Building A Servant-Leader

1 Samuel 16 : 14-23 part 2 Building a Servant-Leader

David’s story begins in 1 Samuel 16, where we read that God sent Samuel to anoint David as the next king of Israel (16:1-13). When Samuel anointed David as the next king over Israel, PHOTO David was just a young boy, perhaps as young as twelve to 13 years old. After the anointing, David went back to the fields to take care of the sheep, and Samuel returned to his home in Ramah.

Meanwhile, Saul remained King for another 26 or more years.

But God choosing David was not random. He was seeing a boy who had a great love for Him. David’s great grandparents are also known to you. Boaz who married Ruth, from the book of Ruth whose mother=in=law was Naomi.

And David? He was in training. He was a shepherd (PHOTO) over a flock of sheep. As a shepherd he had to protect his sheep from lions and bears. As a king, he had to protect his people from their enemies. As a shepherd he learned to trust in God. He had no other shepherd to help him if a lion or bear attacked the sheep. He only had God as a companion. And I believe this is what made him great. He sang love songs to God.

But now Samuel came and anointed him to be the next king. No one spread the news… Why?, because they feared King Saul. The older brothers probably thought it was laughable. And David? He went back to being a shepherd…. He was only 12-13 years old. But as he was maturing. His singing ability also became known in Bethlehem. God’s hand was on him and now lets’ read how God helps him to understand how a kingdom should be run. Now Remember: the spirit of the Lord is on David. But back at the palace it is the opposite. Let’s read

1 Samuel 16:14-23

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.

When Saul decided to follow his own counsel and NOT listen to God… the Holy spirit left him.

Now that brings up a slew of questions. Does that mean the HS can leave us?

But I want you to remember. This happened before Jesus died on the cross and Pentecost. It is at Pentecost that the HS came upon the believer and stayed with him to guide and teach him. This is a 1000 years before Jesus died on the cross. In the Old Testament the HS would come and go. He was there to help people to do God’s will. Saul no longer wanted God so God took away the HS… this left him open to demonic attacks. God gave permission for Saul to have problems because he refused to follow him after he was made king. His shield was gone. His hedge of protection.

15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.”

The people recognized that it was a harmful spirit…. A demon spirit that plagued him off and on. Their solution? Music. And it is true that worship music does help people who are in a depression. You start praising God and the BLUES melt away. A sacrifice of praise. Praising God when you don’t feel like it.

But is this a solution to Saul’s problem? No. There is a spiritual problem. SIN. The source of his problems. This is why I do sessions for people who are having issues, nightmares, and seeing ghosts…..called spiritual cleansing so that they can take care of their sin problem and get released from the spiritual problems/ or oppressions.

Lesson: Trust in God's Sovereignty

Throughout 1 Samuel 16, we see God's sovereign hand at work, orchestrating events according to His divine plan. Trust in His sovereignty, knowing that He is in control. If he made you a promise: trust Him to do it.

In the life of Abbraham that took 25 years. For David to become king…nearly 30 years. But God is faithful to do what he said he would do.

17 So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” 18 One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite (from Bethlehem), who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.”