Riverside Community Church

A Nobody to a Somebody to a Fugitive to a King

2 Samuel 2 (NIV)                      Saul is dead

In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered. 2 So David went up there … 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.

The men of Judah came and anointed David’s head most likely with oil, and said ‘Ok you’re the king’. I doubt they even had a crown or a scepter. This lowly coronation of David compared to all the pomp and ceremony of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation stand in stark contrast. But I ask which coronation was greater, which had the greater impact on the entire world and which had the greater influence & impression throughout the world’s time & history.                   DAVID

Why? Because it is the Holy Land, and it contains God’s chosen people, because from David’s seed came the Messiah, Jesus Christ. And of His Kingdom there shall be no end. Much of the Bible was written there and happened there. And one day Christ will return as King of Kings and put His foot down upon that land.

King David, A NOBODY TO A SOMEBODY TO A FUGITIVE TO A KING

A shepherd to a king in waiting, to running for his life, to a king.

We are gathered around the King’s table, this communion table, to remember Jesus, King of Kings and we are here by invitation from Christ himself and we are here because we too are of royal descent, like David, royalty. We are children of the King Himself.

 

1 John 3:1

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

In many ways we reflect David’s life. God took a nobody, I’m a nobody, brought me to Himself anointed my life and yours, if you are a true believer,  anointed my life with His spirit and even though I am a stranger is this foreign land, my real home is heaven to come, I’m like a fugitive in this dark world, one day I will reign with Christ my King. Until heaven comes we are invited to the King’s table as His children, royal children of the King of Kings.

 

John 1:11-13 (NIV)

11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Here is another reference to our royalty

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

What privilege we have, what high estate we have obtained through Christ’s death and our faith in Him. Chosen people, royal priesthood, God’s special possession, children of God.

We remember Christ’s death in particular at communion but we also need to remember what we have gained and what we have become because of Christ our King. This morning I simply want you to know your royal standing, that you are child of the King. Be glad in this special truth. Our challenge to us royal people is that we need to live up to our royal status, to live our lives to reflect our King in thought, word and deed!!!

The scene is set: as Jesus approaches and enters Jerusalem just prior to His crucifixion, he is riding on a donkey, the people are waving palm branches and are shouting. What are they shouting?

Mark 11:10

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Yes, David, the shepherd, the fugitive, the King. From the lineage of king David comes the messiah, the anointed one, the Saviour, comes Jesus Christ.

We read the men of Judah “… came and anointed David King over the tribe of Judah”. You’ll note that he was appointed King over the tribe of Judah, he was not anointed King over all of the Holy Land, over all the tribes: just Judah. David’s work of uniting all the tribes was before him, he would have many more battles and struggles to unite the entire kingdom and other battles to subdue the surrounding foreign nations. He would also run for his life again when Absalom, David’s son, tried to usurp his throne. Although David became royalty, the Lord’s chosen one, the day he was anointed, troubles and trials, struggles & scrapes, plights and predicaments lay before him.

We are the same: We come to Christ for salvation, we become God’s children, royalty for sure but trouble, struggles  and trials lie before us on our earthly journey, and we try to conquer the land, our lives, to become more like Jesus.

Life is not a rose garden, if that is your expectation as a Christian, you will be severely disappointed. Rather have this expectation of the Christian life:

“That as I go through life’s struggles, that each day I am conquering more land, I’m becoming more the person God wants for me, becoming more like Christ, the King of Kings.” I’m His child, royalty for sure. So be a conqueror.

David writes a Psalm depicting God as the King, mighty in battle, entering a conquered city and the gates and doors are to open up to this King. This conquering King is the one we follow as His royal children battling with Him

Psalm 24   

7 Lift up your heads, you gates;
    be lifted up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord strong and mighty,
    the Lord mighty in battle.

Royal children of God, warriors of the one most High, battle on, victory is secure as we follow and obey and fight, because The Lord is mighty in battle. Amen.