2 Samuel 1, 1 Samuel 30:31-36 – KINGLY QUALITIES
Let’s pretend for a moment. Let’s make believe that the United States of America has decided to become a monarchy. And I mean an absolute monarchy. The King would have total control. What qualities would you want that King to have?
From what you know about King David, what qualities made him a good king?
Some day the Lord Jesus is going to reign. What qualities does He have that will make Him the best King ever?
I want us to see three kingly qualities David demonstrated. These are three qualities worth imitating by us, and also three qualities demonstrated by our own King, the Lord Jesus Christ.
BACKGROUND
David had been hanging out with the Philistines.
He was forbidden from participating in battle against Israel.
He returned home to find Ziklag burned looted by the Amalekites. The women and children were all taken captive.
Under God’s direction David followed.
They attacked the Amalekite camp and recovered everyone.
Not only did they recover their own materials, but the Amalekites had been on raiding parties, and had much spoil, much of which belonged to parts of Judah.
While David was on his mission, there was a battle between Israel and the Philistines. The Philistines won this battle and Saul and his sons were killed.
David has returned to Ziklag.
DAVID SHARED WITH OTHERS
READ 1 SAMUEL 30:26-31
It seems that the loot was substantial.
Remember David’s city had just been destroyed.
Money was probably needed to rebuild.
David’s share of all the spoil would have made him independently wealthy.
Instead of hoarding it, he shared it.
Some of it would have gone to cities that had also been raided by these same Amalekites.
Some of it would have gone to friends who had supported him over the years.
Some would have gone to places that helped protect him.
It would be easy for us to see this as a political move on His part. However, at this point he did not know that Saul was dead. He wasn’t buying votes.
I believe that David shared out of a generous and grateful heart.
We as Christians should also share out of gratitude.
What have we to be grateful to God for?
Our of gratitude we should practice Galatians 6:9-10 and 2 Corinthians 9:7
David shared.
We are to share.
But our king, the Lord Jesus also shared.
Read and Comment on Philippians 2:5-9
How does Jesus share now?
Answered Prayer – John 14:13
Spiritual Gifts – Ephesians 4:7-8, Peter 4:10
His Presence – Matthew 28:20, John 14:18
His Prayers – Hebrews 7:25, 1 John 2:1-2
DAVID STOOD FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Read 1 Samuel 31:1-7
Read 2 Samuel 1:1-10
How do we reconcile the two accounts?
I believe the Amalekite was lying.
He might have even watched what had happened.
He probably expected a reward from David. He thought this information would make David happy, because Saul had been David’s enemy.
The Amalekite received the last surprises of his life.
First of all in 2 Samuel 1:11-12 we find that David and his men go into mourning for Saul and Jonathan.
Secondly, the Amalekite finds that he is in big trouble.
Read 2 Samuel 13-16 – Although David knew that he was going to be king, he had never taken matters into his own hands.
Even when he could have, he failed to take Saul’s life or to allow his soldiers to do so.
David’s feeling was that God had anointed Saul King, and nobody had any right to take Saul’s life, no matter how meanly he had acted towards David.
David was not perfect. David was guilty of many sins. But in spite of his failures, David did strive to stand for righteousness.
Righteousness is a kingly quality. Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness is a quality of our Lord. Psalms 11:7, Isaiah 53:11, Isaiah 11:1-5
Of course, we are not righteous, apart from Christ. Romans 3:10, Romans 5:1
Now that we know Christ as Savior our behavior should be righteous. Titus 2:1-12, 1 John 3:7
DAVID SORROWED OVER LOSS
2 Samuel 1:17-27
David’s mourning for Saul is interesting.
He sorrows for Saul as if Saul had never hurt him.
I think this was only possible because David forgave Saul.
As a king, David would need to have empathy with those he was leading. A good leader hurts with His people.
And that leads us to thinking about the Lord Jesus.
Jesus, of course, bore our sorrows on Calvary. Isaiah 53:3-4
Jesus also wept over Jerusalem. – Luke 19:41-44.
The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35. It says Jesus wept.
Why do you think Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus?
I like to think that he was entering into the suffering of his servants. Jesus does that today. Hebrews 4:15-16
We are to follow the example of our King. Romans 12:15, Galatians 6:2, Hebrews 12:3