A Study in the Life of David: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Acts 13:22 NKJV

22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

Why is David a beloved Bible character?

Can you name/describe some of the stories in David’s life?

“…more has been written about David than about any other biblical character. Abraham has some fourteen chapters dedicated to his life, and so does Joseph. Jacob has eleven. Elijah has ten. But do you have any idea how many are dedicated to David? Sixty-six… and that does not include some fifty-nine references to his life in the New Testament.” (Swindoll, 1997, p. 4).

To understand David we need to understand destiny. Destiny, implies something foreordained and often suggests a great or noble course or end. Of the famous stories in scripture, the life of David comes to mind.

David was a shepherd, a son, a servant, a poet, a songwriter, a singer, a warrior, a skilled musician, a king, a husband, a father, and a faithful follower of God.

While it would be easy to idealize David and placed him on a pedestal, God was intentional in assuring that David’s entire life was included scripture. He did not gloss over his mistakes and he did not make him out to be more than he was.

I recently heard a song entitled, Ordinary People. These are the lyrics:

Peter had a temper. Thomas had his doubts. Jacob was a liar and Jonah headed south. Martha had her worries and Sarah was too old. David wasn’t faithful and Moses wasn’t bold.

I used to see them as stain glassed saints they seemed almost divine. Now I see them as flesh and blood with a heart a lot like mine

People like me in the hands of a gracious God, and though He sees where I’ve been and what I’m not. O what a wonder, what a beautiful mystery that he chooses and uses people like me

How is David like us?

How is David different than us?

As we study through David’s life we will see that God used him, in spite of himself to fulfill the destiny the Lord had for him.

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Background

To understand where David comes into the Biblical picture, let’s understand where God’s people were at this point in history. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they lived in peace until Joshua died.

Upon the death of Joshua and his entire generation, Israel entered into a cycle of sin that would grip them for nearly four centuries. They would sin, face the consequences, cry out to God, He would give them a judge to deliver them, and they would live for God through the remainder of the judge’s life.

Samuel was the final judge/prophet in Israel before the era of the kings. By this point Israel was on a long drift from God. They went to Samuel and accused him of being too old and they did not trust his sons.

Samuel prayed and the Lord showed him that the people were not against Samuel but against the Lord. God allowed them to have their way, even though it was not His will.

Why does God allow us to have our way even when it is not what He would want us to have/do?

What problems come with having our way instead of God’s way?

Saul became king and at first it was promising. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he seemed to be successful. But Saul was thin-skinned, hot-tempered, and given to seasons of depression.

By the time David was born, Saul had been king for ten years. Saul continuously ignored God’s instructions. He listened to the voice of the people instead of the voice of God. God determined that Saul was no longer fit to be king.

By this point, David was growing and unbeknownst to him, he was training and preparing for his destiny. God was about to radically change his life with a visit from the prophet Samuel.

Story

Why would Samuel be sad? Why did God tell him to stop mourning?

By this point, King Saul was in rebellion, but he had power in Israel. God instructed Samuel to fill his horn with oil and go anoint a new king.

In Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit did not live in everybody, He was reserved for a select group of people. In order to show that the Spirit was leading an individual, the prophet would come and anoint the person.

“The word for ‘oil’ in this passage means, ‘God’s character and nature in the capability of imparting it.’ In other words, God’s divine anointing oil represented His creative ability inside a man’s life. God was saying, ‘I am giving him a measure of My nature and character, My spiritual genetics, to become and to accomplish that to which I’ve called him.’” (Cottle, 1996, xi).

This was not the first time Samuel anointed a king. He did this with Saul nearly two decades before and now he had to do it again. The problem was he loved Saul and it broke his heart that Saul had not stayed faithful to the Lord.

He questioned God as to what he was to say to Jesse and who would be the next king? But God showed him, I have already provided for myself a king. God had set David apart from birth for this specific task.

He was preparing David and soon He would present Himself to David as the One who would enable him to do all God called him to do. The only problem? David was the last person on their mind.

When Jesse saw the prophet with his horn of oil, they knew what it meant. He was on assignment from God to select someone to do something special for the Lord. Naturally Jesse called the oldest and strongest son. But the Lord spoke to Samuel, “I do not look at the outward appearance.”

Why is it good to know God does not judge based on what others think about us?

David was an afterthought. But God had not forgotten Him. God knew David, his faithfulness, and his determination to serve the Lord. The family had no idea, but God was preparing him and training him for his destiny.

Why did God choose David instead of the likely choices, the older brothers?

Because God cares about character. David was becoming a man after God’s own heart, but also David was humble. While the brothers sought to garner the attention of the prophet, David was counting the sheep, making sure they were all there. He was defending his father’s flock from potential threats.

God noticed David and marked him for His purposes. Samuel poured the oil on David’s head in front of the entire family. They all knew what this meant. Immediately the Holy Spirit came upon David from that day forward!

Application

There is a reason God included David’s entire story in scripture. He could have just highlighted the good things and omitted the bad, but God included it all. Why? So that we might have a model.

God has a destiny for each of us. Unlike David’s day where only a few were able to be filled with God’s Spirit to enable them to fulfill the plan God has for them, because of the cross, we live under God’s grace. Accompanying God’s grace is the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

The anointing is not something we feel, it is something we are. When we are saved, God sets us apart, anoints us, to fulfill the destiny He desires for us.

Why is it important to know we have a God-given destiny?

How is faithfulness a part of seeing God fulfill His destiny in our lives?

How can we be people of the Spirit, of character, and integrity in a world that does not value these important attributes?

Why do character and integrity go hand-in-hand?

Challenge

Let’s take time this week to think of how we are alike

David. If we think we know the destiny and plan God has for us, ask the Lord show you how to be faithful in the process.

If you do not know the destiny God has for you, ask the Lord to show and help you understand His plan for your life.

Look for ways to be people of the Spirit, always walking with character and integrity.

Read 1 Samuel 16:14-23