David's Experience With Wisdom (Proverbs #16)

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Solomon is talking here. He said his father, David, said this to him. So these words are David’s words. Wise behavior characterized David’s life. Yes, we know about the sin. But that was not the main thing about his life.

Hearing requires you to at least be around the voice of wisdom. If you’re never exposed to wisdom’s voice then obviously there is no way to do this. Communication is successful when what is in the heart of one person comes out the mouth, is received in the ears of the intended recipient, and is placed in the hearer’s heart. Someone who’s lived some life and experienced things has some things in their heart that needs to be passed on. David is one of those men.

From living day to day life to promotion into glory (vss 6-9)

But this phrase shows up four times as the theme of this chapter: David behaved himself wisely (vss 5, 14, 15, and 30). Now, if God says something one time, we ought to pay attention and heed His word, but if He emphasizes something again and again, we really ought to pay attention to what He has said.

David’s work

David handled his duties with diligence (1 Samuel 18:5)
His readiness – David went out whithersoever Saul sent him. David was a young man who had already enjoyed much success in the Lord. At this stage in his life he had been anointed king by the prophet Samuel. He had already stood before the giant Goliath and emerged victorious. It would have been easy to have grown complacent and arrogant after such success. Many would have reached the point where they felt certain tasks were beneath them. David developed an attitude of readiness. He was prepared and willing to do whatever was expected of him.
His responsibilities – Saul set him over the men of war. David’s faith is translated into his work ethic. David gets things done. Truly, Christians ought to be the best employees there are.
His reputation – he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. As David behaved himself wisely he earned the respect of the people of Israel and even the servants of Saul. Let no man despise thy youth is what Paul said to Timothy. Give people a reason to respect you, not a reason to criticize you. Give people a reason to praise God instead of criticize the God you say you’re saved by.

David’s promotion (1 Samuel 18:14-15)

In verse 14 the LORD’s testimony of David is that he was wise in all his ways.
David handled fame with meekness (vss 12-16)
- His coming and going from the palace to the people was humble and lowly (vss 12-16).
- David embodied the meek in spirit, the poor in spirit.
David handled deceit with charity (vss 17-21)
- Saul cheats David in marriage. Saul lies about who David will be married to.
- But David doesn’t flinch. He finds a reason to be grateful. And it’s not something he just does so he’s not miserable. He is genuinely thankful to God.
David handled entrapment by going the extra mile (vss 22-27)
- Saul tries to get David killed by suggesting that he kill 100 Philistines within a certain time frame in place of a dowry.
- David does twice as much for king Saul.

David’s reputation (1 Samuel 18:30)

The real ingredients in wisdom, particularly the behavior of wisdom, is courage and humility. The Bible says David BEHAVED himself wisely. That means he DID things other people didn’t do. But not because they didn’t know to do them. When all of Israel was lined up to fight the Philistines and Goliath showed up every one of the Israelites knew what to do. But what prevented them from doing it, from BEHAVING wisely? Fear. The problem wasn’t that the next steps were unclear, it was that the next steps were scary. Faith in the LORD that breeds courage was needed.
Wisdom is also an aptitude, the ability to see more than someone else, or to see around corners others don’t see around.
David’s behavior was better than Saul’s servants.
David’s enemies feared him because of his wisdom.

Conclusion

His charge to Solomon in 1 Kings 2:1-4.
Solomon’s request in 1 Kings 3:5-10 seems to be the product of his dad’s advice.
James 1:5-8 – So God gives wisdom freely, so what is your responsibility to wisdom.