1 Samuel 16-17

1 Samuel 16:1-13 – David Chosen as King

For a long time Samuel mourned for Saul’s rejection as king.  Then the Lord said that’s enough.  It’s time to move on, because He has chosen another to be king.  Samuel was to go to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem, because one of his sons had been chosen.  He was to take a heifer to be sacrificed and ask Jesse to join him.  Then the Lord would show Samuel what to do.  So Samuel consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

Jesse had 7 sons who were brought before Samuel, but the Lord said none of them were the chosen one.  He told Samuel to not look at their appearance or height.  The Lord doesn’t look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart.  Then Jesse’s youngest son, David who was tending sheep was brought to Samuel.  He was ruddy with handsome features.  The Lord said this is the one.  Samuel anointed David with oil in the presence of his brothers and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord was on David with power.

Do you look for those perfect looks and personality?

Principle:  God looks at the heart not the outward appearance.

1 Samuel 16:14-23 – David Served Saul

“Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.” – 1 Sam. 16:14.  Let me clarify this.  God never commits evil, but He can use evil whether it’s through nature, human actions or spiritual beings to accomplish His purposes.  However, we cannot blame our suffering on God’s punishment.  Sin has entered our world in every form.  Suffering will remain a part of our lives as long as we are alive or until Jesus returns.

In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came on a person temporally for a particular situation, but in the New Testament the Holy Spirit was much better.  When you become a believer, the Holy Spirit comes to you and will never leave.

Saul’s servants saw that he was tormented by this evil so David was brought into the palace to play his harp to soothe Saul and make him feel better.  Saul and David became friends and whenever the evil spirit came on Saul David would play his harp giving Saul relief and the spirit would leave him. 

David was humble and willing to serve as God called him.  He was patient and obedient.

Where has God called you to do special work?

What is keeping you from serving Him?

Principle:  God prepares and gives His children power to serve.

1 Samuel 17 – David Slays Goliath

Philistines continue to harass the Israelites.  They gathered on top of the hillside and the Israelites on the other hillside.  They never attack Israel.  Then one day a champion Philistine, Goliath who was a great warrior standing 9 feet tall stood and shouted at the Israelites to send someone out to fight him.  He wore bronze armor and helmet.  He said whoever wins the other will be the others servants.   Goliath continued to shout day after day at Israel.  Fear paralyzed Saul and the Israelites.

David was still tending sheep and playing the harp for Saul.  He was not old enough to be in the army.  One day David brought food to army camp where his brothers served.  He saw Goliath shouting and taunting the Israelite army.   As Goliath mocked Israel and God, David learned that Saul had offered rewards for anyone who could kill the giant Philistine.  David didn’t care about the size of the Philistine, but that he was disgracing Israel.  David told Saul that he would go and fight him.  His brothers burned with anger when they heard David and dismissed him and called him conceited and wicked.

David knew he was capable and had experience in fighting when he killed lions and bears who were after his sheep.  He showed great courage and faith that God would rescue him just as He had before with the lions and bears.  So Saul allowed him to go fight Goliath.  Saul dressed David in armor, but it was much too heavy so David removed it and went to fight with only the weapons he used to protect the sheep.

When Goliath was David coming, he cursed him.  David said, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled.  This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head ..… all those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’, and he will give all of you into our hands.”- 1 Sam. 17:45-47.

That’s exactly what happened.  David killed Goliath with his sling and a stone.  Then he cut off his head.  When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they turned and ran.  The Israel pursued them and plundered their camp.

We learn a lot from David.  He was a “man after God’s heart”.  His story points to the greatest King of all, Jesus who came from the line of David.  Jesus and David are very similar.  Samuel revealed God’s choice and John the Baptist revealed Jesus as God’s chosen One; the Holy Spirit came on David and Jesus was full of the Spirit after His baptism; David fought for the honor of God’s name and to protect his people; Jesus died for God’s glory and to free His people from sin; David and Jesus were born in Bethlehem.

When people see you in crisis, do they see you panic?
What Goliath are you facing?

In battle do you run or do you stand firm and fight?

Principle:  A heart filled with passion for God will respond to the Spirits call for courage.

Next time we will continue our study in 1 Samuel.  See you here.

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