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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/stanley-wells/david-2/
Acts chapter 13, please. I want to read part of one verse. Acts chapter 13. Acts chapter 13. Now I can assure you that my brother Dan that has just spoken and I, we did not compare notes. I don't ask other servants what they're going to preach, or they don't ask me.
But it's on my heart right now to speak a word on David. Listen to this text. Verse 36. Acts chapter 13. David and Antioch-Persinia. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep.
I want to read that again. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep. Now the history. First Samuel chapter 16 for the first reference, please. First Samuel chapter 16.
We're now in Bethlehem and Samuel the prophet has come to anoint the next king. Verse 12. He sent and brought him in. This is David. Chapter 17, please. First Samuel 17, verse number 50. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone and smote the Philistine and slew him.
But there was no sword in the hand of David. Second Samuel chapter 5, please, as we move on. Second Samuel chapter 5. I'll read as briefly as possible. Verse number 3. Second Samuel 5 3. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron.
And King David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord on the anointed David king over all Israel. Psalm 78 for a quick reference, please. Psalm number 78. This is one of the outstanding scriptures about David.
Verse number 70. Psalm 78 70. He chose David, also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds, from following the youths great with young. He brought them to feed Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance.
Now please note verse 72. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. One more. Second Samuel 23 to conclude. Second Samuel, please, 23. Second Samuel 23.
Verse 1. Now these be the last words of David. He's coming to the close of his service. David, the son of Jesse, said, The man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the Lord speak by me, and his word was in my tongue.
The God of Israel said, The rock of Israel speak to me. Here's what he said. He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God, and then the similes. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds, as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
Although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for this is all my salvation and all my desire, although he made it not to grow.
Notice here the last verse of this chapter. Verse number 39. Uriah the Hittite. Thirty and seven in all. Those are the mighty men. It is interesting there are only 36 names here. Why does it say thirty and seven in all?
My beloved brethren might be able to help on that particular point. That's all we wish to read. Trust the Lord will bless what we have been listening to from where we arrived this morning. Can I sum up the ministry now for a few minutes?
We have had today already the will of God. Paramount in all our experience. We have had prayer. We have had the thought of continuing. We have had now the idea of forgiveness. And all of these are ingredients if we're going to serve the Lord God effectively for his pleasure.
For the next few minutes, I want to talk about service for the master, for the Lord Jesus. If you come to this conference, would you like to continue to serve the Lord Jesus Christ? No one's served like him.
I want to notice that in all the scriptures of truth, there's only one David. White and ruddy and of a beautiful countenance. Fair to look upon. He's mentioned around 1100 times in the Bible in 28 books of our holy volume.
He's outstanding. He's one of the greatest kings that ever ruled in Israel or any other kingdom for that matter. You remember that he's a headline in the future books of the Old Testament and even referred to in the New.
It says about others, did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in the ways of David, his father. What a man. We have to understand, dear saints of God. He served for the glory of God.
I want to summarize this history. That's why I read verse 36 of Acts chapter 13. Three simple ideas here that will develop. He served his own generation. His timely service. He did it in the will of God.
That's already we have heard this morning. His terms of reference fell on sleep. His triumphant end. Now I want for a few minutes to divide his history into four. The big bottom line is service for the Lord Jesus.
We serve the Lord Christ. Number one, I want to think of David, the son of Jesse, as a shepherd. His obscurity. That's 1 Samuel chapter 16 and Kindred verses. Then I want to look at David as a soldier and his ability.
I want to tell you there was no one in the nation at that particular time that could bring down the giant. Only that outstanding soldier. David. His ability. And then I want to think of David as the sovereign on the throne.
His integrity. That's why I read Psalm 78. The selection made by the Spirit of God and by the God of eternity. To put a man like David on the throne. Listen to the Spirit's comment. He took on from following the years with young and the flock.
Unknown. To come to the very front. And he led the nation. By the integrity of his heart. And the skillfulness of his hands. What a comment. I want to finish with David, the sweet psalmist. And 2 Samuel 23.
It's an outstanding passage. We'll see shortly. He's around 70 years of age. And he's about to be gathered to his father. And he has last words to give for all of us. And for the nation. And for the family that he brought into the world.
What a man. Now let me just pick up on the will of God. We've heard about prayer life. Continuance. And forgiveness. If we're going to be effective in our service. And I would suggest that each one of these.
Are seen and illustrated in the life of David. David as a shepherd. His obscurity. The nations around Bethlehem and Israel didn't even know about David. He's one of eight sons in this passage. God has told his servant and prophet Samuel to go to anoint him.
Samuel didn't know who he was. And I won't go through the different steps. But there came a moment at that feast that day. When the father sent for the boy. And I have picked up in reading where he came in.
And Samuel had his first look at him. White, ruddy, of a beautiful countenance. And a fantastic personality. Fair to look upon and all the rest of it. God said to Samuel, arise and anoint him. This is he.
You see, he thought of those that came before him, his older brothers. Head and shoulders above the rest. But you remember, this is the passage where God says. Samuel, men look on the outward appearance, I look on the heart.
This is God's choice. Many a time I felt, wonder how David felt. When that day in the midst of his brethren. There he is. He feels the oil running down over his head. And as her brother has rightly said.
He recognized as a young teenager, maybe 15 or 16 years of age. Somewhere in there. In a destined future. And it says that immediately the spirit of God began to move and to deal with David. He's secured for the future.
He has a tremendous task ahead. What a man. In obscurity. Nobody knew who he was. We thank God today at this conference. We have a number of young married couples. And young men and young women. And even younger.
And if you're a born again person today. Maybe God has put it in your heart already. That there's a great future for you if the Lord be not come. And today you're in obscurity. Nobody knows what's happening.
I would like to encourage you. There's a time of waiting. And I've read to you that he came to the throne. At 30 years of age. And if he was 15 or 16. He had a time to wait. And that's a principle in scripture that we can't develop right now.
I want to think of David as a soldier. Outstanding ability. You see in the backside of the desert. Or wherever he was in the lands to feed the sheep as a shepherd. He had those foes to face. You remember he had the bear.
And he had the lion. And he had Goliath. Putting all those together in this particular part of his life. He's a soldier. And he's a shepherd. But he's a soldier as well. And he knew how to overcome the bear.
The bear represents the world. The external foe of the believer today. The lion represents the infernal foe. The old devil. And of course, Goliath speaks of the flesh. These, spiritually speaking, are the enemies that he overcame.
What a man. Remember the day that the nation of Israel stands on one side of the valley of Elah. And Goliath and the Philistines on the other. And Saul and the nation. And all the soldiers. Afraid to move to that giant.
What a moment in the history of this young man. When he went down to the brook. And he bowed there to take five stones from the brook. And the sling, as we have read, forward to the giant. Their champion.
And in microseconds, he fell to the ground. David had no sword. But he took Goliath's sword and took off his head. Came home victorious. Won the day. What a soldier. My dear saints of God, whatever age group we are in today.
We need divine ability and help from God. To overcome these enemies. The bear represents the cosmos out there today. Love not the world or the things that are in the world. Constantly with us in our generation.
The roar of the lion that we feel at times. And then the flesh within. All of these things have their counterpart in the New Testament. And if we're going to serve acceptably. We need to know, like David, how to overcome them.
And on the negative side, some have been overcome. As I was with you here last. For some sad cases. Some dear people that we never thought. Would leave and go their own way. We pray for them today. But David, selected by God.
As he moves forward. And as our brother Dan has already told you. That on two occasions. He had the opportunity. To bring Saul and his demise. And his life to a termination. But the fear of God was in his heart.
He couldn't touch God's anointed. And he waited his time. I tell you, that's a difficult task. It's a principle in Holy Scripture. And if you're a younger person here today. And a married person with little ones around your feet.
And you feel that older people are not handling things in the assembly. The way they should. And you would like to be there. I would say to you, dear brother. And even to myself. Wait God's time. We have seen it on the positive side.
And on the negative side. Today, we learn from this dear man, David. What a man. He waited. And on Mount Gilboa. The day arrived when God looked after Saul, the son of Kish. And his three sons. And they were taken into eternity.
Just in a very short time. Now that brings the way open for David. Three anointings. I just read of two of them. But I want to come to the bottom line. When after all the civil war in the nation of Israel was over.
Shall the sword devour forever? Nay, verily. It won't. And here David. At 30 years of age. 2 Samuel chapter 5. He becomes the sovereign. Of the nation. United 12 tribes. Bowed to the monarch that God had brought to the front.
I tell younger men. The pathway is a long one. Older brethren used to tell us when we were in our 20s. Don't put all your preaching into the early part of your life. You'll burn out. You're not there in the sprint.
You're in the marathon. It's a long way. You live till 80 or 85 or whatever it may be. See David understood. What this was all about. Dear brethren. The background of Psalm 133 is likely the sentiments.
Of where I have read you. When all of the nation of Israel anointed. David. To be their sovereign. How good and how pleasant it is for brethren. To dwell together in unity. Was there that God commended the blessing.
Even life forevermore. The man that wrote it was David. Look at it. Do you see? This was likely the background of us thinking. And here we can learn. That if we're going to be effective in our service.
As far as assembly life is concerned. We need to be united. And our brother's ministry is. Very fitting for this particular point. We need to learn to forgive. And forget. And go on. For heaven. I want to speak a little on this line here.
He's now a mature man. And he reigned for 40 years. From 30. To 70. I was pondering this line of things just yesterday. And I want to think of the triumphs of David. You think of how he felt. As he saw that nation.
United. After the conflict. Of the house of Saul. And all the rest of it. Tremendous reading. He likely never forgot. How God brought him through all the ups and downs of life. And he has brought him now to the front.
As I've indicated already. Joseph had a time of waiting. You all know. You see. Daniel had a time of waiting. David had a time of waiting. Moses had a time of waiting. Saul of Tarsus had a time of waiting.
Who's the headline? The Lord Jesus Christ. It began to be about 30. Luke chapter 3. And you remember that. The next chapter. He's at the Jordan. And his. Ministry. Is commencing publicly. 30 years in obscurity.
Three years in public. Let me talk to the young man here. I'm your friend. I want to tell you this. There's something unique. About. The personality of brethren. Especially. My sisters are included as well.
That whenever. Younger men move from their third. From their 20s to their 30s. They seem to be endowed with responsibility. That they didn't have in their 20s. Older brethren. Watch out for those that are in their 30s.
That have matured and developed. And have a life to back it up. These are. The type of dear men that we need to bring to the front. To encourage them. And to. Train them. That they might be useful. In the service of God.
I can give you a personal reference. I was 35 years of age. When I was brought in. To help with my beloved brethren. Every one of them. Every one of them. Home in heaven. I'll never forget the day. Younger men.
When I sat there. In leadership. And listened to my older brethren. And learned the ropes. On how to handle things. In God's assembly. And be a shepherd. And be kind. And useful. And helpful. And effective.
I appreciate my brethren. That taught us. And we gladly sit at their feet. But you see. Whenever. Usually. Generally speaking. There are exceptions. But generally speaking. Those in their 20s. Haven't learned.
The ups and downs. And measure of life. See that's David. Haunted yonder. In the. Deep. Wilderness. And on the mountains. There's a partridge. And there's a flea. But God preserved him. And God brought him to the front.
God helped us to appreciate it. What a triumph. He had. Now watch. I want you to think of his trials. I'll summarize his history. He lost four sons. He had 19 boys. In his family. And through the ups and downs of life.
He lost four boys. We go back over our own history. And those that we labored with. In earlier years. In other lands. Some of them. They only had one son. And through tragic circumstances. Were taken.
I tell you. David had trials. And those that will be. Among the people. Of God to take the lead. And even in the service of God. It's the same principle. We have triumphs that we enjoy. But we have trials that we have to meet.
I want to go another step. Do you see whenever he was. The sovereign. Serving. With the skillfulness of his hands. And the integrity of his heart. He had tragedies. I want you to listen carefully. You see.
David. He was only human. He was a man after God's own heart. But one day he was guilty of adultery. And later he was guilty. Of murder by proxy. And the Bible shows. That those two sins. In an individual in the nation of Israel.
In the dispensation of the law. They had to be dealt with. With death. People ask all the time. How come that David. Wasn't like wasn't forfeited. All I can suggest dear brethren. Is this. The sovereignty of God.
I can't explain it. Maybe you can. He's only human. Oh what tragedies. I often think of the day. That Nathan. His prophet. Stood in front of him. Remember David is the monarch. He's the king. He looked him straight in the eye.
And he told him the parable. Of the little ewe lamb. And the man and so on. And whenever David had given his verdict. At the appropriate moment. Nathan looked at him and he said. David. You're the man.
Oh the tragedy of losing. Four of his boys that I can't go over. Right now. He was deposed from his throne. He had to go across. The river Jordan. And into the eastern part. And Ahithophel. His trusted counselor.
That's what Psalm 41 is all about. My own familiar friend. And whom I trusted. Went against him. Now that pictures Judas. In the Lord's day. Whenever the Lord was here. The Lord knew the end from the beginning.
And he knows the hearts of all men. And he quoted that. But he says. My own familiar friend. Lifted up his heel against me. But he didn't add that statement. That David added. Whom I trusted. The Lord never trusted Judas Iscariot.
See the accuracy of scripture. See this man David. He had gone to the very zenith. He was the greatest soldier. Of his day. The borders of the land. Were outstanding at that time. But he had a tragedy.
And I want to point out to you. That. Listen. God is the God. Of the second chance. We've been enjoying that recently. In the ministry there. When we were. In Manchester. Just pause. Oh mature brethren and sisters.
All of us. God is the God. Of the second chance. God brought him back. That boy was slain. Under the bowers of the great oak. His head was taken. And. Job finished him off. By the three darts. He was in eternity.
I want to point out to you. David was brought back. And David sat on the throne. When he judged the nation of Israel. And reigned. For a number of years. Got it today. He's the God of the second chance.
As our brother was speaking. I thought of Psalm 23. David was likely a mature man. When he wrote it. He restored wrath. My soul. I tell you that's real. Real. Where we often say the rubber meets the road.
Now let me qualify the ministry. That doesn't mean that we live careless lives. Heaven forbid. And do our own thing and go our own way. And all the rest of it. No. God expects us. To live God fearing lives.
But when a person makes a mistake. There's forgiveness. That way he might be feared. Maybe there's somebody in this audience. And you have done something that nobody knows. Only God in yourself and the other person.
Maybe you're in leadership. Maybe you're in a place of responsibility. Maybe things haven't gone well. For whatever reason. And you're downcast today. And you say well what's the use of giving up. Oh I want to tell you today.
God. God. Is the God. Of the second chance. I'm telling you. Jonah. He was told by God. To get to Nineveh. He went he went instead of going east. He went west. You know the story. When he come up on dry land.
From the stomach of the great fish. He was recommissioned again. God is the God of the second chance. One night yonder in Jerusalem. Peter denied his Lord. That has already been referred to. He was restored.
When the Lord looked at him. And later in service. In John 21. Lovest thou me more than these. The God of the second chance. God help us today. To appreciate. Who is a pardoning God like thee. Or who is grace.
So rich and free. Now let me just talk a little more now. On the next section. I like this one. The parallel passage. Is first chronicles chapter 11. And chapter 12. That passage has to do with David.
When he's at the start of his reign. This passage. That we have read from in second Samuel. Chapter 23. Has to do with the end. Of his reign. These be the last words of David. First Kings chapter 2. With Solomon sitting at his bedside.
He's gathered to his father's. Very little is said after this. He's now come to the end. Of service. And almost at the end of life. I want to point out to you. Three things that he learned. After 70 years in this life.
I'll take them in the order. That he spoke about them. He says. He's the sweet psalmist of Israel. You see in the collection of 150. In the book of Psalm 73. Or attributed to his pen. And here's another song.
Directed by the Spirit of God. He said listen. I have learned in my 70 years. He that ruleth over man. Must be just. Ruling. In the fear of God. Now we have only examined. Some of the points in his history.
But as he faces eternity. He recognizes. One of the things. That is paramount. In life and service. For the Lord Jesus Christ. And God. Is to be just. To be righteous. In all our dealings with others.
Let's make an application here. As we move on. What about. Leadership in God's assembly. Dear Saints of God. This is very delicate ground. And I have nobody in mind. In this audience. I've come here today.
To teach you principles. That we have gleaned in some measure. From the Word of God. And from practical experience. I sat with my brethren. As many of you know. In Vancouver. British Columbia. For 25 years in leadership.
In a large assembly. And we know a little. Of what we're talking about. Righteous judgment. Dear brethren. If we're going to serve acceptably. If the assembly testimony. Is going to continue. If families will continue.
If individuals will continue. We need to be just. In all our dealings. With one another. Just pause a minute. See. I could have a law for my own family. And a law for somebody else's. But David. Has learned.
This is the only thing that brings honor. And glory. To God. How about the family? See every one of our children. Have different personalities. They respond to different treatment. It's the same thing in the assembly.
Have your favorites. Because you can handle these ones better. Than the others. We need to know all about that. Here's another one. The dear man. Will be a short time in life. You know what he has learned in his 70 years.
He says. I have a spiritual relationship. With the Lord Jesus Christ. The God of heaven. He looks at his 19 boys. That he brought into the world. And he says hello my house. The word is household. Be not so with God.
Yet he has made with me. An everlasting covenant. Ordered and all things ensure. This is all my desire. See the personal touch. He found out that the only thing that will last. As we move to the shores of eternity.
Is to have a real lasting relationship. Through believing the gospel of the grace of God. And accepting the one that took our place. Yonder at Calvary. I was reading telling the saints here at. Manchester recently.
Just a few nights ago. We were reading the biographies. Of other honored servants of Christ. I was very interested. In Harry Ironside's works. A mighty man for God. Made his mark. He's lying dying. And somebody draws near.
And asked him. Brother Ironside. Are you relying on all the service. That you have done. For the best of masters. I know. He says. There's only one thing that comforts me now. That my sins are forgiven.
And that I know the Lord Jesus Christ is my savior. And I'm going to be with him in heaven forever. Maybe there's somebody in this audience. When you're in the eventide of life. And you have never made this.
All this important discovery. That the only thing that will last. That will bring you satisfaction and hope. Is to be on the. Finished work of Christ. And your sins forgiven. And Christ is your personal.
And eternal savior. Of only a few minutes. I'll tell you something else. I didn't take time to read it. Only the last verse. Of 2nd Samuel 23. Brethren will you listen to this. Here's a man. That had served God acceptably for 40 years.
And you know what he learned. He learned that he couldn't do everything himself. I've read to you. The skillfulness of his hands. The ability that he had as a soldier. Remember Saul is slain as thousands.
David is tens of thousands. There was only one man in the nation. Could bring the giant down. But he found out. He couldn't do it all himself. And so in this passage. 37 men. That he recognized with abilities.
And they all had different abilities. And before he goes to heaven. He wants to make sure they're rewarded. Because they stood by him. In the day of his rejection. When he recognized them. For their. Accomplishments.
Could I bring that to the assembly today. Dear brethren. We need men that know God. We need men that have a shepherd heart. We need families that will help us. But remember. It doesn't matter how good you are.
And I'm included in this. We can't do everything ourselves. You need to be a team player brother. Sister. Whatever the function in the assembly. And to the leadership. Every personality brings different.
Traits and different spiritual skills. And all the rest of it. God help us. To learn these basic facts. When you think of David. What a man. You think of those that followed him. Throughout the history of Judah.
And Israel. And all that followed his example. When you think of him today. And his outstanding service. David. The shepherd. His obscurity. See in that line. Whenever Solomon came to the throne. It says in 1st Kings chapter 5.
That Hiram. A neighboring country. Was ever a lover of David. He didn't know him. When he was a shepherd. But he knew him when he was a soldier. And his ability. And he knew him as a sovereign. With his integrity.
And maybe. As the sweet psalmist. Of Israel. What a man. The man was sincere. Will God help us. To learn from David. As we move on. For him. The Lord will bless. What has been. Before us from early this morning.
And now we're going to take a break. And trust the Lord. Will bless his word further.