King David: A Real Man

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

That’s Psalm 23. A good man wrote it. This man was a king, warrior, friend, father, son, musician, prophet, and follower of God. I’m referring to King David. There are so many great moments of his life recorded for us. I often think about how he defeated Goliath. I’m so impressed with his faith in the Lord. The life of King David is a great example for men today. So many are confused about what it means to be a man. Society has changed what a man is supposed to be. That’s why we need to turn to God’s word.

As men, we can learn a lot from King David.

1. David loved the Lord. That’s what real men will do. Real men will submit to the true and living God. David did. He had faith in God and loved Him.

2. David wasn’t afraid to show his emotions. People today think that a man is a wimp if he shows emotions (like crying). I say that’s silly. Jesus wept. David wept. Read the book of Genesis and see how many times Joseph wept. Real men have no problem showing their emotions.

3. David was a leader. He solved problems (like defeating Goliath). He took action when it was needed. It takes courage to take action. Men, we need to be leaders in our homes.

4. David was skilled at many things. He was a musician, a king, a warrior, tended to the animals, etc. He was knowledgeable. He was smart. He did different things. As men, we need to have a variety of skills. We need to be knowledgeable when it comes to how things work.

5. David was not perfect. But he was able to own up to his mistakes. Many (including myself) think about his adultery, his poor decision of numbering the people, and a list of other sins. And yet, we often miss the fact that David repented of his sinful behavior, Psalm 32 and Psalm 51. That takes a lot of courage. Despite his mistakes, David kept going. As men, we will make mistakes. But we must acknowledge our sin, repent, confess, and continue to move forward.

6. David was a great friend. He was close to Jonathan. I’m convinced their relationship would make men uncomfortable today. Not because there was something wrong with it, but because David and Jonathan were able to express their friendship and love for each other. Many men have difficulty opening up to other men. David loved Jonathan. Jonathon loved David, 1 Samuel 18:1. As men, we need to learn how to be close with one another.

7. David was a student of God’s word. He had to make a copy of the Law for himself, Deuteronomy 17:18-20. He spent time on a regular basis in God’s word.

8. He was concerned for his family. In 1 Kings 2:1-4, when David was near death, he imparted words of wisdom to his son, Solomon. David wanted Solomon to follow God. David knew God’s word and shared it with his children. That’s what fathers should do. David was a man. Wouldn’t you agree? We need to teach the story of King David to our young boys. Men need to be reminded of King David. This special king provides us a great example to follow. Did he make mistakes? Of course, he did. Many of them had long-lasting consequences. But he was a man of God. He loved the Lord. That should be our goal as men. Let’s strive to be real men. Let’s draw closer to God. Let’s examine our hearts. Let’s lead our families and local congregations to heaven. Let’s help one another as men. Let’s be MEN.