On our tour of Hebrews 11, we have studied several people who were highlighted by the writer as models of faith. Many of them activated their faith in a pivotal or critical moment in time in their life or in a crucial moment in the lives of God’s people. We know part of their stories, but we don’t necessarily have information on a large portion of their life. Today’s character, however, is one we have a lot of information about. We know about him as a young person and Scripture details his story as an emerging adult, his coronation as the King of Israel, and we know about his leadership over the course of many years. While he wasn’t perfect by any stretch, he was someone I believe we can look to, to understand how to exercise faith over the course of an entire life. The goal for all of us is not simply that we would have faith in a crisis, but that we would have an activated, steady faith over the course of our lifetimes.
In I Samuel 13:14, David was called a man after God’s own heart. God was pleased with David. Not because he was perfect, but because he pursued his relationship with God by faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
The exercising of faith is meant to become a pattern for life, not once-in-a-while thing. David served the Lord in faith. His musical ability was anointed by God. King Saul was soothed as David played the lyre for him. David’s leadership ability, something that was cultivated by simply leading sheep, was under God’s authority. God used David’s serving faith to develop him.
David battled in faith. Did you know he actually ran to the battle line when he went up against Goliath? He declared that he was coming in the name of the LORD, and then he took off running. No hesitation! That’s what faith does! It makes us courageous! God used David’s battling faith to develop him.
David trusted the Lord in faith. He looked to God for protection when people sought to destroy him. God used David’s trusting faith to develop him.
David waited on the Lord in faith. Even though he knew he was destined for the throne, he relied on God to move him into place at the right time. He didn’t try to kick doors open. He didn’t try to move people out of his way. He let God do the opening. He let God do the moving. God used David’s patient faith to develop him.
David confessed his sin by faith. He was vulnerable and transparent about his sin. He confessed it to the Lord in faith that God would take it from him. He came clean, and he did it without fear that God would reject him. He believed the God who had called him was the God who would cleanse him. God used David’s confessional faith to restore him.
You know the Apostle Paul gets a lot of press for writing many of the New Testament, but can we just acknowledge the emotional outpouring of raw, honest emotion and pure faith that is expressed in the Psalms of David? That man wasn’t afraid to show his emotions. He wasn’t afraid to admit his faults. He wasn’t scared to look weak. He knew his strength was found by resting in God. David had ups and downs like we all do, but David made the decision to stand in faith, even when he failed.
Do you need to start serving the Lord in faith? Do you need to battle in faith and quit letting the enemy taunt and intimidate you? Do you need to trust God in faith during some pressure-filled circumstance? In faith do you need to wait on God’s timing for something you are praying for? Do you need to confess your sin to the Lord today and believe God for forgiveness and a new start? No matter your age or stage in life, God is calling you to a deeper faith in Him, one that will sustain you for a lifetime!
