1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:20,720 I pray that we will be filled with a deep sense of commitment, ready to make that leap 2 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:31,920 of faith for kind Denefis that rocks solid promise and faithfulness of God, and help 3 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:41,200 us to go as we study about David's life, to learn from him about how you are in control 4 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:54,320 and directing the circumstances that affect us. And I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. 5 00:00:54,320 --> 00:01:01,120 The Bible says that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made. We might also say that we 6 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:08,800 are a bit oddly made. I say oddly because all of us have some strange things about our 7 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:13,920 bodies. Things that we might wish were a little different. I, for example, have two feet like 8 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:23,600 most of you, but one foot is 5'12", medium, and the other is 5'12", medium press. They're 9 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:30,320 not quite 5'12", wide. And the result of that is that one pair, one piece, fits very well, 10 00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:35,120 while the other ones are a little tight. And I found out things about Grace DePenney, they 11 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:41,680 don't like you switching up your salaries when you buy food in those stores. Because 12 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:46,400 of this dilemma, and I'm not the only one made this way, a new business has taken off 13 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:52,560 from all of America, the custom-built food. Apparently you walk in and there is a machine, 14 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:58,240 a computer that measures the size of both of your feet. They take the measurements, mail 15 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:04,000 them off to Italy, and within a few weeks you have a custom-made pair of shoes in your 16 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:11,520 hands that fit your feet exactly. And we think this is something new. But that's actually 17 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:17,120 what cobblers did for hundreds and hundreds of years. They made custom-designed shoes. 18 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:22,000 The only thing we're adding to it is the computer measurements. Did you know that you're a 19 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:33,120 custom-designed person? Did you know that the way you are is no accident? Before you 20 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:43,920 were born, God designed you and built your life purpose. Part of his design is your choice 21 00:02:43,920 --> 00:02:52,160 of life occupation or your line of work. As the photo call about your vocation, another 22 00:02:52,160 --> 00:03:00,560 old-fashioned word these days, is the word that comes from the Latin verb to call. The 23 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:07,120 word comes from your calling in life. I believe that God's plan for his children's lives 24 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:16,560 includes a calling for kinds of work or fields of work. And that plan incorporates all that 25 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:27,600 he has designed into us by our gifts, personalities, interests, and experiences. To order your 26 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:35,920 life within God's design means coming to understand how he has welled you, how he, your designer, 27 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:45,920 has prepared you for the experiences of life as well as your unique being for his calling. 28 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:52,480 And then you live by that design, it results in a fulfilling, well-designed life. I can't 29 00:03:52,480 --> 00:04:00,560 imagine a worse scenario than the past of your life. Never will you come into understanding 30 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:08,080 why you're here and what God's calling might have been. It is a powerful thing, I believe, 31 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:15,760 to have a sense of destiny. But that needs life satisfying and meaningful. And when it 32 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:24,160 comes time to close life, you can go out of this world with an assurance that you've lived 33 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:32,880 out what God intended. God means for us to enjoy the days of our lives and to complete 34 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:43,120 them with contentment. The coming to experience God's design for you does not mean walking 35 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:52,480 the straight line from O to Z. Not indeed. There will be unexpected times, unplanned 36 00:04:52,480 --> 00:05:02,480 stops, surprising twists in the narrative of each chapter. These will involve times 37 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:09,840 of disappointment and confusion. They will involve times of celebration and success. 38 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:19,680 But through them all, God will fulfill his design and unfold it for you step by step. 39 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:24,800 And this morning we're going to talk about David, who has seen life change in a particular 40 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:32,000 way that we're looking at, and that is a change of life location. I'm talking to some 41 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:41,360 who are here from this congregation who are in the midst of career choice, or a job team 42 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:50,480 to help implement this. Some of you are facing new opportunities or potential promotions. 43 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:58,560 Others are approaching retirement. And as you are anticipating this change of location, 44 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:07,120 you may find yourself dealing with some uncertainty or confusion, perhaps anxiety, or anger or 45 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:15,680 anticipation. And so as we talk this morning in this message about God involved in our 46 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:22,400 life change, I hope that this message will somehow encourage you in the midst of your 47 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:30,080 life transition, particularly the change of personal transition. David is our example 48 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:37,440 for this and I invite you to open your Bible to 1 Samuel chapter 16. For David is introduced 49 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:46,240 to us. The first in verse 1, the Lord said to Samuel, how long have you mourned for Saul 50 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:53,280 since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Pray your heinous aura and be on your way. 51 00:06:53,280 --> 00:07:00,000 I'm sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king. 52 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:05,680 But Samuel said, how can I go if Saul will hear about it and kill me? The Lord said, 53 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:11,280 take a hustle with you and say, I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Invite Jesse to 54 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:19,680 the sacrifice and I will show you what to do. You are to admit for me the one I indicate. 55 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:24,560 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived in Bethlehem, the elders of the town 56 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:31,680 assembled when they met him. Do you come in peace? Samuel replied, yes, in peace. I have 57 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:38,240 come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me. 58 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:44,560 Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, 59 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:50,240 Samuel thought aloud and thought clearly the Lord's anointed sons here before the Lord. 60 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:56,080 But the Lord said to Samuel, do not consider his appearance as hope. For I have rejected 61 00:07:56,080 --> 00:08:03,040 him. The Lord does not look on things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, 62 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:10,640 but the Lord looks at the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab and led him past to Samuel. 63 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:16,000 The family said the Lord has not chosen this one either. Jesse then had Samuel pass this 64 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:21,920 one past by, but Samuel said, nor has the Lord chosen this one. Then they had seven 65 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:27,920 of his sons pass before Samuel. The family said to him, the Lord has not chosen thee. 66 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:35,760 For once Jesse had evolved the sons in health. For this was the youngest, Jesse answered, 67 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:42,000 but he had tending the sheep. Samuel said, fear from him. They will not sit down until 68 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:50,320 he arrives. And so they went and had him brought in. He was ready with a foul appearance and 69 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:59,760 handsome features. Then the Lord said, wows and anoints him. He was the one. Oh Samuel 70 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:04,080 took the hand of the Lord and anointed him in the presence of his brothers and from that 71 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:11,760 go on the spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. You see the transition David's 72 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:20,800 life, it is going to be from a shepherd to a father. From a man who works on his father's 73 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:31,120 sheep ranch to being the king over a nation. From a shepherd to a politician, some do not 74 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:38,880 think of a very big step, but in fact in many of those thoughts, it's a big step. But it's 75 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:44,320 one thing to care for the lives of faith, but it is another thing to do when a position 76 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:54,640 of public flesh, for you are saying to the lives of people. As you consider the transition 77 00:09:54,640 --> 00:10:01,200 and vocation for David, I hope you feel some things that you and I might learn. Before 78 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:12,340 God had formed David and God had formed you as well. W 79 00:10:12,340 --> 00:10:17,600 ent the day was at work in the current of David's mouth. So God is directing the current 80 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:26,480 of him that may be sleeping around you this morning. My basic point is this, that God 81 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:35,440 was at work. So hold his hand tightly. God, God is at work as first of all a mother of 82 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:47,440 us. He's the unceasing God who is at work in our lives of pain. To bring us to task, 83 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:57,600 to design and focus for us. God's design in you includes your basic makeup. Let me say 84 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:09,360 first of all that he formed your person. All of the basic things about you, God created. 85 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:16,480 He formed your own person. He did David. David is no accident that David was born in 86 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:25,040 the time of Joseph, who was a grand son, great grand son many times over of Judah. The son 87 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:33,280 of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Down through the lungs of the genealogy, God 88 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:41,440 preserved the food, causing it to pass through David and through him, down through the fire. 89 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:50,960 David James was no accident and the actual rose is not either. There are some people 90 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:59,440 who don't even know who their fathers or their mothers were. And they feel that their 91 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:11,440 fathers were accidents or mistakes. How do you even feel if they were the result of a crime that was committed? 92 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:20,080 But let me tell you, you are no mistake. You may not even know your ancestry or your heritage, 93 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:30,480 but God formed who you are. That's part of his design in you. God not only formed David's 94 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:38,640 own for food and yours, but he formed David's appearance. The genetics all came together 95 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:45,600 to make David the man that he was. He was wealthy, which probably means he was red-haired, 96 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:53,360 a fair complexion, but a fine appearance and handsome and beautiful. And although God does 97 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:58,560 not look on the outward appearance, but on the heart, God designed David's outward appearance 98 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:09,120 and gave him the presence of a king. God likewise has designed your appearance. 99 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:14,720 Maybe old genetic makeup like mine has led you to do a little avid in some of this stuff. 100 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:22,720 But even though avidly, our God's much. 101 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:30,720 He's been able to accept ourselves for who God has made us to be. 102 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:38,720 God has formed us in our own process, in our appearance, and fortunately with our abilities. 103 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:48,720 David had the ability to know me today. It was an ability that was first defined with 104 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:55,520 the shape of me, and then came to be gradually defined as he led the nation. He had the ability 105 00:13:55,520 --> 00:14:03,520 to strategically think of a warrior. He was a mighty military man. He just came to David. 106 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:10,320 He was a brave man by nature. As a youth, he was not afraid to take on a bear or a lion 107 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:20,320 to protect his sheep. He was not afraid to stand as a king even before the dynasty had 108 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:28,320 offended the whole army of Israel. He was not afraid to face that giant lion on the plain 109 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:35,120 as we'll see in a moment. So that when he grew up, he could be a military leader, a mighty 110 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:41,520 warrior, king of Israel. And God has given you the abilities that you have. 111 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:48,320 They may be abilities that are little seen by people, but they're few in view immensely. 112 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:55,520 Perhaps he's given you the ability to reach with your hand. Perhaps he's given you the 113 00:14:55,520 --> 00:15:01,920 ability to stand up before others and speak. Maybe he's given you the ability to speak 114 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:10,720 very well and clearly and calmly. Maybe he can manage others. But what I'm trying to 115 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:19,920 say to you is that God has found you, the person, the speaker, and the one and only 116 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:26,320 God of the world has just like you. Isn't that amazing? And think how willing God has 117 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:35,520 to work with. If he's given you so loud, so rude, and no, and no, and that fills in around 118 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:42,320 it. Suppose you have those pieces to work with and the first creativity you're going 119 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:49,920 to make people look different. How many hundreds could you create before you run out of ideas? 120 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:55,920 Or if you're unique, how many thousand people could you design that would all be unique? 121 00:15:55,920 --> 00:16:02,320 You see, God has designed billions of people and none of us work with them in the light. 122 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:11,120 We're all different. God is marvelous in his creativity. And that's the way we're made, 123 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:19,120 the way God has designed each day, even if you pulled out a little mistake, he has. 124 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:27,120 David understood this. In one of his great psalms that he wrote, Psalm 139, he writes 125 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:35,520 these words for you are recognized. For you created my own life, you put me together in 126 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:41,520 my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearful and wonderfully known. Your work 127 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:47,520 so wonderful, I know that so well. My fame is now given from you when I was made in the 128 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:54,720 secret place. Talking about in the womb. When I was woven together in the depths of the 129 00:16:54,720 --> 00:17:01,520 earth, the language that he uses here is the picture of fondly woven embroidery. What a 130 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:08,320 picture of the chromosomes coming together. The genetic cones all coming together to form 131 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:19,120 you. Your loud sound, my unfurmed body. All the days are being formed and working in your 132 00:17:19,120 --> 00:17:31,920 work before none of them came to be. You would understand that God has made him and God has 133 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:39,120 made you. By the way, these words speak with enormous significance because it was true 134 00:17:39,120 --> 00:17:49,920 to kiss you as our cultural life took off. There's nothing less than a God-beyond person 135 00:17:49,920 --> 00:18:03,920 with life. Not only has God formed your person, but like David, God sets you apart. David 136 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:11,520 says, you wrote out the chapters of my life before I even began to live them. God, you 137 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:19,920 knew the days of my life before I was ever born. And God knows your days as well. Isaiah 138 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:28,720 puts these words into the mouth of the Messiah, chapter 49. Before I was born, the Lord called 139 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:35,520 me by my name. And from my birth, he has made mention of my name. He has formed me on the 140 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:47,120 room to be his servant. The figure of Messiah, Jesus Christ, Mary, even from the finger room, 141 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:54,720 according to the words of Isaiah, God's puppet. Jeremiah says regarding himself, before I 142 00:18:54,720 --> 00:19:04,720 found you in the room, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart. Our place of 143 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:26,720 birth will prosper for the meeting. Before Jeremiah was even born, God had his life ordered 144 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:42,720 for us. He was not alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was born. He was 145 00:19:42,720 --> 00:20:00,720 not alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not alive until 146 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:16,720 he was born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was born. 147 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:32,720 He was not alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not alive 148 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:50,720 until he was born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was 149 00:20:50,720 --> 00:21:06,720 born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not 150 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:22,720 alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was 151 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:38,720 born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not 152 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:54,720 alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was 153 00:21:54,720 --> 00:22:09,720 born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not 154 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:25,720 alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was born. He was not alive until he was 155 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:29,600 Whatever reason you've left this particular kind of work, 156 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:33,160 and you're about to begin another kind of work. 157 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:34,560 God has fitted this for both, 158 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:36,360 and this is going to be a new challenge. 159 00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:38,560 Look who's managing the particulars. 160 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:40,060 They don't have to be afraid. 161 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:47,280 In the midst of all the things of your life, 162 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:48,280 God has at work, 163 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,720 who has made you, who has sent you to us, 164 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,720 and who is now managing your team. 165 00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:59,360 You see, look, I know all of that. 166 00:22:59,360 --> 00:23:02,120 But that's why I began by saying it's a matter of fact. 167 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,640 Because a lot of us know what I've said. 168 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:11,720 But what is a matter of fact is also a matter of faith. 169 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:15,840 A matter of faith. 170 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,240 You see, I believed, 171 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,520 over the years ago when we went with my son 172 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:27,480 out to that place where he jumped out of the airplane, 173 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:31,120 I believed that that parachute would open 174 00:23:31,120 --> 00:23:33,920 and would carry him to the earth. 175 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,680 I believed that that instructor who was trapped too, 176 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:40,920 was able to do all the things necessary 177 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:42,560 to make it all happen safely. 178 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,720 I knew all of that, but I didn't really have faith in it 179 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:49,120 because I didn't get up there and do it. 180 00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:51,520 I didn't take the big leap. 181 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:52,560 And I'll tell you something else, 182 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:53,960 I'm not about to tomorrow. 183 00:23:58,040 --> 00:23:59,440 But what we're talking about here 184 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,360 is far more important than to jump out of an airplane. 185 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:05,000 We're talking about a God 186 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,000 who is utterly faithful and dependable. 187 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:10,680 That we know in our theology now 188 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:13,080 that we've got into the practice of our lives. 189 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:17,200 It's not only a matter of fact that God has sent you, 190 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,440 he sent the two of you out to the earth 191 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:21,440 and it's a matter of faith. 192 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,120 That you will really believe that 193 00:24:26,120 --> 00:24:28,840 and impress your life here. 194 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:32,440 I want to illustrate to you 195 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:34,800 how God was doing all of this in David's life 196 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:36,440 and he didn't do it very quickly 197 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:39,240 and did not take much time. 198 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:41,800 But go back to 16, we'll talk to 16 again 199 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:44,800 because after set off to Samuel, 200 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:49,800 had anointed David, things began to happen in David's life. 201 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:53,400 Things began to happen. 202 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:57,760 The first thing that happened was that 203 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:00,120 the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul. 204 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:04,800 And if there was an evil spirit from the Lord, 205 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:05,640 tormenting him. 206 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:08,480 Not an evil verse to deal with, 207 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:12,800 but it seems to me that the resigning of the Holy Spirit 208 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,200 from Saul left him vulnerable to the attractive evil spirit 209 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:18,840 which the Lord allowed to go to Saul to pain him 210 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:21,840 because it was disobedient. 211 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:24,720 And Saul ended up in his depression. 212 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:27,520 He could borrow words that got worse and worse 213 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:29,120 and those around him said, 214 00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:30,720 no, this one needs some music. 215 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,160 They didn't have TV of course in those days 216 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:36,320 and bean boxes, thank God. 217 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:39,760 And so they said, we've got to find a musician 218 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:42,000 and play over the church. 219 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:46,040 And Saul said to him, you can't find someone 220 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:47,840 who plays well and brings in them. 221 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:49,280 One of the servants answered and said, 222 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:52,240 I've seen a son of God who is not in the house. 223 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:53,840 He knows how to play the house. 224 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:58,880 Who do you think caused this servant of Saul 225 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:00,960 to see or hear David? 226 00:26:02,360 --> 00:26:04,480 And who was it that he needs for that servant 227 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:07,320 to be there anyway when Saul made this request? 228 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,320 And so God is at work and from this time on, 229 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:14,320 on occasion, David will be brought to Saul 230 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:16,960 to play for him. 231 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,600 And so Saul began to get acquainted with David 232 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:23,560 and David was able to witness Saul 233 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:28,560 and to see what being the king of a nation entails. 234 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:32,840 So one time when he was playing Saul, 235 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:35,320 his brothers were all fighting in the Battle of Elias 236 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:38,320 after 17 months. 237 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:40,320 The Philistines went across and saw him in his army 238 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:43,320 and were camped down in the Valley of Elias. 239 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:46,320 And just around this time, some food was brought to the army 240 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,320 and quickly to his friends, David's brothers, 241 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:52,320 who were fighting and so they sent David with some food. 242 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,320 David arrived there in the camp and began talking 243 00:26:55,320 --> 00:27:00,320 to his brothers and he heard this Philistine champion, 244 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:05,320 Philistine champion, which was the first funny thing. 245 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:12,320 He stepped out of his lines and he started his usual defiance 246 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:16,320 and David heard it. 247 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:18,320 He was defying the armies of Israel. 248 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:21,320 Somebody, somebody out here to fight me. 249 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,320 For God had a way for David the Beaver, 250 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:28,320 that is what moment, David heard it. 251 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:31,320 While the Israelites were fleeing and they were 252 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,320 fleeing in great fear, David found them. 253 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:37,320 In 26, he asked the men standing here, 254 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:40,320 what have you done to the man who killed you, Philistine? 255 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:43,320 He knew this was very familiar. 256 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:45,320 He was this un-concerned fellow Philistine 257 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:48,320 who used to defy the armies of the living God. 258 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:53,320 But you know the story, how the Davidians stepped forward. 259 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:57,320 He became that man that the God knew. 260 00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:01,320 He took a swing and a stone to kill the Israelites. 261 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,320 God arranged all of this so that David would begin 262 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:08,320 to be known through the communists in Israel. 263 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:11,320 People began to notice David. 264 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:14,320 They saw who he was. 265 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:17,320 So after 18, verse 1, 266 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,320 says, after David had finished talking with God, 267 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:25,320 Jonathan became one with David. 268 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:28,320 He loved him as himself and from that day, 269 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,320 God kept David with him and did not let him 270 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:33,320 return to his father's house. 271 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:35,320 Jonathan made a covenant with David 272 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:37,320 because he loved him as himself. 273 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:39,320 Jonathan took off his robe and his robe 274 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:41,320 and gave it to David while lying in his tomb 275 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:44,320 and could even assure him his bond as well. 276 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:46,320 So you see what happened here, 277 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:49,320 David now is living in Saul's household. 278 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:53,320 And Jonathan, he might well be the next king, 279 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:56,320 recognizes David's superiority 280 00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:59,320 and a few of him bind a friendship 281 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,320 that is remarkable and a great example 282 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:04,320 to all of us men as the kind of friendship 283 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,320 that God wants us to have. 284 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:09,320 And Jonathan goes to David, 285 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:11,320 the fingers of his room, 286 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:13,320 hoping something will happen here. 287 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:16,320 He says in the next verse, 288 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:18,320 whatever God sent him to do, 289 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:20,320 David did so successfully 290 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:23,320 that David, your father, they gave him 291 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:25,320 a high rank in the army. 292 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:27,320 And this proves all the people 293 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:29,320 in Saul's actions as well. 294 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,320 So now David is not only the man 295 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:33,320 for his father in Galilee, 296 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:36,320 he's actually one of the generals of the army, 297 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:38,320 one of the leaders in the days 298 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:40,320 that he served for the army. 299 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:41,320 And all the people love David. 300 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:43,320 You see what God has done? 301 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:47,320 God has worked in all of the details 302 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:50,320 and David came in his vocation, 303 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:55,320 saving him, preparing him, healing him 304 00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:59,320 for what God needs him to be. 305 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:05,320 Did David realize this? 306 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:09,320 I don't know, maybe David, like you and me, 307 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:11,320 was able to see it later, 308 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:14,320 but didn't see it at the time. 309 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:18,320 Hindsight was always 20-20, I think. 310 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:23,320 David had some sight that way 311 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:26,320 and I invite you to turn again to the book of Psalms 312 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:28,320 that we're going to close, 313 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:30,320 in the 23rd Psalm. 314 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:35,320 Now please, there is no funeral this morning, 315 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,320 even though we're looking at the 23rd Psalm. 316 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:40,320 We have to identify this psalm as funeral 317 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:43,320 because the language here is very lovely. 318 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:47,320 It's poetic and has some wonderful props for females. 319 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:50,320 But this is a psalm for living. 320 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:54,320 This is a psalm about life. 321 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:56,320 This is a psalm about dreams. 322 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:59,320 This is a psalm about God and the energy in our lives. 323 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:04,320 And David some time later looked back upon his transition. 324 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:07,320 He was a shepherd and now he's the king. 325 00:31:09,320 --> 00:31:12,320 And he sees that no longer he sees a sheep 326 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:15,320 who was a shepherd, but he was the sheep. 327 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:21,320 And he says, your road is my shepherd. 328 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:28,320 He is shepherd in my life, says David. 329 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:31,320 I've been like a sheep. 330 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:35,320 But I've been like a shepherd. He's the rest of me. 331 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:39,320 Because now, before, I shall not be a God. 332 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:44,320 What is the language here, the transitional, the process, 333 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:47,320 the movement kind of language? 334 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:50,320 He makes me lie down in the pastures. 335 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:52,320 He leaves me behind for water. 336 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:54,320 He restores my thoughts. 337 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:57,320 He guides me in the path of righteousness for his name. 338 00:31:57,320 --> 00:32:00,320 So even though I'm wrapped in the barrel of a sweater, 339 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:06,320 David keeps his life on the move from here to there. 340 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:09,320 Not a straight line from A to Z, 341 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:12,320 but life of twists and turns and different experiences. 342 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:15,320 That in them our God is doing something. 343 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:20,320 Even when it comes to what he calls the valley of the sweaterless grass. 344 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:24,320 It's a place where there would not be. 345 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:28,320 And I've been thinking about a deeper vein that runs 346 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:31,320 near the whole length of the Judean mountains 347 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:34,320 from Jerusalem down to the Jordan Valley. 348 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:39,320 In the early season there was a bush, 349 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:44,320 a small river that runs down straight out of the ravine. 350 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:47,320 It was extremely steep. 351 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:55,320 The hot Judean sun crossed both channels down inside this deep sheet. 352 00:32:55,320 --> 00:32:58,320 The crust of the rocks in it. 353 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:01,320 Today there's so much to do. 354 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:05,320 And that maybe is what David is talking about. 355 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:08,320 He speaks of the valley of the sweaterless grass. 356 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:11,320 It's a frighten, a fearful thing. 357 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:16,320 This is some of you are going through a painful time in transition in your life. 358 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:23,320 I don't know if there's a more painful time for a man or woman than when you retire. 359 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:31,320 When you make that transition from being a silly and spoiled, to being... 360 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:35,320 and you don't know how to make it. 361 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:41,320 Some of you have been laid off from work. 362 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:46,320 And you're in transition but you don't know how to hit it straight. 363 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:53,320 For others of you, the position at work for you has been that you have been diminished. 364 00:33:53,320 --> 00:33:55,320 Or your benefit has been changed. 365 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:59,320 And it's a frightening time. It's the valley of the sweaterless grass. 366 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:03,320 What did David say about that? 367 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:07,320 He said, I will fear no evil. 368 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:11,320 For some of you are able to see the moon, the cleft of the moon. 369 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:16,320 You don't know what's in our homes for you in terms of your vocation. 370 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:20,320 It's because of the things that I'm seeing. 371 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:26,320 And there are times when I have walked to the valley of the shadow of death because I fear no evil. 372 00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:28,320 Why? For you are with me. 373 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:33,320 For Rob, for Scott, for Comfort me. 374 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:40,320 For how few of you today are walking to the valley of the shadow of death on the earth. 375 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:44,320 To recognize that the Lord is there with you. 376 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:53,320 He has overseen your superimpending the particulars of being first, second, and third. 377 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:58,320 And you don't have to fear because you're full of it. 378 00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:02,320 God is at work. 379 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:05,320 Hold his hand. 380 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:10,320 But then David changes his mind. 381 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:14,320 He says, you could tell a table before me the presence of my enemies. 382 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:17,320 The house now filled with festivities. 383 00:35:18,320 --> 00:35:21,320 The enemies are around and the table has been spread. 384 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:24,320 He says, you are not my head with oil. 385 00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:28,320 You can put the house always good to the unadorned. 386 00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:32,320 My cup overflows with wine. 387 00:35:33,320 --> 00:35:36,320 Goodness and mercy follow me. 388 00:35:37,320 --> 00:35:39,320 And he's real thoughtful in this transition. 389 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:42,320 Good things are happening to you. 390 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:46,320 God will until remember, there's the one behind it. 391 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:49,320 There's the one who's filling the oil. 392 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:51,320 There's the one who's filling the cup. 393 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:54,320 There's the one who has spread the table. 394 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:55,320 Remember him. 395 00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:57,320 Hold his hand. 396 00:35:57,320 --> 00:36:00,320 Because it's God who is at work. 397 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:03,320 It's God who is at work in your transition. 398 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:10,320 Through all of this, God changed David's calling from shepherd to politician. 399 00:36:10,320 --> 00:36:21,320 Is God wise enough and powerful enough to manipulate the circumstances of your life to bring the bodies of your enemies? 400 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:26,320 You need an answer to that. 401 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:30,320 But I want to know if you would believe it. 402 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:39,320 I want to know if you would come to the place where you really inspect yourself today. 403 00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:45,320 And you say, I know that the Lord is the shepherd. 404 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:53,320 But today I'm saying, I don't know if he's the shepherd, but he's my shepherd. 405 00:36:53,320 --> 00:36:58,320 And he's in the middle of my transition today. 406 00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:02,320 There's a barrel of a bottle of beer and a table of paper. 407 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:06,320 God is in the midst of my transition. 408 00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:09,320 And I will test him. 409 00:37:10,320 --> 00:37:14,320 Some of us thrive on things. 410 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:17,320 Some of us learn from things. 411 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:22,320 Happy is the mode for the husband and wife of different. 412 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:26,320 Because it brings a real balance to life. 413 00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:33,320 And because you also learn through the kinsmen that it brings a lot of important lessons to. 414 00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:40,320 But today you need to understand that change is part of this world. 415 00:37:40,320 --> 00:37:43,320 You're not going to escape it. 416 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:48,320 But the eternal God, whose change is not, abides with you. 417 00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:52,320 And here is your shepherd in the midst of your change. 418 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:56,320 Some of you are married to a spouse who's about to go through a transition. 419 00:37:56,320 --> 00:37:58,320 And you're fearful because of what? 420 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:03,320 You're thinking, first of all, this is his spousal. 421 00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:06,320 My point today is very simple. 422 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:10,320 God is at work in your transition. 423 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:13,320 Yours may not be a transition of vocation. 424 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:15,320 It may be some other kind. 425 00:38:15,320 --> 00:38:18,320 I've measured on the vocational thing. 426 00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:25,320 But whatever the change, God is at work to hold his hand. 427 00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:30,320 Not only know it, believe it. 428 00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:33,320 Let's pray. 429 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:46,320 Father, I pray that all of us will be able to make this leap of faith 430 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:52,320 to put into practice in our lives what we know in our theology. 431 00:38:52,320 --> 00:39:02,320 We want to trust you in our life's change, including the change of life's vocation. 432 00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:10,320 I pray that what we've learned from David's example today will assure us that you've found it. 433 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:16,320 You've already parted out the course of our lives before we were born. 434 00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:19,320 And you're managing the details. 435 00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:26,320 And so may we entrust ourselves to you. 436 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:33,320 I want to ask you, sitting there with your head bowed and your eyes closed, 437 00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:39,320 if today there was something that came to threaten you, 438 00:39:39,320 --> 00:39:43,320 and if you would believe that God is at work, 439 00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:51,320 we would ask you just to close your hands as though God's hand was right there 440 00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:54,320 and was taking a hold of God's hand. 441 00:39:54,320 --> 00:40:14,320 And by that physical act, O God, this symbolizes that I am believing what I know. 442 00:40:14,320 --> 00:40:25,320 Lord, you see the close hands. We hold on tight, believing. 443 00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:32,320 Believing with all of our hearts those wonderful words that you've shown me for many years. 444 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:45,320 He leads me. O blessed God, O word, with heavenly comfort, God. 445 00:40:45,320 --> 00:41:02,320 What will I do? What will I do? Who will God's hand that leads me?