From Obscurity to Notoriety

This summer I want to go through the life of King David.

As we look at his life through the Wednesdays of this summer I hope we get a sense of his

historical,

Biblical,

Christological,

and theological significance.

I also hope we can draw some personal applications and life lessons from the only person in the Bible that it is stated, “he was a man after God’s own heart.”

Lets read the scripture and then we will talk about it.

1 Samuel 16:1–13 KJV 1900

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 Beth-lehemite: 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 Beth-lehem. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

In Baltimore at the Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery an aged tombstone marks the grave of Private Henry Gunther. Gunther was a soldier in World War 1, who had been demoted a rank because of a letter he had sent advising family members not to enlist in the war. Perhaps that obscurity is what drove him to become the last American soldier to die in World War 1.

Just minutes before the armistice took effect at 11:00 a.m. November 11, 1918, Gunther’s unit encountered German machine gunners. Gunther charged the enemy position with his bayonet outstretched.

The Germans, who knew of the impending armistice were reluctant to fire, but at Gunther’s aggressive charge the Germans fired a fatal burst.

Being obscure, unseen, unknown, can sometimes drive people to do extreme and irrational things.

Maybe you feel obscure or unseen or unknown - but can I just remind you that: God has a habit of finding His heroes in the shadows!”

The life of David is the story of a nobody that God made a somebody—not through pedigree, not through popularity, but through providence and anointing!”

But lets talk about that nobodyness, that obscurity in the life of David.

Born to obscurity -

So obscure that God doesn’t even tell Samuel his name, just that he is the son of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:1 “...fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.”

David was as Charles Swindoll quipped, “A Nobody, Nobody Noticed.”

David was obscure as one of many

A lot of science has been done studying the effects of birth order even how characteristics and traits play out.

David understood what it was to be at the end of a long list of others.

And in that day Birth order mattered deeply: The firstborn held honor. David, the youngest, was culturally disqualified.

He was born about 1040 B.C., he was the youngest son of Jesse’s eight sons (1 Sam. 16:10-11), and two sisters

Remember the scripture I just read David is not named, but is known as “the son of Jesse”

He is obscure.

David was obscure in Israel

Born in the town of Ephrath or Ephrata (1 Samuel 17:12 “12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah,....”

The name Ephrath might have come from a group of Ephraimite Ephrathites who migrated south at some time in history, for the northerners of 2 Samuel 5:1 speak of David as his own “flesh and blood.” That, however, could have been a reference to their kinship as Jews and not to themselves as northerners.

Still, there is the additional reference in Genesis 35:19 and Gen 48:7 that appears to assume that the Ephrath of Ephraim, associated with Rachel's burial place, is also connected with Ephrathah/Bethlehem. A History of Israel, Revised Edition Copyright © 2016 by Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. and Paul Wegner

But here is what Israel thought about Ephrata - also known as Bethlehem sometimes Bethlehem Ephratah -

Micah 5:2 KJV 1900

2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

David was obscure in history

Until a few decades ago, David was considered by many to be either a mythical character, a legend, or simply a tall tale. There was no extrabiblical information about him.

One scholar in 1996 remarked, “The Bible is our only source of information about David.” McCarter

Archaeologist have dug up (yes cheesy pun intended) an inscription found at Dan that contained the phrase, “house/dynasty of David”

Another possible reference to the “house of David” has been found and possibly others”

But even in extrabiblical material David is very obscure - unknown, not seen very well or very clear.

David was obscure in profession

David was a shepherd which may be why he was not present at the “Sanctifying Ceremony” 1 Sam 16:5 - His father and seven brothers were there, but David was not there. David was left in the fields with the sheep. No one seemed concerned about getting someone to take his place in the field so he could come to the ceremony.

Butler makes the comment that Jesse perhaps preferred this obscurity:

Jesse, David's father, seemed to prefer that David remain in obscurity.

... Had not Samuel asked Jesse about having other sons, David would not have been seen by Samuel.

[I’m not sure I agree with Maclaren on this but he writes of Jesse’s preference for David’s obscurity]

”David's insignificance in Jesse's eyes was such that his father would never have remembered his existence but for the question" (Maclaren).

....And David's brothers desired his obscurity even more. This attitude of the brothers comes out later when David was sent on a mission to take supplies to his three older brothers in the war which eventually resulted in David killing Goliath. When Eliab heard David visiting with some of the soldiers about Goliath, Eliab got angry and said to David, "Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle" (I Samuel 17:28). Eliab preferred that David remain home stuck out in the fields of obscurity with the sheep.

He was obscured in and because of his profession as a shepherd.

Even though sheep are the most frequently mentioned animals in the Bible (nearly 400 references) and the figure of the shepherd received approximately one hundred references.

Shepherds were not the highest paid occupation. They were considered menial and lower caste,

Shepherds were providers, guides, protectoers of the sheep, they were inseparable from their flocks.

Shepherds work is demanding, solitary and sometimes dangerous (David will later tell King Saul that he had fought off a lion and a bear 1 Sam 17:34-35)

Psalm 78 probably written by Asaph a prophet during David’s reign states: Psalm 78:70-72

Psalm 78:70–72 KJV 1900

70 He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds: 71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him To feed Jacob his people, And Israel his inheritance. 72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

God often used Shepherds to bring to leadership - we may talk more about this later - but obscurity is often a prerequisite for notoriety in God’s work

Butler remarks that David’s obscurity was a providential obscurity, I resonated with what he says,

... Obscurity is not a curse. Anyone who knows anything about the problems of being in the limelight will readily recognize the advantages of obscurity. But the advantage is a lot more than just being away from the demands of the public. It affords much opportunity for meditation and study and the development of one's skills. Therefore, David's obscurity was very providential in that "his solitary shepherd life taught him many precious lessons, and... gave him the priceless gift of solitude, which is the nurse of piety, heroism, and religion" (Maclaren). God was preparing David for the throne, and the first preparation had to do with the heart. Obscurity can be a great advantage for this vital preparation. - Butler

Thousands of years later Paul would write of this great truth:

1 Corinthians 1:26 KJV 1900

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

Charles Swindoll reminds us:

“Men and women of God, servant-leaders in the making, are first unknown, unseen, unappreciated, and unapplauded. In the quiet context of obscurity, character is built. Strange as it may seem, those who first accept the silence of obscurity are best qualified to handle the applause of popularity.”

Obscurity however does not imply that “David was just sitting out on some hilltop in a mystic haze, composing a great piece of music, or relaxing in the pastures of Judea and having a great time training those sheep to sit on their hind legs. " (Charles Swindoll Great Days with the Great Lives)

Next lesson I want to talk about the backstory and series of event that has brought us to this point in the scriptures but for now I want us to focus on the thought about David that he goes from obscurity to notoriety in just a few moments.

While we have emphasized David’s obscurity I want to spend a little time talking about his rise to notoriety.

While Samuel was not given David’s name, and Jesse didn’t even think to call him to go to church with them - God knew who he was. God had his eye on him for quite a while

And let me just talk a little about what his rise to notoriety caused:

David is mentioned a thousand times in the Bible

That is more than Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses

Second only to Jesus (mentioned a thousand two hundred times)

F. B. Meyer points out:

Sweet singer of the world;

ancestor of Christ;

founder of a dynasty of kings;

a prophet,

inspired and taught,

The Old Testament author says of David

1 Kings 15:5 KJV 1900

5 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

So long as time lasts David must always enlist affection and command respect.

F. B. Meyer, David: Shepherd, Psalmist, King, (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1895), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 5.

Wells Bible Atlas David

David is the greatest of the kings of Israel, and his reign changed the whole face of Hebrew history.

David’s looks are mentioned in the Bible: only about 15 characters in the Bible are given a physical description...

1 Samuel 16:12 “...Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to.”

David might have been obscure, but he seemed to have been handsome and good looking

Now the word “ruddy” means “red” and refers to his complexion or appearance

it could mean he was really tan, or browned by the sun or sun burned

It could also refer to him being of a light complexion with rosy checks or of a youthful vitality look.

Of a beautiful countenance - seems to be referring to having beautiful eyes.

Wells Bible Atlas David

He was of short stature, with auburn hair. In later life he wore beard. His bright eyes are specially mentioned in

David as obscure as he was, must have been a handsome young man - many speculate at this anointing (now he will be anointed two other times during his reign) that he was likely between the ages of 10 and 18 years old.

“There are specific promises given to the tribe of Judah and to David, who was from the tribe of Judah and was the son of Jesse,”

“Genesis 49:10 says, ‘The scepter will not depart from Judah,’

while Isaiah 11:1 says, ‘A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.’

The term ‘Branch’ is commonly used to refer to the Messiah. It’s said there would be a lasting kingship through David.

The Lord declares in Jeremiah 23:5 that he will raise up from David’s line ‘a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely.’ ”

“When we get to Isaiah, we see references to the servant of the Lord.

A number of these verses are also recognized as referring to the Messiah in some ancient Jewish traditions.

Isaiah 42 says he will not falter until he brings justice to the earth.

Isaiah 49 says the servant has the mission of regathering the tribes of Israel to bring them back to God. The servant feels as if he failed in his mission, but God says not only will he ultimately regather Israel, but he adds in Isaiah 49:6, ‘I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Then there is the most famous messianic passage of all—Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12. “These verses say the Messiah will be highly exalted but first will suffer terribly. He will actually be disfigured in his suffering,” ... the narrative says the people of Israel didn’t get it. They thought he was suffering for his own sins and wickedness; they didn’t realize he was bearing their sins, suffering on their behalf, and by his wounds there was healing for them. Then it speaks of his death and his continued life after that.

Lee Strobel (2012-01-03T16:45:27+00:00). The Case for the Real Jesus (Kindle Locations 3498-3499). Kindle Edition.

We see that Samuel was, shall we say exhorted or admonished, not to let his eyes do the choosing for him.

1 Samuel 16:7 KJV 1900

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.

David’s outward appearance was obscured but his heart had gained the notoriety of heaven

His heart was obviously different than his brothers.

David’s Inner Life: —the very thing God saw. As handsome as David might have been, it must have paled in comparison to what his heart looked like.

I talked about his obscurity as a shepherd - but that provided time for spiritual formation. Its in those times that no doubt his heart was formed to become a “heart after God’s own heart”

All of those things that David learned in the field? Silence. Stillness. Solitude. Songwriting. Lion-fighting.

They shaped David’s heart

Our time spent with God in prayer, in meditation, in reading, in communion with God has a way of shaping our heart

Paul put it this way Gal 4:19

Galatians 4:19 KJV 1900

19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Yes “The Lord looketh on the heart.”

That should cause us to Ask oursleves: “What does God see in our hearts when no one else is watching?” when we are in obscurity?

But now the nobody that nobody noticed, is becoming the somebody everybody knows - From Obscurity to Notoriety

Samuel - in what could have been considered an act of treason - takes the horn of oil - probably a rams horn with a cap in the end. (ram’s horns are naturally hollow or are easily hollowed out) and he pours this oil upon David in symbol of what God was going to do.

Man appoints - but God anoints - Samuel would have gladly appointed the first son to be king - but God wanted to anoint David

Samuel takes the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren:

“That oil, warm and fragrant, flowed down David’s young brow—but it carried more than scent. It carried destiny. It carried the weight of a kingdom. It was heaven’s yes poured out on earth’s least.”

then I love how the scripture tells us

1 Samuel 16:13 KJV 1900

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Lets give some CONTEXT: What Led to This Moment?

King Saul had just been rejected by God due to his disobedience (1 Sam. 15).

God sends Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king.

David, the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons, is unexpectedly chosen.

This verse records the divine empowerment and spiritual shift that occurred the moment Samuel anointed David.

“The Spirit of the Lord Came Upon David”

representing divine power, presence, and life.

This is the Holy Spirit, God's active, empowering presence.

"Came upon" (or “rushed upon,” some translations) indicates a sudden, decisive endowment.

Indicates permanence and continuity, in contrast with Saul:

Saul received the Spirit temporarily (1 Sam. 10:10) but lost it due to disobedience (1 Sam. 16:14).

David receives the Spirit permanently, marking him as God's true, chosen vessel.

🔥 THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

1. Empowerment for Kingship

Though David would not be king for many years, this anointing marked the beginning of his spiritual authority.

The Spirit was not just symbolic — it equipped David with:

Wisdom (Proverbs 8:15–16),

Courage (e.g., facing Goliath),

Favor (1 Sam. 18:14),

Spiritual sensitivity (e.g., his psalms and worship).

2. Foreshadowing of Christ

David is a type of Christ, and this moment parallels Jesus’ baptism:

The Spirit descends on Jesus (Matt. 3:16),

He is anointed not with oil, but with the Holy Spirit and power (Acts 10:38).

Both are Spirit-anointed kings, chosen by God, rejected by man, and destined for eternal rule.

3. Contrast with Saul

The very next verse says: 1 Samuel 16:14 “14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.”

This contrast is critical:

David rises as God's Spirit-filled servant,

Saul declines, becoming spiritually tormented.

Some takeaways: We may be obscure but one thing is for sure - we are known in heaven. God sees and knows right where we are

Walk in the anointing God has given you (we are made a kingdom of priests and kings denoting we all have an anointing) Keep it on your life don’t let disobedience or a sour attitude drive it away from you.

In closing, let me remind you

David did not audition for the crown.

He wasn’t campaigning, posturing, or positioning.

He was worshiping in the wilderness, guarding sheep, and singing songs to a God who knew his name.

And while the world looked past him—God looked into him.

Let me tell you something tonight: your obscurity is not your disqualification; it's your preparation!

You might be tending sheep, unseen by men—but you’re being trained by the Master.

Heaven sees what earth ignores.

Heaven calls what man overlooks. And when the horn of oil comes, when the Spirit rushes upon you, you won’t have to knock down doors—God will swing them open!

So hold fast, don’t cast away your confidence! Don’t despise the field where you’ve been placed. Don’t curse the silence—it’s the furnace of your future.

If you’re walking with integrity in obscurity, you're walking toward divine notoriety.

Let God find you faithful on the backside of the hill. Because in one moment, God can send His prophet, pour out His oil, and raise up a king!

Tonight I ask you: What is your Bethlehem field? Where has God hidden you? What is He shaping in your heart? Whatever it is—He’s not done. He’s just getting started.

Let us rise, lift our voices in prayer, and say, “Lord, if you’re looking for a heart like David’s—look no further. Here am I. Anoint me. Use me. Prepare me. For Your glory alone.”