David had disappointments galore as he fled from Absalom. Most people would have focused on those crushing disappointments and been overwhelmed with sadness, but David mysteriously experienced joy and a "river" of God's pleasures while aggressively taking his disappointments to the God who cares. This sermon shows how we too can "rejoice in the Lord always" (even in the midst of numerous disappointments) without adopting an unrealistic Pollyanna Christianity.
A Course in Practical Christianity, By King David
From shepherd boy to warrior king, David's life story is the story of sin, grace, and spiritual power at work in every area of life: Battles with giants. Leadership. Betrayal. Bad authorities. Sexual sin. Repentance. Spiritual warfare. Friendship and conflict. Rebellious kids. Politics. Relationships between men and women. Falling and redemption.
David's saga teaches us about just war, voting ethics, victim's rights, re-training your conscience, using imprecatory Psalms, how the demonic affects Christians, and how and when to practice civil disobedience. While Saul models how to be the impressive Christian-on-your-own-terms that God rejects, David shows us to live life — all of it — as a very-human man after God's own heart.