Epithet’s of King David of Israel
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TITLE: Epithets of King David
SUBJECT: Biography
PROPOSITION: In this lesson we will look at the epithets of king David. We see in the scriptures the following epithets of David: 1) A mighty man of war, 2) the sweet psalmist of Israel, 3) Thou art the man, 4) A man after God’s own heart.
OBJECTIVE: Each person should be able learn and explain about David and his life.
AIM: To study some of the attributes of David and learn from the positive and negative examples he gives us in the scriptures.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: 1 Sam.16:10-13
2. About the Text:
1) David was one of the principle characters of the Old Testament.
2) David was the second king of Israel, the successor to Saul.
3) Of the three kings of United Israel, only David served God faithfully.
4) David was described in various ways.
5) There are several epithets in the scriptures regarding him.
6) An epithet is a short saying used to sum up someone’s attributes.
7) Let’s look at four epithets of king David.
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION:
I. A Mighty Man of War (1 Sam.16:18)
1. With this epithet, we are introduced to David the warrior.
2. 1 Sam.18:7 “And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
3. He was mighty because of his faith in God.
1) 1 Sam.17:37 “David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.”
2) 1 Sam.17:45 “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”
4. While David’s faith was great, his name as a warrior was not valued as highly to God as the name of a peace maker.
1) God wanted a man of peace to build his house.
2) 1 Chron.28:3 “But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.”
5. We learn:
1) Faith in God is able to overcome many adversities.
2) God desires peace more than war.
II. Sweet Psalmist of Israel (2 Sam.23:1)
1. With this epithet we are introduced to David the worshipper.
2. Most of the Psalms within the book of Psalms are written by David.
3. Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”
4. Psalm 65:4 “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.”
5. Psalm 101 – Read.
6. We learn
1) Worshipping God is a blessing, not a chore.
2) God desires His worshippers to be pure.
3) Worship must be done in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
III. Thou art the man (2 Sam.12:7)
1. With this epithet we are introduced to David the sinner.
2. We find the background for this epithet in 2 Samuel 11.
3. David wrote about his own sinfulness in Psalm 51.
4. We learn:
1) All have sinned. Rom.3:23
2) No one is so big or important that they can’t be touched by sin.
3) God forgives when we repent.
IV. A man after God’s own heart (1 Sam.13:14).
1. With this epithet we are introduced to David the saint.
2. Here is the epithet for which David is most remembered.
3. He was called a man after God’s own heart because of his . . .
1) Faith.
2) Faithfulness.
3) Devotion
4) Contrition
4. God desires us to have his heart as well.
1) Isa.57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
2) Joel 2:13 “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
3) Psalm 34:18 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
CONCLUSION:
1. David provides us with a valuable example of the relationship that God desires to have with every man.
2. Let us remember about David.
1) The Mighty Man of War
2) The Sweet Singer of Israel
3) “Thou art the man.”
4) The man after God’s own heart.
3. Invitation
1) If you have not been faithful.
a. David gives us a great example of faithfulness.
b. He also gives us a great example of penitence.
2) If you are not a Christian this morning . . .
a. David’s kingdom ultimately gave way to the kingdom of God.
b. To be in David’s kingdom today, one must be a member of the church of Christ.