The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the
people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led
them out of that country, (18) he endured their conduct for about
forty years in the desert, (19) he overthrew seven nations in
Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. (20)
All this took about 450 years. "After this, God gave them judges
until the time of Samuel the prophet. (21) Then the people asked
for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of
Benjamin, who ruled forty years. (22) After removing Saul, he made
David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David
son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want
him to do.' (23) "From this man's descendants God has brought to
Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.
40. David: Shaping a Godly Heart A Shepherd Gets His Sheepskin
1 Samuel 1-15
41. I love to study Bible characters
In their victories, I get a better understanding of God.
In their failures, I get a better understanding of myself.
No character fascinates me more than David.
42. There is more in the Bible about David than about anyone
except Jesus
If you exclude the material repeated among the gospels, there
is more about David than Jesus.
OT devotes 66 chapters to the life of David.
NT has 59 references to David.
43. We remember two things about David:
Goliath - his best moment.
Bathsheba his worst moment.
We overlook the most important aspects of Davids life.
Today begins a year on David: Shaping a Godly Heart.
44. David was born in a land where people were drifting away
from God
Moses died east of Jordan and was replaced by Joshua
Joshua 24:31 NIV Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime
of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had
experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel.
45. After Joshua, the people began to drift into ungodly
alliances and idolatry
300 year downward spiral away from God.
Oppressed by enemies.
Rescued by 13 judges.
Reason for misfortune:
Judges 21:25 NIV In those days Israel had no king; everyone did
as he saw fit.
46. Two events take place about this time
One seems unimportant, yet the Bible tells about it
One seems important, yet the Bible doesnt tell about it.
Ruth, a Moabite widow, gleans in a field of Boaz.
They marry and have a son, Obed, who fathers a grandson,
Jesse.
47. During this time, Philistines invaded and settled the
Mediterranean shore
Monopolized metalworking.
1 Samuel 13:19 NIV Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole
land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise the
Hebrews will make swords or spears!"
Thats why Shamgar killed 600 with an ox goad and Samson killed
1,000 with a donkey jawbone.
48. God used two men to keep the Philistines from destroying
Israel:
Samuel the first prophet and the last judge, and,
David the grandson of Boaz.
Now we see why the story of Ruth is in the Bible.
49. Samuel
1Sa 1-2 Hannahs prayer answered. Promised to God.
1Sa 3 The Lord revealed to Samuel as a boy that Elis house
would be destroyed.
50. 1Samuel 4 Hophni and Phinehas took the ark of the covenant
into battle with the Philistines
God didnt intervene. 30,000 died.
The ark was captured.
Hophni and Phinehas were killed.
Eli died.
Ichabod was written on Israel.
51. 1Samuel 7 Samuel began leading
After 20 years, he brought Israel to Ebenezer and victory over
the Philistines.
Success as a judge was marred by failure as a father. His sons
turned out like Elis.
20 years after Ebenezer:
1 Samuel 8:1-3 NIV When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons
as judges for Israel. (3) But his sons did not walk in his ways.
They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and
perverted justice.
52. Israels request for a king
1 Samuel 8:4-9 NIV So all the elders of Israel gathered
together and came to Samuel at Ramah. (5) They said to him, "You
are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king
to lead us, such as all the other nations have." (6) But when they
said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he
prayed to the LORD. (7) And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that
the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but
they have rejected me as their king. (8) As they have done from the
day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and
serving other gods, so they are doing to you. (9) Now listen to
them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who
will reign over them will do."
53. Why do believers always want to be like everyone else?
The saddest verse:
1 Samuel 8:7 NIV And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the
people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but
they have rejected me as their king.
Gods people are ruled by God, not by man.
54. Saul anointed as king
He looked like a king tall and distinguished.
He led Israel to a couple of minor victories and the people
were impressed.
Sauls failures began almost immediately:
First, at Gilgal.
Then the Amalekites.
55. He failed to wait for Samuel at Gilgal
1 Samuel 10:8 NIV "Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely
come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship
offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and
tell you what you are to do."
56. He failed to wait for Samuel at Gilgal
Philistines were gathering for an assault.
People wanted action; God wanted him to wait.
Soldiers began deserting, leading to Sauls presumption and
Samuels rebuke, when he had been king one week.
57. He failed to wait for Samuel at Gilgal
1 Samuel 13:13-14 NIV "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You
have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had,
he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
(14) But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out
a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people,
because you have not kept the Lord's command."
58. He disobeyed God by not destroying Amalek
Spared king and livestock.
1 Samuel 15:10-11 NIV Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel:
(11) "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has
turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions."
Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that
night.
59. Saul was more interested in his own glory than in obeying
God
His monument
1 Samuel 15:12 NIV Early in the morning Samuel got up and went
to meet Saul, but he was told, "Saul has gone to Carmel. There he
has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on
down to Gilgal."
His claim
1 Samuel 15:13 NIV When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The
LORD bless you! I have carried out the Lord's instructions."
The reality
1 Samuel 15:14 NIV But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating
of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I
hear?"
60. Why did Saul fail?
He was too concerned about his own image and too little
concerned about honoring God.
1 Samuel 15:12 NIV Early in the morning Samuel got up and went
to meet Saul, but he was told, "Saul has gone to Carmel. There he
has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on
down to Gilgal."
1 Samuel 15:24-25 NIV Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned.
I violated the Lord's command and your instructions. I was afraid
of the people and so I gave in to them. (25) Now I beg you, forgive
my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD."
61. God had already found a replacement
1 Samuel 15:27-28 NIV Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe,
and it tore. (28) Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the
kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your
neighbors--to one better than you.
1 Samuel 15:35 NIV Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to
see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD was
grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.
62. What do you do when the king doesnt walk with God?
We just buried a President who was never elected to the
office.
He was a statesman who put the good of the nation ahead of his
own political future when he pardoned his predecessor.
Where were you when you learned that a President resigned
because he lied to the people he was supposed to lead?
63. Sauls replacement is not yet named, but God has already
found him
1 Samuel 13:14 NIV the LORD has sought out a man after his own
heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not
kept the Lord's command."
1 Samuel 15:28 NIV "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel
from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors--to one
better than you.
64. God didnt find David in the army, nor in a prophet training
school, but in a pasture
He wasnt even a man, yet.
What impressed God about that boy?
He was living in obscurity.
From a poor family with no servants and a few sheep.
1 Samuel 17:28 NIV Eliab asked, with whom did you leave those
few sheep in the desert?"
He liked solitude more than applause
65. He wrote songs to God
Psalms 23:1-6 NIV A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I
shall not be in want. (2) He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, (3) he restores my soul. He guides
me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (4) Even though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort
me. (5) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my
enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (6) Surely
goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I
will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
He is not remembered for his sword, but for his songs.
66. He lived with monotony
His older brothers were the favorites of Jesse.
When the preacher came to town, they got to go, while David
stayed behind to do the chores.
Sheep dont treat anyone like a king.
A good shepherd learns to do little things well.
67. George Washington Carver said:
I asked God, Teach me about the universe.
God said, George, thats too big for you. Why dont I teach you
about a peanut?
By lifes end, he had found over 300 uses for a peanut.
How would you like to study a peanut all your life?
Devote yourself to doing small things well.
68. He lived with integrity
Psalms 57:7 NIV My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is
steadfast; I will sing and make music.
David made bigger mistakes than Saul, but God always knew where
his heart was.
As a boy, David devoted his heart to God.
69. Pablo de Sarasati Spanish virtuoso violinist of the late 19
th Century
George Bernard Shaw called him a genius who left criticism
gasping miles behind him.
His response: For 34 years, Ive practiced 14 hours a day, and
NOW Im a genius!
70. We call others gifted when were trying to excuse our own
mediocrity
Scott Wells is gifted.
Lettered four years each in football, track and wrestling.
Held three wrestling titles.
No. 1 heavyweight wrestler in the nation in high school.
Consecutive start streak of 49 games was the third longest in
college football history among offensive linemen.
Hes gifted because he works at it!
71. Everyone has the potential to be a David or a Saul. Which
will it be?
To everyone there openeth a way, and ways, and a way. And the
high soul climbs the high way, and the low soul gropes the low. And
in between, on the mighty flats, the rest drift to and fro. But to
every man there openeth a high way and a low. And every man
decideth the way his soul should go.
72. David became a great king because he was a great kid
The time for preparation is now.
If God is ever going to use you in the future, he has to train
you now.
You sow a thought, you reap an attitude.
You sow an attitude, you reap a character.
You sow a character, you reap a destiny.
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80. Closing Prayer Please remain for a brief period of
fellowship and for Bible Classes from 10:30 to 11:15