Children of the Bible

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Children of the Bible
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Lesson 7
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Lesson TextI Samuel 1611-13
I Samuel 1611-13 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.
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Lesson TextI Samuel 1611-13
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.
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Lesson TextI Samuel 1611-13
13 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. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
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Lesson TextI Samuel 1614-17
I Samuel 1614-17 14 But the Spirit of the LORD
departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the
LORD troubled him. 15 And Sauls servants said
unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God
troubleth thee.
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Lesson TextI Samuel 1614-17
16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which
are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a
cunning player on an harp and it shall come to
pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee,
that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt
be well.
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Lesson TextI Samuel 1614-17
17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me
now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
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Lesson TextI Samuel 1619-22
I Samuel 1619-22 19 Wherefore Saul sent
messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David
thy son, which is with the sheep. 20 And Jesse
took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of
wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son
unto Saul.
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Lesson TextI Samuel 1619-22
21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him
and he loved him greatly and he became his
armourbearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying,
Let David, I pray thee, stand before me for he
hath found favour in my sight.
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Lesson TextI Samuel 1623
I Samuel 1623 And it came to pass, when the evil
spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an
harp, and played with his hand so Saul was
refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit
departed from him.
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Focus VerseI Samuel 1623
I Samuel 1623And it came to pass, when the evil
spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an
harp, and played with his hand so Saul was
refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit
departed from him.
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Focus Thought
God sees an individuals faithfulness in service,
even when done in obscurity, and He orchestrates
circumstances to maximize ones human potential
to enhance His kingdom.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Culture Connection The Foundations of Davids
Success
God elevated David from the fields where he
watched over sheep to the palace where he watched
over the people of Israel. What marked David for
such success in Gods kingdom? What precipitated
his elevation to leadership? Fundamentally and
primarily it was his devotion to
faithfulnessdoing the responsibilities set
before him to the best of his ability through the
Lords empowerment.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Noted English preacher of the early twentieth
century, A. W. Pink, observed in his sermon
titled Faithfulness, Faithful people have
always been in a marked minority. Help, Lord,
for the godly men ceaseth for the faithful fail
from among the children of men (Psalm 121),
cried David. Note how those two characteristics
are conjoined, for piety and honesty are
inseparablecompare good and faithful servant
(Matthew 2523).
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
So, too, Solomon exclaimed, Most men will
proclaim every one his own goodness but a
faithful man who can find (Proverbs 206). Why
is this? Because it is the part of fallen human
nature to take the line of least resistance and
choose the path easiest to the flesh. . . . A
faithful man shall abound with blessings
(Proverbs 2820) the true way to be happy is to
be holy and honest. He who is true to God and man
will be blest of Him (www.eternallifeministries.o
rg, accessed April 6, 2011).
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
David was faithful to watch over the sheep, and
God blessed him and elevated him in His kingdom.
Faithfulness to God and ones fellow man is a
character trait to be admired, desired, and
emulatedand it is the doorway to future
blessings of God.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Contemplating the Topic
Todays lesson considers a marvelous principle
God recognizes faithful service as the primary
basis for promotion. There are no shortcuts to
success in any area of lifes worthwhile
endeavors. It is always a matter of hard work,
perseverance, and patience.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Davids diligence as a young shepherd built the
foundation for the strength of character he
displayed in becoming king of Israel. The years
he spent in solitude out on the hillsides with
his fathers flocks provided him time and
opportunity to perfect the skills that led him to
become a man after Gods own heart. David did
things to the best of his abilities. Because of
that, God elevated him from obscurity to
universal acclaim.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Davids life serves as a powerful model to teach
us the importance of living for God with all our
might.
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A. David Faithfully Kept the Sheep
Searching The Scriptures Faithful, in His
Adversity and Obscurity

1. David Faithfully Kept the Sheep

The people of Israel were primarily farming
folk. They kept sheep, goats, and cattle to
provide wool, hides, meat, milk, butter, and
cheese. They kept valuable livestock close to the
house or turned them over to be kept by shepherds
in the fields.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
They usually relegated shepherding to someone
near the bottom of the social ladder. Shepherds
were either less significant family members or
men hired by several farmers to watch over large,
combined flocks. Farmers who could afford it
often hired foreign workers to care for the
sheep. Jesse made David a shepherd because he was
the youngest of Jesses sons and considered to be
the least significant. Shepherding in Old
Testament times was a rigorous and lonely
lifestyle.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
There was no opportunity for a social life or
normal human contact outside of the shepherd
community. Shepherds spent their days and nights
out in the elements without human comforts and
companionship that others took for granted. The
Israelite religious community looked down on
shepherds because they could not participate in
the religious rituals they considered necessary
to be clean. They could never observe the Sabbath
properly because shepherding was a 24/7,
365-day-a-year job.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Shepherding was also a responsible job. They had
to keep the sheep diligently because sheep owners
demanded payment out of their wages for any lost
animals. If a wild animal attacked the sheep, the
shepherd had to provide to the creatures owner
evidence of what had happened. Bears and lions
would even attack any human standing in the way
of a delicious mutton meal, so the shepherd had
to be brave, resourceful, and fierce if both he
and the sheep were to survive.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
David was a good shepherd who protected his
fathers flock from predators on more than one
occasion.
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B. God Observed Davids Faithfulness

1. God Observed Davids Faithfulness

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 (I
Samuel 167).
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
When God sent Samuel to Jesses house to anoint
one of his sons to be the next king of Israel,
the appearance of the older boys pleased Samuel
and he expected God would choose one of them. But
God rejected the older brothers Eliab, Abinadab,
and Shammah, and then the others. Finally Samuel
asked, Are these all your children?
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Jesse had not even summoned the youngest, the
insignificant shepherd boy, but God saw something
in him that others, including his family members,
had not yet seenhis pure hearta heart that
belonged to God. The Lord hath sought him a man
after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded
him to be captain over his people (I Samuel
1314).
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C. Faithfulness Brings Opportunity

1. Faithfulness Brings Opportunity

Samuel told Jesse to send someone to call David
in from the fields. When David arrived he
probably was surprised to see the prophet there
and had no idea how the next few moments would
change his life. But God had seen Davids
faithfulness in small things and decided to grant
him the opportunity to serve on a greater scale.
A principle is evident here the door to
opportunity is marked faithfulness. (See
Matthew 2521.)
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A. The Lords Endorsement
The Shepherd Boy Anointed

1. The Lords Endorsement

When David arrived, God said to Samuel, Arise,
anoint him for this is he (I Samuel 1612).
David was as handsome as his older brothers,
but God was more interested in what He saw in the
heart of Jesses youngest son. David had spent
most of his time in the fields without human
companionship, but he had communed with God.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Wherever he went, he took his harp and sang sweet
songs of praise. God based His promotion of David
on his past behavior and attitude more than
anything else. If we want Gods favor, we must
spend time communing with Him, searching His
Word, and serving Him faithfully and cheerfully.
(See Mark 1043-45 Psalm 756-7 Proverbs
334-35.) Davids example shows us the way to
find spiritual promotion and honor.
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B. The Prophets Anointing

1. The Prophets Anointing

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. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah (I
Samuel 1613).
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Samuel did not anoint David with just a dab of
oil but poured enough on Davids head to run down
over his face, body, and clothes. As Jesses
family watched, God gave the most insignificant
son a most significant blessing that set him
apart from the others from that day forward. The
anointing assured David that Gods promise of
kingship would someday come true.
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C. The Spirits Presence

1. The Spirits Presence

The Spirit of the Lord came upon David after he
was anointed, providing hope and inspiration
during the long years that separated his
anointing from his actual coronation as king.
David treasured Gods Spirit and presence in his
life. In Psalm 5110-12, which David wrote in
repentance after his sin with Bathsheba, he
revealed how much he wanted and needed Gods
Spirit in his life Create in me a clean heart,
O God and renew a right spirit within me.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Cast me not away from thy presence and take not
thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy
of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free
spirit. Truly, the baptism of the Holy Spirit
is the greatest treasure God gives to human
beings. Having the Holy Spirit in ones life is
literally having Christ in us, the hope of glory.
(See Colossians 127.)
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III. Gods Orchestration of Circumstances
Gods Orchestration of Circumstances
We are often confused over finding the will of
God. When things go well, we do not question our
relationship with God. But when trouble or
illness occurs, we may ask God, Why? Why me?
or Why me now? Whether or not we understand it,
God is working everything out according to His
plan for our lives.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
William Cowper (1731-1800) was a British poet
and hymnist. Throughout his life he struggled
with depression, even spending periods of time in
mental asylums. During one of his better periods,
sometime between 1765 and 1773, Cowper wrote the
hymn God Moves in a Mysterious Way, which
powerfully illustrates Gods orchestration of
circumstances to bring about His divine will.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to
perform He plants His footsteps in the sea, And
rides upon the storm. Judge not the Lord by
feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace Behind
a frowning providence, He hides a smiling
face. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding
every hour The bud may have a bitter taste, But
sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure
to err
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
And scan His work in vain God is His own
interpreter, And He will make it plain. The
way God worked out a plan for Davids life can be
of great help to us. We may not always be able to
see His plan for us, but we can rest assured He
has one.
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A. The Spirits Departure from Saul

1. The Spirits Departure from Saul

But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul,
and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him (I
Samuel 1614). Gods presence rested upon
David, but it abandoned King Saul. When God left
Saul he suddenly felt cut off, hopeless, and
depressed. Sometimes chronically unrepentant
people actually pray for God to leave them alone.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
They want to sin in peace, but there is no such
thing. Only in the Prince of Peace can one find
peace. Sauls misery, emptiness, and despair
occurred when his repeated disobedience caused
God to forsake him.
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B. An Evil Spirits Entrance into Saul

1. An Evil Spirits Entrance into Saul

As God forsook Saul, an evil spirit moved in to
plague him. How tragic! From the heights of
knowing and feeling the strength of Gods Spirit,
Saul plummeted to the depths of demonic torment.
Demonic spirits show no kindness or mercy but
delight in tormenting human souls.
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C. The Remedy for Saul

1. The Remedy for Saul

Let our lord now command thy servants, which
are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a
cunning player on an harp and it shall come to
pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee,
that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt
be well. And Saul said unto his servants, Provide
me now a man that can play well, and bring him to
me (I Samuel 1616-17).
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Transparency 2
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
The evil spirit apparently had not taken full
possession of Saul, but it oppressed him and made
him miserable. The kings servants suggested that
soothing music would help Saul regain his
composure and calm his troubled mind. In an age
when there was no recorded music, they would have
to find a live musician who could be available
day or night to calm the storm raging in Sauls
mind.
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D. A Qualified Young Man

1. A Qualified Young Man

Then answered one of the servants, and said,
Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the
Bethlehemite, 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 1618).
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
David fit the need perfectly. His qualifications
made him the number one applicant for the job.
1. Son of Jesse. He came from a well-respected
family. 2. Talented musician. He not only played
well, but he wrote his own songs. 3. A brave man.
He showed strength and courage in times of
danger. 4. A wise man. He was mature beyond his
years. 5. The Lords presence was with him. He
was obviously a spiritual man.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
The fact that David was a child of Jesse was a
matter of nature over which he had no control.
However, David took the raw materials of his
charactermusical ability, bravery, wisdom, and
spiritualityand developed them on his own. We
can derive inspiration from Davids life as a
shepherd boy, which inspires us to face our
mundane and seemingly insignificant tasks every
day.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
If we consider Davids vigilance as he watched
over his fathers flocks, we may realize that the
quality of energy, concentration, and excellence
we invest in our every action is a key to our
personal integrity. Whether or not other people
are watching, we should do everything
wholeheartedly, as David did. That is the
biblical mandate. It is the gauge by which God
measures our character.
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A. Saul Sent Messengers to Jesse
A Kings Request and a Fathers Response

1. Saul Sent Messengers to Jesse

Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and
said, Send me David thy son, which is with the
sheep (I Samuel1619).
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
King Sauls request for Jesse to allow David to
leave the flocks and come to work for him in the
palace posed both an honor and a hardship for
Jesse. Jesse needed David as a shepherd. If he
were not watching the flocks, someone else would
have to do it. Perhaps he would have to hire
another servant to take Davids place, which
would be expensive. On the other hand, Davids
presence in the palace would give Jesses family
prestige.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Gossiping servants would spread the news and
people throughout all Israel would talk about the
young son of Jesse, the only one who could soothe
the kings troubled spirit. Yes, Jesse stood to
benefit from this vicarious association with the
ruler of the land.
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B. Jesse Responded Positively

1. Jesse Responded Positively

And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a
bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David
his son unto Saul (I Samuel 1620). Jesse did
the politically correct thing by responding
positively to the kings request. He even made
sure David did not arrive in the royal presence
empty handed. He sent gifts to King Saul to show
his respect and appreciation for the position he
had created for his son.
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C. The King Approved

1. The King Approved

And David came to Saul, and stood before him
and he loved him greatly and he became his
armourbearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let
David, I pray thee, stand before me for he hath
found favour in my sight (I Samuel 1621-22).
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Saul quickly became extremely fond of David. He
trusted him and honored him with the additional
duties of bearing his armor. The diligence and
faithful service David exhibited on the hillsides
watching over the flocks continued in the palace
as a servant of the king. He served Saul
wholeheartedly, which garnered the favor not only
of the king, but of the members of the royal
family (I Samuel 181-5).
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V. Goods Ultimate Power over Evil
Goods Ultimate Power over Evil
Moreover the law entered, that the offence
might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did
much more abound (Romans 520). Since the
time of Adam and Eves temptation up to the
present, good and evil have been in conflict.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
The apostle Paul discussed this conflict with the
assurance that good ultimately triumphs over
evil. (See Romans 512-20.) In the Book of Job,
Satan used all of his evil tricks to try to
overcome Jobs goodness with afflictions and
hardships. But Job held on and Gods power gave
him the ultimate victory and restoration.
Wherever evil abounds, grace abounds much more.
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A. Anointed Music Dispels Fear

1. Anointed Music Dispels Fear

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from
God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and
played with his hand so Saul was refreshed, and
was well, and the evil spirit departed from him
(I Samuel 1623). The evil spirit that
bedeviled Saul made him paranoid, emotionally
consumed with irrational fears and jealousy.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
One thing definitely helped Saul, and that was
the sweet and gentle refrains of David as he sang
and played his harp. Davids melodies helped give
Saul some relief from the evil spirit of
irrational fears. Soothing music calms the
troubled soul. In recent years, expectant mothers
have been playing classical music by Mozart and
other renowned composers to the developing babies
inside. This music is said to stimulate the
babies brain development and calm their
nerves.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Ancient armies often would rely upon musicians
and singers to raise the sound of music over the
battlefields. (See II Chronicles 2021-23.) This
encouraged the soldiers to fight more valiantly.
Martial drum music has been used to set a cadence
for marching and advancing into battle by armies
around the world. The drummers and buglers
playing stimulates a sense of urgency in the
soldiers to forget their fears and Charge!
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Transparency 3
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B. The Spirit of the Lord Refreshes

1. The Spirit of the Lord Refreshes

Davids anointed music calmed and refreshed
Saul. Isaiah prophesied about the Holy Ghost as a
refreshing. For with stammering lips and
another tongue will he speak to this people. To
whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may
cause the weary to rest and this is the
refreshing (Isaiah 2811-12).
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Gods Spirit calms and refreshes the human soul.
Where God is, there is no reason to fear or
dread. His presence brings a sense of peace,
safety, and calm. God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be
removed, and though the mountains be carried into
the midst of the sea (Psalm 461-2).
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Deuteronomy 316
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor
be afraid of them for the LORD thy God, he it is
that doth go with thee he will not fail thee,
nor forsake thee (Deuteronomy 316).
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C. Evil Spirits Flee

1. Evil Spirits Flee

Words of praise are like an invitation to Gods
presence. But thou art holy, O thou that
inhabitest the praises of Israel (Psalm 223).
Truly anointed music glorifies and elevates the
Lord and makes evil spirits uncomfortable and
fearful. This is because they know who the Lord
of glory truly is, and because they know Him,
they fear Him. (See James 219.)
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Davids anointed music gave honor and glory to
the Lord and dispelled the evil spirits that
plagued Saul. Just as God refuses to dwell in an
unclean vessel, neither will evil spirits coexist
with Gods holy presence. They must flee.
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D. A New Life Results

1. A New Life Results

Nothing less than Davids anointed music and
godly attitude could soothe King Saul and give
him temporary relief from the torment. Davids
playing and singing drove away Sauls fears and
gave him hope. Consequently, Sauls whole life
improved as long as David played. We are so much
more fortunate than Saul when Gods presence
comes into our lives we can find fullness of
joy.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
We can experience a brand new life that is filled
with faith, hope, and love. Our fears can be
forever vanquished and we are set free from evil
spirits that have held us captive. Jesus gives us
victory over evil.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
Internalizing the Message
David began life as the youngest of Jesses
sons, a seemingly insignificant member of the
family. But his strength of character set him
apart from his brothers and other men. He served
faithfully as a lowly shepherd. He risked his own
life to protect and preserve his fathers sheep,
and proved himself on the hillsides of Bethlehem
as a good shepherd.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
At least twice he risked his own life in rescuing
sheep from the jaws of a lion and a bear. He was
brave, diligent, vigilant, and faithful in all he
did. Because of Davids strength of character
and faithfulness in small matters, God endorsed
and promoted him to become the second king of
Israel.
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I. Faithful, in His Adversity and Obscurity
We should never look down on anyone for the job
he performs as long as he does it to the best of
his ability. We should learn from Davids life
and aspire to greatness in Gods kingdom by
following his example of wholehearted servitude.
Let us live by this motto Whatsoever thy hand
findeth to do, do it with thy might
(Ecclesiastes 910).