"THE LAST ONE PICKED"
How many of you ever remember being picked for some sports team while in school? There’s always the last one or two left that must be picked. And the last pick always felt like dirt…
But there was also someone in the bible that was the last one picked. There was one in the bible who, though he was not the first option, he proved to be the right choice.
There are some of you who feel as though your one of those “last picked” choices. In every area of your life. You feel as though you’re Nobody’s First Choice. Everybody seems to be chosen ahead of you and you’re always “THE LAST ONE PICKED…” Well, I want to share with you today the upside possibilities of being, not the first, but “THE LAST ONE PICKED.” I desire to show you tonight what can happen when GOD PICKS THE LAST ONE…
Now then, there’s always a First pick.
We find the people wanting a King.
1st Samuel 9:
1: Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
2: And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
Saul seemed the likely choice to be King. He was, “A Choice Young Man.” Saul was Preferred over all the others. He was, "A Goodly.” He was Good Looking. "He was higher than any of the people.” He was Tall! Man, you talking about making the right pick… Here’s Saul, the apparent, “Total Package.” (He had it all)
But the first one picked had some unseen qualities that contributed to his downfall.
Saul was told by Samuel, that the Lord God would have him to go down to enemy and “Kill All!”
1st Samuel 15
10: Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
11: It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
12: And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
13: And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
Saul had not. Saul was told to kill everything and didn’t do it…
Let’s read on… (Verse 14)
14: And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
Can you imagine a kid telling his mamma he hasn’t had any more of the pie, with chocolate all around his mouth?
This was the same scenario between Saul & Samuel. Samuel heard Sheep & Oxen, while Saul was telling him that he had killed everything! So Samuel knew that Saul had not done what God had commanded and enquired of it…
15: And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
Saul done what so many others do when he got caught, he “Blamed Someone Else.” Did you know that there was an annual “Blame Someone Else Day?” It’s on the first Friday the 13th of each year. (Although I’m certain most folk have the date mixed up.)
He said; “They done it to sacrifice the animals unto God.”
16: Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
17: And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
Saul was no longer the man he once was with God. Before Saul seen himself as something special, God blessed him. Once Saul started believing in his own strength, then it was his favor was weakened. When we get to the point that we think WE got it, WE’VE had it…
18: And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
Samuel asked of him, “Didn’t God tell you to destroy everything?”
19: Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
Saul didn’t kill everything rather he kept some of the best of the animals…
20: And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
What does he mean here, “he brought Agag the king of Amalek?” God didn’t tell him to bring King Agag, but rather told him to destroy all!
21: But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
22: And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
God wasn’t satisfied with his supposed intent of sacrifice, he rather desired for Obedience.
23: For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Not following God’s instructions caused him to be rejected of God.
Folks if we’re not following God’s instructions we can sacrifice all we want, but we will find his rejection…
God’s not interested so much in your Sacrifices, but rather your Obedience…
1. Our Coming to Church doesn’t cover our Not Paying our Tithes
2. Paying our Tithes doesn’t cover our Not Coming to Church
3. Sacrificing of our Time to the Community doesn’t Impress God
4. Giving of our Finances to Every Cause Requested doesn’t Impress God
5. Working ourselves Sick to help the Youth doesn’t Impress God
6. Visiting the Hospitals, Retirement Homes & the Jails doesn’t Impress God!
What is it that God finds favor in us for?
Obedience!
Obedience!
1st Samuel 16
1: And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
2: And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he Will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
3: And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
4: And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
5: And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6: And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.
The Oldest was first looked upon by Samuel, but was not chosen by God.
Look at verse seven now…
7: But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
God told Samuel to look at the Heart.
8: Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
9: Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10: Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
Seven, seven sons was looked upon and passed up by Samuel.
11: And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
Among other things, you know what this verse of scripture told me? I don’t think the sheep-herder’s own daddy even seen the potential of his youngest son to be used. Why? He never even sent for him to be looked at by Samuel…
12: And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
The bible said he was ruddy, I researched that word, it means, “red-skinned.” The bible says he was “withal a beautiful countenance and goodly to look to.” (He wasn’t going to make the cover of GQ Magazine..,)
Yet the Lord said, this is the one!
This is the one!
It doesn’t matter if you’re the cover of GQ or just plain "Phew," if God has picked you, you can do great things!
Consider what David, “THE LAST ONE PICKED,” accomplished:
1. He Killed Goliath – Saul Ran From Him (The Giant)
2. He wanted to Marry Saul’s Daughter, Saul told him to go kill and bring back 100 Phillistens. He brought back 200 slain instead of the 100 required.
3. He made Jerusalem the Capital of Israel
4. David moved the Arc of the Covenant to Jerusalem where this became the center of worship
5. He defeated the Amalkites
6. He defeated the Philisteins
7. He defeated Amoabites
8. The Syrians
9. He built up the land of Israel
10. He became King
THE LAST ONE PICKED!
THE LAST ONE PICKED can accomplish Great Things!
1. Did you hear me Van Kid?
2. Did you hear me High School Dropout?
3. Did you hear me Minimum Wage Worker?
4. Did you hear me Black Sheep of the Family?
I said;
THE LAST ONE PICKED…, has done some Great things!
A lot of folks looked at me and said;
1. “Jimmy, Saved? No Way!”
2. “Jimmy, Preaching the Gospel? No Way!”
3. "Jimmy, The Black Sheep? It can’t be!"
But God, had a plan!
God had a plan, for THE LAST ONE PICKED...
And God has a plan for you…
I do not know of a better example of how the least of his own, can be used so mightily of God, than David.
1. A Sheepherder
2. Small
3. Unattractive
4. And Least of his Brothers…
You ask, “What Quality did David have that God chose to use him?” I’m going to give you four.
1. DAVID KEPT HIS HEART SOFT
(Yea, he sinned, greatly. But he took responsibility)
2. HE HAD FAITH IN GOD’S POWER & PROMISE
(God said it and he believed it)
3. HE LOVED GOD’S WORD
(He penned the longest Pslams #119.)
4. HE LOVED TO GO TO CHUIRCH
(Desired to build a temple)
If you have these 4-traits, you’re in pretty good shape with God!
Now I realize that we don’t have many Rockefellers or Bill Gates with us tonight…
But by a show of hands, how many of you are doing well Financially?
Now by a show of hands, how many of those of you, were once “THE LAST ONE PICKED” somewhere along life’s way?
My.., God is good….
In Pro Football, if you’re the last player selected coming out of college, you own the title, “Mr. Irrelevent.” Because being the last person selected, your not supposed to amount to much…
In 1992, the National Football League held it’s annual draft.
· Selected #1 overall was the much herald DE-Steve Emtman from Washington College.
· Selected #336 overall was C-Matt Elliot by the Washington Redskins. (28th pick of the 12th round)
Steve Emtman was:
1. A star
2. Considered the best overall player on a Washington Huskies team that split the national championship with Miami in 1991.
3. Won both the Outland & Lombardi Award
4. As well as being named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.
He was predicted to be the Greatest thing since sliced bread coming out of college!
Steve Emtman played a mere 19-games (Little more than a year), while in the NFL.
Matt Elliott? Nearly Four times that…..
“THE LAST ONE PICKED.”
Don’t sound so bad now after all, does it?
It doesn’t matter if you’re the first pick or the last one.
If you:
1. KEEP YOUR HEART SOFT
2. HAVE FAITH IN GOD’S POWER & PROMISE
3. LOVE GOD’S WORD
4. LOVE TO GO TO CHURCH
You can turn out as good or better than any first round selection…
David, “THE LAST ONE PICKED.” - “Mr. Irrelevant.”
If God can use David, he can use you..
James W. Bryant
07/05/2006 @ 7:01pm
Assistant Pastor of Dillon Congregational in Dillon, SC
JWBryantDillon@aol.com
843-774-2012
