LIVING TO FULFIL GOD’S WILL DESPITE OPPOSITION

Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 22:1,6-8 David was a man recognised by God. Israel, neighbouring nations, future generations, foes, friends, enemies and supporters also knew him as a man of no mean reputation and honour. After a thorough x-ray of his past, present and future, God said, “...I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will”. His life, call, character, concept, consecration, commitment and divine revelation about him showed he lived to fulfil God’s will despite opposition. He was opposed and persecuted, and faced danger like no other man in his time; he even suffered terrible consequences of his own moral failures; yet, he fulfilled the will of God for his generation. David enjoyed divine favour, forgiveness, faithfulness, faith, fruitfulness, fulfilment and fellowship. And the New Testament Scripture revealed that after his earthly life and service for God, he went to heaven. His God-glorifying life provides useful lessons on accomplishing divine purpose amidst opposition, hatred, harassment and hostility. His victory over Goliath was a one-time event; how he daily swam against the tide of life-threatening harassments and danger until he ascended the throne and fulfilled “all” the will of God, will guide present-day believers on how to overcome challenges, opposition and personal shortcomings and live a fulfilled life to the glory of God.
 1. DAVID’S ASSURANCE OF A FORGIVEN LIFEPsalms 32:1,2; 51:1-12; 103:1-3,12; 16:8; 4:1-4; 108:1,7,13; 110:1 David’s confession that, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” reveals that he experienced the blessedness of forgiveness, cleansing and conversion. Prior to being forgiven, he knew and acknowledged his transgressions in his prayer of repentance and faith in God’s mercy. Depending only on God for forgiveness and cleansing, his passionate plea to Him was: “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin... and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation...” (Psalm 51:2,9,10,12). Every sinner needs to urgently pray for forgiveness like David. God granted his request and he received assurance of salvation that reflected in his praise to Him who “forgiveth all” iniquities. Everyone who is saved receives assurance that he is no longer under condemnation for past sins. Having obtained forgiveness, David consistently concentrated on God and His word, remained committed and set apart for Him through godly living and reverential fear. He had a fixed purpose of heart to rejoice in God’s salvation and be valiant in serving Him. As he continued to abide in the Lord, he received divine revelation not only on happenings on earth but also what transpired in heaven. David was obviously born as a sinner like the rest of humanity but he was graciously forgiven, converted, justified, cleansed, transformed and made holy and ready for heaven. The grace God bestowed upon him is still available for everyone who will wholeheartedly seek Him today.
 2.   DAVID’S ACCOMPLISHMENT IN A FRUITFUL LIFE1 Samuel 18:14,15,28,30; 1 Kings 17:2,3; Jeremiah 36:19,26; Matthew 2:13,14; 10:23; 2 Samuel 3:1; 5:10; 1 Chronicles 11:9,10; 1 Kings 15:5; Isaiah 55:3-5 David was accomplished because he “behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him”. He became uniquely different and isolated from a pack of others in honour and glory because of his wise behaviour. Though he enjoyed the divine presence, he knew he must exercise God-given wisdom to stay alive to fulfil divine purpose by taking to his heels when Saul hunted him. Elijah also was not presumptuous. He was a prophet of fire who had the ability to pray for the supernatural to happen but was wise to obey God’s directive to “hide thyself by the brook Cherith” from Ahab, the wicked king of Israel. Prophet Jeremiah served God during the reign of another murderous king, Jehoiakim who burnt the Scripture and sought to kill him. God’s wisdom manifested in the counsel of the princes to Baruch, Jeremiah’s servant, to “Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be”. And when the king commanded that they should be arrested, “the LORD hid them”. When Christ was born, God instructed Joseph through an angel to “flee into Egypt” and escape being killed by Herod the king. Christ’s command, teaching, directive, instruction, counsel and admonition to New Testament believers is, “when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another...” (Matthew 10:23). David was able to accomplish much because he lived and served with the wisdom of God.
Another secret of David’s accomplishment is the divine presence that made him to continually wax stronger. “So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him” (1 Chronicles 11:9). He knew the Lord as a teenager and lived a god-fearing life which manifested in sparing of Saul’s life when he had the opportunity to revenge. He obeyed the Lord, kept His commandments and ruled over Israel for forty years. All these were possible “Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite” (1 Kings 15:5). Though he committed adultery in his adult life, he promptly repented and was restored to fellowship with God. He bore divine discipline for his sin of adultery that brought reproach to God’s name, faced great opposition and emerged victorious. The New Testament Scripture affirms that he was a great man of faith. God is still willing to grant the penitent sinner or backslider forgiveness and victory over sin through faith in Christ.  
 3. DAVID’S ALPHABET OF A FULFILLED LIFE1 Samuel 16:13; 18:14; Psalms 27:1-3; 37:4-6; 1 Samuel 23:2-4; 25:28; 1 Chronicles 29:1-3; 1 Samuel 24:4,5; 30:19-25; 1 Kings 11:34; Psalms 18:1-3; 63:1-8; 1 Samuel 17:34,35; 2 Samuel 5:25; Psalms 55:1,17; 39:1-4; 37:7-11; 27:1-4,8; 2 Samuel 22:1-3; Psalms 19:7-12; 19:10,11; 25:4,5,21; 139:1-4,23,24; 40:6-8; 27:4; 16:8; 131:1 David’s fulfilled life reveals the secret of enjoying divine favour, constant victory and spiritual enablement for accomplishing great things for God. He was Anointed of the Spirit; Behaved wisely in all things; Confessed and confided in God; Delighted in God; Enquired of the Lord; Fought only the battles of the Lord; Gave sacrificially to the Lord; possessed a Heart that was tender before the Lord and Ignored unscriptural counsel to kill Saul. This inspired psalmist and king, Judged His men fairly; Kept the commandments of God; Loved the Lord; Meditated often on His word; Neglected no duty because of danger; Obeyed the Lord and all His commands and Prayed often to God in times of danger and peace. This great warrior was Quiet before the enemy; Rested in the Lord in spite of pressures; Sought the Lord with all his heart; Trusted the Lord that He would fulfil His promise; Understood his errors and sought for cleansing; Valued salvation and God’s word above everything else. The son of Jesse Waited patiently on the Lord; X-rayed his motives in God’s presence; Yielded himself to God to do all His will unreservedly; and Zeroed in on the essentials of life without distraction. Thus, the Scripture testified that he fulfilled divine purpose for his life in his generation despite opposition. Like him, we must forget past moral failures by seeking God’s forgiveness and cleansing, and thereafter commit to accomplishing His purpose for our generation with full assurance that He will continue to preserve as well as grant us victory over opposition, persecution and obstacles till the end.