Life of King David (Part 1)
David the Shepherd
1. David’s Care of the Sheep
When God chose men to rule, He chose shepherds –
Joseph was a shepherd before he became ruler over Egypt.
Moses kept the flock in the wilderness before he became the leader of the Hebrews
3. David kept sheep before he became king
The reason why God chose shepherds is because they were men who cared for and loved the sheep. Likewise they did the same when they ruled over people.
Saul seeking after his father’s lost asses picture his character and nature.
We see this with David when God sent a plague upon the people for when David sinned against the Lord by numbering them.
"And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house." (2 Samuel 24:17)
"And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him." (1 Samuel 17:34-35)
David had a heart of a good shepherd who cared for every little lamb and would lay down his life for the sheep.
Three expressions are used of David as a shepherd and in these we see an example for every brother who seeks the work of an overseer in the assembly.
David was WITH the sheep
"Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep." (1 Samuel 16:19)
A shepherd has to spent time with the sheep so that he can look after them. They need him and he cannot spent time elsewhere and leave the sheep without care.
Some elders are gifted with the ability to teach and some are often invited around the country to take meetings. They must beware that they do not spent more time elsewhere than amongst their own assembly.
They should be marked by hospitality, an open home and a listening and sympathising ear.
In Samuel 17:15, the Hebrew means that it was David’s habit to go back again and again. He was faithful to the sheep to which he was entrusted and did not love positions of greatness in the royal palace when offered to him.
Assembly elders when they have to go away on holiday or business, love to be back with the Lord’s people whom they love and care for. There should be no other place on earth they love than the assembly.
David FED the sheep
"But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem." (1 Samuel 17:15)
Elders in the assembly should be apt to teach
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2)
Apt to teach is spoken of as a qualification after qualifications of moral behaviour and Christian love. The elder can teach and will be heard if his life is in keeping with his teaching.
No one likes to listen to someone who has no love for others or is inconsistent in their lives.
They are to feed the flock of God with the Word of God which alone can build up and make us strong.
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28)
The only food that can build up the believer is the Word of God. The elders must ensure that solid expositional ministry and simply explained is given to the saints.
There are green pastures and sweet waters in the Word of God which all need to be taken to for strengthening and refreshment.
David KEPT the sheep
"And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him." (1 Samuel 17:34-35)
This means he guarded the sheep. It was not an easy job as Jacob told Laban. Often their sleep would be disturbed by the noise of prowling wild animals. The roar of a lion or the howling of a wolf kept the shepherds on the lookout for enemies of the sheep.
The assembly also has external enemies –
The devil is as a roaring lion
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8)
False prophets are like wolves
"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock." (Acts 20:29)
The assembly has internal enemies
Perverse persons
"Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:30)
Immoral persons
"Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?" (1 Corinthians 5:6)
Divisive persons
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." (Romans 16:17)
The work of the shepherd is not easy. It means they have to take on the lion face to face like David did but the sword slew him. Likewise when an elder knows the Word of God well, he is able to wield that sword against the enemies of the Lord’s people and save them.
2. David’s Consideration
As a shepherd boy, David was prepared for the great work ahead. He learnt from Creation around him and from reading the Scriptures.
1.1 David considered Creation
"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Psalm 8:3-4)
When David looked at creation, he did not see a great accident or chaos, he saw the work of a Master Artist at work.
God’s fingers speaks of the work of a potter or an artist, who brings forth a magnificent vessel. David saw wondrous beauty and design in creation.
The very stars in their place were put there for signs and seasons so that man knew when to sow and when to reap. They guided vessels on the sea and navigation was possible.
Cf. Acts 27:20, "And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away."
When David saw the greatness of Creation, he thought of how utterly nothing was man that God should even think of him and care for him.
The study of creation made him realise God’s love for him.
The Lord Jesus also told us to consider Creation and learn about God’s care for us so that we do not fret and worry about the future.
The Lord said we should be BOTANISTS and consider the plants
"And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." (Matthew 6:28 – 29)
We are to consider how they grow, how they prosper without working for God keeps feeding them. We are to consider the beauty of the smallest flowers. They have a beauty given in Creation. Man’s clothes were only given because he sinned.
The Lord taught that we should be ORNITHOLOGISTS and consider the birds
"Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?" (Luke 12:24)
Every believer should have an interest in God’s wonderful creation. What lessons it teaches us!
1.2 David considered the Scriptures
"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." (Psalm 19:7)
"More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb." (Psalm 19:10)
When other young boys dreamt of getting rich, David wanted to be rich in the Word of God. It was more to be desired than gold. It was sweeter than the honeycomb to him.
This is what was his strength during times of great trial and suffering in his life. The Scriptures guided him and kept him in the right paths.
"Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." (1 Timothy 4:13)
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8)