This week we started a new Bible study series looking at the life of David. David is one of the most beloved of Bible characters, probably remembered for two pivotal incidents, one involving a giant named Goliath, the other involving a married woman named Bathsheba, one at the beginning of his life, the other when he was a mature man and king over Israel. He features heavily in the historical books of the Old Testament (first appearing in 1 Samuel 16 and then becomes the main story throughout the rest of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, before dying in 1 Kings 2:10-11.) He is frequently referenced in the New Testament and, of course, was part of the human lineage of Jesus Christ (thus fulfilling God’s prophetic word that the Messiah would come from David’s line.) In so many ways, David has much to teach us and the fact he is called a ‘man after God’s own heart’ (Acts 13:22) points to the many spiritual lessons we can learn from his example and life.

It’s worth remembering, however, that David might appear to us on the scenes as a bolt out of the blue, a young shepherd boy who has six older brothers and two sisters, but he does not exist as a fully-formed human being! As we read about his life, we see how he was shaped by his family life and upbringing; we see his growth and development. This is reassuring to us, for we are all ‘works in progress’, as the saying goes. David shows us what it means to be human. We share in his sorrows and joys; we know his fears and hopes. The most characteristic thing about David is his relationship with God. It is this which ultimately defines him, and we do well to understand that it is our relationship with God which ultimately defines us. The question, as Casting Crowns point out in their song ‘Who Am I?’, is not so much ‘who am I?’ but ‘whose am I?’ (‘You told me who I am: I am Yours.’)

David is one individual in the Bible, but we see clearly that he is no island. He is born into a specific time, place and culture, as are we. He is shaped by family, friends and colleagues, as are we. He has the opportunity to respond to specific situations, as do we. Sometimes he triumphs magnificently; sometimes, he falls flat on his face. In this way, he is an archetype of humanity. Like Joseph and Joshua before him, he is a mirror to us, revealing faith, fear, despair, joy, exuberance, confidence, jealousy, generosity, duplicity, cunning, and every other human emotion possible. We do well to learn from the life of David: a real life anchored in historical reality but always reminding us of spiritual truths.

Tonight in our series ‘The Miraculous & The Mundane’ we looked at the transition in the New Testament from Jesus doing miracles in the power of God in the gospels and how the lives of ordinary believers were transformed by the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-21) We often expect Jesus to do miracles because He is the Son of God, but the truth is that He modelled for us what God intended man to be like and the book of Acts shows us God’s plan for His world: to work through ordinary people in extraordinary ways. Miracles are not simply historical records, but are ongoing today because God does not change.

Acts 2 shows us how ordinary followers of Jesus were transformed by the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 1:4-5 gave them Jesus’ command to wait for the gift promised by His Father. It was only when the Holy Spirit came on them with tongues of fire and a sound like a rushing wind that they were transformed into fearless witnesses to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Despite the miraculous signs of fire and wind, however, what actually happened was that the believers began to speak in other languages – which seems quite an ‘ordinary’ event in many ways. Edison once said, ‘Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.’ Miracles sometimes don’t look especially spectacular to us, but what happened here was that as people heard these ordinary Galileans telling the wonders of God in their own languages, they were startled and ready to listen to Peter’s preaching. God used this miracle to open people’s hearts and bring them to Himself.

For us to see miracles in our own lives, we need to earnestly desire the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in our lives. We need to ask God for this gift and wait patiently until He comes. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot ‘fire on all cylinders’, as the saying goes; we need His power and help to live and witness for God.

This morning Dave spoke on the subject of friendship, particularly looking at David and Jonathan as an example of friendship in God (1 Sam 17:57-18:4). Nowadays, social media can tell us we have many friends, but the reality is we can be very lonely too.

Saul is an example of someone who started really well but whose life ended in tragedy as he left God’s ways and was consumed by jealousy. Jonathan, his son, could also have been jealous of David’s anointing by Samuel and rise to popularity, but instead, he seems to have recognised a kindred spirit in David and respected God’s anointing on his life. He made a covenant with David and shows us that one of the key aspects to friendship is giving. Jesus, the ultimate friend, lay down His life for us; Jonathan gave freely to David. He cared more for David than for his own reputation and protected him when his father tried to kill David. He was heartbroken at his father’s actions, but wanted the best for his friend at all times.

Jonathan proved himself a true friend in need; as the proverb goes, ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed.’ Jesus is the greatest friend we could ever hope to have. He is there for us at all times, sticking closer than a brother, no matter what. Even if we don’t have friends like Jonathan, we have a friend beyond all others in Jesus.

Matt 6:25-27 reminds us of the pointlessness of worry. Even children can worry at times, but the story we heard tonight (Bob The Bird) reminds us that we all have a heavenly Father who loves us and looks after us, and therefore there is no need to worry. Bob the bird reflected on how people can worry about all kinds of situations (the farmer worrying about the weather and what would happen if his crop failed, the butcher worrying about the profitability of his business, the woman worrying about her pile of money and if thieves would steal from her.) It’s very easy to let our imaginations run away with us and leave us fearful and anxious, but this simple story reminded us that it’s not just birds who have a heavenly Father to care for them!

Life is a partnership with God and we need to learn to trust Him, no matter what our age. God is there to help, guide and protect us.