How Many Gospels

Sermon #1040 The Forbearance of David

Despite his faults and glaring failures, no Old Testament character more profoundly captures the imagination of all ages than does David, the shepherd, psalmist, and King. We admire his devotion to his lonely, menial, shepherding duties, slaying a bear and lion when they threaten his flock. David’s defeat of Goliath, the Philistine giant of Gath, inspires us to face the giants in our lives. David’s inspired biography highlights several leadership qualities: faith, humility, courage, and loyalty. This morning, we explore a lesser-known trait – an interpersonal quality -- in one described “as a man after God’s own heart.”

What should have been a great celebration for all Israel, ignited instead bitter hatred in King Saul toward one of his most devoted subjects. 1 Samuel 18:6-9, “…[W]hen David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine … the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, … and said: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.’ Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?’ So Saul eyed David from that day forward.”

Unprovoked, Saul repeatedly threw his spear at David, saying, "I will pin David to the wall!" Thankfully, his aim was poor and David always escaped.

Jealousy is peculiar. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 18:14-16, “David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.”

Certain the Philistines would kill David, Saul offered him his daughter in marriage in exchange for David "fighting the LORD's battles." David fought for God, not trophies. He didn’t need in bribed. Initially, David declined the idea as a nobody, insisting he was unworthy of the King’s daughter. Saul countered that killing 100 Philistines would demonstrate his worthiness. David went the extra mile and killed two hundred Philistines and brought visible evidence. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 18:28-29, “Thus Saul … knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him; and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David's enemy continually.” I’m reminded of 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” The fear OF THE LORD is, of course, the beginning of knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 111:10), but fears and insecurities war against the soul and make us vulnerable to the devil’s bidding. This certainly is true King Saul. Irrational fears and jealousy are at the root of much of the world’s meanness.

Thankfully, as the text says, “the Lord was with David” -- the Lord had David’s back. We learn in 1 Samuel 19:1, “Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David; but Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted greatly in David.” Jonathan warned David to hide for his life and pled with his father not to “sin… against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been VERY good toward you.” Jonathan reminded his father that David risked his life in “killing the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?" Saul agreed with Jonathan’s flawless logic, but the respite did not last.

David honored his commitment to defend Israel, slaughtering the Philistines in battle. Instead of commending David, though, King Saul tries to kill him again -- even invading the home of David and 1 The Forbearance of David by Brett Hickey, sermon #1040 2 of 5 his own daughter, Michal. In 1 Samuel 20:30-35, Saul explodes with insults directed at his son because Jonathan refused to join in the hunt for David.

In 1 Samuel 21, Saul kills women, children, and eighty-five of the Lord’s priests in his jealous rage over their innocent association with David. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 22:14, “Saul sought [David] every day [in the wilderness], but God did not deliver him into his hand.”

Finally, in 1 Samuel 24, Saul gets word that David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi. So, Saul takes three thousand chosen men to help eliminate David. Saul’s search backfires. The text says in 1 Samuel 24:3, “Saul went in to [a cave] attend to his needs.” Saul was exposed to David and his men who were waiting for him in the back of the cave. David’s men told him, “This is it! Take him! Today is the day the LORD spoke of saying, ‘I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’" Amazingly, though, instead of taking King Saul out on the spot, David stealthily came up close enough behind him to cut off a corner of his robe -- and felt bad about doing that! If we didn’t know of David’s previous military record, we might think him a coward. In fact, David was the bravest man alive. He also restrained his men who were chomping at the bit, saying in 1 Samuel 24:6, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD."

David followed Saul out of the cave and called out to him, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked back, David kneeled in respect and insisted, “Surely you see I’m not out to get you. Even when ‘the LORD delivered you into my hand’ and I was ‘urged to kill you,’ I refused.” David then showed Saul the corner of his robe as evidence for his story and said in 1 Samuel 24:12, “Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. Who are you chasing -- A dead dog? A flea?” In other words, “Let’s let the Lord settle the matter; I’m leaving it up to him. Why concern yourself with someone as insignificant as I am?”

David managed to hit a soft spot behind the calloused, vengeful crusader. Saul lifted up his voice and wept, saying in 1 Samuel 24:17-19, "You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. …for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.”

Snapshots of David’s faith and courage impress us and merit emulation, but, David also models forbearance. Forbearance is an often overlooked leadership quality. Alongside King Saul’s glaring weakness, David’s forbearance stands out. King Saul was heady, headstrong, rash or reckless. The Spirit condemns rash and reckless behavior in 2 Timothy 3:4. The King James Version word “heady” here (literally, “falling forward”) means “precipitate in action and in passion,” “reckless” (Green’s Literal Translation/New American Standard/English Standard Version), “rash” (Thayer) or “inconsiderate” (Clarke). Barnes says those guilty of this failure “would be ready to do anything without deliberation, or concern for the consequences. They would engage in enterprises which would only disturb society, or prove their own ruin.” Saul’s recklessness alienated him from his family, damaged his influence, and weakened the Kingdom. When a leader (or any Christian, for that matter) is headstrong, rash, or reckless today, they, too, bring unrest to their family, congregation, and perhaps even beyond.

We see similar demonstrations of David’s forbearance in his interactions with Nabal (1 Samuel 25), Shimei (2 Samuel 16 and 19) and perhaps even in David’s handling of Absalom’s rebellion. 2 The Forbearance of David by Brett Hickey, sermon #1040 3 of 5

The story we noticed from 1 Samuel 18-24 contrasts King Saul’s rabid, unwarranted, and unrelenting attacks on God’s faithful servant with David’s forbearing response to Saul’s spiteful, rash, and reckless behavior. God’s leaders, and really, all Christians must exhibit this leadership trait. Think of it, even the Almighty, All-knowing God is forbearing. W. L. Walker writes of “Forbearance” in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: “‘Forbearance’ (…‘a holding back’) is ascribed to God (Romans 2:4, "the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering"; Romans 3:25 … the King James Version "remission" (margin "passing over") of sins, that are past, through the forbearance of God"); in Philippians 4:5, to epieikes is translated by the Revised Version "forbearance," margin "gentleness"; it is a Christian grace in likeness to God. "Forbearing" (The King James Version, margin) is substituted by the Revised Version for "patient" (… "holding up under evil") in 2 Timothy 2:24.” Again, we read in 2 Peter 3:15, “consider that the longsuffering (forbearance – RSV) of our Lord is salvation.” Were it not for God’s willingness to hold back his wrath toward our sins, NONE of us could stand before Him.

The apostle Paul claimed this leadership quality -- gentleness, holding back, or holding up under evil -- in defense of his own faithfulness in 2 Corinthians 6:3-6, “We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: …6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering (forbearance—RSV), by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love…” Thayer has for this Greek word (makrothumia) “patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance; … forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs.” J. W. McGarvey explains that this word involves “patiently enduring [man’s] misconstructions and insults, and …constantly returning good for evil.”

We find forbearance associated with the earthly high priest in Hebrews 5:2, “He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.” The word here (Metriopatheo) means “to be affected moderately or in due measure; to preserve moderation in the passions, esp. anger or grief; of one who is not unduly disturbed by the errors, faults, sins of others, but bears them gently.” David demonstrated this trait, King Saul did not; and hence, David’s legacy is bronzed; Saul’s legacy is tarnished.

We expect and appreciate forbearance in God, the high priest and the apostles, but please understand, God requires forbearance of ALL Christians, and especially in elders, evangelists, and teachers. The American Standard Version of Philippians 4:5 reads “let your forbearance be known to all men…”

The Spirit tells us in Ephesians 4:1-2, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, bearing with one another in love” New King James, the English Standard Version, and Young’s Literal Translation all read, “…forbearing one another in love.”

Similarly, we find in Colossians 3:13, “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” NKJV A. T. Robertson says the meaning here is "holding yourselves back from one another." Adam Clarke has “Avoid all occasions of irritating or provoking each other.” Burton Coffman “…It does not mean docile, easy to handle or merely ‘cooperative.’ It refers to moral authority and power issuing in restraint as far as human temptations are concerned.” Self-restraint is about the best synonym for forbearance in our everyday conversation.

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The apostle Paul makes it clear how important and widespread this quality should be found among God’s people in 2 Timothy 2:24-26, “And the Lord's servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.” Gentleness, meekness, and forbearance are all concerned with a similar attitude and approach toward those who are in error. In this late date of the existence of the Lord’s church, with the education we have received and the knowledge of Jesus’ life and the Scriptures we should be aware that it is not always necessary (nor rarely beneficial) to use a hammer to swat a fly off another man’s forehead!

The apostle was bold and uncompromising, but even he wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2:7, “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.” How do you get any more tender and gentle than that? Barnes writes on this verse: “Instead of using authority, we used only the most kind and gentle methods to win you and to promote your peace and order...”

The Spirit does not suggest that we ignore or promote wrongdoing; not at all. The Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown Commentary writes of this word, “gentle,” is “Greek, ‘in bearing with the faults of others’ [TITTMANN]; [mild not wild—BH] one, too, who is gentle (though firm) in reproving the erroneous opinions of others (2Ti 2:24)”

Again, the Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown commentary explains that this is the “spirit in which we accept God's dealings with us without disputing and resisting; and also the accepting patiently of the injuries done us by men, out of the thought that they are permitted by God for the chastening and purifying of His people (2 Samuel 16:11; compare Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:25; Titus 3:2).”

This is clearly not a sign of weakness since two of the Bible’s strongest, most courageous men implemented this approach; David in the Old Testament; the apostle Paul in the New Testament.

The bottom line: we want to conduct ourselves in such a way that we not only get ourselves to heaven, but we help as many other people get to heaven as possible. Of course, the greatest example of forbearance is Jesus when He was on the cross. His example of self-restraint amidst the shame, the physical torture, and the verbal assaults he endured should give us confidence in taking the same approach when we are wounded by others.

We have focused primarily on the forbearance of David and the obligation of the Christian to demonstrate forbearance, but let us remember, in closing, the blessing of God’s forbearance. We do not merit His patience; our sin deserves immediate retribution. Are you, by the life you are living, despising the forbearance of God? The Holy Spirit tells us in Romans 2:4, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Knowing how long and how many times God has held back when you demonstrated rebellion, irreverence, and indifference, dare you continue live unrepentant? In doing so, you spurn his goodness and forbearance. Continue in this and time will run out. Won’t you repent and obey the gospel today?

Stay with us after our song for a final word and how you can get a copy of this message.

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We are glad you joined us this morning. We hope you will watch the program every Lord’s Day and then join us for worship at one of the congregations listed shortly. Call or write for a copy of #1040, “The Forbearance of David” Please visit LetTheBibleSpeak.com to watch videos, hear podcasts, and read transcripts of three hundred Bible-based sermons. You may also request a free six lesson Bible study by mail. Go to our group page on Facebook for a daily Scripture and commentary. We close with the words the apostle Paul issued in Romans 16:16, “the churches of Christ salute you.” Until next week, goodbye and God bless!

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