David and the Ark
The chapter of Scripture 2 Samuel 6 involves all that transpired in moving the ark to the capital city and David's response to its presence.
The chapter of Scripture 2 Samuel 6 involves all that transpired in moving the ark to the capital city and David's response to its presence.
No one has ever known the experience of being promoted from a fugitive to a king overnight. It happened only once in Scripture—to David. With wisdom and humility, the new king took over a new throne because he had the same Lord.
In our study of David, we have come to the crossroads in his pilgrimage from the sheep to the throne…from an Israelite fugitive to the highest office in the land. And it is a death that altered David's direction—the death of King Saul.
Several lessons emerge from the story in 1 Samuel 27 as we learn from David's cloudy days and dark nights.
The story contained in 1 Samuel 25 is extremely practical, showing us the humanity of this great man of God and illustrating the power of a woman who knew how to use her culinary art with wisdom.
After being pursued by Saul all over southern Israel and with the opportunity to take his vengeance, David resisted and offered us a glimpse of what it looks like to turn the other cheek.
At the bottom of his life, all crutches removed, David crawled into a cave in the Judean wilderness. He was disillusioned, hurt, lonely, and afraid. It was, up to that time, the lowest moment of his entire life. But God had a whole new direction for him to take.
When God removes a crutch from our lives, the process is painful, but the result is beautiful. David too went through this process, just like we do.
Following his battle with Goliath, in the backwash of that great victory, David stepped into an arena which was almost more than he could take. Knowing it was coming, God graciously provided him with a close, understanding friend. His name was Jonathan.
Goliath is doubtlessly the most famous heathen in the entire Bible. Christians and non-Christians alike are able to relate the story that transpired centuries ago in the valley of Elah. But there is so much more than a shepherd lad who killed a giant.