We’re starting a series in the selections from the life of David. I had been ministered to by the Psalms and saw in them living faith in a real and fallen world. This semester I’m planning on preaching through selections from David’s life and then in our small groups, we’ll study various Psalms that come out of those times or seem closely related to them. I think it will be a great combination: to look at the story of David’s life and then to read his prayers.

It is my hope that in doing so we’ll gain a clearer vision of God (through the stories and through the eyes/prayers of David) and that our own faith would be strengthened.

I want to help learn how to live in the Gospel as we look through the lens of Scripture.

There are many moral and spiritual lessons we can draw from this story, but I’d like to but on our Bible study “hats” and see if we can figure out what this the main message of this passage.

Though this chapter is about David, David doesn’t really do much in this chapter. In this particular scene, David is more of a supporting actor, and the main actors are God and Samuel. The main story is about God directing Samuel. It’s about God running the show and Samuel following God’s instructions.

1 Samuel is mourning Saul. God says to Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint one of the sons of Jesse. This is God’s decision, God’s initiative.

7 God says, No. The one you’d pick is not the one I would pick. I’m the one doing the picking, and Eliab is not the one.

This scene is about God directing Samuel, God running the show, God selecting David.

I think perhaps this was important for the Israelites to understand. David was God’s choice to replace King Saul. David’s ascent to the throne was not a coup d’état. David was not a power-hungry guy trying to grab the throne. This was not to be seen as the outcome of politics or military feats. This was God’s plan. David became king because God chose him as king. The story is here so that the Israelites could recognize that God had chosen David.

God still has a plan and runs the show. God is still almighty and sovereign. And like the Israelites, we need to recognize that God still runs the show.

V. 2, Samuel doesn’t like this idea.

If Saul found out that Samuel was going to anoint another king, Saul would kill Samuel. Saul would kill the anointed successor. It would be an act of treason, disloyalty to the king.

V. 4, Samuel did what the Lord said. Why? Why did Samuel do it?

In one sense, Samuel is a submitted and obedient servant. It’s a simple matter of obedience to your Lord, your Master.

But I think there’s a little more than immediate obedience. I think there was a worldview, a different perspective on reality. I think Samuel understood that God runs the show. God is the Sovereign King of the Universe. He rules the stars and seas, He rules over kings and kingdoms. Samuel had a God-centered worldview.

To live in the perspective of Scripture, to live in the Gospel begins with a fundamental truth that God runs the show. God is king, sovereign, almighty.

This is a theme we’ll see throughout these stories. We’ll see that God is in control, that God causes things to happen, that God is working for His purposes. God is the main character.

The problem is that though we may theologically agree with that, many of us live as practical atheists. It’s not that we would theologically deny God’s sovereignty, but it doesn’t make a difference in our lives. We live and think no differently than an atheist. We do not live in God’s show. We live in our own show, and in our show, God is only an occasionally appearing supporting character. 2 quick examples:

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. (Ps 32:10)

Fear and Faith do not mix well.

It is fitting that David would write so many Psalms that express this faith because as we’ll see in the next chapter, that’s exactly what David believed as he confronted Goliath. David believed God would fight for His people. Faith produces courage.

My Dad had come to the US for his graduate studies, and after a long road, he had finally gotten his PhD and a job at the Department of Agriculture near DC. But he felt God’s call to the ministry, he quite his job, sold the house, took his wife and 3 young kids and went to seminary to become a pastor. That was pretty crazy! Faith produces courage.

For the students, one of my faith exercises as a college student was in ministry versus studies. I was a nerd and really wanted good grades. But I also was deeply involved in my campus ministry, and for me, it was a test of faith that spending time in ministry that I could have spent in studies, would be okay. I believed Mt 6:33, Seek God first and He’ll provide. He may not provide straight A’s, but he’ll provide what I need. My job was to trust and follow Him. Faith enables us to take risks, faith produces courage/obedience.

Even now the session is discussing various future issues and all of them involve potential costs and risks. But if we really do believe God is leading us, then we need not be afraid. Faith produces courage.

Perhaps as some of you are considering how God might lead you in your future, or how He might use you in some ministry, we need not be afraid. Faith produces courage.

V. 6, Samuel takes a look at Eliab and thinks, “This is the guy! This is why I’m here. Here’s a king if I ever saw one.”

We know that God rejected Eliab, and Abinadab, and Shammah, and the other 4 brothers.

So now what? Well there’s one more brother, the youngest. He wasn’t even invited to this special occasion of Samuel’s visit. Some commentators suggest the word “youngest” can also imply “smallest,” in contrast to the height of his biggest brother.

David had been sent to watch the sheep, a not-so-glorious, low-level type job, perhaps something like sacking groceries at a supermarket or collecting tolls on the turnpike.

You’ll notice he isn’t even named, not yet. He is the youngest, smallest, nameless menial shepherd boy. He was the runt of the litter.

There is something to be said of how God picks the weak, the lowly, the foolish of the world to accomplish His purposes. He’s picked prostitutes, tax collectors, fishermen, thieves, barren women, Gentiles, etc.

But let’s be careful. God does not reject the rich and strong because they are rich and strong, and God does not choose the poor and weak just because they are poor and weak.

Eliab was tall and presumably looked impressive, but it’s not that God rejects attractive people and chooses ugly people. In fact, we then read that David was with “fine appearance and handsome features.”

God does not look at outward appearance: height, physical attractiveness, intelligence, athleticism, talent, personality, leadership, charm, etc. God doesn’t look at the things we look at.

Then, what does God look at? He looks at the heart, but can we be more specific?