David-Week 1

Talking about David and his life.

Before we do - context is needed for contrast.

Saul disobeys and is rejected

Saul attacks the Amalekites. Ordered to destroy everything, but took their king prisoner and kept back stuff ‘for sacrifice’

The prisoner was very much a pride thing - ancient kings would do things to royal prisoners to assert dominance

1 Samuel 15:22–23 NIV

But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

God told Saul to do something, and saul thought

'I have a better idea’

God told him something, saul decided - i know better. He could have given praise to God by obeying him - instead he wanted praise for himself (the king). Recognition for making that offering.

So samuel tells saul -

REBELLION LIKE DIVINATION (I don’t want to trust - I want to know-confidence in self. Lack of trust.) ARROGANCE LIKE IDOLATRY (won’t listen to God - listen to me! I’m the God now! Lack of worship)

This results in saul being deposed in the eyes of the Lord.

1 Samuel 13:14 NIV

But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

God looks for people ‘after his own heart’

Saul wasn’t that. Saul was after his own heart. His own throne. He wanted to conquer and be on top.

God is STILL looking for people after his own heart. We can learn how to do it by looking at the life of David. And the things he goes through, and how he responds.

First mention of David -

David is annointed King

Samuel coming to visit Jesse to crown new king.

1 Samuel 16:6–7 NIV

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Life is not about our definition of success

David WAS handsome and capable.

There will be times you seem to measure up in your own eyes!

Samuel look at Eliab and said, look at THIS guy. It’s obviously him.

The lord said - look INSIDE that guy. it’s not him.

He will do that with every one of us.

Saul - definition of success was ‘recognition’ and ‘honor’ before the people. Saul’s confidence was in himself and his decisions. Crowds singing his name. Known as a mighty warrior.

But the Lord wasn’t looking for someone who was pursuing that. he was looking for someone who was pursuing Him.

God says to David -

I see your heart, so I have a new trajectory for you

God takes this guy, and sets him on a path with a huge goal - king of Israel.

This is the first time we hear of David’s name - in this ceremony where he’s annointed king.

The story isn’t David’s - it’s God’s.

Where does God’s trajectory take David next?

David is called to bring comfort to Saul

First thing that happens to david after being annointed king? Called to play music for saul, who was being tormented by an evil spirit.

This must have been fun. Serving the guy, who is struggling and you know has been rejected.

Have you ever had something like that? You knew that God had a plan. And here you are, looking at something that just feels like the opposite.

But there was a subtle question that the Lord was asking David in this situation. And it’s a question that follows David for the rest of his life.

Are you going to do it God’s way - or your way?

This was saul’s problem. he wanted to do it his way.

David knew he was going to be king. The way to realize it at that time was the knife.

But God’s trajectory for him took him first to comforting Saul.

Every single one of us, we will face this question every day. ‘Do it God’s way - or my way?’

STORY - Rich person asks Jesus, what do I need to do for the kingdom. Answer - give away everything. Man left sad.

Am I going to choose the path for me, or the path for God?

This question is difficult when we’re facing a situation where we have power.

Rich man had the power to be rich.

But it’s transformational when it comes to the situation we CAN’T do something about. That leads us to:

David and Goliath

Explain situation.

There’s someone at this battle that takes a back seat - Saul. He’s terrified.

Confidence in yourself alone sounds good - until the mountain is too big for you. Then you learn how unstable your confidence really is.

It leads to fear. Panic. Failure. These things are indicators that we’re doing it by our own strength.

And following God is about learning to have confidence in the one that is bigger than every mountain.

How does david react to goliath?

1 Samuel 17:26 NIV

Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

David says - this guy is standing up against God. Who does he think he is?

So david is willing to fight him. And he has confidence about it.

1 Samuel 17:34–36 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, 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. 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.

This sounds like a self boast. This sounds like saul all over again.

But his WHY is absolutely essential.

1 Samuel 17:37 NIV

The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

David trusted God’s trajectory

So in the past - David fights this lion or bear. He wasn’t strong enough to win that fight on his own.

But remember that question - are you going to do it God’s way, or your way? Because in those times, David’s way can’t do it.

David knew what to do. David could trust God’s calling on his life.

And David says - God is strong enough to bring that about. So I don’t have to worry. My way can’t do it, but God’s can.

So he knows he can stand against the bear, or the lion, or Goliath. In fact, he’s SO confident, that he won’t even take armor.

The problem is, when we have a call, and the goliaths of the world come against us - we doubt the call.

But when we’re staring at a Goliath-sized problem - we should doubt the goliath (Who even is this guy, to stand agains the Lord?)

Romans 8:31 NIV

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Two questions we can ask ourselves, to learn from David:

What is your call?

Sometimes, this is a big C call - What is that thing that God wants you to do with your life?

Sometimes, it’s a little c call - where is God taking you now? RIGHT NOW?

In both times - God has the power to do what he asks you to do.

Are you willing to do it God’s way, or your way?

Sometimes, God will call you to do different things than you anticipate.

The key point here isn’t ‘Do it God’s way when your way doesn’t work first’. It’s ‘Do it God’s way. Period.’

Sometimes, God will call you to face Goliath-sized problems.

If you are only willing to face things you can beat with your own strength - you’ll only face weaker things.

And what’s worse - you’ll break on the things that you’re not strong enough to conquer.

This happens. You see this in those people who fail.

But you also see this in those people who just harden.

But when it’s your call that drives you, not your strength. And when you’re willing to do it God’s way instead of yours

You will see giants fall

I think one of the biggest reasons we don’t see God slaying Goliath’s is because we settle for fighting lesser things in our own strength.

But when you let go of your way - you trust God’s call, and distrust your strengths - you will see amazing things. (David - fights goliath. Moses - parts the red sea. Gideon - slays an army with 300 guys with torches).

What is your goliath? Today, God wants to slay giants. But we need to let him do it his way.