Kingdom And Chaos - God Chooses David

Kingdom and Chaos

1st Samuel 16 – God Chooses David

February 24, 2019

The first time, Samuel anointed a king, he found Saul, who was the most handsome, strongest man in the nation.

This time, God sends Samuel to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, who has eight sons.

1 Samuel 16:10-13 NIV

Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The Lord has not chosen these." 11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have? “There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." 12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.

• Can you imagine the day David just experienced? He’s in some remote pasture, taking care of the sheep. He notices a huge commotion at his dad’s house.

• The prophet, Samuel. is there, and he’s looking for a king.

• All seven of his brothers are in the front yard, but none of them are picked. Suddenly, someone waves at David and brings him to the front yard.

• He’s the smallest, the least likely, of the brothers to be named king.

We’re all afraid of being overlooked.

We’re obsessed with getting noticed, so we clamor for attention.

Isaiah 50:10-11 NIV

“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light,

trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. 11 But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.”

What if we’re successful for God and no one notices?

1. Rescue mission before lunch

2. At the County jail

3. On the streets of our inner-city

4. At my uncle’s small country church

5. At a tiny church in Amarillo

When pressure comes, we’ll always lean on the lessons we learned in the hidden places.

1 Samuel 17:34-37 NIV

“But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

When I feel pressure, I remember the people who helped shape me as a leader.

A sword can only be formed in the furnace of fire.

A disciple can only be developed in the hidden places.

The Table:

Good News – God sees us when no one else does.

1 Corinthians 1:28-31

“He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."