100:00:00,240 –> 00:00:01,020Global Dialogue200:00:01,020 –> 00:00:03,360The David Pick Lottery300:00:03,360 –> 00:00:05,740A man, after God’s own heart.400:00:05,740 –> 00:00:08,860And that doesn’t mean that David was perfect, far from it.500:00:08,860 –> 00:00:10,380He was strong willed.600:00:10,380 –> 00:00:12,760He was sometimes impulsive,700:00:12,760 –> 00:00:17,280and he both accomplished great things and in his life also.800:00:17,280 –> 00:00:20,020There were some great failures.900:00:20,020 –> 00:00:21,660But I want to frame the question then.1000:00:21,660 –> 00:00:26,379What does it mean to be a man, after God’s own heart?1100:00:26,379 –> 00:00:29,860Welcome to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith.1200:00:29,959 –> 00:00:32,520David Pick, so glad you could be with us today.1300:00:32,520 –> 00:00:34,119And Colin, we can’t leave a question1400:00:34,119 –> 00:00:35,220like that just hanging.1500:00:35,220 –> 00:00:36,459It really needs an answer.1600:00:36,459 –> 00:00:37,919We have a good answer.1700:00:37,919 –> 00:00:39,419Yeah four parts really, to what it1800:00:39,419 –> 00:00:41,380means to be a man, after God’s own heart.1900:00:41,380 –> 00:00:43,660And we’re going to see it in the Life of David.2000:00:43,660 –> 00:00:45,080It’s all about loving.2100:00:45,080 –> 00:00:47,799And that’s the first thing.2200:00:47,799 –> 00:00:50,099It’s about loyalty.2300:00:50,099 –> 00:00:51,220It’s about leading.2400:00:51,220 –> 00:00:53,680And these three things are accomplished by leaning2500:00:53,680 –> 00:00:55,020into the promises of God.2600:00:55,020 –> 00:00:56,840So we got four Ls here, but we got2700:00:56,840 –> 00:00:58,799to be able to get this clear so that we2800:00:58,799 –> 00:01:02,560can go after it, the pursuit of godly character2900:01:02,560 –> 00:01:04,320in a man of God.3000:01:04,320 –> 00:01:06,339And for men and for women who want3100:01:06,339 –> 00:01:08,699to be after God’s own heart here,3200:01:08,699 –> 00:01:11,480this is huge stuff of real importance.3300:01:11,480 –> 00:01:13,180Let’s not wait any longer, then.3400:01:13,180 –> 00:01:15,959We’re in to Samuel chapter 7 today.3500:01:15,959 –> 00:01:19,279As we begin a message, a man after God’s own heart.3600:01:19,279 –> 00:01:20,360Here is Colin.3700:01:20,360 –> 00:01:24,580I want to speak today, but four ways in which3800:01:24,580 –> 00:01:26,760we can reflect the heart of God.3900:01:26,760 –> 00:01:30,019And to speak today, as has been the theme in our service,4000:01:30,019 –> 00:01:34,059especially to the men of the church.4100:01:34,059 –> 00:01:38,199For the men, we’re going to face4200:01:38,199 –> 00:01:41,339four priorities for us to pursue.4300:01:42,720 –> 00:01:46,339For the women, let’s look at these4400:01:46,339 –> 00:01:49,459as four ways in which we can pray4500:01:49,459 –> 00:01:52,139for the men in your life.4600:01:53,099 –> 00:01:56,040David is described in the bible several times4700:01:56,239 –> 00:01:58,459as a man after God’s own heart.4800:01:58,459 –> 00:02:01,959And that description was first used by Samuel4900:02:01,959 –> 00:02:04,400when he told Saul, the first King of Israel,5000:02:04,400 –> 00:02:07,279that his kingdom would not continue.5100:02:07,279 –> 00:02:10,520And in First Samuel 13, in verse 14,5200:02:10,520 –> 00:02:12,100Samuel says to Saul,5300:02:12,100 –> 00:02:15,619the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart,5400:02:15,619 –> 00:02:20,619and he was referring to David who was soon raised up.5500:02:20,699 –> 00:02:22,899A man after God’s own heart.5600:02:23,660 –> 00:02:26,419Of course that doesn’t mean that David was perfect.5700:02:26,419 –> 00:02:27,259Far from it.5800:02:27,259 –> 00:02:28,860He was strong-willed.5900:02:28,860 –> 00:02:30,759He was sometimes impulsive6000:02:30,759 –> 00:02:34,759and he both accomplished great things6100:02:34,759 –> 00:02:37,660and in his life, also, there were some great failures.6200:02:37,660 –> 00:02:40,259So sometimes as we look over the life of David6300:02:40,259 –> 00:02:41,800as we’re going to today,6400:02:41,800 –> 00:02:44,259sometimes we’re learning from him by way of example6500:02:44,259 –> 00:02:46,919and other times we’re learning from him6600:02:46,919 –> 00:02:50,339by way of contrast.6700:02:50,339 –> 00:02:52,020But I want to frame the question then,6800:02:52,020 –> 00:02:56,779what does it mean to be a man after God’s own heart?6900:02:58,380 –> 00:02:59,880What does that look like?7000:03:01,199 –> 00:03:04,259And I want to give four answers to that question7100:03:04,259 –> 00:03:05,699from the life of David,7200:03:05,699 –> 00:03:07,860some by example, some by contrast,7300:03:07,860 –> 00:03:09,520all from the scriptures.7400:03:09,520 –> 00:03:12,119And so, I hope you’ll have your Bible in front of you7500:03:12,119 –> 00:03:15,279as we look at a number of passages today.7600:03:15,279 –> 00:03:18,860How can you be a man after God’s own heart?7700:03:19,860 –> 00:03:24,860Number one, be filled with God’s love.7800:03:25,460 –> 00:03:28,199I think this is the first thing to grasp about David,7900:03:28,199 –> 00:03:30,020this extraordinary man,8000:03:30,020 –> 00:03:32,979that he knew and experienced the love of God8100:03:32,979 –> 00:03:35,979in his own life, in a profound way.8200:03:35,979 –> 00:03:38,240He speaks in the Psalms, many times,8300:03:38,240 –> 00:03:40,940about his own love for God,8400:03:40,940 –> 00:03:43,139but he speaks far more often8500:03:43,139 –> 00:03:46,619about his experience of God’s love for him.8600:03:46,679 –> 00:03:49,179So he talks again and again about your love.8700:03:49,179 –> 00:03:52,539Your love is ever before me, Psalm 26.8800:03:52,539 –> 00:03:56,479Your love is better than life, Psalm 63.8900:03:56,479 –> 00:04:00,720Great is your love towards me, Psalm 86.9000:04:02,259 –> 00:04:07,100And when you experience God’s love in your own life,9100:04:07,100 –> 00:04:10,500it enables you then to love him9200:04:10,500 –> 00:04:15,339and it expands your capacity to love other people.9300:04:16,239 –> 00:04:17,820And I think it’s worth remembering9400:04:17,820 –> 00:04:20,279that there are really two kinds of love.9500:04:21,260 –> 00:04:24,220One is a response to attractiveness9600:04:24,220 –> 00:04:26,880in a person who is loved.9700:04:26,880 –> 00:04:29,100And of course, that’s easy.9800:04:29,100 –> 00:04:33,940It’s natural to respond to attraction, instinctive.9900:04:35,019 –> 00:04:38,220We all love the Chicago Bears,10000:04:38,220 –> 00:04:40,619but we love them more when they’re winning10100:04:40,619 –> 00:04:43,260because that makes them more attractive.10200:04:43,260 –> 00:04:45,019And the first kind of love10300:04:45,100 –> 00:04:48,220is the impulse by which we are naturally drawn10400:04:48,220 –> 00:04:50,779to that which is attractive to us.10500:04:51,660 –> 00:04:53,220Now this kind of love is a good thing,10600:04:53,220 –> 00:04:56,100but it is obviously unstable10700:04:56,100 –> 00:04:58,380because it depends on attraction.10800:05:00,940 –> 00:05:02,640But God’s love is different.10900:05:03,679 –> 00:05:05,980Do you ask the question, did God love us11000:05:05,980 –> 00:05:08,440because we were so attractive to him11100:05:08,440 –> 00:05:10,299that He became completely smitten with us11200:05:10,299 –> 00:05:11,799and just couldn’t help himself?11300:05:11,799 –> 00:05:14,920No, God loved us while we were still sinners,11400:05:14,920 –> 00:05:17,260while we were still his enemies.11500:05:18,279 –> 00:05:22,320God’s love is not a reaction to anything that is in us.11600:05:22,320 –> 00:05:24,459It is not a response.11700:05:24,459 –> 00:05:27,679It is an expression of everything11800:05:27,679 –> 00:05:29,980that is in the character of God.11900:05:30,980 –> 00:05:32,980So God’s love is love of a different kind.12000:05:32,980 –> 00:05:35,459It is not based on the attractiveness12100:05:35,459 –> 00:05:36,959of the one who is loved,12200:05:36,959 –> 00:05:41,179but it is based on the character of the one who loves.12300:05:41,179 –> 00:05:43,540Now, there is obviously a huge difference12400:05:43,559 –> 00:05:45,260between these two things.12500:05:46,160 –> 00:05:48,179The first is natural,12600:05:48,179 –> 00:05:50,859the second is spiritual.12700:05:50,859 –> 00:05:52,339The first is easy,12800:05:52,339 –> 00:05:54,000how do you get the second?12900:05:55,059 –> 00:05:56,820Well, the only way you can get the second13000:05:56,820 –> 00:05:59,660is if the love of God comes to live in your heart.13100:05:59,660 –> 00:06:04,059And that’s what happens when you believe the gospel.13200:06:05,459 –> 00:06:08,420God demonstrates his own love for us in this13300:06:08,420 –> 00:06:09,779that while we were still sinners,13400:06:09,779 –> 00:06:10,980Christ died for us.13500:06:11,119 –> 00:06:13,920And when we come to believe and embrace the gospel13600:06:13,920 –> 00:06:16,399the promise that we’re given in Romans chapter five13700:06:16,399 –> 00:06:18,899is that the love of God is poured out13800:06:18,899 –> 00:06:21,200into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.13900:06:23,500 –> 00:06:24,320Now let’s face it,14000:06:24,320 –> 00:06:26,059there are many marriages that are struggling14100:06:26,059 –> 00:06:29,160because the first kind of love isn’t working.14200:06:29,160 –> 00:06:30,179It’s unstable,14300:06:31,220 –> 00:06:34,799traction grows and diminishes, changes, moves.14400:06:35,899 –> 00:06:39,880And you cannot sustain stable relationships14500:06:39,920 –> 00:06:41,619on the first kind of love alone.14600:06:41,619 –> 00:06:42,519You need what?14700:06:42,519 –> 00:06:44,359The second kind.14800:06:44,359 –> 00:06:46,000The kind that is not based14900:06:46,000 –> 00:06:48,640on a kind of response to the attractiveness15000:06:48,640 –> 00:06:50,000of the one who is loved,15100:06:50,000 –> 00:06:52,540but rather is an expression of character15200:06:52,540 –> 00:06:54,260on the part of the one who loves.15300:06:54,260 –> 00:06:55,100In other words,15400:06:55,100 –> 00:06:57,440that the love of God has in some real sense15500:06:57,440 –> 00:07:00,160come to be incarnated to be born15600:07:00,160 –> 00:07:02,959within your own soul and within your life.15700:07:05,320 –> 00:07:08,739So if we are to be men after God’s own heart,15800:07:10,000 –> 00:07:12,839I wanna suggest that this is where we have to begin.15900:07:12,839 –> 00:07:16,359Be filled with the love of God.16000:07:16,359 –> 00:07:19,000There is nothing more foundational16100:07:19,000 –> 00:07:22,839for healthy, stable families than this,16200:07:24,519 –> 00:07:26,299that we have learned God’s kind of love16300:07:26,299 –> 00:07:31,299because we are experiencing it in our own souls16400:07:31,359 –> 00:07:34,679as those who have come to believe the gospel16500:07:34,679 –> 00:07:37,040and receive the Spirit.16600:07:37,040 –> 00:07:38,760Now, we see this in David’s life16700:07:38,799 –> 00:07:40,279in many, many wonderful ways16800:07:40,279 –> 00:07:44,760because he knew God’s love, your love.16900:07:44,760 –> 00:07:48,000He had an expanded heart towards other,17000:07:48,000 –> 00:07:50,279even towards his enemies,17100:07:50,279 –> 00:07:52,359extraordinary grace being shown17200:07:52,359 –> 00:07:57,200to Saul and to Mephibosheth, a descendant of Saul’s.17300:07:58,399 –> 00:08:00,519And the remarkable way in which David17400:08:00,519 –> 00:08:02,679was able to express love,17500:08:02,679 –> 00:08:05,799even in situations where you couldn’t base it17600:08:06,079 –> 00:08:08,859on attraction was a reflection17700:08:08,859 –> 00:08:12,040of his knowledge of the love of God17800:08:12,040 –> 00:08:13,079in his own life.17900:08:14,239 –> 00:08:15,799Here’s the foundation then,18000:08:15,799 –> 00:08:17,720you want to be a man after God’s own heart,18100:08:17,720 –> 00:08:19,679be filled with the love of God18200:08:19,679 –> 00:08:23,440that comes as you believe the gospel18300:08:23,440 –> 00:08:26,079and does the love of God is poured out18400:08:26,079 –> 00:08:29,079into your heart by the Holy Spirit.18500:08:29,079 –> 00:08:31,040We’ve got to pause the message briefly there,18600:08:31,040 –> 00:08:33,059but we’ll be back very shortly.18700:08:33,159 –> 00:08:36,380The message is called, A Man after God’s Own Heart,18800:08:36,380 –> 00:08:39,299and it’s part of our series, Godly Character.18900:08:39,299 –> 00:08:40,500And if you tuned in late19000:08:40,500 –> 00:08:42,380or if you have to leave before the end,19100:08:42,380 –> 00:08:44,780you can easily catch up or go back and listen again19200:08:44,780 –> 00:08:46,419by coming to our website,19300:08:46,419 –> 00:08:50,140that’s at openthebible.org.uk.19400:08:50,140 –> 00:08:50,979Back to the message,19500:08:50,979 –> 00:08:53,400we’re in 2 Samuel, chapter 7,19600:08:53,400 –> 00:08:55,059here again is Colin.19700:08:55,059 –> 00:08:56,659A man after God’s own heart.19800:08:56,659 –> 00:09:01,020Number one, be filled with God’s love.19900:09:01,039 –> 00:09:03,619Number two, to be a man after God’s own heart,20000:09:03,619 –> 00:09:07,320be loyal to your wife.20100:09:07,320 –> 00:09:08,799Now here’s an interesting thing.20200:09:08,799 –> 00:09:11,119When it comes to loyalty,20300:09:11,119 –> 00:09:14,260David did better with his friends20400:09:14,260 –> 00:09:15,700than he did with his family.20500:09:17,159 –> 00:09:19,380He had a deep loyalty to Jonathan,20600:09:20,380 –> 00:09:24,739he had an extraordinary loyalty to Saul.20700:09:24,739 –> 00:09:27,700He had an intense loyalty20800:09:27,859 –> 00:09:31,320to his own group of 400 fighting men20900:09:31,320 –> 00:09:33,979who also returned that great loyalty to him.21000:09:35,140 –> 00:09:36,820So intense loyalty to his friends21100:09:36,820 –> 00:09:38,799and even in Saul’s cases enemy,21200:09:40,500 –> 00:09:43,000but he didn’t do so well when it came to his wife.21300:09:44,419 –> 00:09:47,099It was common of course for Kings in those days21400:09:47,099 –> 00:09:51,059throughout the ancient world to have many wives.21500:09:51,059 –> 00:09:52,099But did you know by the way21600:09:52,099 –> 00:09:56,539that God had specifically commanded in the Old Testament21700:09:56,539 –> 00:10:00,380that Israel’s King was to be different in this regard?21800:10:00,380 –> 00:10:02,859If you turn to Deuteronomy 17,21900:10:02,859 –> 00:10:06,059and verse 17 you’ll see it very clearly there22000:10:06,059 –> 00:10:11,059Deuteronomy 17, and verse 1722100:10:11,140 –> 00:10:14,500God says about the King in Israel,22200:10:14,500 –> 00:10:19,500he must not take many wives22300:10:20,460 –> 00:10:24,700or his heart will be led astray.22400:10:24,900 –> 00:10:27,859So it was common practice for Kings to be polygamous22500:10:27,859 –> 00:10:29,960in the ancient world.22600:10:29,960 –> 00:10:32,039But God said in the Book of Deuteronomy,22700:10:32,039 –> 00:10:33,900for Israel’s King, it must be different.22800:10:33,900 –> 00:10:37,159He must not take many wives as is the common practice.22900:10:37,159 –> 00:10:41,799Simply, David did not keep that commandment.23000:10:43,260 –> 00:10:47,559He married Michal, the daughter of Saul.23100:10:47,559 –> 00:10:49,840He married Abigail after the death23200:10:49,840 –> 00:10:52,940of her first husband Nabal,23300:10:53,460 –> 00:10:56,460and he married of course Bathsheba23400:10:56,460 –> 00:10:59,340after the death of her husband Uriah.23500:11:00,340 –> 00:11:02,099Then if you look in Second Samuel23600:11:02,099 –> 00:11:04,059in chapter five in verse 13,23700:11:04,059 –> 00:11:06,280you’ll see that that wasn’t the end of it.23800:11:06,280 –> 00:11:09,440Second Samuel chapter five in verse 13.23900:11:09,440 –> 00:11:11,099After David left Hebron,24000:11:11,099 –> 00:11:15,219he took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem24100:11:15,219 –> 00:11:20,219and more sons and daughters were born to him.24200:11:21,020 –> 00:11:24,320So we have to say that David was not loyal to his wife.24300:11:25,659 –> 00:11:27,500This was an area of his life24400:11:27,500 –> 00:11:29,659that frankly, was out of control24500:11:30,739 –> 00:11:32,780and you cannot read the story of David24600:11:32,780 –> 00:11:35,219without seeing that it hurt him,24700:11:36,239 –> 00:11:37,979that it hurt his family24800:11:38,900 –> 00:11:41,780and that it hurt the very kingdom of God.24900:11:41,780 –> 00:11:43,679It’s one of the massive failures25000:11:43,679 –> 00:11:45,900by any standards in David’s life.25100:11:46,739 –> 00:11:50,619It’s interesting and I think very sobering too,25200:11:50,619 –> 00:11:52,780that Solomon, David’s son,25300:11:52,780 –> 00:11:54,619who came to the throne after him25400:11:54,619 –> 00:11:56,580followed his father’s example25500:11:56,580 –> 00:11:58,859except that he took it to all kinds of extremes.25600:11:58,859 –> 00:12:00,659He seemed to have lost it completely.25700:12:00,659 –> 00:12:04,539We’re told in first Kings 11, verse three,25800:12:04,539 –> 00:12:09,539that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines.25900:12:09,539 –> 00:12:10,719I mean, by any standards.26000:12:10,719 –> 00:12:13,659That is extreme.26100:12:13,659 –> 00:12:14,500700?26200:12:16,739 –> 00:12:17,900Now, see the principle.26300:12:19,219 –> 00:12:22,440The indulgence that the father allows in his own life26400:12:22,440 –> 00:12:26,159is exaggerated and multiplied in the life of his son.26500:12:26,159 –> 00:12:27,280That’s the principle.26600:12:29,599 –> 00:12:32,640David’s failure in this area26700:12:32,640 –> 00:12:37,140reappeared in his son’s life on a massive scale.26800:12:38,239 –> 00:12:39,500It’s very sobering.26900:12:42,380 –> 00:12:44,700Now, for some of us, of course,27000:12:44,739 –> 00:12:47,099that is not good news because you immediately think27100:12:47,099 –> 00:12:50,859about your dad, the model that’s been set for you27200:12:50,859 –> 00:12:52,940in past generations.27300:12:53,940 –> 00:12:56,820And you say, well if the failures of the fathers27400:12:56,820 –> 00:12:59,320are going to be repeated in my life27500:12:59,320 –> 00:13:01,739then where does that leave me?27600:13:01,739 –> 00:13:04,820Let me say honestly the patterns of your father’s life27700:13:04,820 –> 00:13:06,979will probably indicate particular points27800:13:06,979 –> 00:13:08,479of temptation for you.27900:13:09,599 –> 00:13:11,260Naive if you don’t realize that.28000:13:12,080 –> 00:13:16,659But by the grace of God, the hope of the gospel28100:13:16,659 –> 00:13:19,460is that you can be the one to break the pattern.28200:13:21,859 –> 00:13:24,859And I want to challenge men in the church this morning28300:13:24,859 –> 00:13:27,179who have followed an ungodly example28400:13:27,179 –> 00:13:30,260as you look at previous generations in your own life28500:13:30,260 –> 00:13:33,059who look back with regret that a good model28600:13:33,059 –> 00:13:35,960was not set for you in one area or another.28700:13:35,960 –> 00:13:39,460You can be the one to break the chain.28800:13:39,460 –> 00:13:41,700You can be the one to break the pattern28900:13:43,179 –> 00:13:44,580by the grace of God.29000:13:45,500 –> 00:13:48,320So set this as a priority.29100:13:49,539 –> 00:13:54,539Be loyal to your wife in your deeds29200:13:55,419 –> 00:13:58,099and in your thoughts.29300:13:59,340 –> 00:14:03,700Set that as a priority because it matters.29400:14:03,700 –> 00:14:06,140It matters to you, it matters to your children,29500:14:06,140 –> 00:14:08,280and it matters to the kingdom.29600:14:09,039 –> 00:14:12,440And all of that we learn from the life of David.29700:14:15,119 –> 00:14:19,799Someone might be saying, yeah, well, loyalty, that’s hard.29800:14:19,799 –> 00:14:21,239You don’t know my wife.29900:14:22,159 –> 00:14:25,119She isn’t the woman I married 20 years ago.30000:14:25,119 –> 00:14:28,119Well, I mean, top prize for stating the obvious.30100:14:28,119 –> 00:14:30,580She isn’t the woman I married 20 years ago.30200:14:31,599 –> 00:14:36,200Listen, you did not marry an image.30300:14:36,200 –> 00:14:37,719You married a person.30400:14:38,700 –> 00:14:40,020A person.30500:14:41,760 –> 00:14:46,239And God commits not to images but to persons.30600:14:47,239 –> 00:14:49,119And reflecting the heart of God30700:14:49,119 –> 00:14:52,900means loyalty in commitment to a person.30800:14:54,440 –> 00:14:57,219I will never forget the first time I was in India.30900:14:58,260 –> 00:15:03,260And an older man in one of the remote village tribes31000:15:04,359 –> 00:15:07,919that we were visiting, we got into a conversation31100:15:07,960 –> 00:15:10,619through translation about the whole subject31200:15:10,619 –> 00:15:14,159of marriage and family life and why it was31300:15:14,159 –> 00:15:16,039that it was so different in the West31400:15:16,039 –> 00:15:19,020from a rural environment in India.31500:15:21,000 –> 00:15:22,320And he said this to me,31600:15:23,919 –> 00:15:28,460in the West, you marry the woman you love.31700:15:29,619 –> 00:15:34,599Here in the East, you love the woman you marry.31800:15:35,599 –> 00:15:38,280That may have been an overstatement,31900:15:38,280 –> 00:15:39,700but it’s very powerful.32000:15:41,039 –> 00:15:46,039Men, let us learn to love the woman you have married.32100:15:50,200 –> 00:15:51,700Be filled with the love of God.32200:15:51,700 –> 00:15:53,340You see how these two things go together,32300:15:53,340 –> 00:15:54,219you say how am I to do that?32400:15:54,219 –> 00:15:55,580You’ve gotta be filled with the love of God.32500:15:55,580 –> 00:15:57,859You cannot do this apart from Christ.32600:15:59,000 –> 00:16:00,580Be filled with the love of God,32700:16:00,580 –> 00:16:03,559be loyal to your wife, number three,32800:16:03,580 –> 00:16:06,640a man after God’s own heart will lead32900:16:06,640 –> 00:16:08,359in a way that refreshes others.33000:16:08,359 –> 00:16:13,099Lead in a way that refreshes others.33100:16:13,099 –> 00:16:16,559Now, by any standards, David was an extraordinary leader.33200:16:16,559 –> 00:16:19,359And in his last words that I’d like us to turn to33300:16:19,359 –> 00:16:22,599in 2 Samuel chapter 23,33400:16:22,599 –> 00:16:26,099he talks about the marks of effective leadership.33500:16:26,099 –> 00:16:29,6592 Samuel chapter 23, please turn to this.33600:16:30,580 –> 00:16:34,340And David is speaking prophetically here,33700:16:34,340 –> 00:16:37,140and he’s speaking about leadership.33800:16:37,140 –> 00:16:39,4002 Samuel 23 and verse three.33900:16:40,859 –> 00:16:45,340When one rules over men in righteousness,34000:16:46,419 –> 00:16:49,659when he rules in the fear of God.34100:16:49,659 –> 00:16:50,979So, he’s talking about leadership.34200:16:50,979 –> 00:16:52,640He’s talking about the way in which34300:16:52,640 –> 00:16:54,359authority is exercised,34400:16:54,359 –> 00:16:56,940the way in which leadership is given in a nation34500:16:56,940 –> 00:17:00,020or indeed in a family or in any other sphere.34600:17:00,900 –> 00:17:03,659When one rules over other men in righteousness,34700:17:03,659 –> 00:17:06,099when he rules in the fear of the Lord,34800:17:06,099 –> 00:17:07,260what is it like?34900:17:07,260 –> 00:17:08,500Two descriptions.35000:17:09,660 –> 00:17:13,380He is like the light of morning35100:17:13,380 –> 00:17:15,699at sunrise on a cloudless morning,35200:17:17,099 –> 00:17:20,239and like the brightness after rain35300:17:20,239 –> 00:17:22,660that brings the grass from the earth.35400:17:22,719 –> 00:17:27,500These are two beautiful pictures of effective leadership.35500:17:28,420 –> 00:17:29,300What’s it like?35600:17:29,300 –> 00:17:33,739It’s like the light of morning at sunrise.35700:17:33,739 –> 00:17:36,000That’s a picture of hope obviously.35800:17:36,000 –> 00:17:39,500Here has been this long, dark night,35900:17:39,500 –> 00:17:41,540but the spirits of everyone are lifted36000:17:41,540 –> 00:17:44,099when the sun comes up.36100:17:44,099 –> 00:17:46,500The sun rises on a cloudless day,36200:17:46,500 –> 00:17:47,619and David says,36300:17:47,619 –> 00:17:50,260that’s what effective leadership looks like.36400:17:50,260 –> 00:17:51,939It brings hope to people36500:17:51,939 –> 00:17:53,880who have been in great darkness.36600:17:55,199 –> 00:17:57,339That’s your role within the family,36700:17:58,219 –> 00:18:00,400where the family is in great difficulties36800:18:00,400 –> 00:18:01,819that the role of the leader36900:18:01,819 –> 00:18:03,900is to be able to shine light37000:18:03,900 –> 00:18:08,219so that there is hope for those God has given to you.37100:18:09,479 –> 00:18:12,040And of course, that is what David did for Israel.37200:18:12,040 –> 00:18:16,219He inherited a loose coalition of tribes37300:18:16,219 –> 00:18:18,780with little loyalty to each other,37400:18:18,780 –> 00:18:21,180barely able to defend themselves.37500:18:21,219 –> 00:18:22,900And what he did was he led them37600:18:22,900 –> 00:18:25,500to become a great and strong nation.37700:18:25,500 –> 00:18:26,839It wasn’t easy.37800:18:26,839 –> 00:18:29,040But his leadership in Israel37900:18:29,040 –> 00:18:34,040was like the lights of sunrise on a cloudless morning.38000:18:34,380 –> 00:18:37,780It brought hope, it brought strength38100:18:37,780 –> 00:18:39,239for the people he led.38200:18:40,420 –> 00:18:41,560And then this other picture.38300:18:41,560 –> 00:18:43,540Effective leadership is like the rain38400:18:43,540 –> 00:18:46,099that brings grass from the earth.38500:18:46,099 –> 00:18:49,900The beautiful picture, it’s a picture of refreshing.38600:18:50,900 –> 00:18:53,239In other words, good leadership in the family38700:18:53,239 –> 00:18:56,699causes your wife and your children38800:18:56,699 –> 00:19:00,880to flourish, to grow.38900:19:01,939 –> 00:19:06,900It’s like the grass that comes up after the rain.39000:19:08,979 –> 00:19:10,540And again, it’s interesting that David39100:19:10,540 –> 00:19:14,140gave better leadership in his work39200:19:14,140 –> 00:19:15,959than he did in his family.39300:19:15,959 –> 00:19:17,579It’s fascinating how often you find39400:19:17,939 –> 00:19:19,540this pattern with David.39500:19:20,400 –> 00:19:22,000Now I think that that is a real challenge39600:19:22,000 –> 00:19:26,160for us to embrace and to respond to today.39700:19:26,160 –> 00:19:28,959If you look at 1 Samuel and chapter 22,39800:19:28,959 –> 00:19:31,439that’s 1 Samuel and chapter 22,39900:19:31,439 –> 00:19:34,160you’ll see there what he did well.40000:19:34,160 –> 00:19:36,319Extraordinary piece of leadership.40100:19:36,319 –> 00:19:39,739When David was in the cave of Adullam,40200:19:39,739 –> 00:19:42,540we’re told that a group of people came to him.40300:19:42,540 –> 00:19:46,939They were all those who were in distress,40400:19:46,959 –> 00:19:50,719in debt, and discontented,40500:19:50,719 –> 00:19:52,880and they gathered around him and he became their leader.40600:19:52,880 –> 00:19:55,520There were about 400 with him.40700:19:55,520 –> 00:19:58,839That’s a pretty desperate team to work with, isn’t it?40800:19:58,839 –> 00:20:00,219You’re the leader, you’re in a cave,40900:20:00,219 –> 00:20:01,619and what do you get?41000:20:01,619 –> 00:20:03,780All those who are distressed,41100:20:03,780 –> 00:20:05,780a bunch of guys who are in debt,41200:20:06,660 –> 00:20:09,020and all of them with a common factor41300:20:09,020 –> 00:20:11,199of being discontented.41400:20:11,199 –> 00:20:13,660Now, what can you do with a mutly crew like that?41500:20:14,099 –> 00:20:17,020Well, the genius of David’s leadership41600:20:17,020 –> 00:20:18,520is that he takes this mutly crew41700:20:18,520 –> 00:20:20,660that comes to him in the Cave of Adullam41800:20:20,660 –> 00:20:22,459and forges them into an army41900:20:22,459 –> 00:20:25,300of fighting men who are fiercely loyal to him.42000:20:26,140 –> 00:20:27,819That’s leadership.42100:20:27,819 –> 00:20:31,579What does it mean to be a man after God’s own heart?42200:20:31,579 –> 00:20:34,500What does it mean to be a godly woman?42300:20:34,500 –> 00:20:36,699In this series, we’ll meet David,42400:20:36,699 –> 00:20:38,979a man who is far from perfect,42500:20:38,979 –> 00:20:41,359and we’ll meet a woman in Proverbs 3142600:20:41,719 –> 00:20:44,800who, at first glance, does appear to be perfect.42700:20:44,800 –> 00:20:46,319You’ll find the challenge you need42800:20:46,319 –> 00:20:48,359to be a godly man or woman42900:20:48,359 –> 00:20:50,280when you listen to this two-part series43000:20:50,280 –> 00:20:52,839called Godly Character.43100:20:52,839 –> 00:20:54,699So Colin, in today’s broadcast,43200:20:54,699 –> 00:20:58,060we saw two images from The Bible on leadership.43300:20:58,060 –> 00:21:01,219You said number one is a light at sunrise,43400:21:01,219 –> 00:21:05,959and number two, rain that causes the grass to flourish.43500:21:05,959 –> 00:21:10,060How does this kind of leadership play out in family life?43600:21:10,060 –> 00:21:12,060I just love the way that God talks to us43700:21:12,060 –> 00:21:13,800in pictures in the Scripture,43800:21:13,800 –> 00:21:17,339and they convey more than a thousand words, don’t they?43900:21:17,339 –> 00:21:18,619But think about that image44000:21:18,619 –> 00:21:21,979of light at sunrise, the morning.44100:21:21,979 –> 00:21:23,099It’s a picture of hope.44200:21:23,099 –> 00:21:24,939There’s been all this darkness,44300:21:24,939 –> 00:21:26,619and now the light comes,44400:21:26,619 –> 00:21:28,579and that’s a picture of hope.44500:21:28,579 –> 00:21:32,000And so what that’s speaking to us about44600:21:32,000 –> 00:21:35,979is that effective leadership in the family brings hope.44700:21:35,979 –> 00:21:39,500I need to be someone who brings the light of hope44800:21:39,579 –> 00:21:41,420to my wife when she’s discouraged,44900:21:41,420 –> 00:21:43,140my kids when they’re down.45000:21:43,140 –> 00:21:45,219That’s part of what it means to lead.45100:21:45,219 –> 00:21:47,579And then that other beautiful picture,45200:21:47,579 –> 00:21:50,300rain that causes the grass to flourish,45300:21:50,300 –> 00:21:51,599the picture of refreshment,45400:21:51,599 –> 00:21:53,060that’s all about encouragement.45500:21:53,060 –> 00:21:55,699Here’s the grass that’s become dry.45600:21:55,699 –> 00:21:58,560And here are folks within the family45700:21:58,560 –> 00:21:59,959who’ve become discouraged.45800:21:59,959 –> 00:22:01,959It’s been hard, they’re dry.45900:22:01,959 –> 00:22:03,780And the rain that refreshes,46000:22:03,780 –> 00:22:05,180that’s a picture of encouragement.46100:22:05,180 –> 00:22:07,339So God is calling me, then,46200:22:07,339 –> 00:22:10,140to be a person who brings hope,46300:22:10,140 –> 00:22:12,260who brings encouragement.46400:22:12,260 –> 00:22:14,400And the question is, when I go home this evening,46500:22:14,400 –> 00:22:16,099is that what I’m going to do?46600:22:16,099 –> 00:22:18,900Does Dad, coming home, feel like light?46700:22:18,900 –> 00:22:19,979Or does it feel like, you know,46800:22:19,979 –> 00:22:21,780here’s a guy with a bear with a sore head46900:22:21,780 –> 00:22:23,900and he’s bringing gloom and darkness?47000:22:23,900 –> 00:22:26,400Do I refresh, do I bring encouragement?47100:22:26,400 –> 00:22:28,619That’s part of what it means to lead.47200:22:28,619 –> 00:22:31,819And just these pictures are so helpful to keep in mind47300:22:31,819 –> 00:22:33,979and to say this is what God’s calling me to do.47400:22:34,020 –> 00:22:37,540Well thanks, Colin, that’s a real challenge to us.47500:22:37,540 –> 00:22:40,140Open the Bible is able to stay on this station47600:22:40,140 –> 00:22:43,060and the internet and available as a podcast47700:22:43,060 –> 00:22:46,180because of the generous financial support of our listeners.47800:22:46,180 –> 00:22:48,020That’s people like you.47900:22:48,020 –> 00:22:50,500And if you already give to support the work,48000:22:50,500 –> 00:22:52,300thank you so much.48100:22:52,300 –> 00:22:53,660If supporting Open the Bible48200:22:53,660 –> 00:22:55,739is something you’d like to start doing,48300:22:55,739 –> 00:22:58,780this month, we’re delighted to offer a free gift.48400:22:58,780 –> 00:23:01,060Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham48500:23:01,060 –> 00:23:02,380to tell us about it.48600:23:02,380 –> 00:23:03,459Thanks, David.48700:23:03,459 –> 00:23:04,540Yes, this month,48800:23:04,540 –> 00:23:07,060we are really excited to be giving away48900:23:07,060 –> 00:23:09,099Colin Smith’s newest book49000:23:09,099 –> 00:23:10,660and the final book49100:23:10,660 –> 00:23:13,819in the Fly and Drive Through the Bible series,49200:23:13,819 –> 00:23:16,339Hike through the Bible.49300:23:16,339 –> 00:23:19,859This book takes you on a guided 50 session journey49400:23:19,859 –> 00:23:22,579through the whole storyline of scripture.49500:23:22,579 –> 00:23:25,260It’s a little bit like taking a steady hike49600:23:25,260 –> 00:23:28,060with a trusted pastor by your side.49700:23:28,060 –> 00:23:29,780Colin helps you navigate49800:23:29,780 –> 00:23:32,020the rugged terrain of the Old Testament,49900:23:32,099 –> 00:23:35,020pause at places of grace and promise,50000:23:35,020 –> 00:23:36,900and then climb the peaks50100:23:36,900 –> 00:23:40,300with the glory of Jesus Shines, most clearly.50200:23:40,300 –> 00:23:43,219Each chapter is short and accessible50300:23:43,219 –> 00:23:44,939with simple reflection questions50400:23:44,939 –> 00:23:47,060to help you apply what you’re learning,50500:23:47,060 –> 00:23:48,619whether you read it on your own50600:23:48,619 –> 00:23:50,380or with a small group.50700:23:50,380 –> 00:23:52,339I also particularly like the fact50800:23:52,339 –> 00:23:54,020that at the end of each chapter,50900:23:54,020 –> 00:23:56,699there is a short verse to memorise.51000:23:56,699 –> 00:23:58,819If you’ve enjoyed Fly Through the Bible51100:23:58,819 –> 00:24:00,459or Drive Through the Bible,51200:24:00,459 –> 00:24:01,859this final instalment51300:24:01,900 –> 00:24:03,180completes the journey,51400:24:03,180 –> 00:24:05,060helping you see how all51500:24:05,060 –> 00:24:06,540of Scripture fits together51600:24:06,540 –> 00:24:08,140as one great story.51700:24:08,540 –> 00:24:10,060And we would love51800:24:10,060 –> 00:24:13,300to send you a copy for free this month51900:24:13,300 –> 00:24:15,339when you set up a new direct debit52000:24:15,339 –> 00:24:17,260of at least £552100:24:17,260 –> 00:24:20,900or give a one-off gift of at least £5052200:24:20,900 –> 00:24:22,060to support the ministry52300:24:22,060 –> 00:24:23,619of Open the Bible UK.52400:24:24,300 –> 00:24:26,500And with Christmas just around the corner,52500:24:26,500 –> 00:24:29,060I think it would be a lovely treat52600:24:29,060 –> 00:24:30,859in a really encouraging way52700:24:30,859 –> 00:24:33,780to begin the new year in God’s Word.52800:24:33,780 –> 00:24:35,900Just don’t forget to leave your address52900:24:35,900 –> 00:24:37,619when you donate so that we can make sure53000:24:37,619 –> 00:24:38,739we can post your gift.53100:24:39,219 –> 00:24:40,540Well we’d love to send you53200:24:40,540 –> 00:24:42,459Colin’s new book when you set up53300:24:42,459 –> 00:24:43,619a new direct debit53400:24:43,619 –> 00:24:46,099of £5 per month or more53500:24:46,099 –> 00:24:49,459or a one-off gift of £50 or more this month.53600:24:49,979 –> 00:24:52,020Full terms and conditions online53700:24:52,020 –> 00:24:53,099at our website53800:24:53,099 –> 00:24:55,819OpenTheBible.org.uk53900:24:55,819 –> 00:24:57,380and you can give online.54000:24:57,979 –> 00:25:00,300Don’t forget to leave your name and address54100:25:00,300 –> 00:25:01,819so we can send you your gift.54200:25:02,859 –> 00:25:05,140For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith54300:25:05,140 –> 00:25:06,420I’m David Pick54400:25:06,420 –> 00:25:08,339and I look forward to being with you again54500:25:08,339 –> 00:25:09,339next time.54600:25:19,060 –> 00:25:21,140Does leading come more naturally to you54700:25:21,140 –> 00:25:23,060at work or at home?54800:25:23,060 –> 00:25:25,420We’ll discover important keys54900:25:25,420 –> 00:25:26,819to leading at home.55000:25:26,819 –> 00:25:29,219That’s next time on Open The Bible.