Lessons from the Life of David - Chapter 11
The Fruits of the Spirit 2
We continue today looking at the fruit of the Spirit in David's life, having discovered last time something of the practice of "love", we now can think about "joy" in David's experience. This joy, the scholars tell us, results from one's knowledge of and fellowship with God. It has to do with deep delight and contentment in the ways of God. David says in Psalm 43 verse 4, "Then will I go to the altar of God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God." David, we know, was an accomplished musician and he expressed his joy in playing his instrument. In Psalm 16 verse 11 he says, "You have made known to me the path of life and you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." David loved to be in God's house, worshipping so he says in Psalm 27 verse 6, 'I will offer in God's tabernacle sacrifices of joy. I will sing and make music to the Lord. In the New Testament, in Philippians chapter 3, Paul calls upon all believers to rejoice in the Lord always. At that time, Paul was suffering in a Roman gaol, not happy circumstances for him physically, but spiritually, he had everything and it caused him to express his joy in the Lord.
Having thought about love and joy in David's spirit controlled life, we discover that David experienced "peace" in his life, another fruit of the Spirit. This is not the peace with God through our salvation, but rather the peace of God in our lives. The tranquillity or contentment enjoyed by those who live in harmony with the will of God.
So we note that David who faced many difficulties in life and had many enemies to cope with could, in spite of such things, say in Psalm 4 verse 8, "I will lay down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." That was David's personal experience, but in Psalm 29, verses 11 he says further, so as to encourage others, "The Lord gives strength to His people, the Lord blesses His people with peace." David's mind was often in turmoil and he sometimes reached great depths of despair but beneath it all, just like the oceans, the deep waters were tranquil. Let us remind ourselves now of the second group that comprise the fruit of the Spirit, namely: Patience, Kindness and Goodness.
The first of these then is "patience", or long-suffering. This is patience in dealing with others - even if we find them difficult or opposed to us. Peter, the great follower of Jesus, reminds us in his first letter in chapter 3 that God is long-suffering in His dealings with mankind. Peter says that God waited patiently for over a century while Noah built his ark for the people to respond to his message and repent. However, only eight souls were saved because they heeded God's message through His servant, while others ignored it and scoffed.
During his life, David on a number of occasions demonstrated this God-like patience. For instance we read in 1 Samuel chapter 24 that Saul seeking David's life, gathered some three thousand men and they went out to seek David and his men, no doubt with a view to killing them. When night came, Saul lay down to sleep in a cave and David with his men found him. David's followers said to him, "The day which the Lord promised you when He would deliver your enemy into your hands has come, do to him what shall seem good to you." David could have killed him there, but he believed that God would protect the Lord's anointed. It is well said that the flesh spontaneously reacts, but the Spirit forbears as Christ our Saviour did.
Moving on, we come to "kindness" or gentleness and "goodness." This can include gentle-kindness, compassion to others, kindly activity for the benefit of others and kindly disposition to one's neighbour. David was a perfect exponent of such graces as these. We have evidence of this in 1 Samuel chapter 22, where we read about David in exile and he was fleeing from Saul who was seeking his life. He found refuge in the cage of Adullam. We are told that when David's family heard that he was there, they came and sought protection with him. He freely received them. In addition all those that were in distress or in debt or discontented, gathered around him and he became their leader also - some four hundred people.
This reminds us of one who was yet to come, "Great David's greater son", the Lord Jesus Christ, who one day, in Matthew chapter 11 verse 28, gave this wonderfully kind, all-embracing invitation to the people of His day: "Come to me all you are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls." That invitation still stands today, respond to it, and you will benefit greatly.