Chapter One
SESSION
1 David: Developing a Heart for God
2 Samuels 5, 6, 9, 11, 12; PSALM 51
The Heart of the
MESSAGE
This message is about the heart of God's people. God is deeply concerned about
our hearts. He wants the throne of our heart to be his dwelling place. The
problem is, there are many other things that are battling for the place of
supremacy in our lives.
In this message we look at King David and discover that he had the same
struggles we all face. He loved God with all his heart, but he faced many
temptations to let other things push God off the throne. As we look at David's
lifelong struggle to yield his heart fully to God, we will discover that we too can
develop a heart that beats passionately for God.
The Heart of the
MESSENGER
Like David, every follower of Christ faces the lifelong challenge to keep God
firmly on the throne of his or her heart. As a teacher, you will bring this message
to your congregation, class, or small group. Your preparation and communication
will be a journey of self-examination.
For you to communicate God's message with clarity and integrity, you will
need to invite the Holy Spirit to search your own heart. Is God fully enthroned in
your life? Does he rule in your heart? Are there people, habits, life patterns, fears,
or anything else that have begun to take a place of supremacy in your life? Come
before God with deep humility and ask him to reveal any idol, any alternative to
God, that may be alive in your heart. You may want to meditate on Psalm 51 as
you prepare this message.
1. David's Story
NARRATIVE
ON LIFE The Furnace of the Desert
It is in the desert that David is really at his best. That's where his life gets shaped
and defined by God. In his life, David has many victories in battle. He has
accomplishments, wealth, and the praise of people. But when it is all said and
done, David seems to be at his best when he is in the furnace of the desert. The
dry air cracks his lips; the heat drains his energy. But in this arid place of desolate
silence, David meets with God. In the desert he wrote many of the Psalms, he
speaks to God, and he learns.
Rarely do God's people ask to be placed in the furnace of the desert. It would
seem masochistic to ask for such an experience. Yet, God often leads his people
to this place of training, discipline, refining, and preparation. Moses spent time in
the desert, and so did the nation of Israel. David was trained in the desert school.
Even Jesus, who never sinned, was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days.
Sometimes God leads those he loves through a season of desert wandering.
But when he does this, it is always with a purpose. When we find ourselves in
the desert, we must look to God and ask, "What can I learn in this place?" We
must avoid the natural reaction of running away. We must learn, as David did,
that God does some of his best work in us when we are in the desert.
ILLUSTRATION Martyrdom of Polycarp
Called upon to curse Christ, Polycarp, in the second century, spoke these words
before he was martyred for his faith: "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and
He has done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?"
And then, at the stake in the sports arena at Smyrna, right before the end,
Polycarp said: "Make me a true athlete of Jesus Christ, to suffer and to conquer;
an anvil, Lord, let me be an anvil, smitten but standing firm."
HISTORICAL
CONTEXT David's Story, Part 1
More is written about David (and by
David) than any other character in the Old
Testament. Hundreds and hundreds of
books have been written about his life. In
this Old Testament Challenge study, we
will focus primarily on the years of David's
kingship.
Many are familiar with the stories of
David. They may have grown up seeing his
life as a shepherd boy, his battle with
Goliath, and his ascension to the throne
played out on the two-dimensional world
of a flannelgraph in Sunday school
classes. Prior to 2 Samuel, David was a
shepherd tending his father's flocks
around Bethlehem. Samuel, the prophet
of Israel, was led to the home of Jesse
and was called by God to anoint David as
the new king.
Soon David fights the giant, Goliath.
He defeats him and becomes famous in
the land. Over time, King Saul becomes
incredibly jealous of David and threatens
his life so much that David has to flee
from Saul. He then finds himself in the
desert, wandering for years, separated
from his family and the kingdom. In
2 Samuel 5, David finally steps into the
role of Israel's king. He conquers
Jerusalem, defeats the Philistine army,
and begins his kingship.
2. Learning from David: Worship
NARRATIVE
ON THE TEXT Celebrating God!
The ark of the covenant was the closest thing Israel had to a throne for God. Over
the atonement cover on the ark, the presence of God was said to dwell. It was a
sacred reminder to Israel that God was with them. And David knows that the ark
must be back in Jerusalem.
Thus, David gets a group together, and they go down to get the ark from the
house of Abinadab. Just to give you a sense of how important this is to David, he
chooses thirty thousand men to accompany him to retrieve the ark. After a long
journey getting the ark back to Jerusalem, an incredible party breaks out.
We may picture Mardi Gras or the Rose Parade and think they are a big deal,
but the celebration that accompanies the return of the ark is huge! The ark of the
covenant is back in Jerusalem. God's presence can be felt and seen. A party erupts
and rolls through Jerusalem. "David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the
Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the
ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets" (2 Samuel 6:14-15).
In this public setting, David is swept into worship. With all his might he
begins to express his praise and thanks to God. This is full body, full contact, no-holds-barred
worship. He is letting it loose for God.
HISTORICAL
CONTEXT David's Story, Part 2
The nations around Israel had kings. For
many years, Israel did not. However, at
their own insistence they got a king. Their
first king was Saul. He had many flaws
and his story ended sadly. But when
David took the throne, there was a
chance for a new beginning. As David's
kingship began, it appeared that he would
be an A+ monarch.
Israel was excited about their new
ruler. Yet we must always remember as we
look at the history of Israel that God had
made himself available to be their one
and only king. The tragedy of their story,
and often ours, is that God isn't enough.
They, and we, want a person on a throne
to rule.
In 2 Samuel 5 we see David
experience a time of great success. He
has incredible success at taking back
Jerusalem-this chief city of Israel. Next
he defeats the Philistines, their prime
enemy. As part of his victorious campaign,
David decides he will bring back the ark
of the covenant to Jerusalem.
NARRATIVE
ON THE TEXT Not Everyone Will Understand
The king of Israel is dancing with all his might . in his underwear. David
worships the Lord with complete abandon and disregard for what anyone else
may think. This includes his wife, Michal, who is the daughter of Saul. Michal is
quite disgusted and offended to see her husband, the king, dancing around the
kingdom in his ephod. She is sure this will not be good for public relations. It is
certainly going to make the next morning's paper. She is incredibly distressed.
But David doesn't care; he is worshiping God with all his might. His attention is
fixed and focused and lost in the glory of God.
ILLUSTRATION Wild in Worship
On the CD included in your OTC kit, Jarrett tells about his wife and the wild
worship sessions she has as she drives. You may want to tell a story about
someone you know who is an authentic and passionate worshiper.
NARRATIVE
ON LIFE Freedom in Worship
Imagine what it may look like to be free in your worship of God. What impact
would it have on you as a worshiper if you had no concern for what the person
next to you sounded like or what you sounded like to them? What if you did not
worry about what other people may think of you if you were truly free in
worship? How would it feel to be so lost in the glory and wonder of God that you
stopped thinking about what others were doing or thinking?
In 2 Samuel 6:22 David tells his wife Michal, "I will become even more
undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes." It is as if David
is telling his wife, "You think this is bad? Just wait until I get going. Wait until I
start worshiping God with all my might."
ON THE
LIGHTER SIDE A Linen Ephod
Right in the middle of this scene of celebration there is a side-note
that can be easily missed. David is wearing a linen ephod.
What is an ephod? Why is that important? Why are we given
information about a linen ephod? An ephod was sort of a
sleeveless undergarment that came down to about hip length.
Essentially, it was really nothing more than his underwear. Of
course, this has implications for how David appears and how
people perceive him.
If you listen to Jarrett's message, you will notice that he has
fun with this idea. He says, "In fact, to be honest with you, I'm
wearing a linen ephod right now and they are incredibly
comfortable. They breathe and they move so nice." You can
decide if your congregation will appreciate a comment like this.
(Continues.)
