Unlikely Hero: The Power Of Praise

 

Series Summary

David has been described as a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). But as we read through the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, as David enters the narrative of Israel's history, David was unknown. He was young. He was a shepherd. He was overlooked. He was unlikely. But God pointed him out to Samuel and said, "David is my choice. He's the next king. And he's the one I will use to build the family line from which the Messiah will one day come." But David was a very unlikely choice. He failed, and he failed often. Bathsheba... Absalom... The census... And yet God describes him as a man after his own heart. Why? David was chosen by God because of his character. Character doesn’t mean perfection. David was far from perfect. But David always pursued the Lord. David maintained his character, no matter what. All the way to the point of repentance when necessary. This summer, we will look at several events that take place in the life of David: His calling. His victories. His friendships. His failures. His legacy. We will look at the life of David. But David is not the main character. The main character is Jesus. What we will see in David is a life that foreshadows Christ. And we will see how we can better reflect Christ in our own character, and in our own lives.

Sermon Summary

In Psalm 34, David pens some powerful words about being thankful and giving God praise for what he has done in our lives. Praise and thankfulness are often tied together in the Bible, even though they are two distinct things. Praise is directed toward who God is; gratitude is directed toward what he has done. Even so, they are often paired together, and they go hand in hand. As David writes Psalm 34, he gives us several reasons why we should praise God. While he wrote these things several centuries ago, they are still incredibly applicable for us today. What are you thankful for? What are you praising God for today?