September 9, 2024
How many sermons, messages or talks can you remember? I have no way of knowing the exact number of sermons I have shared, but it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,000. For the life of me, I cannot name four of them. Still, pastors like me study, prepare, write and deliver messages to the local church with the help of the Holy Spirit. Should I quit preaching because most people (including me) cannot remember 99% of the sermons I preach? Of course not. For me, the joy of spending time in the Scriptures and sharing with others is a priceless reward and blessing.
David is one of the greatest figures in human history. The best description I have heard of David is that he was a tender warrior. A skilled soldier and leader in battle, David was second to none. He also had the ability to care for others and act with grace and mercy when given the opportunity.
The Scriptures convey that Saul despised David and was envious of God’s blessings on his life. Still, David remained faithful to the Lord and loyal to the orders of Saul. David realized he had a higher calling on his life than that of a shepherd, and his countenance in the face of trouble against Saul revealed his character.
Do not forget that the road for David to become king did not happen overnight. David humbly followed Saul’s leadership and obeyed the orders given to him. Without question, David was an effective and influential leader, but he also learned to be a faithful and committed follower until the time to be more visible came. At this point, David had been a person of great integrity and character. His popularity was on the rise. However, he did not allow that to distract him from his responsibilities to Saul. David would see many times when his faith in God in the mundane or challenging times would lead to greater blessings.
David had been a blessing to Saul in many ways. He had helped him fight his enemies in battle, manage the army and win wars.
David also played songs to help Saul in his times of torment and anxiety. But Saul still perceived David as a threat and became resentful and jealous. In no way was David at fault for Saul’s irrational and immature behavior. The same can be true for you and me. We may faithfully serve the Lord, causing others to become angry or jealous. Keep serving. God sees and values you and your efforts.
Effective leadership requires courage. God blessed David with a good measure of this key ingredient. The Scriptures record, “The Lord was with David.”
The presence of the Lord is essential for being used by God and for His glory. David could endure the many threats from Saul because he had the assurance of God’s protection and provision in his life. Remember the One who has called you and the One you are seeking to honor in all you do. Others may forget the good you have done, but our Father will not.
___
This lesson was written by Bobby McKay, pastor of New Liberty Baptist Church in Morton, Mississippi, and originally published by The Baptist Paper. This study is based on the Bible Studies for Life curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources.
