The Shepherd's Strength: Facing Your Giants with Faith

I'm excited to be able to be up here today and to share with you and where we are in our cover to cover series today. We have landed upon a passage of scripture which may be one of the most well known passages of scripture even to those that have never opened a bible, and we are landing on the story of David and Goliath. So turn with me in your bibles to first Samuel chapter 16. We'll be looking at chapter sixteen and seventeen, and you will want your bible because none of first Samuel 16 or 17 will be up on the screens for you this morning. [00:48:28] (37 seconds)  #DavidAndGoliathSeries

And yet, it's funny that we use that analogy because we also know the result of the story. But the importance of not underestimating that which is before us or judging things by their outer appearance is something that will be evident, today. So a little bit of background to the book of first Samuel. First Samuel has three main characters. It's Samuel, Saul, and David, and these three play an integral part in shifting Israel from a group of tribes who are ruled by judges into a unified nation. [00:49:49] (36 seconds)  #HeartOverAppearance

The people were asking for a king. The surrounding areas and territories around them had kings, and they too wanted a king, and so they asked for it. And sometimes you get what you ask for. Saul appointed king Saul sorry, Samuel appointed king Saul, and Saul fit the part. He was tall, he was good looking, and so they were excited to have a king that would represent them, who would stand so strong for them. [00:50:25] (30 seconds)  #BewareSurfaceCharm

But soon, they would discover that there were some other underlying issues present with him. His dishonesty and pride would get in the way. But God made it clear to Samuel that it was time for Saul's reign as king to end, and it was time for another to be anointed and appointed as king. And that actually grieved grieved Samuel greatly to have to actually say that to Saul, that his time and favor with God was over, but he said those words to him, and that's at the conclusion of chapter 15, which brings us to chapter 16. [00:50:56] (40 seconds)  #LeadershipFailsPride

And so at the beginning of chapter 16, we see again the grief that he has, and God says to him, how long will you mourn for Saul? And basically tells him to stop crying. It's time for him to take steps forward. It's time for him to go and see Jesse of Bethlehem because one of his sons has been chosen to be the next king. And so Samuel thinks, okay, I can do this, but he also knows Saul and Saul's character, and he thinks, I go and do this, Saul might kill me so that I'm not even able to get there to anoint David as king. [00:51:36] (39 seconds)  #CourageToObey

when he first comes to the town, the townspeople are a little terrified. They're like, what are you what are you doing here? Do you come in peace? And he they recognize that he is there in peace, and he asks for Jesse and his family. So he meets with Jesse and his family, all of their sons. Well, seven of the sons are there, and as soon as Samuel lays eyes on Eliab, the oldest of the sons, he thinks to himself, he's the guy. He's the guy because he is strong, and his looks were ones that he thought that has to be the next one. Yet, God says to him in verse seven, which is the most significant verse of this section for us this morning, [00:52:36] (43 seconds)  #UnexpectedKingInHumblePlace

he says, do not consider his outward 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. This is the first of several times in our passage today that we're covering where people are looking at the outside as opposed to thinking about the inside. And so he goes through all of the sons walk before him. First, it's Eliab, and then Amminadab goes, and then Shema goes, and then the four other sons go, and each one is, no. This is not the one. [00:53:19] (37 seconds)  #GodLooksAtTheHeart

And David comes into their presence, and immediately in their presence, Samuel recognizes that he is the one. He is the one. And so he goes on and he takes the oil that he has and the horn, and he anoints David. And and and upon anointing him, it says, and from that day on, the spirit of the lord came powerfully upon David. Think about this. Before David ever faced Goliath, he had already been chosen by God. Before he ever faced Goliath, he'd already been chosen by God. How cool is that? [00:54:33] (42 seconds)  #ChosenBeforeBattle