#5 - Kings & Kingdoms (2)

CAT scan of the Heart

Computerized Axial Tomography, it can be used to examine your heart and blood vessels for problems. It’s also used to identify whether blood vessels in the brain have been affected by stroke.

What kind of things do people look for when they’re voting for national leaders? Charisma? Good looks? Dynamism? Good speaking abilities? Human beings can’t help but be impressed by certain outward leadership abilities.

The Lord, however, isn’t impressed by surface competence; rather, the Lord looks at the heart (v. 7).

In this passage we’re introduced, for the first time, to David, the man after God’s own heart (13:14). 1 Samuel began with a corrupt priesthood, led by Eli, then it moved to Samuel, God’s appointed judge.

Now something similar happens: Saul, the rejected king, gives way to the Lord’s chosen king, David. Saul declines in power while David is raised up to the throne. David isn’t the natural choice, though – even God’s prophet can’t see why he should be king (vv. 6–12)!

1 Samuel 16:1–13 NIV

1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 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.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

We’re reminded that the Lord doesn’t do things according to man’s wisdom (v. 7). Of course, this is pointing us to the true king, Jesus, the man of sorrows rejected by men

Isaiah 53:3–4 NIV

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

Reject what God Rejects

1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”

You expect Samuel to mourn over Saul and his sin but mourning alone will not solve problems.

1st Corinthians 5:1-2 2 You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove this man from your fellowship.

There Comes A Time for Action.

Joshua 7:10 NIV

10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?

See as God Sees (V7)

1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

How strange that Samuel had not learned his lesson after the failure of Saul. God told Samuel that he would tell him the men of his choice but the old man was tempted to run ahead of the Lord.

Proverbs 4:23 NIV

23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

The heart determines the life and only God can see the heart

When people judge by outward appearance, they may Overlook quality individuals who lack the particular physical qualities society currently admires.

Appearance doesn't reveal what people are really like or what their True Value is.

Fortunately, God judges us by faith and character, not appearances. end because only God can see on the inside, only he can accurately judge people.

Most people spend hours each week maintaining their outward appearance; they should do even more to develop their inner character.

while everyone can see your face, only you and God know what your heart really looks like. What steps are you taking to improve your heart's attitude?

Let God do the Rest

1 Samuel 16:19–21 NIV

19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul. 21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.

19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, the shepherd.” 20Jesse responded by sending David to Saul, along with a young goat, a donkey loaded with bread, and a wineskin full of wine. 21So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer.

Samuel anointed David to be king and then departure from Bethlehem, for his work there was done.

How would a Shepherd boy get from the fields to the throne?

That was not Samuels responsibility God would see to it.

LET God do the rest!

God used David's music skill to bring him into the Kingdom's presence.

Though outwardly Saul is still king and David is still a shepherd, a radical change has happened. They are utterly different men before God. Saul was once a man of the Spirit (10:10), but is now afflicted only by evil spirits (v. 14). David, on the other hand, is the Lord’s anointed, filled with the Spirit (v. 13). Through God’s remarkable sovereign control of events (see 9:1–24), David ends up in Saul’s palace (vv. 15–21).

Ironically, the true, unacknowledged, Spirit-filled king is the one who brings comfort to the rejected, tormented, ruling king (v. 23).

1 Samuel 16:23 NKJV

23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

We see the Lord’s mercy to Saul in this, but, above all, we see the weakness of the visible ruling king versus the spiritual strength of the hidden king.

Conclusion

We shouldn’t be fooled by appearances. Jesus, though hidden, really is reigning as the risen king. His true power and glory is obscured to the world at the moment, but it doesn’t make it any less real.

That should bolster our faith and teach us not to live by appearances in our day-to-day lives.