Lessons from the Life of David - Chapter 13
The Fruits of the Spirit 4
Today we come to our final study in this series on the eventful and fruitful life of King David of Israel. In recent studies we have discovered examples of the fruit of the Spirit in David's life for God. The Apostle Paul cites these in Galatians chapter 5 verses 22 and 23 they are, writes Paul: Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness and Temperance (i.e. the act of avoiding excesses).
In this study, we will look at the final three examples, which have to do with personal practices in the life of the believer. First then, what can David teach us about faith? We understand the word faith here to mean faithfulness, fidelity, loyalty or trustworthiness - even reliability. All these characteristics someone has said have to do with the habit of mind which does not doubt that God is working all things together for good to those who love and honour Him. Suspicion of God is a work of the flesh - -where as faith is a work of the Spirit.
In looking at David's long life is scripture we see that it is marked from youth to old age by evidences of faithfulness and fidelity to his God. We readily recall the day, when as a mere youth, on discovering on the field of battle that no one in the army of Israel was prepared to stand for God against the champion of the Philistines, Goliath, David went out alone while his countrymen cowered in their tents in fear. With the knowledge that his God would give him the victory. God rewarded him accordingly and he defeated and killed Goliath and Israel that day prevailed.
There are many other examples, during David's reign as king, of his faithfulness as a servant of God, perhaps summed up in his final words of advice to Solomon his son who followed him as king. We read f these in 1 Kings chapter 1. David says, "I am about to die and in following me be strong, show yourself a man and observe what the Lord your God requires: walk in his ways and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements as written in the Law of Moses so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go." David's example is one we would all do well to follow. It requires faithfulness and loyalty to God alone.
We then come to another great fruit of the Spirit - meekness - (note not weakness) meekness is the opposite of arrogance, assertiveness and violence. It is positively to do with submission to God. Meekness has been described as strength under control. In classical Greek history, it is used of a spirited stallion - responsive and obedient to its rider's slightest touch. We recall from an earlier study that David manifested meekness during the long period of waiting, before, under God's direction he eventually was given the throne as king. In particular on the occasion when Saul was at his mercy while sleeping and David could have taken his life, but David wishing to comply with God's ruling would not raise his hand against the Lord's anointed. In meekness, he was prepared to wait for God's time.
The final example of the fruit of the Spirit is temperance - better rendered as self-control. In the life of the believer, it has to do with mastery over every sinful desire, impulse, appetite and longing. It enables a person to walk through this world completely in control of himself, so that he triumphs when others around him are falling. - this quality produced by the Holy Spirit spells victory.
Sadly, self-control was not always seen in the life of David and there are examples of his failings in this respect. Like him we must all recognise the weakness of the flesh in our own lives and be conscious of the warfare between the flesh and Spirit within us daily as we live the Christian life. For this warfare, the Apostle Paul reminds us in the Ephesian letter, God has provided a full armour. He says, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the Devil's schemes. Remembering as David discovered so often in his life that we prevail in the strength of the Lord.
As we look back over this series of studies on David's life, we have seen that from humble beginnings as the youngest so of a Bethlehem shepherd named Jesse, David rose to become Israel's greatest King. He established a dynasty out of which, according to God's plan the great Messiah, the Son of David who was Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. His career was one of romantic, colourful incidents and surprising contrasts. It is essentially a human story, illustrating the weakness as well as the strength of a character of unusual capacity.
I trust that we will all have benefited from this study of David - "The man after God's own heart."