KING DAVID'S JOURNEY

KING DAVID'S JOURNEY

 

I recently listened to a teaching by Charles Simpson that was given at CFNI in Dallas Texas back in the mid 70's, based on the life of David. He divided it into 4 parts, based on places that David had lived in during his journey from the time of his anointing to be king, until finally being crowned. His journey compares to our spiritual journey from the new birth to the completion, when we receive our resurrected bodies, and are joined to our heavenly bridegroom. Then we will spend eternity as His companion in ruling and reigning!

 

David was anointed by Samuel in Bethlehem (1 Sam 16:1), but it was some 20 years later that he finally became king over the nation of Israel. David was "faithful in the natural", until the right time to advance to his next assignment. This next place he found himself in was a cave in Adullam, hiding from the jealous wrath of king Saul. While he was there, people who were distressed with various needs were attracted to him, and he became the captain of some 400 men. Here he proved himself "faithful to meet needs". (1 Sam 22:1-2). His next move was to Hebron, which means covenant relationships. Here his band of followers were nearly ready to stone him after their families were taken captive by enemy raiders while they were off to a battle. But David encouraged himself in the Lord, and after they had recovered their wives and children, they repented and realized that David was "faithful in relationships". The final stage of his journey was to Jerusalem, which became known as the City of David. Here he proved himself to be "faithful in ruling".

 

These four stages in David's journey, can be compared to the stages in our spiritual journey as followers of Jesus. First we are born again into God's family, and start out as baby believers. Like a natural baby there is a certain time when we need others to care for us, and teach us how to do things for ourselves. Then we need to prove ourselves "faithful in natural things", like David did in Bethlehem. Next comes our Adullam experience where we find ourselves able to minister to others in need. Here we can prove that we are "faithful to meet needs". Then comes the stage that many of are in now, that of realizing the need of forming covenant relationships with other fellow followers of Jesus, and learn how to be "faithful in relationships". This stage is absolutely necessary to prepare us for ruling with Jesus, which is yet future, but we must be prepared. Jesus was "born to rule", and we are "born again to rule with Him"! (Rom 5:17) "---will reign in life through the one Jesus Christ".This is all part of our growth in spiritual maturity, until we become mature sons and daughters of our Father God! This has always been God's intention from the beginning of time, to have a mature "Bride" for His Son Jesus Christ. This is what the True Church that Jesus said He would build (Matt 16:18) should look like, and will have to become before the Father will allow Jesus to come back to receive her!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer