The Path to Power (Lesson Two)

2 Samuel 5:1-5 NASB

(1)  Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

(2)  "Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.'"

(3)  So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before the LORD at Hebron; then they anointed David king over Israel.

(4)  David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.

(5)  At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

Power evolves through humility.  Instead of exalting himself, David waited on the Lord.  As a result, all the Elders anointed him King.  They acknowledged his humble service and after 20 years, David is the King.

When do you find it difficult to wait on God?  How about when you know He has promised something but it hasn’t happened yet?  Are you praying for the salvation of a loved one?  Maybe you are praying for healing.  Many situations require patience.

So, I will leave you with two questions.

What has been your experience when you waited on the Lord in a situation?

What has been your experience when you got in a hurry?

The Path To Power (Lesson One)

2 Samuel 2:1-7 NASB

(1)  Then it came about afterwards that David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up." So David said, "Where shall I go up?" And He said, "To Hebron."

(2)  So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.

(3)  And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron.

(4)  Then the men of Judah came and there anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, "It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul."

(5)  David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, "May you be blessed of the LORD because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him.

(6)  "Now may the LORD show loving-kindness and truth to you; and I also will show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing.

(7)  "Now therefore, let your hands be strong and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

Position and Power come from God.  David inquired of the Lord and we must always remember that faithful leaders get directions from God.

Think about some decisions that you must make in the coming weeks.  How might your decisions be impacted by seeking God’s guidance first?

God gives guidance through many avenues.  Our prayer life is an essential path to receive guidance from God.  We must not forget time spent in God’s word.  Reading our Bible plays a huge role in our growth as a Christian.   

How about talking with our Pastor or a Christian friend?  We also have Christian books that can give guidance.  We must never forget the benefits from quit time with God.

All of these are resources that we have where God can speak to us and give guidance to our lives.  David took time to seek God and we would do well to follow David’s lead.   

PATIENCE (part 3)

1 Samuel 26:21-25 NASB

(21)  Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error."

(22)  David replied, "Behold the spear of the king! Now let one of the young men come over and take it.

(23)  "The LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I refused to stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed.

(24)  "Now behold, as your life was highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the LORD, and may He deliver me from all distress."

(25)  Then Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail." So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

As we have been studying throughout this series, David has been content to wait upon God and His timing.  God honors those who patiently wait for his timing.  We can see God’s blessing in many areas of everyday life.

A farmer plants his field.  He has done all he can to insure an abundant crop.  However, the farmer knows that it is God who gives the increase and it will come on God’s time frame. A young man and women falls deeply in love and they decide to wait until marriage to have sex.  A spouse waits for their unbelieving partner to come to the Lord. 

All these circumstances carry God’s blessings and the blessings will come in God’s time frame.  The key is God’s time frame and our patience in waiting.  If the farmer picks his crops too soon they are worthless.  How many times have we seen single teenagers struggling with the mistakes of not waiting to have sex?  Sadly the answer is too many.  What if the believing spouse instead of waiting on God is constantly nagging their partner about church and all it is doing is driving them away.

David had to flee his home to save his own life.  This after God had anointed him King.  David could have taken matters into his own hands, but David showed tremendous patience and he received God’s blessing. 

How about you?  

PATIENCE (part 2)

1 Samuel 26:12-20 NASB

(12)  So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul's head, and they went away, but no one saw or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a sound sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

(13)  Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them.

(14)  David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?"

(15)  So David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord.

(16)  "This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you must surely die, because you did not guard your lord, the LORD'S anointed. And now, see where the king's spear is and the jug of water that was at his head."

(17)  Then Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord the king."

(18)  He also said, "Why then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?

(19)  "Now therefore, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering; but if it is men, cursed are they before the LORD, for they have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'

(20)  "Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

Remember from last week, David could have killed Saul.  However, David took Saul’s spear and a jug of water that was beside Saul’s head.  By doing this, Saul would know how close David had been.  David was content to wait upon God to make him King of Israel on God’s timeframe.

In this lesson we see that David was looking to reconcile with Saul.  God had left Saul and it weighed on his mind.  On top of this, the girls sang songs about David that infuriated Saul.  Saul had even tried to kill David by throwing his spear at him.  Saul had sent men after David to kill him and now Saul is pursuing David hoping to kill him.  Even though all these things were true David still sought reconciliation with Saul.

God is honored when we patiently seek reconciliation with our enemies. With whom do you currently have a strained relationship? Why not seek reconciliation?