4.6.33 7.12.2020 David: How to Be Noticed. 1 Samuel 16

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Entice: Maybe more than any other Bible hero we know, or think we know: We know David. We share knowledge of his life experiences from late adolescence to his death and beyond. We know his Grandparents story along with tall tales and small memories of remarkable spiritual depth and simplicity.

If anyone in the Bible was heroic

surely it was David.

He punished God's enemies

He led God’s People

He selected a place for God's temple.

He structured and scored that worship

He wrote songs and poetry of great spiritual depth, maturity, and realism

He modeled faithfulness & repentance

Engage: How did he rise to the forefront. How did he get noticed? How was he discovered? What was his big break? And more importantly, how can you and I be noticed by God? How can we be discovered by those who deploy workers to the task? How can we get our "big break".

1 Samuel 16:1–23 ESV

1 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.” 2 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.’ 3 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.” 4 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?” 5 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. 6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 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.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 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.” 12 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.” 13 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. 14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. 15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 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.” 17 So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” 18 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.” 19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” 20 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. 21 And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 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.

Expand: In this text-and throughout his life-David displayed integrity, maturity, flexibility, and spiritual depth. He was fully committed to being a well-rounded, capable, usable individual to his family, community, and God. He He got this way through commitment and preparation. He worked. He grew. He chose excellence, responsibility, and fidelity to God.

Excite: The big break is more a matter of

labor than luck.

Being discovered is a matter of

commitment not coincidence.

God notices those who first notice Him

and who respond to the guidance of His word and the prompting of the Spirit.

Explore:

If you want to be noticed by God, and useful to Him in serving others you have to commit and prepare your entire person.

Explain: If you want to be noticed and used by God-David models for us a the right mix of attributes

His first attribute is an

1. Attitude of Service

He demonstrated…

1.1 A Shepherd’s heart.

Responsible

Flexible

Leading Feeding Protecting

to that shepherd’s heart he added

1.2 Confidence without arrogance.

Solitary…but not alone.

Respect…not resentment.

Next David had

2. Ability

He had… (a)

2.1 Godly heart v 7

2.2 Gifted hands

Physically v 12 Artistically 18 Militarily 18 Culturally 18 Socially 18 Spiritually 18

The final attribute is often hardest, he was

3. Adaptable

He was a…

3.1 Youngest son.

3.2 Trusted shepherd.

3.3 Reliable Subordinate.

34 Spiritual companion.

Choosing to be the one God Chooses

We can never have too many people who have an attitude of service. We need commited servants who choose to be more capable, who choose to improve their skills and abilities, who are unafraid to be both godly and good at what they do. We will always, always, always need people who are willing to drive outside their lane to fulfill different rolls as they are needed.

We need you! God needs you! There are people in this community who are depending on your service.

If you want to get noticed make your faith un-hide able. If you want to be discovered develop skills which are critical. If you want that big break be ready to be whatever God needs you to be. We don't need a new David We need the best you God made you to be.