David had it figured out

King David lived quite the life.

He is known for one very bad thing and one very good thing.  He is known for committing adultery and then having the husband of his mistress murdered.  He is also known as having a heart like God’s heart.

He was a man of courage and boldness at a young age.

He is known as a man of weakness and impulse.

He is known for great military exploits.

He is known for having great compassion and sympathy.

He is known as a humble man.

At about fifteen years of age he is anointed to be the next king of Israel and he slays a giant in defense of the name of God.

He goes to fight for King Saul and wins numerous battles.  Instead of being grateful, Saul becomes paranoid.  He knows he is losing the kingdom, but cannot bear to let it go.  He makes personal attempts to take the life of David.

David goes on the run and is pursued relentlessly for eight years.  He has opportunities to slay Saul, but chooses to let him live as a token of good will.

He loses his great army and ends up with a group of four hundred men described as being in distress, discontentment and in debt.

While navigating this difficulty, David, these four hundred men and their families set up a village of their own.  One day day while out fighting, they return to find their homes burned and their wives and children kidnapped.

Now even the four hundred men are livid with David.  They speak of stoning him.

So while on the lam, hiding out in caves, pretending he is insane, supported only by a ragtag group of men who now want to kill him, we find this verse:

2 Samuel 30:6 – And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

What!?!?!  David encouraged himself?  He had nothing to be encouraged about.  Or did he.

Based on the life of David we understand one primary principle that can be seen in three ways.

The principle is that the only thing we have control over is our own response to difficulty.

We see in David’s life three ways this is proven.

1. David was not concerned of others’ treatment of him.
   1. When Eliab insulted him, he chose to not respond.
   2. He played harp for Saul even when Saul tried to kill him.
   3. He didn’t respond to the cussing out given him by Shimei.
2. David was only concerned with his treatment of others.
   1. He refused to be disloyal to Saul even when betrayed.
   2. He refused to kill Saul when given the chance.
   3. He was heartbroken over Absalom’s death even though he lost his life trying to steal David’s kingdom.
3. David was concerned with pleasing only God
   1. The world could hate him and if God was ok with him then he was ok.

Most of what this world and this life has to offer is out of my control, but one thing I control and that is me.  I can control my choices and my response to what happens to me.

Will I choose to live without concern over how I am being treated?

Will I choose to concern myself only with my responsibility toward others?

Will I be concerned with only pleasing God?

Our initial reaction may be that David allowed himself to be taken advantage of and become a doormat.

God said that he was a man after His own heart.