As a young man, David was humble.

A trait the ancient world despised, humility.

They opted for assertiveness, pride, power!

The day Samuel came to Jesse’s house to ordain Israel’s next king … our little hero was nowhere to be found. All seven of Jesse’s older boys were examined for the royal position … and vetoed.

Here’s how it happened. 1 Samuel 16:11 … “And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.”

Notice where David was … watching the family’s flock, their sheep!

But, as God’s Will dictated, David was the one! The next King of Israel!

The next verse adds … 1 Samuel 16:12-13 … “And he (Jesse) sent, and brought him (David) in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.”

David the shepherd boy is now to be king.

About the same time David was anointed, King Saul needed a musician!

The Story as recorded by the inspired historian … “And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. 18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. 19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. 20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. 21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. 23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.” 1 Samuel 16:17-23

David, not only a king-to-be, but now a beloved musician in the royal court of Israel!

Did you notice where King-Elect David was when Saul summoned him? Verse 19 above says he was back “with the sheep!”

No matter what “higher” job he worked … David always went back to his duties assigned him by his father.

Even before fighting the giant Goliath, David had spent the days prior to that epic battle … (you know where) … with the sheep!

1 Samuel 17:14-15 … “And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul (in the army). But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.”

Seems like Jesus said something about being “faithful in the little things.”

“Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.” Luke 19:17

David has sure left us a sterling example of such faithfulness!

My we follow in his steps.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Even Paul agrees … “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2

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Earlier today I read a chapter on the life of David and an author called him “a nobody whom nobody noticed!”

When Samuel went to that blessed house in Bethlehem, at God’s behest, Jesse paraded all his sons (potential kings, mind you) before the Prophet who held a horn of oil in his hand!

All seven boys, but none was the future King of Israel of God!

Any other sons?

Yes, but he is watching sheep!

Read it with me …

“10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, ARISE, ANOINT HIM: FOR THIS IS HE. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.” 1 Samuel 16:10-13

Jesse’s little “nobody!”

(It really looks like Jesse, noble man that he was, played favorites among his boys! A bad idea for any parent.)

But Almighty God took that little “nobody” and made him into (arguably) the greatest King Israel ever knew, so far anyway! (King Jesus is yet to arrive!)

A “nobody” who became “the sweet Psalmist of Israel!” (Quoting 2nd Samuel 23:1.)

A “nobody” who is twice called “a man after God’s Own heart!” (See Acts 13:22.)

I am wondering if any “nobodies” might be reading these pages.

If so … put yourself in the Hands of our great Lord.

Clay in the Potter’s Hands!

If you are yielded to Him, soft and malleable … no telling what He might do!

What a God!

What a Saviour!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Let me share with you several ways David prefigures our Lord. The list is impressive! Making him, I believe, a wonderful Type of Christ.

David’s name means “beloved.” And Jesus was the “Beloved Son” of God the Father!

Matthew 3:17 … “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

David lived in Bethlehem. It was his hometown! Jesus was born in Bethlehem!

Matthew 2:1 … “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem …”

David was a man of “beautiful countenance.” (1 Samuel 16:12) And we are told Jesus is “fairer than the children of men.” Our Lord is also said to be “altogether lovely.”

Psalm 45:2 … “Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.”

Song of Solomon 5:16 … “His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”

David was a shepherd, literally so in his early years. Jesus our Saviour is a Shepherd too, THE Shepherd in fact!

John 10:11 … “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

Hebrews 13:20 … “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.”

1 Peter 5:4 … “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

David began life humbly, a lowly lad. But yet he was exalted to King! So with Jesus, “obedient even to the death of the Cross.” Yet given a “Name that is above every name!”

Philippians 2:5-11 … “Christ Jesus … Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

David was mocked by his brothers! (1 Samuel 17:28 is an example.) In like manner Jesus “come unto His Own, the Jews, and they received Him not!?”

John 1:11-12 … “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

David defeated a giant named Goliath. (See 1 Samuel 17:49.) Jesus defeated death, hell and the grave (Satan too) on the old rugged Cross!

Hebrews 2:14 … “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

David was anointed King on three different occasions! (Once by Samuel, Then by the men of Judah. Finally, by all Israel.) Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit (the Name MESSIAH means “Anointed One!”) at Conception, at His Baptism, then again at His Ascension!

David in 1 Samuel 16:13 by Samuel. In 2 Samuel 2:4 by Judah. And again in 2 Samuel 5:3 by all Israel.

Jesus, let’s see …

Luke 1:35 … “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Matthew 3:16 … “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.”

Acts 10:38 … How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

At His Ascension … Psalm 45:6-7 … “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Other parallels exist. David is mentioned in the Bible over 1,000 times, folks! He is indeed a major Bible character.

We shall enjoy studying his life, the Lord willing.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I made it a point to learn the location of the “David is a man after God’s Own Heart” Verse, Acts 13:22.

“And when he (the Lord) had removed him (King Saul), he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he (the Lord) gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”

But now … I have recently learned God twice calls David that, “a man after His Own Heart.”

The other reference, 1 Samuel 13:14. Godly Samuel speaking to backslidden Saul … “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart (David), and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”

(God called Job “my servant” a total of six times in that amazing Bible Book, in Job. Two times before Job’s trials came … but four times after the trials! Job seems to have doubled in spiritual statue during his days of suffering! He was TWICE the man … proving that tribulation does help us grow in the Lord!)

On that basis I declare that David, still young and pure (when Samuel came to the house of Jesse to anoint him as the next King of Israel), David already knew the Holy Spirit of God!

But posthumously our gracious God writes (in Acts 13) of David … He is a man to My liking, after “Mine Own Heart!”

A Double Portion of God’s Power!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I too want to be hungry for that “Double Portion” of God’s Presence, God’s Power, God’s Spirit! Elisha asked for Such … and received it! Glory to His Name, our dear Lord Jesus Christ!

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Have you ever noticed that God often does some of His greatest Works in some of the darkest times?

For example, Adam and Eve have just sinned. Thereby plunging mankind into an abyss of iniquity. Fellowship with God … broken! What a dark time! But THEN God immediately steps in and announces the coming Birth (some day) of a Child Who would defeat the Devil!

God to Satan … Genesis 3:15 … “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Called the “protoevangelium,” the first mentioning of Messiah Jesus! (Who would, at Calvary, bruise or crush the head of the Devil, the Antichrist!)

Another example, the Flood, more dark days! But then God revealed His Sign in the heavens! Genesis 9:14-15 … “And it shall come to pass, when I (the Lord) bring a cloud over the earth, that the BOW shall be seen in the cloud: and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.” A rainbow of Grace! Revealed just after the dark storm!

A third instance, the Tower of Babel, dark days again! (Recorded in Genesis chapter 11.) And God’s miraculous Revelation? The beginning of the Hebrew Nation, the Israelites!

Genesis 12:1-3, right after the Tower of Babel rebellion … “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I WILL MAKE OF THEE A GREAT NATION (ISRAEL), and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

But my real point today … the dark days of the Judges (extremely bleak) followed by the disastrous rule of Saul, left Israel very discouraged. Then God gave them David! Yes, at that dark time!

The David whose life we ae beginning to study. The David whom God gladly called … “a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” Acts 13:22

God and David, here’s the young man’s anointing! “Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.” 1 Samuel 16:12-13

Thus began an epoch of time in Isarel where God blessed mightily. The reign of the “Sweet Psalmist of Israel.” 2 Samuel 23:1

Do you see the principle?

Dark days, God’s opportunity … to display His Glory!

And He often did, He often does!

Praise His Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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