{"id":658,"date":"2016-12-26T17:42:57","date_gmt":"2016-12-26T22:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/soaringeagleradio.com\/?p=658"},"modified":"2018-05-04T07:55:59","modified_gmt":"2018-05-04T11:55:59","slug":"becoming-a-man-of-god-lessons-from-the-life-of-david-part-1-grace-given-and-received","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/soaringeagleradio.com\/index.html\/christianity\/becoming-a-man-of-god-lessons-from-the-life-of-david-part-1-grace-given-and-received\/","title":{"rendered":"Becoming a Man of God: Lessons from the Life of David Part 1 \u2013 Grace Given and Received"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Bible presents a picture of David that is both inspiring and perplexing.\u00a0 We know David as a magnificent warrior, a man of humility and integrity.\u00a0 We also know David as an adulterer and in the least an accomplice to murder.<\/h4>\n

In 2 Samuel 3 we read that David had multiple wives.\u00a0 2 Samuel 11 contains the story of Bathsheba and Uriah her husband.\u00a0 In 2 Samuel 13 & 18 we see that David was a negligent father and this in turn caused much strife, heartache and even bloodshed.<\/h4>\n

Yet in speaking to Saul about David the Bible declares in 1 Samuel 13:14:<\/h4>\n

“But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”<\/h4>\n

And in Acts 13:22 we read:<\/h4>\n

“After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.’<\/h4>\n

What a statement from God!\u00a0 But the question remains: How could God declare David \u201ca man after His own heart?\u201d\u00a0 One of the keys to understanding this declaration is to understand that God is not looking for perfection.\u00a0 That is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/h4>\n

Instead God is looking for men and women upon whom He can bestow His mercy and grace.\u00a0 God looks for people whose hearts are pliable and seeking to serve Him.\u00a0 God desires to pour out upon us His loving-kindness and that is the starting point for approaching our retreat this weekend.<\/h4>\n

In 2 Samuel 9 we see this picture clearly.<\/h4>\n

This is a time in David\u2019s life when God is very much blessing him.\u00a0 Militarily, he has expanded Israel\u2019s borders.\u00a0 2 Samuel 8 tells us that he waged war with and conquered the Philistines, the Moabites, and the Arameans (Syrians).\u00a0 He established military outposts in those and other nations to secure his borders and bring peace.<\/h4>\n

Although God had already told him he would not build the Temple, he nevertheless collected precious metals, jewels, and building materials for his son Solomon who would build it.<\/h4>\n

If we were to describe this time in the life of David and in the nation of Israel we would say that \u201clife was good\u201d or David was \u201cliving large.\u201d<\/h4>\n

As David sat on his throne his mind began to recount God\u2019s goodness toward him.\u00a0 No doubt his thoughts drifted to Jonathan his best friend.\u00a0 I believe even the words of their covenant came back to him.\u00a0 1 Samuel 20:12-16 gives us the details.<\/h4>\n

Then Jonathan said to David, “The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good feeling toward David, shall I not then send to you and make it known to you?<\/h4>\n

“If it please my father to do you harm, may the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also, if I do not make it known to you and send you away, that you may go in safety and may the LORD be with you as He has been with my father.<\/h4>\n

“If I am still alive, will you not show me the loving-kindness of the LORD that I may not die?<\/h4>\n

“You shall not cut off your loving-kindness from my house forever, not even when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”<\/h4>\n

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD require it at the hands of David’s enemies.”<\/h4>\n

V1 Notice that David makes his inquiry because his heart has been stirred by remembering the loving kindness he and Jonathan made a vow to uphold.<\/h4>\n

V2 Someone knew of a servant from the house of Saul whose name was Ziba.\u00a0 They called Ziba to come before the king and answer some questions.<\/h4>\n

V3 This son of Jonathan became crippled in his feet when his father and his grandfather King Saul were killed in a battle against the Philistines described in 2 Samuel 4.\u00a0 It was customary and expected that when a new king ascended the throne the former king\u2019s family would be executed.\u00a0 When the house of Saul heard of his death, the nurse maid for Jonathan\u2019s son scooped him in haste and attempted to escape.\u00a0 Unfortunately the child she held in her arms was dropped and he became crippled in both feet from the age of 5.<\/h4>\n

V4 David was overjoyed at this news and wanted to know where this son of Jonathan was.\u00a0 I find this interesting that this descendant had been so well hidden as to be forgotten.\u00a0 Remember that one of David\u2019s wives was Michal, the daughter of Saul and thus the sister of Jonathan.\u00a0 Even she did not know of this nephew.<\/h4>\n

V5 So David sent for this son of Jonathan to be brought to him.\u00a0 Can you imagine what must have been going through this young man\u2019s life when David\u2019s servants came for him?\u00a0 \u201cThe gigs up.\u00a0 I made it a few years but it\u2019s over now.\u201d\u00a0 No doubt this child\u2019s servants told him that his life must remain secret or else David would kill him.\u00a0 After all his grandfather chased David all over the desert trying to kill him so he could expect nothing less from David.<\/h4>\n

V6 We finally hear the name of Jonathan\u2019s son.\u00a0 Mephibosheth \u2013 \u201cshameful one.\u201d\u00a0 His name was Merib-baal at birth but perhaps was changed to Mephibosheth after he was crippled.\u00a0 Notice that Mephibosheth thought his life was over and so he fell on his face before David as if resigned to his fate.<\/h4>\n

V7 \u201cFear Not.\u201d I imagine that took several long, tense moments to sink in.\u00a0 Mephibosheth was there on his face before the king expecting at any moment to have his head cut off and instead he hears these beautiful words that brought indescribable joy.<\/h4>\n

V8 So Mephibosheth did the most reasonable thing \u2013 he spoke of himself as an unworthy recipient of this kindness.\u00a0 I think he wanted to clarify what David had said and so he referred to himself as a \u201cdead dog.\u201d\u00a0 This was a Jewish idiom of the time that represented the most worthless thing one could imagine.<\/h4>\n

V9 To make it official David calls in Ziba, the servant in Mephibosheth\u2019s house to tell him that from that day forward Saul\u2019s possessions including his ancestral lands would be Mephibosheth\u2019s.<\/h4>\n

V10 Notice that along with Mephibosheth\u2019s ancestral wealth being restored he would also eat at the king\u2019s table.\u00a0 Eating at the king\u2019s table was an honor and represented the highest favor a king could bestow.\u00a0 David was in effect saying \u201cyou\u2019ll never have need of anything else again.\u00a0 You are now under my protection and blessing.\u201d<\/h4>\n

V11-13 David looked at Mephibosheth as one of his sons. What a great story of kindness fulfilled.\u00a0 It demonstrates the heart of a man of honor and integrity.<\/h4>\n

But there is so much more here that God wants us to see.\u00a0 Let\u2019s look again at this same text from God\u2019s perspective if we can presume to know it.<\/h4>\n

The Bible tells us that God sent His Son into the world to save the world.\u00a0 It is God\u2019s desire to save the people of the house of Adam, to show kindness to them for Christ\u2019s sake because of the covenant in Jesus\u2019 blood.<\/h4>\n

In this story of David and Mephibosheth we see a picture of God the Father reaching out to us with salvation in His hands.\u00a0 Can\u2019t you hear God asking \u201cIsn\u2019t there one more of the line of Adam that I can show my mercy and grace to?\u201d<\/h4>\n

Here is the first mark of the man of God \u2013 <\/strong>he has been born again, transformed by the Spirit of God to enter into that covenant relationship established by Jesus Christ.<\/h4>\n

In verse three Ziba the servant identifies Mephibosheth not by his name but by his condition \u2013 \u201cThere is a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.\u201d<\/h4>\n

Brothers, we should see in Mephibosheth ourselves first and then all of lost humanity.\u00a0 Just as Mephibosheth could not walk because of a fall, so too we are unable to seek after God because we are fallen creatures.\u00a0 We were all lame at one time.<\/h4>\n

It is interesting that Mephibosheth\u2019s name means shameful one.\u00a0 What did he do to deserve that?\u00a0 He was rendered lame by the actions of someone else.\u00a0 What a picture of the fall of Adam and the stain of sin upon all mankind.<\/h4>\n

King David, picturing God in this passage asks \u201cwhere is he?\u201d\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t that remind you of the Garden of Eden?\u00a0 God asked Adam and Eve where they were not because he did not know where they were but because he wanted them to understand the fall they had suffered because of their sin.<\/h4>\n

They thought they were hiding.\u00a0 They tried to cover themselves with fig leaves.\u00a0 But they could not hide the desolation of soul that exploded into their conscience.\u00a0 Sooner than later sin betrays us and we are found for who we are.<\/h4>\n

Notice in verse 4 Ziba answers the King\u2019s question of where Mephibosheth is by telling him that he is in Lo-debar.\u00a0 Lo-debar means place of desolation, barrenness, and unfruitfulness.\u00a0 That is the condition of all men apart from a saving faith in Jesus Christ.\u00a0 Mephibosheth had been taken there to hide from the King.<\/h4>\n

That\u2019s where I was when God called me.\u00a0 I was in the desert hiding from Him.\u00a0 Funny thing about the desert though \u2013 I didn\u2019t see it as an utterly barren place.\u00a0 It was only after His Holy Spirit began to work upon my soul to bring that sweet conviction to fruition that I saw the green pastures God was asking me to come lay down in.<\/h4>\n

Praise God that he did not leave us there in the desert.\u00a0 Verse 5 says the King sent for Mephibosheth.\u00a0 God calls out to men and women everywhere to come to Him.\u00a0 He sends His Holy Spirit to bear witness and bring conviction.\u00a0 He sends His servants, missionaries, pastors, Sunday School teachers, men and women of every walk of life to bear witness to His goodness.<\/h4>\n

The Bible says that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.\u00a0 In this church age He likes to use His children.<\/h4>\n

So Mephibosheth, representative of you and I, is summoned to the King.\u00a0 Do you recall when you were summoned to the King?\u00a0 There is a conviction in our souls.\u00a0 We might not understand it completely but we know that God is real and He is calling out to us.\u00a0 What do we do?\u00a0 The only thing we can do, we fall face to the ground in trembling fear not knowing what to expect.<\/h4>\n

Isn\u2019t that a good picture of how most people see God?\u00a0 Mephibosheth was thinking the worse.\u00a0 He thought the King was about to whack him.\u00a0 When God calls us He is seeking to bless us not whack us.<\/h4>\n

Verse 7 \u2013 \u201cFear not.\u201d\u00a0 God doesn\u2019t call out to us to come to Him with fear.\u00a0 God wants to show us kindness because of what Jesus has already done for us.\u00a0 David says that his blessing to Mephibosheth will include restoring to him all that his grandfather Saul had.<\/h4>\n

In the same way God restores to us all that Adam had before his fall.\u00a0 What would that be?<\/h4>\n

1) Intimate fellowship\/communion with Him.\u00a0 God desires that close personal relationship with His children.<\/h4>\n

2) The King invites you to dine at His table as one of His sons.\u00a0 The King\u2019s table is the place of abundance brothers.\u00a0 The King\u2019s table is a place of warmth, blessing, and joy.\u00a0 The King\u2019s table is a place of fellowship.<\/h4>\n

3) The King did all this for Mephibosheth not because he deserved it but solely for Jonathan\u2019s sake, because of the covenant he had made with Jonathan.\u00a0 We benefit by what Jesus has done for us.<\/h4>\n

This is a second mark of the man of God<\/strong> \u2013 fear is replaced by an understanding of the overwhelming grace God has to bestow upon us in Christ Jesus.<\/h4>\n

David wrote long before this, \u201cHe prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.\u201d\u00a0 Do you see the picture?\u00a0 Rest and comfort in the blessings of God replace fear even in the direst circumstances.<\/h4>\n

This is an overwhelming picture to be sure.\u00a0 Mephibosheth was flabbergasted.\u00a0 He put his face to the ground a 2nd<\/sup> time and declared that he was not worthy of such grand treatment.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that a picture of the ones God calls to Himself?<\/h4>\n

Jesus said in Matthew 5 \u201cblessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\u201d\u00a0 God\u2019s invitation to us will not produce a sense of pride but will always stir within us a sense of unworthiness.\u00a0 That\u2019s the humility required of the man of God.<\/h4>\n

I\u2019m reminded here of Jacob\u2019s testimony before the Lord \u201cI am unworthy of all the loving-kindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant\u201d (Gen 32:10).<\/h4>\n

Notice verse 13 \u2013 Mephibosheth ate at the King\u2019s table regularly.\u00a0 I love that.\u00a0 We may not understand why God would bless us but we can accept it and enjoy it forever! \u00a0We\u2019re not to camp out on our unworthiness.\u00a0 That can create a false piety.\u00a0 Instead we are to receive the Lord\u2019s goodness toward us with joy.<\/h4>\n

What a wonderful picture for the man of God.\u00a0 Let me pull all this together and give you some points to chew on.<\/h4>\n

First, God desires to spend time with you.\u00a0 He has poured out His grace and mercy upon you in salvation but that\u2019s not the end.\u00a0 Consider how many times David sat alone with Mephibosheth telling him about his father, how Jonathon loved Mephibosheth, about his friendship with his father, about their covenant of trust.<\/h4>\n

God wants to sit with us and tell us \u201cBehold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God\u201d (1 John 3:1).<\/h4>\n

The songwriter has well said:<\/h4>\n

How deep the Father’s love for us,
\nHow vast beyond all measure
\nThat He should give His only Son
\nTo make a wretch His treasure<\/h4>\n

How great the pain of searing loss,
\nThe Father turns His face away
\nAs wounds which mar the chosen One,
\nBring many sons to glory<\/h4>\n

Behold the Man upon a cross,
\nMy sin upon His shoulders
\nAshamed I hear my mocking voice,
\nCall out among the scoffers<\/h4>\n

It was my sin that held Him there
\nUntil it was accomplished
\nHis dying breath has brought me life
\nI know that it is finished<\/h4>\n

I will not boast in anything
\nNo gifts, no power, no wisdom
\nBut I will boast in Jesus Christ
\nHis death and resurrection
\nWhy should I gain from His reward?
\nI cannot give an answer
\nBut this I know with all my heart
\nHis wounds have paid my ransom*<\/h4>\n

Second, notice that David says no less than four times in this passage that Mephibosheth will \u201ceat at my table continually.\u201d\u00a0 What a wonderful picture of God\u2019s abundant grace for all we need.<\/h4>\n

Alan Redpath in his book \u201cThe Making of a Man of God\u201d says this:<\/h4>\n

\u201cIn Christ we are more than conquerors! In Him there is a constant supply of life to the helpless and penitent sinner who has come to the foot of the cross.\u00a0 At Calvary he discovers real satisfaction.\u00a0 Instead of barrenness in his life, there is fruitfulness; instead of being far off, he is made near to God by the blood of Jesus.\u00a0 From that moment on, he is the object of God\u2019s outpouring of blessing.\u00a0 All the resources of heaven are made available to meet his need and to take him safely through the journey of life until one day he will be presented faultless at the throne of God.\u201d<\/h4>\n

Third, David’s grace to Mephibosheth is a pattern for us in serving and ministering to others.\u00a0 In a sense David represents the man God wants us to become.<\/h4>\n

For example we can see from this passage that perhaps God is saying:<\/h4>\n
    \n
  • \n

    We should look for the poor, weak, lame, and hidden to bless them.<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n

    We should bless others even when they don’t deserve it, and bless them more than they deserve.<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n

    We should bless others for the sake of someone else.<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n

    We should show the kindness of God<\/em> to others.<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Friends I pray you will think on these things and seek wisdom from God and understand the application of them in your own lives. May our great God bless you abundantly as you seek to honor Him in every word and deed.<\/h4>\n

    Pastor Mike Spaulding<\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    *How Deep The Father’s Love For Us – Stuart Townend Copyright \u00a9 1995 Thank you Music (Adm. by Capitol CMG Publishing.com excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family).<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      The Bible presents a picture of David that is both inspiring and perplexing.\u00a0 We know David as a magnificent warrior, a man of humility and integrity.\u00a0 We also know David as an adulterer and in the least an accomplice to murder. In 2 Samuel 3 we read that David had multiple wives.\u00a0 2 Samuel […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1681],"tags":[1151,1144,1140,1148,1153,1146,1138,1147,1150,1143,1142,1139,1145,1152,1141,1149],"class_list":["post-658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christianity","tag-alan-redpath","tag-arameans","tag-bathsheba","tag-grace-and-mercy-of-god","tag-how-deep-the-fathers-love-for-us","tag-jonathan","tag-king-david","tag-king-saul","tag-mephibosheth","tag-moabites","tag-philistines","tag-samuel-the-prophet","tag-temple-of-solomon","tag-the-making-of-a-man-of-god","tag-uriah","tag-ziba"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/soaringeagleradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/KingDavid.jpg?fit=632%2C347&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/soaringeagleradio.com\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/soaringeagleradio.com\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/soaringeagleradio.com\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soaringeagleradio.com\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=658"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/soaringeagleradio.com\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":662,"href":"https:\/\/soaringeagleradio.com\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/658\/revisions\/662"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soaringeagleradio.com\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/soaringeagleradio.com\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soaringeagleradio.com\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soaringeagleradio.com\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}