Series: David: King of Hearts “A Heart for Family”

Series: “David: King of Hearts” Sermon: “A Heart for Family”

We have been talking about a guy in the Bible name David.

I think Hollywood would have loved David. He was handsome, charming, a political genius, a great warrior, yet he was poetic and wrote a bunch of songs. He didn’t shy away from how he felt at all.

Because despite all of the good qualities I mentioned above, he was wounded and made decisions out of those wounds that hurt a lot of people. And he also had an eye for the ladies. You’ll see. We have family favouritism, a broken engagement, a forced marriage separation, an affair, a horrific violation that was ignored, a death of a child, lack of discipline, backstabbing, murder, – we have it all today.

Now, if you are wondering why in the world are we looking at this guy to talk about family? I would say you ask good questions! I’m actually going to let Sally Lloyd-Jones, author of the Jesus Storybook Bible answer that for us.

“Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn’t do…But the Bible isn’t mainly about you and what you should be doing. It’s about God and what he has done.”

“Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you’ll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren’t heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid and run away. At other times they are downright mean.”

“No, the Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne – everything – to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life! You see, the best thing about this Story is – it’s true. There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.”

So, David isn’t a hero for us to copy, but he is part of larger story that points to Jesus, and that larger story will show us that there is hope for families. So, like I said, I read all 66 chapters on David, so I am going to jump in and give you the tea. His life is juicy!

David’s beginning with his father and King Saul.

David and the events surrounding Goliath.

David and all of his wives.

David and Bathsheba.

David’s daughter Tamar.

David and Absalom.

Now you may be asking, I didn’t see a lot of happy endings here, why are you so sure that there is hope for my family? Remember, the Bible isn’t a book of heroes for us to copy.

There is something else that happened in David’s life that you should know about. A promise was made to him; from God to David. David didn’t ask for it; the promise came to him. Here’s the promise:

1 Chronicles 17:10-14 (NASB)
“I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.”

With a flat reading of these verses, it sounds like when David passes away that Solomon will build a great temple for God, be favoured, and be remembered forever. But, remember, the Bible is telling one Big Story. The story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them. Remember, David is part of this larger story.

Here is what I suggest this promise means. David did have a son succeed him and through that blood line came Jesus. And all through the New Testament, Jesus is called Son of David. Jesus is who the verses are talking about. Jesus is who will establish a kingdom forever.

The other beautiful thing I see in this promise is “I will be his Father and he will be my son.” In those ancient near east times, this was the language of adoption, so what these verses imply is that we are adopted into the beautiful, perfect, unbroken relationship our Heavenly Father shares with His Son Jesus with the Holy Spirit. We are part of God’s family. We are part of God’s family.

And we are part of God’s family, not because of ourselves, but fully because of God.

Ten times, ten times in these verses I see God say that this is something He does. And in my red Bible at home there’s a note saying that the original language in this passage “stresses divine loyalty to such an extent that the guarantee of succession is not predicated upon the loyalty of the son”. Like we read earlier, this is about God and what he has done. And what he has done is he has brought us into his family – forever.

So, God took a wreck of a family and promised to forever establish them into the kingdom of God and line which the great rescuer – Jesus – came. This promise is also for us. We too have been engrafted into the family of God.

David had to look forward to the promise.
We get to look back on the promise.

David had to anticipate the promise.
We get to remember the promise.

We too are officially and forever part of God’s family. You are part of God’s family.

If you aren’t the family favourite – there is hope, you are part of God’s family and you are his favourite. Look back to last week’s sermon and learn how to strengthen yourself in the Lord.

If you are lonely for family – there is hope, you are part of God’s family and have never lived an unloved moment in your life. Go back to the beginning and see how God is looking for lovers.

If you have undealt with wounds, dysfunction, or unhealthiness – there is hope, you are part of God’s family and He functions in the most healthy way and you walk with him, work with him, and watch how he does it. Go back to a Heart of Resilience and hear how to heal your heart.

If your family doesn’t believe in you and you don’t feel seen by them. If there is jealously and comparison – there is hope, you are part of God’s family and He believes in you and is always with you. Submerse yourself in the message, God looks on the heart and David the Giant Slayer.

If you had an engagement or marriage go sideways – there is hope,
you are part of God’s family and there is only perfect union there.
Put a heart of patience on repeat.

If you are the one who has made a mistake or is responsible for the hurt in your family, there is hope, you are part of God’s family, and He offers unlimited forgiveness and complete access to His Presence. Keep listening to a heart of worship.

If you have experienced great tragedy or abuse – there is hope for your family, you are part of God’s family and His grace reaches further than your pain. He won’t leave you where you are. He will bring you to a safe place of healing. Soak in the past two messages.

There is hope. There is hope for you family. There is hope for your family because you are part of God’s family and He is with You. He has fully equipped you. God is in it for the long haul. God will never give up on you. He will never give up on your family. He is for you. He is for you. He is for you. For a thousand generations. God is always faithful. Always. When you fail, God is faithful. When others fail, God is always faithful. God never fails. And He will meet you where you are – even if it is not where you planned to be. Even if it is not where you want to be. There is hope. There is hope for your family.