20. David’s Faith

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Hymns: Pg. 42 Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord, Pg 43 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, P17 God Is Always Near Me

Hebrews 11:32e (KJV)

 32  And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of David …

 David’s Faith

OUTLINE

(1) Courageous – Overcomes Fear to Do the Will of God

 

INTRODUCTION

David was a man who sought to do the will of God for His honour and glory leaving a legacy for his son Solomon as a man of faith who prepared the nation and resource to build a house for the worship of the living and true God.

We pick up this scene at dedication of the first Temple in Jerusalem in 1 Kings 8:10-11, 12-21[1].

 1 Kings 8:10-11 (KJV) 10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

 20And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 21 And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.

 It was in the will of God that the Temple, symbolic of Israel’s faith in the living and true God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth who will dwell with them in the glory of the cloud that filled the house of the LORD.

It was reminiscent of the cloud that filled the Tabernacle of God in the wilderness during the Exodus[2].

Exodus 40:34-38 (KJV) 34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

It was significant that Israel by faith fulfilled their God-given purpose to be a witness to the living and true God when God abode with them through the cloud that descended upon the tabernacle in the wilderness established as a nation to point the nations of the world to the living and true God.

Carl McIntire said well, “David was a great sinner; yet he was a man after God’s own heart. God did not love him for his sin; He loved him for his faith and obedience. David lied, but repented. He committed adultery; he murdered Uriah; and in simple faith he cried, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” In pride, he numbered the people, and was punished by a pestilence. Still he confessed his sin, “I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.”[3]

Her further observed well, “David’s life is a great comfort. There is hope for Christians when they stumble and fall into sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”[4]

The writer of Hebrews highlights for us David’s faith that is courageous and brave to do the will of God!

(1) Courageous – Overcomes Fear to Do the Will of God

He testified in Psalm 27 of that faith that God gave to Him.

1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

The first verse of the psalm provides for us the theme. The psalmist makes a statement of faith to declare the Person of his LORD – as light and salvation. Light as opposed to darkness, holiness as opposed to depravity. And this light, I believe, is also a description of life as the Apostle John said in John 1:4 about Jesus, the logos, in Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Rightly, the psalmist says, the LORD is my light, he is the one that gives me life and sustains my life. The LORD is the Light and the declaration by the psalmist is that all men might believe, that His LORD is the living and true God, this is the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. This is the Creator that gives men life and sustains his life.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

He declares that his LORD is not only light but also his salvation. I can see that in the full sense of his rendering. His LORD is His Saviour. Saves him body and soul through all the troubles of life and in the life after eternal life. The emphasis here is the strong connection that the psalmist has with the Person of His LORD. There is an intimacy and fellowship and provision that he receives out of this relationship that he is telling us here.

He declares to us and I quote him in the first person “the LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?”

Because of this strong bond that he has with his LORD, it has given him courage and strength not to fear the faces of men or their crafty wiles.

“The LORD is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?”

The word strength means “a place or means of safety” – Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

He is saying that his LORD is most capable, mighty and great, His overwhelming strength and power quells all fear in his heart and gives to it strength, soundness. Fear and stress comes together, it discomfits the heart causes the inner life of the heart to be in turmoil. There are ungodly fears that imprisons, paralyzes, disheartens, sickens, that put hopelessness at the heart of life. There psalmist speaks of how these fear must be dispelled and put in its rightful place of not incapacitating us in verses 1-3.

2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

He speaks here of the extreme dangers that one faces in life and that because his LORD helps him, he is not subjected to servile fear through the difficult trials of life. He finds deliverance and relief and reassurance through the distresses of life.

When fear grips and overwhelms our heart, we see our problem bigger than our God. But if God is truly God, then our problems must not be beyond God’s help! It is a logical, comforting and reassuring truth. Having a correct perspective of God in our heart will help us to put fear in its place. When we are overcome with fear, we become weaklings. When the Philistine army challenged Israel, all Israel trembled.

But there is always light at the end of the tunnel with God. David recalled how as a young shepherd boy, he came against Goliath at the battle with the Philistines.

David shared from his experience that there is help in God. He was sent by his father to bring food for his brothers at the battle front. There, he saw the grave danger of Israel, volunteered to fight Goliath.

He recalled how Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army (1 Samuel 16:1). He recalled how he was asked to send some good to his brothers at the battle front and there came a champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out the armies of the Philistines. And all the men of Israel when they saw the man, fled from him and were sore afraid. And the men of Israel said, “Have ye seen this man that is come up? Surely to defy Israel is he come up…And David said, “Is there no a cause?”

1 Samuel 17:45-46 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

1 Samuel 17:48-54 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem… 

When we trust fully in God, He gives to us the holy courage and boldness to glorify His name. Goliath stumbled and fell. David’s heart did not fear when he saw the surrounding might of the Philistine army, he was confident in God, who is his light and salvation through every circumstance in life.

The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid? This man proved his God that He is indeed most reliable and able to give him strength to overcome the giants of life.

And he is recommending the Person of his LORD to us.

4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

Therefore, he is most grateful for all the good that he has received out of God’s good hand. He seeks the Person of his LORD for a sustained, consistent, meaningful fellowship. He realise that in departing from his LORD, he will be cut-off from the life-line that has sustained his well-being all this time. He saw how weak and feeble and needy he was and how great a God he serves. He dare not leave Him.

As Peter said to our Lord Jesus, John 6:68 “…Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” Jesus fed the five thousand at the beginning of the chapter and when He stopped feeding them they all left Him. There was only the 12 disciples left and Jesus asked them, John 6:67 “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” Peter weighed his options, he saw that he will be in a bad case without his LORD.

John 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The psalmist speaks wisely when he exclaimed – 4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

The secret of David’s faith was that vital relationship with His God that is kept unbroken through prayer that grant him the wisdom to live life – Psalm 27:5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

When the Christian prays, God’s power is unleashed for his help. When we are in any problem, call to Jesus. He will protect and lift us out of our despondency. When we pray through and cast our cares to Jesus, we leave rejoicing. There is safety with or in the LORD. This is the psalmist’s experience.

Psalm 27:7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

We now come to the details for stress relief. How was the psalmist able to relief his arching heart? It is by crying to God in prayer.He pleaded with importunity, persisting in prayer. He pleaded for God’s mercy (v7). He realizes that he is an undeserving sinner before God. God’s mercy is the outworking of His love. It does not fail for it is the character of God to love His children with an everlasting love. He articulated his troubles before God.

He was obedient to draw nigh to his LORD (v8). He examines his heart and confesses his sins, making right with God (v9).

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Be aware of your sins. Confess them.

1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

Be aware that your sins have been forgiven when you confess them.

8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

He pleaded with importunity, persisting in prayer. He resolved to make right with God through repentance where he had fallen short. He asked God not to put him away and not be angry perhaps for some known sins, examining his own heart. Also, he pleaded with the LORD not to leave him with his problems but rescue him.

Notice he used the word “servant”. He is a servant to the will of His God, not his own will. It alludes perhaps also to his desire to seek after the righteousness of God which, inadvertently, he has not followed wholly. He remembered how God has been his faithful helper in the past, delivering him from many dangers. He pleaded in faith, that the LORD will yet deliver him this time. Indeed, the LORD will bless the prayer of faith according to His will.

The dedication of the Temple is a tribute to that faith for which the LORD’s glory descended to endorsed.

CONCLUSION

All praise and glory to our great God. Amen.

[1]1 Kings 8:1-11 (KJV) 1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. 4 And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up. 5 And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. 6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims. 7 For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above. 8 And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day. 9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt...12 Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 13 I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever. 14 And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;) 15 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying, 16 Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel. 17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.18 And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. 19 Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.

 [2]Exodus 40:17-33 (KJV) 17 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. 18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. 19 And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. 20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses. 22 And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail. 23 And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. 24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. 25 And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses. 26 And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: 27 And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses. 28 And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. 29 And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses. 30 And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal. 31And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: 32 When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. 33And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

[3]Carl McIntire, A Cloud of Witnesses, Christian Beacon Press, 1980, 181.

[4]Ibid.