When David became king over Judah, he lived in Hebron. He was the king of Judah for 7 years. Sometimes the stories you hear about great leaders are idealized. David was a fine man with a good heart, but he had to deal with all kinds of people. Not all people are honest or reputable. The Judeans who had served with David in battle, knew that he was a strong and fearless leader. He believed in God and trust Him to guide him as king. As a leader, he didn’t kill anyone without cause. David didn’t shed innocent blood at this time. There came a time when he did and it cost him almost everything. He was trusted and David didn’t break that trust. There wasn’t any enemy that could stand before him. The other nations feared and respected him. He didn’t have a giant army. What he had was the wisdom of God to guide him to victory. In the meantime, there ruled a son of Saul in Jerusalem. He was a fool and he surrounded himself with fools. His rule was so bad that finally the people rose up against him and killed him. The two men who killed Ishbosheth, brought his head to David thinking that they would receive a reward. David put both men to death for killing God’s anointed. The people of Israel finally came to David to ask if he would be king over them. After 7 years as king in Judah, David finally became king over all Israel. He was 37 years old. It was 22 years after Samuel had anointed David to be king. David moved his capital to Jerusalem, where David ruled until he was 80 years old. God’s timing is always perfect. He will bring to pass all that He said to us in His time.

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Although God chose David to be king after Saul, he had to wait for God’s timing. This story is about the time that David had to flee for his life. Everyone knew that David was going to be king. And infuriated Saul. So much so that Saul wanted to kill David. David left the palace in Jerusalem. As he began to run from Saul, God had 600 men, warriors, join David in exile. Near Mount Carmel, there lived a wealthy man named Nabal. He had vast possessions. When his shepherd were watching their flocks, David made sure that no one harm them. As long as David was there, he protected Nabal’s possessions. One day David sent 10 of his servants to ask Nabal if he give them some food. Nabal laughed at them and chased them away. When David heard this, he became angry. He told his men to arm themselves. 400 armed men followed David to Nabal’s house. David swore that not one male of Nabal’s household would survive that day. Nabal had a beautiful and smart wife. When she heard that David was headed to her house armed, she took food and wine and sent it to David. She followed the men going to meet David. When she saw David, she fell on her face and asked to forgive her. She said let the punishment fall on her. David repented and accepted her apology. David took the food and returned to his camp. God literally took the sword out of his hand. Nabal’s wife told him the next day and his heart became like stone. Within 10 days Nabal died. His wife’s name was Abagail. David married her and they had David’s first born son, Absalom. Her wise counsel saved David from shedding innocent blood. She also helped him to rule the kingdom. David was on the run for 10 years and he was king of Israel.

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The king was impressed with David. At this time the king being rejected by God was tormented by devils. It was so bad that his advisers suggested that he find a skilled musician to play music to sooth his mind. The king asked who was such a skilled musician. They told him David of Bethlehem. So he was brought to the palace to live and play music for the king. David lived in Jerusalem with the king and played his music. This helped Saul when he was tormented. David met and fell in love with Saul’s youngest daughter, Michal. They married with the king’s permission. Life for David was blessed. As he grew, Saul put him into the army and finally made him a general. David would lead the army of Israel to victory because he was fearless. The people began singing songs about David. The songs said that David would kill his 10,000 and Saul would kill his 1000 troops. Saul became jealous and afraid of David. The king finally decided to kill David so that he wouldn’t become king. Saul’s oldest son and the person next in line to be king, was Jonathan. David and Jonathan loved each as brothers. They would do nothing to harm each other. Jonathan knew that David was the next king. He helped David to escape the king. Saul began chasing David to kill him. David moved into another country to escape Saul. Until King Saul died, he chased David to kill him. But he wasn’t successful. The day that Saul died, Jonathan also died which grieved David. But the kingdom was split and not all the people wanted David as king. So David became King of Judah. He ruled from Hebron for almost 7 years. God never promised that life would be easy. He promised that life would be simple. As the bible says that David’s heart was always after God.

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David was only a teenager when he was anointed to king. He didn’t leave his father’s home for several years. During that time Israel went to war with the Philistines. Did you know that they are still there? They are called Palestinians today. In David’s day only men of certain age would go to war. The king would put out the call and the men would gather. David’s older brothers went. David wanted to go and see what was going on. So his father sent food for his brothers with David. When he arrived the Israelite army was camp on one side of the valley and the Philistines on the other side. David greeted his brothers and asked how it was going. They told him of the giant, Goliath. This giant would stand in the middle of the valley and dare anyone to come out and fight him. The giant Goliath was 9 feet tall and had a spear that looked like a large poll. He had a person to carry his shield in front of him. No Israelite would even dare to go out and met him. This angered David so much that he said he would go out and face Goliath. His brothers told him to be quiet and go back to his sheep. David spoke out even more until it was told to King Saul what he had said. David was brought before the king. He asked him what he had said. David said that he would go out and face Goliath. He was an affront to God and the kingdom of Israel. David also said that he had killed a lion and a bear and wasn’t afraid of this uncircumcised Philistine. The king offered his armour but David said he didn’t need it. He picked up some smooth stones and ran into the valley. The giant laughed at David. He told the giant that he would cut off his head. The giant throw his spear at David and missed. David took a stone and his sling and shot a rock at the giant. The stone hit his forehead and God pushed it into his head. The giant fell down. David ran up on him and drew his sword and cut off his head. As David held up the giant’s head, the army of Israel ran at the Philistines running for their lives. David used the skills he learned in the wilderness with God and his sheep.

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Samuel was prophet in Israel at this time. Saul was king over Israel. God rejected Saul because he wouldn’t obey and follow God. Samuel prayed that God would change His mind. God told him to stop praying for Saul. God had chosen another. He told Samuel to go to Bethlehem. Samuel obeyed God. As he entered Bethlehem, people became afraid that he came to their town to bring God’s vengeance. Jesse, being a town leader, came to Samuel to ask him what he was doing in their town. Samuel said that he had come to offer a sacrifice to God with Jesse and his family. Jesse and his sons purified themselves for the sacrifice. After the sacrifice, Samuel had Jesse to present his sons one by one to him. As each one came before Samuel, he asked God if this was the one who was to be king. Each time God said no. Finally all 7 sons were presented and Samuel asked if there were any more. Jesse said yes. His youngest son was tending the sheep in the fields. Samuel said go and get him. When David enter the house, God spoke to Samuel and said this is the king of Israel. Samuel anointed David with oil and prayed a blessing over him. David didn’t quite understand exactly what was going on. But he was willing to do whatever God said to do. David didn’t leave for the palace. He went back to tending the sheep in the fields, practicing his skills as a shepherd. Skills I would say that he needed when he was king of Israel. Never despise small beginnings. For whoever is faithful in the small things will be faithful in the large.

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David was the youngest son of 8 children. His father Jesse was a successful man who lived with his family in the town of Bethlehem. Before anybody knew that David was destined to be king of Israel, David was an upright child. He obeyed his father and did what he told. When he old enough, David’s father sent him into the wilderness to shepherd the flock of sheep. David used his time well. He could play the harp and sing very well. He would entertain himself with his music. The bible says that he was a handsome youth. He mostly played his music to sing praises to God. He and the sheep would worship God in the wilderness. David developed a relationship with God. And also built a relationship with the sheep. You see sheep will only follow their shepherd because they know his voice. David had to build other skills because he had to bring the sheep into the wilderness to feed. Also living in the wilderness, were lions and sling or slingshot, and a throwing club. The shepherd’s crook was a staff with a hook on the end. It was used to reach into briars to pull sheep out of it. The sling was used to shoot a stone at some distance. The club was used to throw to stop or kill a predator. David loved being out in the wilderness. He developed skills that he would use all of his life. While in the wilderness, a bear and a lion came and took sheep. He killed both with the weapons he learned to use. But what he learned the most was that God was with him coming in and going out. And he sang praises to God all of his life.

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The shame of it all, shame faced, shame on you, bringing shame to your family, shame and dishonor, clothed with shame are some sayings about being ashamed. My wife has always been concerned about being embarrassed. For some reason she thinks that she will be made to look foolish. But embarrassment is a natural part of living. It is there to teach us and instruct us on how to live. It is a natural reaction with physic logical responses. No one likes it when your face turns red and people see that you have made a mistake. But it is necessary. Now shame on the other hand, is a natural response also that will keep us from dying. Everyone is born with shame. It is part of the inner workings of our heart. It is a safeguard for our heart. And yet people do their best to get rid of it as fast as they can. It all has to do with the fall of Adam and Eve. When they sinned against God, they were ashamed of what they did and tried to hide from God. Of course they couldn’t. For the first time in their lives they were ashamed before God. And that curse has stuck ever since. It is important that we have this working in our lives. It does help to keep us out of trouble with God. So when someone says, the shame of it all, you know it is true.  Revelations 16:15 “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”

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Do you remember the first time you saw something and it was the most amazing thing that you ever saw? That is called wonder. We say that things are wonderful. Or we say it was amazing. What ever happened to that feeling we used to have? Has the world driven it out of us? Has so many bad things happened to us that we have lost the wonder of the world? We grow up and wanted to be sophisticated adults. Knowing everything and not being surprised by anything. But what we have lost is what we need in this world. The northern lights of Alaska are amazing. The color of a sparrow is wondrous. The beauty of a Lilly is spectacular. Every sunset is gorgeous and new every night. Jesus was preaching and people were crowding around him. The disciples were keeping the crowd at bay. There came some children to see Jesus. The disciples pushed them away. Jesus saw this and rebuked the disciples. Jesus had the children to come and told his disciples never to do this again. Jesus said for if you do not become as one of this children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. The life of God is a wonder.

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No one wants to believe that they are going to make mistakes in their life. But the truth of the matter is that it is an ongoing dilemma for man. Ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, there has been a continual effort to make as many mistakes as possible. It seems so inconsistent that man can make as many mistakes as he has. You would think that everybody would learn from them and go on. Unfortunately man is trying to prove that he is god and doesn’t need anyone else. But all he has proven is that for 6000 years is that he still can’t control his life. There is only one way to be able to make the least amount of mistakes and that is with God’s help. We are flawed human beings. I have made my fair share of mistakes. And some have been deadly. One took 15 years to correct. But with the help of God, I have turned my life around. I am not perfect by any means. What I am is forgiven. You see being perfect won’t get me into heaven. But being forgiven will get me there. God is the God of the second chance. Only human beings have this right with God. Even the angels in heaven don’t have the right of the second chance. The disciples asked Jesus about people who offended them. They asked Him how often where they supposed to forgive people. Jesus said to them until 70 x 7, you will forgive a person in a 1 day. That means that you forgive always. And God said also if you don’t love a person who you can see, how you can love God who you can’t see. All this means is that you want a second chance, then you are going to have to give everyone else a second chance.

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A crucible is a trial by fire. It is where a person is tested to the limit of their endurance. Sometimes they are tested beyond their limit. It is to find out what the person is made of. Even if the person fails, it still shows what is in your heart. It is a trial that you don’t want to go through. For the most part it is always necessary for the person’s future life. Fortunately or unfortunately, we go through many crucibles. It is a simple as leaving home or starting a family or joining the military. Sometimes it is as hard as watch a relative die of cancer or your parents dying. Your life will never be the same again. For better or worse, it will change the way you look at life. When Cain told God after he had killed his brother Abel, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The answer to the question is yes. Are we linked together in some invisible way? Again the answer is yes. God says we are watchmen on the wall and if we don’t sound the alarm to protect our brother and sisters. We are guilty of their blood just like Cain was guilty of Abel’s blood. So what is your crucible? Are you able to make it to the other side?

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