From Shepherd to King 1 & 2 Samuel

Question #1: Are you reading or listening to the The Story each week?

Question #2: Are you involved in a Life Group, Youth Group or Bible Study?

Questions #3: How has our study of The Story changed your reading in a full Bible?

Question #4: Have you found your study of The Story meaningful?

The first King that God chose for the people appealed to their eyes.

1 Samuel 10:23 (NIV) 23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. – page 138 in the The Story

1 Samuel 10:24 (NIV) 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

Outward appearances convinced the people that Saul was their man Outward appearances convinced the people that Saul was their man. They let their eyes be their guide.

1 Samuel 16:1 (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.” p 145 of The Story.

What ruled Saul’s life was the opinion of those he governed, rather than the instruction of the God he served.

What is the strongest influence in your life What is the strongest influence in your life? The opinion of those around you…or the instruction of the God you serve?

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) 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.”

Have you ever asked yourself what Jesus looked like?

Isaiah 53:2 (NIV) 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

If you want to make a real impression and have real impact in this world? Do the things that will develop your heart.

Acts 13:22 (NIV) 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

1 Samuel 16:13 (NIV) 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. p 146 of The Story

From Shepherd to King 1 & 2 Samuel

Outward appearance was certainly not going to be the deciding factors in winning this battle.

1 Samuel 17:32 (NIV) 32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” p. 148 of The Story

1 Samuel 17:33 (NIV) 33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

1 Samuel 17:34 (NIV) 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,

1 Samuel 17:35 (NIV) 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.

1 Samuel 17:36 (NIV) 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.

1 Samuel 17:37 (NIV) 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

1 Samuel 17:47 (NIV) 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” Page 149 of The Story

For the Believer in God, the battles we face are God’s battles and the glory of victory is always God’s victory.

1 Samuel 17:49 (NIV) 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. Page 149 of The Story

1 Samuel 17:50 (NIV) 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

The last lesson we have time to cover today is the important lesson of waiting upon the Lords’ timing.

Saul was always concerned with how he would be perceived by other people. David was concerned with how God would perceive him?

David, though anointed for the kingship was willing to wait for God’s perfect timing   Jesus, though anointed for eternal kingship is still waiting for God’s perfect timing.

1 Samuel 3:19 (NIV) 19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. --The story page 133

From Hannah: Pray to bring greater Glory to God by him answering your prayers.   From Samuel: Present yourself as a servant to the Lord and listen for His voice.

Saul: Where we learn, trust and obey God even when chaos surrounds you.