God Directs, David Submits

God Directs, David Submits - 1 Samuel 16

There’s something in God’s word for you today that is nothing less than paradigm-shifting, earth-shattering, turn-your-world-rightside-up truth. - An amazing and exciting truth hit me this week from this text in ch. 16 of 1 Samuel. It’s not like it’s secret. It’s big and it’s blatant, but it had never hit me before with such clarity and force. So I have one goal this morning: to help you be as joyfully overwhelmed by it as I am. And this couldn’t be more important, so stay awake and listen! :-)

Here it is: What made the heart of David special? Submission. (Relational nearness to God is a major factor in the life of David… of that their can be no doubt. But we learn of that in other texts, especially in his psalms. But here there is another quality that is so important, which becomes our focus today—David’s submissive heart. By the way, the two are not disconnected. A submissive child responds to God when he says, “draw near to me and I will draw near to you.” David’s submission is connected with his relational closeness to God.) - That probably doesn’t sound like much yet, but the evidence and importance of David’s submissive spirit will begin to dawn like the morning sun for the attentive heart. I aim to present you with the evidence of it in the text so that you’ll see and relish the truth of it, feeling the importance of learning submission in your own heart.

PRAY: God, we plead for your intervention so that we won’t take this lightly. You know us and you know our frailty. But God we long to know you and your sufficiency. Make us humble so that we will see your goodness and submit to your command. Thank you for Jesus. We love you. Amen.

Where are we in the narrative in 1 Samuel? —> Because of his persistent disobedience, Saul is being deposed as king of Israel. In fact, God has already chosen his replacement. The first-time reader doesn’t know who it is yet, and Samuel doesn’t even know, but we’re about to find out.

What we do know is that…

“This one had already been identified as “a man after [God’s] own heart” (13:14) and “one of [Saul’s] neighbors” who was “better than” he (15:28).” - Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 447). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 16:1–13

David had been chosen from eternity past to be ruler of Israel. The rejection of Saul did not force the LORD to a new course of action. Rather, God’s action followed His omniscient plan in such a way as to use Saul’s disobedience as the human occasion for implementing His higher plan.

When we last left our two primary human characters, Samuel had informed Saul that because he continued to faithlessly disobey God, God had rejected him as king. So Israel’s first king and the prophet who had anointed him formally part ways, further symbolizing the break between God and Saul. For Samuel, what was initially anger over Saul’s sin has now turned to mourning, as he laments Saul’s failure and its impact on God’s people Israel.

Let’s pick up there in ch. 16.

1 Samuel 16:1–3 ESV

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.”

God resets Samuel’s discouraged heart. (vv. 1-3)

God is so gracious to reassure us and to give us clear direction. (A sovereign and sympathetic God directing the ways of men…)

Resetting a Discouraged Heart — What to do when discouraged? - Seek God and wait for his direction. (wait upon the Lord means to trust in and listen to… waiting expectantly with confident hope… trusting God’s character and goodness) —> a complete dependence on God and a willingness to allow Him to decide the terms, including the timing of His plan...

Samuel’s fear and God’s plan to get him to Bethlehem:

This was a true but incomplete statement of the reasons for Samuel to come to Bethlehem (see v. 1), and yet the Lord told him to say it, so it should not be considered morally wrong. It seems that telling part of what one knows to be true, in order to conceal other information, is morally right in some situations, particularly adversarial situations such as this one. Moreover, the Lord had the right to hide his intentions from Saul, who had proved himself faithless. - Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 517). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 16:1–13

God did not tell Samuel to be deceptive, but rather to combine the anointing with the business of sacrificing

So God gives Samuel direction and reassurance. What then does Samuel do?

1 Samuel 16:4–5 ESV

Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

Why do they fear? - Samuel is also judge over the people, and no doubt they have heard what happened with Agag. Or perhaps they know of Samuel’s split from Saul and wonder what Samuel coming to them might mean for them concerning Saul.

But the main thing I want you to see here is that...

Samuel submits to God’s direction. (vv. 4-5)

It wasn’t as though the danger had gone away (the threat of Saul finding out), even though he now had another reason to be in Bethlehem. But God’s care and command brought reassurance and confidence in obeying the voice of the Lord. - What about you?

How do you reset your heart and mind in the midst of discouragement, worry, and fear? - Focus on God’s character and obey God’s commands.

How do you regain courage and get back to the task God has given? - Focus on God’s character and obey God’s commands.

How do we deal with the fact that we even disappoint (and sometimes hurt) one another in the body of Christ? (missionaries greatest difficulty is their team) - Focus and God’s character and obey God’s commands. This is a heart of submission. Have a heart of submission.

Let’s continue.

1 Samuel 16:6–12 ESV

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”

The youngest’s name is still not even spoken here! :-) His name is David. He tends sheep for his dad. - Being a shepherd was usually the task of a trustworthy servant. Perhaps Jesse was not wealthy enough to have any or many servants, so the task fell to the youngest son. - What does this youngest son seem to do? Joyfully and submissively serve in the role of shepherd for his family.

In contrast to Saul (and Eliab here), David is chosen not for being built like Duane the Rock Johnson but for what’s inside of him—the inner man, which only God sees with accuracy. So even as the young shepherd’s appearance is given, it is less consequential… that he is "smaller,” perhaps kinda blonde or red-haired (or bronze-skinned) “ruddy,” with attractive eyes and attractive features. (One might readily surmise that its his disposition which enhances these moderately attractive physical qualities.) Nonetheless, the point is clear that such an external focus is far from the point. - This was the one of whom God prophesied earlier in 13:14, “a man after his own heart.”

God selects for service one whose heart is submissive to him. (vv. 6-12)

(worshipful, willing, dependable, and teachable… even David’s courage comes from a submissive willingness to be used by God)

Let’s be sure not to confuse God’s selection for service as the same thing as God’s choosing for salvation. - Again, this wasn’t because David was perfect and therefore chosen by God. No, but David had the central quality needed for useful service to God—a submissive heart. David trusted God and submitted. (Again, I believe that we learn too from other texts, particularly David’s psalms, that he had a relational closeness to God, which is central to his trust in God. But in our text today what is most prominent is his submissive spirit.)

Are you submissive to God and his truth over your own opinions? Are you submissive to God by being submissive to authority in your life? Are you submissive to God by pursuing obedience and excellence in whatever tasks he has given you to do… right now?

People look at the pastoral transition here at BBC and go, “wow, guys that’s really neat… wish it could happen more often in more places.” - Can I tell you the obvious secret that this text shows us? All it takes is a heart of submission. Do you know why you don’t see Rich and I fighting and grabbing for power? In our aim to be submissive to God, we are submissive to the team of elders we serve with and to this church body. People might say, “What a spirit of humility!” And I say, “Praise the Lord! We’re just trying to submit to God and to our leadership and be used of God for his glory. That’s all. Praise the Lord!”

Our goal then should be to first belong to God, and then to grow in having a submissive spirit to be of useful service for His kingdom.

God also doesn’t just give us a task and then leave us to our own devices. As we’ve said before, but here again, we submit our head and hands and feet to his use; God provides the power.

1 Samuel 16:13 ESV

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 16:1–13

Later David was anointed king over Judah (2 Sam. 2:4) and then over Israel (2 Sam. 5:3).

But here he is anointed only semi-publicly and empowered by the Spirit for the purpose of becoming king.

God empowers whom he selects. (v. 13)

(Or) Empowers for service in the way he directs…

Again, try not to mix up New and Old Testament roles of the Spirit of God. Here and elsewhere, the Spirit of God rushed upon (came upon a person in power) to enable them with supernatural wisdom and ability to carry out the task assigned. David’s continued submission would ensure the Holy Spirit’s continued empowering for service. - To us, those who by faith belong to Christ, God gives the indwelling Holy Spirit, who will never depart from his own. He is the seal guaranteeing us as God’s possession. However, what is similar is that our effectiveness in ministry for the tasks God has given depend on our submission to the Spirit’s leading in our lives.

Too many times we behave like we don’t have what it takes. If you have God, you have PLENTY! In Christ Jesus, God is sufficient to make you his own and he is more than sufficient to empower you to live for him and be active in his mission. What’s your role? Submit. Trust and obey.

I need this so much! If I am submitting to God’s direction, then I can have courage to obey him and allow him to bless others through me.

In the context of the influence of the Spirit on God’s anointed, the focus shifts back to Saul:

1 Samuel 16:14–17 ESV

Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.” So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.”

Clearly, it’s no coincidence that the writer goes straight from the Lord’s presence with David to the Spirit’s departure from Saul. - Saul’s choosing to do things his way instead of God’s way, his disobedience unveiling his insincere worship of God... results in his family losing the kingdom, then himself being doomed to be dethroned, and now the removal of the Spirit of God which empowered him to lead Israel. And in the absence of God’s powerful presence with him, it gets worse…

God permits an evil spirit to torment Saul’s rebellious heart. (vv. 14-17)

Admittedly, this is a challenging concept: Evil with God’s Permission

(Dave Guzik) There are two senses in which God may send something. He may send something in the active sense or He may send something in a passive sense. Actively, God never initiates or performs evil; He is the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17). Passively, God may withdraw the hand of His protection and therefore allow evil to come, without being the source of the evil itself.

Secondly, this is more than Saul feeling sullen, even distinct from depression (things that Saul may also have experienced). This is a spiritual attack from outside of him impacting and intensifying his own morbid self-interest. - This is a scary warning. If we don’t have the true Spirit of God, and even (or especially) if we are then feeling at all spiritual, who is certainly the source of that twisted spirituality disguised as light? Satan and his fallen angels. - But then too it is a great encouragement to those who are in Christ by faith, who are sealed with the Holy Spirit indwelling every true believer. Even if Satan should attack us, and he certainly does, it is never more than what the Christian can bear because of Christ in us (1 Cor. 10:13… to escape and endure).

When you’re not under God’s care and direction by faith, you’re directly in the path of Satan and wickedness and headed straight for destruction.

By the way, it is NOT a forgone conclusion that you should stay that way! (Saul did not repent but that does not mean that he could not.) Christ died as an atonement for sin to save wayward souls. But you have to stop your stubborn rejection of God’s command like Saul and submit to God in obedience: Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! (Yes, it does mean rejecting your way… which is really Satan’s way, and accepting God’s way completely and unreservedly.)

Saul is miserable in this state of mind, and he needs a solution for when it gets really bad. The solution they come up with is soothing, uplifting music. - I don’t claim to be an expert in this, but no doubt music can have a profound impact on your mood and state of mind. I know there’s music that is calming. I know there is music that is encouraging, lifts my spirits. There’s music that kinda peaks our creativity, or music that challenges us musically. I know there is music that gets me bouncing (feel like dancing). I imagine there’s music that makes us feel sullen, feeds our wallowing. (although I try not to listen to it… I think, I don’t need that… the same with the next) I imagine there’s music that presses us into anger, even a rebellious spirit. - All of that is incredibly interesting, and we’re not even talking about the LYRICS (the impact of the words on us). [Just because I say it’s good for me or that it’s harmless doesn’t mean it actually is. We need wisdom, for certain.]

Not only is uplifting music the suggested solution, but we see that Saul’s servants even have a recommended candidate:

1 Samuel 16:18–23 ESV

One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.” Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.

This is God’s directing, his providential oversight 100%. Not only is being a shepherd actually good training for David, but he will now also become acclimated to the king’s court. He’ll learn the ropes and undoubtedly observe and ponder ways in which he considers that a man in submission to God should and should not govern.

Furthermore, “The Holy Spirit empowered David to drive away the evil spirit that overwhelmed Saul (v. 23).” - Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 448). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

What’s David’s role though? What does David apparently do? Joyfully and submissively go and serve Saul by playing his music. (We learn in the next chapter that he does BACK and FORTH to keep helping out with his dad’s sheep too! David’s servant spirit sets him apart. He’s a neat guy. We’d like being around him.) Here’s why:

David’s submission to God is a blessing to men. (vv. 18-23)

We should desire God’s approval and to be a blessing more than we desire position or accolades from men. - A servant heart, a submissive spirit… is a blessing to others.

For example, I can be a good father or a bad one. I can be a terrible father if I rule my household in anger and tyranny. I can also be a rotten father if I don’t do enough to intentionally shepherd my family… just letting life happen, hoping they turn out ok or that they’ll listen to some of the stuff said at church… on the days that we actually prioritize gathering with God’s people. - BUT… I can be a real blessing from God on my family if I submit to the Holy Spirit in my life and obey the commands of God. Then I will take my responsibility seriously, I will prioritize it, I will hate the sin in my life and in the life of those I lead, I will make it my highest aim to be the best example of a godly man that I can, I will train them in what is most significant for life and eternity… you get my point. (Man, I needed to write that… and stop and pray that God would make me more submissive to him in the responsibilities he both gives but empowers me to accomplish for his glory.)

Wives, you have such a privilege of submission to the husbands God has given you to help and encourage. - It’s not different than any form of submission in which we participate as believers—submission to governing authorities and laws of the land, to church leaders, to bosses at work, to Christ, to one another (honoring one another above ourselves)… It is a privilege in Christ and a testimony to Christ. - And it is a blessing to our families, churches, even the communities in which we live.

Grandparents… or elder generation: You can be petty and nag, or you can wisely and helpfully encourage and challenge to be a blessing. There really is quite a difference, and most of it has to do with the spirit in which you seek to share your thoughts.

Those are just a few examples. We could think of many more. You should try to do that on your own or with others. In what ways can God use us to be a blessing to others? What’s a hindrance to it? And what’s a help to it?

[Summary & Conclusion]

David’s secret was submission. Samuel too. But it’s NOT A SECRET! We just need to pay attention to see how important it is... and grow in a submissive spirit.

Let me suggest that you will...

Find rest and peace in the sovereign, caring direction of God. Find purpose and enrichment in submitting to God and his ways.

God directs. Are we submitting to God’s sovereign direction?

It’s seems all too easy that we should forget who is actually ruling and directing—God.

What’s our greatest hindrance to joyful submission? Our own willfulness. (We think it’s our circumstances, but it’s our willfulness.)

(Matthew Henry) “If men make God's glory their end, and his will their rule, he will direct their steps by his Spirit and grace.”

[Towards communion]

Samuel and Jesse’s family participated in a sacrificial meal, and now we’re going to do that as well, in remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus met the standard (of God’s righteousness and atoned completely for our sin) and became the standard (for us to follow) in perfect submission to God’s will. “It was His submission and obedience to the Father which set Him apart, along with the fact that He perfectly fulfilled the prophecies concerning Messiah.” (Deffinbaugh)

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

[Serve and take communion.]

Philippians 2:9–11 ESV

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Closing: Let’s go make it our goal to submit to God in everything.

Benediction Prayer