David as Ancestor of Jesus Christ

• An ancestor is someone from whom one's family originated long ago.

David as an Ancestor of Jesus Christ

• 2 Samuel 7:12-16 details God's promise to David that one of his sons would become king and build a temple.
  • This son's kingdom would be strong and last forever, with God as his father and he David's son.
  • God vowed to always have David's descendants and to never end his kingdom.
• The dynasty promised to David was fulfilled through Jesus Christ, his descendant.
• Matthew 1:1-2 refers to Jesus Christ as a descendant of David, who was a descendant of Abraham.
  • Lists ancestors from Abraham to King David: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Judah, then Perez and Zerah, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, and King David.
• Luke 1:32-33 details God’s promise to Mary.
  • She gives birth to a son who would be called the Son of the Most High God, establishing David as an ancestor.
  • This son, Jesus Christ, would be the king of Jacob’s descendants forever, with an unending kingdom.

Importance of David as an Ancestor of Jesus Christ

• Fulfilment of Prophecy: The Old Testament contains prophecies that the Messiah would descend from David's line.
• Legitimacy of Kingship: Jesus’ ancestry traced back to David establishes him as the "King of Kings,” due to David being Israel’s greatest king.
• Covenant Promises: God's covenant with David promised an everlasting dynasty, as seen through Jesus establishing an eternal kingdom.
• Human Connection: David's lineage gives Jesus a historical and familial context.
  • As David's descendant, Jesus will establish God's kingdom fully, bringing peace and justice (Revelation 22:16).

Importance of David as a King of Israel

• The people of Israel received God's favor when David was chosen as king.
• David was filled with God’s spirt throughout his reign after the time of anointing.
• He organized religion using temple music and composed psalms still used in church worship today.
• He organized a strong army.
• David was a strong army commander
• He brought God's covenant box from Abinadab's home to Jerusalem.
• Honored God by following His commands and desiring to build a temple
• David honored the Lord by offering sacrifices .

Characteristics of a Good Leader

• Good communicator: Effective communication ensures that followers understand the leader's policies and plans.
• Decisive: Leaders should be confident in their decisions.
• Empathetic: Good leaders understand what their followers are going through.
• Confident: Leaders should be sure of their actions and decisions.
• Courageous: Leaders should defend their decisions and their people
• Wise: Good leaders make good judgements on situations.

Qualities of a Good Leader Derived from King David's Leadership

• God-fearing: David always expresses his belief in God by consulting Him and His prophets before acting.
• Gratitude: King David always thanked God for his successes and favors.
• Loyalty: King David remained faithful to God and his people.
• Justice: He did not practice tribalism or nepotism.
• Humility: King David admitted his mistakes and accepted criticism from religious leaders.
• Kindness: King David forgave Saul and spared his life, even after Saul tried to kill him; he also forgave Absalom for killing Amnon.

Achievements of King Solomon

• He was a successful merchant who established trade ties with neighboring countries (Edom, Tyre, Arabia).
• He built a professional army with horse-drawn chariots.
• He appointed government officials for administrative duties.
• He developed diplomatic relations by marrying daughters of foreign kings (Egypt, Moab, Edom, Tyre).
  • Which helped Israel remain at peace.
• Solomon was wise and praised for praying to God, who granted his request.
• He built a temple for God which lasted seven years.
• Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple of Jerusalem.
• Solomon composed 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs for correcting, rebuking, and teaching.

Failures of King Solomon

• Solomon married foreign wives who worshipped other gods, disobeying God's warning against intermarriage.
• He built temples for the foreign gods worshipped by his wives.
• Solomon's wives made him worship these gods with the God of Israel, thereby breaking the second commandment.
• He introduced forced labor for his building projects (palace and temple).
• Solomon killed his half-brother, Adonijah who was his rival to the throne, thus committing murder.
• He practiced nepotism by exempting his tribesmen and Benjamin from forced labor.
• Solomon introduced high taxation, which burdened the Israelites.
• He valued himself more than God, spending seven years on the temple and thirteen on his palace.

Lessons Learnt from the Leadership of King Solomon

• Seeking wisdom is more important than seeking prosperity; King Solomon asked God for wisdom.
• Leaders should choose wise advisers, which King Solomon did to help him rule Israel.
• Bad company ruins good morals; although King Solomon was wise, his foreign wives led him to worship foreign gods.
• Leaders should exercise their authority with modesty and avoid oppressing their subjects, something King Solomon failed to do.

Qualities to Consider When Choosing Leaders

• Self-awareness: Leaders understand their strengths and weaknesses to establish the best leadership style.
• Open-minded and creative: Leaders are open to new ideas, possibilities, and perspectives.
• Flexible: Leadership involves adapting to change when needed.
• Responsible and dependable: Good leaders build confidence in their followers to support them during tough times and help them meet their goals.
• Patience: Good leaders persist on challenges without getting frustrated.