The Call of God to Old Testament Characters. Lesson 9

The Call of God to Old Testament Characters

Lesson 9

Lesson Text—I Samuel 16:1

I Samuel 16:1And 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 Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

Lesson Text—I Samuel 16:4-6

I Samuel 16:4-64 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. 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.


I Samuel 16:7-97 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.


I Samuel 16:10-1210 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.

Lesson Text—I Samuel 16:13

I Samuel 16:13Then 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.

Focus Verse—Acts 13:22

Acts 13:22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he

gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which

shall fulfil all my will.

Focus Thought

God chooses to use people who

have the raw potential for greatness

and develop them for His glory.

I. David Was FaithfulCulture Connection

Developing a Heart for God

How do we become a person that God would say is a person “after [his] own heart”?

How do we develop a heart for God? The Navigators student organization at Iowa State University mentioned several important issues for a person to consider if he desires to develop a heart for God:

I. David Was Faithful“First, we must cultivate an attitude of repentance. Our relationship with God begins through repentance and it is improved in the same way. Second, we must avail ourselves of His grace. . . . Third, we must spend time with Him regularly, and make room in our devotions for Him to talk to us. Fourth, we must be confident of His character. . . . Fifth, we must make it a priority to worship Him continually. . . . Sixth, we must pursue Him with passion. Not just admire Him, but thirst after Him.

I. David Was FaithfulSeventh, we must be forgiving people. God has forgiven us; we must therefore forgive others. . . . Eighth, we must obey the Lord’s commands. If we love Him, we will be glad to do what He asks” (http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/navigators/bin/2008/Summer/01-AHeartforGod.pdf).

I. David Was FaithfulThis is not an exhaustive list, but it

certainly comprises a good foundation for those desiring to discipline themselves to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ. If we desire the call of God and the opportunity to pursue His will, we must determine to grow in His likeness and develop a heart for Him.

Transparency 1

I. David Was FaithfulContemplating the Topic

David was a man after God’s own heart. What a description of one’s character! What a model to emulate! Abraham was known as the friend of God, but the Lord described David as a man after God’s own heart. (See Acts 13:22.)

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

I. David Was FaithfulExcept for this simple description and David’s own testimony of killing a bear and a lion, we know very little of David’s early life. Had it not been for the voice of the Lord speaking to Samuel’s heart, the youngest son of Jesse may well have been overlooked.

When Jesse’s sons were called before Samuel, he thought surely Eliab, Jesse’s eldest, was the one to anoint as the future king of Israel. But the Lord instructed Samuel not to be deceived by outward appearance:

I. David Was Faithful“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” (I Samuel 16:7). God saw David’s inner qualities that identified the young shepherd as a man after God’s own heart.

Chuck Swindoll, in his book David: A Man of Passion and Destiny, described this youngest son of Jesse:

I. David Was Faithful“The only one in all of the Scriptures to be called ‘a man after God’s own heart,’ this single individual is mentioned more than any other Old Testament character in the pages of the New Testament. Poet, musician, courageous warrior, and national statesman, David distinguished himself as one of God’s greatest men. In battle, he modeled invincible confidence. In decisions, he judged with wisdom and equity. In loneliness, he wrote with transparent vulnerability and quiet trust.

I. David Was FaithfulIn friendship, he was loyal to the end. Whether a humble shepherd boy or an obscure musician before King Saul, he remained faithful and trustworthy. Even in his promotion to the highest position in the land, David modeled integrity and humility.”

With so many great characteristics from which to draw, this lesson will attempt to explore just a few.

I. David Was FaithfulSearching the Scriptures

David Was FaithfulAt a time when loyalty seems to be

in short supply, the life of David can serve as a model for our lives. Ahimelech the high priest, shortly before Saul ruthlessly murdered him, described David’s character: “Who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?”

(I Samuel 22:14).

I. David Was FaithfulAhimelech had nothing to gain personally by highlighting David’s faithfulness. In fact, it cost him his life.

Faithfulness stands out and speaks for itself. Too many Christians waste time trying to be great, when the secret to greatness is faithfulness. Being a shepherd may have been an isolated and unsung job, but the Lord knew exactly where David was. David was faithful even when unobserved by others. Jesus declared, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful

also in much” (Luke 16:10).

I. David Was FaithfulThe inner potential for greatness we

later see displayed openly in the life of David developed during the days of his faithfulness in places of lonely solitude.

Transparency 2

A. About His Father’s BusinessA. About His Father’s Business

When David received the call of God, he was faithfully tending to his father’s business. He was not lounging in his room fantasizing about becoming great. Instead, he busied himself with the work of his father. “Many a great genius lies buried in obscurity and contempt; and God often exalts those whom men despise and gives abundant honour to that part which lacked” (Matthew Henry, vol. 2, p. 367).

I. David Was FaithfulEvery child of God has been called

to be about his heavenly Father’s business. Jesus told a parable of a man of noble birth who traveled to a distant country, leaving some money in the care of his servants before returning later to reclaim it. “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). The message of that parable really was not about money but about the work of the church until Jesus returns. We must

be about our Father’s business.

I. David Was FaithfulThe growth and prosperity of

Apostolic churches in the past forty years has tempted many members to relax and enjoy the beauty and magnificence of our church buildings with stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings. As long as souls remain lost, we must be about our Father’s business. If we will busy ourselves with our Father’s work today, He will take care of our future tomorrow. “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great

men” (Proverbs 18:16).

I. David Was FaithfulWith so much kingdom work to be

done, there is no time to wait around for a desired position. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Whether maintaining and cleaning the church buildings and grounds, door knocking and witnessing, or teaching Bible studies, we must be about our Father’s business.

B. A Humble WorkerB. A Humble Worker

“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” (I Samuel 16:13).

I. David Was FaithfulIn David: A Man of Passion and

Destiny, Chuck Swindoll described the scene as David arrived from the field: “He walks into the house, still smelling like sheep, and all of a sudden an old man hobbles over and pours oil on his head. It drips down his hair and drops on his neck.” The change in David did not stem from knowing he was to be Israel’s king. Honor does not change the truly humble. The change took place in his spirit.

I. David Was FaithfulAs the Spirit of the Lord descended

upon David, an evil spirit from the Lord began to torment Saul. One of Saul’s servants suggested that soothing music would relieve Saul’s insane rages. Saul demanded, “Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.” The servant replied, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is

with him” (I Samuel 16:17-18).

I. David Was FaithfulWhere would they find this great

musician? Staging concerts from city to city? He had already been anointed king. Was he selecting his transition team? No. David had returned to the sheepfold with oil still dripping from his hair and garments. Just as Jessie knew where to find his son when Samuel called for him, Saul’s servant knew where they would find him. “Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep” (I

Samuel 16:19).

C. Developed His FaithC. Developed His Faith

David developed his faith while he kept busy about his father’s business. His understanding of the power in the name of the Lord did not come upon him for the first time when he faced Goliath.

I. David Was FaithfulHe related his past experiences to Saul: “Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: and I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear” (I Samuel 17:34-36).

I. David Was FaithfulYoung Christians may find God’s

training program too slow and laborious, but God knows we must learn to exercise our faith before we tackle a giant. Paul cautioned Timothy concerning the selection of elders: “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil” (I Timothy 3:6).

When the people of Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, the Lord gave them instructions that provide an analogy of Christian growth.

I. David Was Faithful“I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land”

(Exodus 23:27-30).

I. David Was FaithfulOur Lord knows exactly what we

can handle. If we extend ourselves beyond the limitations of our faith, Satan will attempt to destroy the work we have already accomplished. However, if we wait on God, He provides opportunities to test our faith little by little. And we can rest assured that He will not allow more to come upon us than we can bear. (See I Corinthians 10:13.)

II. David Feared the LordDavid Feared the Lord

Though David did not compose Psalm 111, he probably knew this psalm and sang it. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10). One of the reasons Solomon gave for compiling the proverbs of his day into what became known as the Book of Proverbs was that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). David’s fear of God was one of his finer characteristics.

A. When Facing the GiantA. When Facing the Giant

Goliath’s cursing and defiance of God infected the camp of Israel with fear. Instead of fearing the Lord, they feared the enemy.

In her book A Heart Like His: Intimate Reflections on the Life of David, Beth Moore observed: “You see, if a person fears God, he or she has no reason to fear anything else.

I. David Was FaithfulOn the other hand, if a person does not fear God, then fear becomes a way of life. David feared God so he did not fear Goliath. Saul did not fear God. Thus he feared the opinion of others, the enemy, and even a loyal young boy who played the harp.”

David’s motive in visiting the Israelites’ camp was not to seek personal glory, but a response to his father’s request.

I. David Was Faithful“Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; and carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge” (I Samuel 17:17-18). David saw a giant bedeviling Saul’s army and, operating in the fear of God, stepped to the front.

B. When Integrity Was TestedB. When Integrity Was Tested

There comes a time in the life of every believer when he must rely on principle alone for guidance. Often in that moment he has to stand alone while others rationalize their disregard of the principle. However, one cannot violate God’s principles without consequence. One such principle David refused to violate was “touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm” (I Chronicles 16:22).

I. David Was FaithfulSaul hunted David like a partridge, seeking to kill him. On one of these manhunts in the Desert of Engedi, Saul went by himself into a cave where

David and his men were hiding. David’s men reminded him of a promise the Lord had given him. “Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee” (I Samuel 24:4).

I. David Was FaithfulInstead of taking advantage of the moment and killing Saul, David did something that must have seemed extremely unusual to this group of ruffians David had developed into a fierce fighting force. “Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe” (I Samuel 24:4, NIV).

It seemed that David had every right to strike back in self-defense and take the life of his enemy. However, instilled deep in his conscience was this principle:

I. David Was Faithful“Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm” (I Chronicles 16:22). It would have been easy to justify that he had been anointed king and Saul had been deposed. But principle kept David from murdering God’s anointed and even smote his heart with conviction for cutting off the corner of Saul’s robe (I Samuel 24:5).

Later, an event in the Desert of Ziph again put David’s integrity to the test.

I. David Was FaithfulHe and Abishai crept into Saul’s camp as the king and his army slept. Not one of them woke “because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them” (I Samuel 26:12). Abishai stood over Saul, ready to pin him to the ground with his spear. Would it not be better to end the life and reign of wicked Saul? Again, David based his decision on principle.

I. David Was Faithful“Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless? . . . As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish” (I Samuel 26:9-10).

Inner principles bolster us against the outer forces of life. David likely developed many of these guiding principles on lonely hillsides while tending sheep, praising the Lord in song and memorizing His Word. We must never neglect the discipline of memorizing Scripture.

III. David Was a Man of GraceDavid Was a Man of Grace

Grace is a concept often associated with the New Testament. However, it is present in both the Old and New Testaments. God first demonstrated grace after the fall of man. God revealed His heart when He searched and called for Adam and Eve after they had disobeyed. God did not have to extend His gracious hand to mankind because mankind deserved to die. (See Genesis 2:17.)

I. David Was FaithfulHowever, “the Lord is not . . . willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).

David was a man of grace. He knew both how to dispense grace and how to receive grace.

A. When Administering GraceA. When Administering Grace

In David’s time, once a ruler had established himself, it was a common practice to eliminate any possible successors to the throne from a previous monarch. No one would have blamed David for doing so to Saul’s offspring, especially after Saul kept trying to kill him. However, instead of executing all the descendants of Saul, David looked for one to honor.

I. David Was Faithful“David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (II Samuel 9:1).

In a beautiful display of grace, David brought Mephibosheth to his palace, restored to him the land of his father, Jonathan, and invited him to eat at his table the rest of his life (II Samuel 9:7). The restoration of his grandfather’s heritage and the provision of daily sustenance exemplify beautifully how the Lord

restores sinners by His grace.

I. David Was FaithfulIn a display of love comparable to the love of God toward broken mankind, David expressed his love to Mephibosheth. This son of Jonathan had nothing to offer David; as a cripple he had to depend on others. But David did not extend his love based on what Mephibosheth could do for him.

Transparency 3

I. David Was FaithfulIf receiving the love of God

depended on what mankind can do for God, he would never experience the love of God. But grace looks beyond man’s faults and sees his need. For the remainder of his life, Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table. God grants mankind the same opportunity. Regardless of the depth of sin, grace elevates the former sinner to a heavenly place and feeds him at the King’s table. (See Ephesians 2:6.)

I. David Was FaithfulNot only does the Lord administer

grace, but also He expects us to follow His example and extend grace to others. Jesus told a parable of an ungrateful servant who, after he had been forgiven much, went out and found one who owed him a trifling sum and put him in a debtors’ prison. His lord, who had forgiven the ungrateful man of so much, now delivered him to the tormentors. (See Matthew 18:23-35.)

I. David Was FaithfulWe have been forgiven much more than we could ever repay and will need grace from others as we make our way through this life. Therefore it behooves us to administer grace to others.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

I. David Was FaithfulDavid’s crop of kindness toward Mephibosheth would soon reap forgiveness when he desperately needed it. Instead of being delivered to the tormentors, he found forgiveness. Instead of remembering David’s sin, God remembered him as a man after His own heart.

B. When Receiving GraceB. When Receiving Grace

It is hard to imagine that the man who wrote so many beautiful songs about the goodness, greatness, and holiness of God could break one commandment after another without feeling the sting of conviction.

I. David Was FaithfulTimothy Bollmann, in his sermon

“Creatures of the Night,” described an eclipse in David’s life: the period of time between the king’s decision to remain in the palace when he should have been on the battlefield and Nathan’s prophetic utterance a year later. When David blocked the light of the sun from his life, the darkness brought out the creatures of the night. These predatory creatures are the works of the sinful nature that lurk continually in our flesh, waiting for the

sun to go down.

I. David Was FaithfulIn his book Temptation, Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated, “At this moment God . . . loses all reality. . . . Satan does not fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God.”

J. Oswald Sanders wrote, “It was the breaking of the Tenth Commandment (coveting his neighbor’s wife) that led David to commit adultery, thus breaking the Seventh Commandment.

I. David Was FaithfulThen, in order to steal his neighbor’s wife (thereby breaking the Eighth Commandment), he committed murder and broke the Sixth Commandment. He broke the Ninth Commandment by bearing false witness against his brother. This all brought dishonor to his parents and thus broke the Fifth Commandment.

“In this way he broke all of the Ten Commandments that relate to loving one’s neighbor as oneself (Commandments Five through Ten).

I. David Was FaithfulAnd in doing so, he dishonored God as well, breaking, in effect, the first four Commandments” (J. Oswald Sanders, Bible Men of Faith, p. 13).

Yet God extended grace to David when Nathan the prophet told him the story of a wealthy man who took and killed the ewe lamb of a poor man. David humbled himself and “said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD” (II Samuel 12:13). That moment revealed the characteristic that made David a man after God’s own heart.

I. David Was FaithfulUnlike Saul who, even after committing a grievous sin, ordered Samuel to honor him in front of the people, David repented, not caring who found out about his sin. (See I Samuel 15:30.)

The introduction to Psalm 51 states, “A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.” He cried to God with a penitent heart: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot

out my transgressions.

I. David Was FaithfulWash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest” (Psalm 51:1-4).

From the fall of Adam to recent political scandals, man’s attempt to hide his sin has been his undoing.

I. David Was FaithfulGod forgave David of his terrible sins, and He will forgive us today if we will acknowledge our sin and not try to hide it.

A thirteen-year-old Sunday school girl expressed what she found when she repented:

I. David Was FaithfulRepented

Christian Soldiers are dedicated Christ-like individuals . . .

Christian Soldiers need to have holiness . . .

Christian Soldiers set standards . . .

Christian Soldiers don’t love the world, they love Jesus Christ . . .

Christian Soldiers have to have a “clean temple” . . .

I. David Was FaithfulI believe I am a Christian Soldier because I believe I am doing these things.

I sometimes make mistakes, but “Praise God,” I can go to Him in repentance.

—Tonya Marie Charlie

I. David Was FaithfulInternalizing the Message

David may have been the greatest of all Old Testament characters. As poet, musician, warrior, or statesman, David displayed virtues we should strive to emulate. He judged with wisdom and equity. He evidenced vulnerability and trusted in God, even in the most difficult circumstances. His loyalty to authority has never been equaled. Whether a shepherd boy or a mighty king, David modeled integrity and humility.

I. David Was FaithfulWhen studying the life of David, it is not difficult to find imperfection in his character. He lived much of his life with the knowledge that the sword would never depart from his house as a result of his sin. (See II Samuel 12:10.) David had used his position as king to take another man’s wife and then have him killed in an attempt to cover his sin, and the consequences of those sins followed him the rest of his life.

I. David Was FaithfulYet, there was a quality in David that caused the Lord to call him “a man after mine own heart.” (See I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22.)

Cain’s gross lack of integrity caused him to live the life of a vagabond. Demas found the price of loyalty too great to pay and returned to the world he loved. But David remained responsive to the voice of God when other men would have covered their ears until the sound of God’s voice was only a faint memory.

I. David Was FaithfulAs a result, we see David humbling himself under the convicting power of God’s Spirit. For he understood, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

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The Call of God to Old Testament Characters. Lesson 9