Who God Anoints

Saul's insecurity led him to indecision, ignorance, and idolatry which left the nation of God lacking a moral leader. Samuel and God both grieve over Saul's actions; but where Samuel is grieving over a broken past and disappointment, God sees the bright future of promise.

1) God's Sovereign Choice: He chooses who rules.

God doesn't fail. The King is always on His Throne.

Despairing in disappointment over what turned out completely the opposite of what we were expecting is the worst sin of the Believer because we have a God who cannot be stopped and will accomplish His purpose. Our stories begin when our preconceived plans fail.

Samuel is scared because he has to anoint a new king and Saul has already proven himself dangerous. When insecurity gets power, the world trembles because the insecure make everything about themselves. Fear not, God is always in the driver's seat and provided a way out for Samuel.

2) God's Surprising Choice: He disrupts convention.

We look at the outward appearance, power, money, fame, and success. They are good gifts but make bad gods. God sees the heart, thoughts, and motivations of a person.

So when God chooses David, He purposely disrupts the status quo. David is the smallest and the youngest of all the brothers. However, what looks like his weakness is actually his strength and would help him defeat Goliath.

What does it mean to be a "man after God's own heart"?

David was a shepherd and that taught him how to take care, responsibility, and lead. He was surrounded by solitude. In that time totally devoted to the Lord, he became skillful and honed his craft of shepherding, playing his harp, and becoming a man of courage. The solitude forged in him a sincere and undivided heart.

When God wants to use someone, He'll often lead them to the quiet place and have them serve in obscure places.

3) God's Spirit on His chosen: The Holy Spirit dwells.

The Spirit of God rushed upon David. This did not promise an easy life for him, but instead, a life of impact.

As the Spirit came upon David it left Saul. This does not happen to any believers post-Pentecost. After Pentecost, when all believers are filled with the Spirit, He promises to be with us always and is a deposit of what is to come. God empowers the fulfillment of His promises and puts power behind His Priorities.

God harms Saul as an act of mercy. Saul had increasing paranoia and was becoming more and more dangerous to those around him, so God restrained the evil in him by incapacitating him. However, in God's grace, he still allowed Saul to be comforted and the evil spirit to leave when David would play the harp for him. Even in Saul's torment, God still blessed him.

4) God shows us some of the characteristics He desires in leaders through David's example.

• Skilled technically
• Warrior, valor
• Prudent, knows when and when not to speak
• Good presence, handsome
• Blessed by God, the Lord is with him

5) How to study the life of David?

• Historically
• Personally apply it (solitude, skillful, sincere heart)
• Prophetically, David points to our salvation in Jesus

We are Samuel, looking towards external things to make us feel safe and comfortable. We are Saul, the Spirit of God left us when we forsook Him.

We need a King, the Son of David, Emmanuel, and God with us.

Jesus is our Sovereign King, Surprising King, Shepherding King, and Servant King.