You Are Not Forgotten

You are Not Forgotten

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Intro: What about me?

This morning we are going to open to 1 Samuel chapter 16 where we see a David as a young man, forgotten by man, but God had another plan. While David would one day be known as the greatest Old Testament king, his backstory reveals a time of being overlooked couple with waiting.  The specifics of David’s early life would not lead anyone to assume that making him king was what the Lord would do, but despite where His story would begin the Lord was mindful of him, he was not forgotten.

Prior to this chapter, a man named Saul at the insistence of the people of Israel, was made king (1 Samuel 8:5, 10:1). The choice of crowning an earthly king was not a part of the Lord’s perfect will. Nonetheless, Saul was anointed by God through Samuel who was both judge and prophet (1 Samuel 12:11, 3:20, Acts 3:20-22).

After being anointed as the first king Saul made one mistake after another, ultimately rejecting the word of the Lord. The Lord then made it clear to Samuel the prophet who made it clear to Saul, that the Lord had rejected Saul as king. While Saul would remain enthroned for many years, the next king would be anointed immediately.

It is there that we pick up the story.

Read: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

It was one the sons of Jesse that would be made the next king, and while Jesse had 8 sons, they all would not be initially invited to come before Samuel for consideration. David was left in the field tending sheep. Overlooked, not considered, yet David did not become bitter. And while His earthly father thought there was no way David would be fit to be king, God had something different to say. It was another opportunity for God to make a way where there seemed to be no way. God had a plan bigger than what any could see, David was not forgotten.

Perhaps you are in a similar situation presently. The outward signs associated with your life and place may leave little substance to make a case for the plans God will bring about. Perhaps you are not in the position, job, or circumstance you would like to be. Perhaps forgotten, left behind, thinking that is just the way it will always be.

Like David, the Lord knows right where you are, and it is important in the midst of your situation to understand what He is looking for more than the eye can see. As it was for David, it is for you and me, the Lord looks at the heart.

I. Start Choosing the Right Heart

I Samuel 16:6, When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” 

• Eliab was the oldest of Jesse’s sons, he is the first one put before Samuel, and as Samuel looks at him, he thinks, “This man sure looks like a king. This must be the one God would have me anoint.”

• Samuel saw a tall, good looking young man who had the look of a great king and leader.

• This is often the place we begin as well. Making our determinations on what is seen on the surface.

• In this life, we most often judge people based on how they look, behave, dress, talk, or carry themselves. But God sees through all of that.

• Israel had already made this mistake with their first king. Saul looked the part.

1 Samuel 9:2, Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.

• But he didn’t have the heart that would be required for the king of God’s people.

• He turned his back on the Lord and did not carry out His plans. Saul was the people’s choice, but God was now going to bring a king of His choosing.

• The way forward would not be based on the things people look at or see, but rather what God looks at and wants to see in the leader of His choosing…He was looking for one with the right heart.

1 Samuel 13:7, The Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

• David is known as a man after God’s own heart (Acts. 13:22). What He was after reveals what was in His heart.

Proverbs 27:19, As in water face reflects face,
So the heart of man reflects man.

Illus. The heart.

2 Chronicles 16:9, For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

Proverbs 4:23, Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.

• Because all we do flows from there, it is no surprise what God looks at and wants to search and see when it comes to you and me.

• What does God see when He sees your heart?

1 Samuel 13:8-10

• Jesse had eight sons, but only seven were invited to what would be the ordination ceremony, the anointing of the next king.

• David was left behind, not chosen, selected, or given a shot by his earthly father and the truth to this story is an important one to see.

• David would have no choice in direction of the situation but had a choice as to who He would be given the situation.

Illus. Not this time.

Psalm 37:3-4, Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.

• David chose to delight himself in the Lord, even when he was overlooked and was the only one of Jesse’s sons that didn’t get an ordination invite.

1. 1.   Trust Him in your waiting

1 Samuel 16:10-11

• I love that Samuel asks this question. Because what often takes place for you and me, when a decision has to be made, we see the seven immediate options pass before us, understand that correct choice is not there, but conclude that we have missed something, or there is something that we didn’t see.

• So, we go back to the seven options standing before us and conclude that the solution must be there. And instead of realizing that God sees what we don’t see, we operate in what we see and settle for option b.

• One, he is told that there is another son, out tending sheep, Samuel tells Jesse “Send and bring him, we will not sit down until he arrives.”

Illus. I didn’t know it was possible.

Isaiah 43:18-19, “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.

Psalm 37:5, Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.

• What David’s earthly father couldn’t see, the Lord did. Samuel trusted the Lord while they waited for David to arrive. He remained standing in anticipation of his arrival.

• Despite the position he held in his family, there was an incredible calling on David’s life.

• Perhaps your position in your family, at your job, or in this life gives you a feeling that you are out “tending sheep.” Doing the difficult things that often go unnoticed, but God sees.

Psalm 37:7-8, Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

• David was called for this great anointing when he was out with the sheep. He was doing his job, cultivating faithfulness in the small things, faithfulness in what his father told him to do.

• Once David is brought before Samuel, it is clear, as the Lord says, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”

• Samuel anointed him while his seven older brothers and father stood by and watched.

1 Peter 5:6, Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.

• David was out with the sheep, a lowly shepherd, what a great place to find a shepherd for the nation.

• His previous position was not a desirable one but represented a necessary beginning of God’s preparing a king for His people.

• What might God be using in your life personally as preparation for a greater calling?

1. 1. Know there is a reason for your season

• Keeping the sheep was a servant’s job. This showed that David’s family was not especially wealthy as they could not afford servants.

• Keeping the sheep took a special heart, a special care. It meant you knew how the sheep needed the care of a good shepherd. David had an understanding that he was a sheep and God was his shepherd.

Psalm 23:1, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

• I can imagine David in the hills, watching his Father’s flock, knowing; when “the Lord is my Shepherd,” I shall not lack, I will want for nothing. I am a sheep of His flock, I will not go astray, I am covered and protected.

• Keeping the sheep meant trusting God in the midst of danger. Keeping the sheep was not just a waiting ground, but a training ground.

• After being anointed the next king, David went back home and began tending sheep again. He would also be brought in from time to time to serve the current king.

• In the next chapter, all of Israel becomes afraid of a 9-foot champion warrior giant named Goliath. For forty days he had come out challenging the nation.

• Someone needed to step up in order to face the giant, but they were all afraid. Additionally, a great deal of responsibility was being put in the person’s hands. If they lost the battle to this giant, the Israelites would then become servants of the Philistines.
• David was out tending sheep, but his three oldest brothers were specifically serving Saul and they were some of the men gathered for war.

• While at war, David was sent by his father to bring his brothers food and it is then that he heard firsthand the threats of Goliath.

• Nobody had been willing to step up for forty day, but upon him hearing the threat, David was, and it was his previous season that would ultimately be the reason that he was allowed to face the giant. 

1 Samuel 17:33-37

Illus. Going above and beyond the call of duty.

John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

John 10:12-13 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.

• Some might call David unwise to risk his life in saving a lamb. Yet David believed that giving his all represented basic care for the flock.

• His practice of best conduct would commend him before God as one who would pursue the best conduct in leading the nation of Israel.

Psalm 78:70-72, He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them. 

• David was taken from the sheep pens. Like David, be faithful to whatever flock is around you presently. God has you where he needs you.

• The anointing of David was the outcome of what had taken place in private between the Lord and David long before his anointing as king.

Psalm 16:8, I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

• This speaks of a decision David made to put God first in His life. He determined that the Lord would always be his focus, his perspective. 

• David turned his being overlooked into a blessing by drawing nearer to the Lord.

• What was true for David, is true for us today, the Lord desires those who are after His heart.

2 Chronicles 16:9, For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.” So Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?” He said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.