes him to the palace to learn how to be king.
1 Samuel 16:21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” 23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.”
- Now David can see how a King lives and works first-hand.
· He was trained to lead.
1 Samuel 17:35 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. 36 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.
- He was trained to fight.
- Moses story in the palace demonstrates God’s plan.
- We must submit to his plan even when we don’t understand.
Psalm 144 Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
3. Those who trust in God will never fail.
-There are times that even David felt like he has been left by God, but God was actually there.
Psalm 56:4: “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
Psalm 125:1: “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.”
4. He does not judge by outward appearance. He looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
5. TRUE WORSHIPERS NEVER FAIL
Amos 9: 11 “On that day I will raise up The [i]tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old;
David was chosen because he was faithful and obedient to God.
- Now David can see how a King lives and works first-hand.
Acts 13:22 “After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’”
The tabernacle of David
1 Chronicles 25 The Musicians, 25 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:
2 From the sons of Asaph: Zakkur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s supervision.
3 As for Jeduthun, from his sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,[a] Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six in all, under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp in thanking and praising the Lord.
4 As for Heman, from his sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. 5 (All these were sons of Heman the king’s seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.)
6 All these men were under the supervision of their father for the music of the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the supervision of the king. 7 Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the Lord—they numbered 288. 8 Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties.
At its commencement the Tabernacle was stewarded by two hundred eighty-eight singers and musicians (1 Chron 25:7). By the end of David’s reign there were four thousand singers and musicians worshiping day and night before the ark (1 Chron 23:5). To put that number in perspective, that would be the same size as a symphony forty times larger than the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
Throughout David’s reign Israel financially supported these singers and musicians to worship the Lord as a full-time occupation (1 Chr. 9:33; 16:37). Consider the incredible commitment of the king and the nation to see to it that the singers and musicians were “free from other duties because they were employed in that work, day and night” (1 Chron 9:33).
This worship center was critical to David’s reign and his thoughts of how leading the nation was to be conducted. It was so important to David that he commanded the kings in Israel after him to continue to fund full-time musicians and singers to worship the Lord as the centerpiece of their reigns as well. What’s more notable is that this command wasn’t simply David’s idea, it was a prophetic directive from the Lord as to how the kingdom of Israel should be set up (2 Chron 29:25-26).
When we recognize God wanted the nation to support singers and musicians to minister before Him night and day, we must ask ourselves when did this desire change in God’s heart? It also leads us to wonder about God’s desire for His church. If He set up His nation with continuous worship at the center, why would the format of church be a service we attend on the weekend with a few moments of worship “to set up” the preaching? Would it make sense that just as the nation of Israel was a people centered around His presence through worship and prayer, that the Church should function similarly? Is there a biblical directive that in some way changes God’s desire for continuous worship and prayer? Is it possible that most of our current expressions are simply adaptations that fit our cultural context rather than one that mirrors how God originally desired for the worship gathering of His people to be conducted?
Psalms of David in Times of Distress
Several Psalms attributed to David vividly portray a man overwhelmed by fear, suffering, and personal crisis, yet still turning to God in trust and worship.
1. Psalm 57 – Fleeing from SaulWritten when David hid in a cave from King Saul, Psalm 57 begins with a plea for mercy: “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge” (v. 1). It reflects deep fear, the constant threat of death, and a desperate need for God’s protection.
2. Psalm 34 – Deliverance from FearAfter David pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, he wrote Psalm 34: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears” (v. 4). This psalm shows how distress can lead to a renewed trust in God’s deliverance.
3. Psalm 38 – Deep Spiritual and Physical SufferingPsalm 38 is a passionate cry from a man burdened by both sin and its consequences. David describes God’s “arrows” piercing him, festering wounds, and feeling abandoned by friends. Yet he still pleads for mercy and places hope in God’s redemption.
4. Psalm 59 – Enemies and the Desire for MercyDavid laments the relentless attacks of his enemies and the slander that isolates him: “I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy” (v. 1). This psalm captures the anguish of being pursued and the longing for God’s intervention.
5. Psalm 142 – Desperation and the Need for Refuge In Psalm 142, David is in a state of extreme distress, possibly during the Absalom rebellion. He cries out to God for mercy and refuge, declaring “I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble” (v. 2). This psalm shows vulnerability and dependence on God ..
6. Psalms 55–61 – Anguish and Abandonment These Psalms depict David in profound despair, feeling abandoned by God and overwhelmed by enemies. He questions God’s presence and expresses deep sorrow yet still seeks His help.
7. Psalm 62 – From Despair to Trust While earlier Psalms in this range focus on suffering, Psalm 62 shifts to a declaration of trust: “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation” (v. 1). It shows David’s ability to move from distress to reliance on God’s steadfast love
This is a great exposition on many of the things that made David great, and why his story is important for the practices of the church now. It really makes me consider him has more than the stone-slinger against Goliath or the third king of Israel, but as a prominent psalmist and believer in God whose devout faith and reverence of God in kingship provide an example for us today.