1 Samuel 16:14-23 There are no Coincidences - Revision history

Wakefien: /* As a shepherd in the field, David would have intimate knowledge of how to lead. */

2025-06-25T14:13:01Z

‎As a shepherd in the field, David would have intimate knowledge of how to lead.

Wakefien: /* Humility is critical in following God's plan (Proverbs 16:9). */

2025-06-25T14:10:40Z

‎Humility is critical in following God's plan (Proverbs 16:9).

Wakefien: /* I wonder if David even realized this was all part of God's big plan. */

2025-06-25T14:10:24Z

‎I wonder if David even realized this was all part of God's big plan.

Wakefien: /* David probably did not expect to be a professional musician. */

2025-06-25T14:09:10Z

‎David probably did not expect to be a professional musician.

Wakefien: /* The supernatural world is very real and very active, and God sovereignly uses the supernatural. */

2025-06-25T14:08:43Z

‎The supernatural world is very real and very active, and God sovereignly uses the supernatural.

Wakefien: /* The supernatural world is very real and very active, and God sovereignly uses the supernatural. */

2025-06-25T14:08:09Z

‎The supernatural world is very real and very active, and God sovereignly uses the supernatural.

Wakefien: /* The supernatural world is very real and very active, and God sovereignly uses the supernatural (14). */

2025-06-25T14:05:40Z

‎The supernatural world is very real and very active, and God sovereignly uses the supernatural (14).

Wakefien: /* The supernatural world is very real and very active, and God sovereignly uses the supernatural. */

2025-06-25T14:03:38Z

‎The supernatural world is very real and very active, and God sovereignly uses the supernatural.

Wakefien: /* Setting the Stage: */

2025-06-25T13:59:21Z

‎Setting the Stage:

Wakefien: /* Image: How God has trained me. */

2025-06-22T19:38:09Z

‎Image: How God has trained me.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:13, 25 June 2025
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	Have you ever heard that sheep are really dumb animals? I have never been a shepherd, but my brother was a shepherd for a few days when one of his friends had to take a trip away from the sheep. My brother tells me that sheep really are dumb. There are times when it is almost as if the sheep want to die as they make bad decisions and stubbornly follow those decisions.		Have you ever heard that sheep are really dumb animals? I have never been a shepherd, but my brother was a shepherd for a few days when one of his friends had to take a trip away from the sheep. My brother tells me that sheep really are dumb. There are times when it is almost as if the sheep want to die as they make bad decisions and stubbornly follow those decisions.
		+
		+	====Wildabeasts in Africa====
		+	It is sort of like the wildebeests in Africa. I am convinced God created them for no other purpose than to be eaten by everything else.

	As a shepherd, I am sure David learned how to lead sheep who wanted to make bad decisions, but guess what? People are also pretty dumb and will make dumb decisions. Ok, truly I don't know how much overlap exists between leading sheep and leading people, but here is what I do know: David would have had a lot of time to reflect on God, and I am guessing that a lot of the ideas for the Psalms came as David watched the sheep. I also know that David learned how to valiantly fight. The Bible tells us that as a shepherd, David killed both lion and bear.		As a shepherd, I am sure David learned how to lead sheep who wanted to make bad decisions, but guess what? People are also pretty dumb and will make dumb decisions. Ok, truly I don't know how much overlap exists between leading sheep and leading people, but here is what I do know: David would have had a lot of time to reflect on God, and I am guessing that a lot of the ideas for the Psalms came as David watched the sheep. I also know that David learned how to valiantly fight. The Bible tells us that as a shepherd, David killed both lion and bear.

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 Why do I emphasize humility here? Well, think about this part of David's perspective. David has been anointed king. This is no small or insignificant event. David is going to be the next king. As David enters Saul's court, it is on the one hand very dangerous for him, and on the other hand, kind of beneath him. What I mean by beneath him is that while David was not king yet, it is the case that Saul was already rejected. What could this future king learn from this lame duck? The answer: a lot if he was humble.
-''[https://ref.ly/Pr16.9 Proverbs 16:9]'' states: "In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." You probably believe this on some level. But let me ask: Do you believe this completely? Are you willing to completely trust God's direction of your steps?
+<mark>''[https://ref.ly/Pr16.9 Proverbs 16:9]'' states: "In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." You probably believe this on some level. But let me ask: Do you believe this completely? Are you willing to completely trust God's direction of your steps?</mark>
 ===MTR: Embrace humility as you choose to trust God's leading.===

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 ===I wonder if David even realized this was all part of God's big plan.===
-Take a second with me and try to put yourself in David's shoes. A shepherd who has done a good job protecting the sheep and probably imagines spending his life caring for the sheep has just been thrust into the king's court. If I were David, I doubt I would have put all the pieces together. I would have just been in a state of shock. What is happening to my life? What is happening to all of my plans? I am speculating here, but the whole text really makes it feel like God is working deep in the background and nobody even realizes all the details that God is working on. It makes me wonder, in my own life, what is God doing that I have no idea about? Am I willing to follow God regardless?
+Take a second with me and try to put yourself in David's shoes. A shepherd who has done a good job protecting the sheep and probably imagines spending his life caring for the sheep has just been thrust into the king's court. If I were David, I doubt I would have put all the pieces together. I would have just been in a state of shock. What is happening to my life? What is happening to all of my plans? <mark>I am speculating here, but the whole text really makes it feel like God is working deep in the background and nobody even realizes all the details that God is working on.</mark> It makes me wonder, in my own life, what is God doing that I have no idea about? Am I willing to follow God regardless?
 In order to truly follow God, we need humility.

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 ===David probably did not expect to be a professional musician.===
-Look again at verse 18. David is described as all sorts of things (well-spoken, fine-looking, God is with him, brave) and had even been anointed King. David might have easily thought he was above playing music for the King. Think about it; David probably assumed he would take care of his father's sheep for the rest of his life. He might have imagined being part of the army, but I highly doubt that in a culture and economy like that of Israel, David ever imagined being a professional musician.
+<mark>Look again at verse 18. David is described as all sorts of things (well-spoken, fine-looking, God is with him, brave) and had even been anointed King.</mark> David might have easily thought he was above playing music for the King. Think about it; David probably assumed he would take care of his father's sheep for the rest of his life. He might have imagined being part of the army, but I highly doubt that in a culture and economy like that of Israel, David ever imagined being a professional musician.
 Obedience to God demands that we do exactly what He tells us to do. Think about this: God had lined up all the details, but that does not mean that David did not hold responsibility. David was responsible for obeying his father's command and going before the king. Note: this was a king who was largely a madman. David was responsible for obedience even though I highly doubt any of this was in the 5, 10, or 15-year plan.

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 Throughout this introduction to David, we are going to see, in a very profound way, that there are no coincidences when God is at work. Verse 14 begins by telling us that the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul. This is a pivotal moment. God has moved on from Saul and is going to begin working in a different direction. Now, we know that none of this took God by surprise, but still we are supposed to see, even taste, a profound change in direction. Things are going to be different now.
-The elephant in the room through this passage is the supernatural. There are things going on behind the scenes that we cannot see, that we do not understand, and those forces are at work here. At first glance, you may be bothered by the description of the "evil spirit from the Lord." Don't read too much into the word evil here. The Hebrew phrase רוּחַ רָעָה מֵאֵת יְהוָה (ruach ra'ah me'eth Yahweh) has a wide range of meaning, and while it is possible to translate this as a morally corrupt demon being sent from God, it is also possible and perhaps preferable to think of the Hebrew רָעָה (ra'ah) as misery and consider this rather as an angel of judgment. In other words, Saul's continued rejection of God resulted in God passing judgment on Saul and sending an angel of judgment who would ensure that Saul experienced the misery that was brought about by his choices.
+The elephant in the room through this passage is the supernatural. There are things going on behind the scenes that we cannot see, that we do not understand, and those forces are at work here. At first glance, you may be bothered by the description of the "evil spirit from the Lord." Don't read too much into the word evil here. <mark>The Hebrew phrase רוּחַ רָעָה מֵאֵת יְהוָה (ruach ra'ah me'eth Yahweh) has a wide range of meaning, and while it is possible to translate this as a morally corrupt demon being sent from God, it is also possible and perhaps preferable to think of the Hebrew רָעָה (ra'ah) as misery and consider this rather as an angel of judgment.</mark> <mark>In other words, Saul's continued rejection of God resulted in God passing judgment on Saul and sending an angel of judgment who would ensure that Saul experienced the misery that was brought about by his choices.</mark>
 Before you think, "Wait, that is not fair," remember that part of the covenant God had made with Israel was that obedience would result in great blessing, but disobedience would result in judgment. We won't read it all today, but take a moment sometime and review ''[https://ref.ly/Dt28.15-68 Deuteronomy 28:15-68]''; Saul deserved the judgment God was providing.

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 ===The supernatural world is very real and very active, and God sovereignly uses the supernatural.===
-In ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa16 1 Samuel 16]'' we see David's first appearance in Scripture, and David's first appearance marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, as seen in ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa16 1 Samuel 16].'' This chapter presents two tightly connected episodes: his anointing by Samuel (vv. 1-13) and his subsequent arrival in Saul's royal court (vv. 14-23). While some scholars treat these as separate traditions, a literary reading reveals strong thematic unity. God is shown working both overtly—through Samuel's anointing—and providentially—through circumstances that bring David into Saul's service. The Spirit of the Lord rushing upon David (v. 13) contrasts sharply with the Spirit's departure from Saul (v. 14), highlighting God's sovereign hand and introducing David as a Spirit-empowered figure whose leadership will stand in contrast to Saul's decline.<ref>Bill T. Arnold, ''1 & 2 Samuel, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003), 238-239.</ref>
+In ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa16 1 Samuel 16]'' we see David's first appearance in Scripture, and David's first appearance marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, as seen in ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa16 1 Samuel 16].'' This chapter presents two tightly connected episodes: his anointing by Samuel (vv. 1-13) and his subsequent arrival in Saul's royal court (vv. 14-23). While some scholars treat these as separate traditions, a literary reading reveals strong thematic unity. God is shown working both overtly—through Samuel's anointing—and providentially—through circumstances that bring David into Saul's service. <mark>The Spirit of the Lord rushing upon David (v. 13) contrasts sharply with the Spirit's departure from Saul (v. 14)</mark>, highlighting God's sovereign hand and introducing David as a Spirit-empowered figure whose leadership will stand in contrast to Saul's decline.<ref>Bill T. Arnold, ''1 & 2 Samuel, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003), 238-239.</ref>
 Throughout this introduction to David, we are going to see, in a very profound way, that there are no coincidences when God is at work. Verse 14 begins by telling us that the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul. This is a pivotal moment. God has moved on from Saul and is going to begin working in a different direction. Now, we know that none of this took God by surprise, but still we are supposed to see, even taste, a profound change in direction. Things are going to be different now.

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 ==''Coincidence'' — If everything seems to be lining up, then you should consider, maybe this is God's doing.==
-===The supernatural world is very real and very active, and God sovereignly uses the supernatural (14).===
+===The supernatural world is very real and very active, and God sovereignly uses the supernatural.===
 In ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa16 1 Samuel 16]'' we see David's first appearance in Scripture, and David's first appearance marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, as seen in ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa16 1 Samuel 16].'' This chapter presents two tightly connected episodes: his anointing by Samuel (vv. 1-13) and his subsequent arrival in Saul's royal court (vv. 14-23). While some scholars treat these as separate traditions, a literary reading reveals strong thematic unity. God is shown working both overtly—through Samuel's anointing—and providentially—through circumstances that bring David into Saul's service. The Spirit of the Lord rushing upon David (v. 13) contrasts sharply with the Spirit's departure from Saul (v. 14), highlighting God's sovereign hand and introducing David as a Spirit-empowered figure whose leadership will stand in contrast to Saul's decline.<ref>Bill T. Arnold, ''1 & 2 Samuel, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003), 238-239.</ref>

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 ==Setting the Stage:==
-Before we dive into our main text in ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa16.14-23 1 Samuel 16:14-23],'' I want us to set the stage by looking back at the verses that come just before. I preached on this passage a few months ago in my sermon on ''[https://ref.ly/Ro2.25-29 Romans 2:25-29].'' Saul, Israel's first king, started off with promise, but over time it became clear that he was not the kind of leader God desired. In ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa13 1 Samuel 13],'' Saul violated God's law by offering a sacrifice himself rather than waiting for Samuel. That act of irreverence revealed a deeper issue—Saul did not grasp that even a king is subject to God's authority. Then in ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa14 1 Samuel 14],'' his leadership began to show its instability as he made rash decisions during battle, putting his own son Jonathan in jeopardy. By ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa15 1 Samuel 15],'' Saul's pattern of partial obedience culminated in his failure to carry out God's command against the Amalekites. God, through Samuel, declared that obedience matters more than ritual sacrifice—and Saul had failed the test.
+Before we dive into our main text in ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa16.14-23 1 Samuel 16:14-23],'' I want us to set the stage by looking back at the verses that come just before. I preached on this passage a few months ago in my sermon on ''[https://ref.ly/Ro2.25-29 Romans 2:25-29].'' Saul, Israel's first king, started off with promise, but over time it became clear that he was not the kind of leader God desired. In ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa13 1 Samuel 13],'' Saul violated God's law by offering a sacrifice himself rather than waiting for Samuel. That act of irreverence revealed a deeper issue—Saul did not grasp that even a king is subject to God's authority. Then in ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa14 1 Samuel 14],'' his leadership began to show its instability as he made rash decisions during battle, putting his own son Jonathan in jeopardy. By ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa15 1 Samuel 15],'' Saul's pattern of partial obedience culminated in his failure to carry out God's command against the Amalekites. <mark>God, through Samuel, declared that obedience matters more than ritual sacrifice—and Saul had failed the test.</mark>
-This brings us to ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa16 1 Samuel 16],'' where we see God initiating a transition. Saul may still wear the crown, but God is already preparing someone new—a man after His own heart. What's remarkable here is not just that God chooses someone else, but ''how'' He chooses him. The story of David's anointing teaches us that God looks beyond habitus—beyond appearance, status, and even behavior. God sees the heart. While people tend to be impressed by external strength, credentials, or charisma, God is not bound by our shallow metrics. He knows what truly qualifies a person for His purposes.
+<mark>This brings us to ''[https://ref.ly/1Sa16 1 Samuel 16],'' where we see God initiating a transition. Saul may still wear the crown, but God is already preparing someone new—a man after His own heart.</mark> What's remarkable here is not just that God chooses someone else, but ''how'' He chooses him. The story of David's anointing teaches us that God looks beyond habitus—beyond appearance, status, and even behavior. God sees the heart. While people tend to be impressed by external strength, credentials, or charisma, God is not bound by our shallow metrics. He knows what truly qualifies a person for His purposes.
-This is good news for all of us. It means you don't have to be the strongest, smartest, or most impressive person in the room to be used by God. David wasn't chosen because he looked like a king; in fact, he was the youngest, least likely candidate. But his heart was oriented toward God. Yes, David would later fail in significant ways, but his inner desire was to pursue God, to repent, and to walk in humility. And that's the kind of heart God uses.
+This is good news for all of us. It means you don't have to be the strongest, smartest, or most impressive person in the room to be used by God. David wasn't chosen because he looked like a king; in fact, he was the youngest, least likely candidate. But his heart was oriented toward God. <mark>Yes, David would later fail in significant ways, but his inner desire was to pursue God, to repent, and to walk in humility. And that's the kind of heart God uses.</mark>
 ==Text: [https://ref.ly/1Sa16.14-23 1 Samuel 16:14-23] read all at the beginning. Psalm 139:13-16 read with the subpoint.==

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 ===Image: How God has trained me.===
-I grew up as a pastor's son in a small town with a small church. My dad was the pastor, but in reality, my whole family worked for the church. That was just how we lived. Dad's job was not just a job but a way of life, and so I will tell you most of what I learned in seminary was Greek and Hebrew; my dad had already taught me most of the rest. In fact, I tested out of something like 10 courses in seminary by taking the final exams and doing very well on them without taking the class. That is not to brag on myself; it took me 18 years to learn it, but rather to brag on how God prepared me for seminary.
+I grew up as a pastor's son in a small town with a small church. My dad was the pastor, but in reality, my whole family worked for the church. That was just how we lived. Dad's job was not just a job but a way of life, and so I will tell you most of what I learned in seminary was Greek and Hebrew; my dad had already taught a lot. Not to be arrogant but rather to highlight just what it looked like to serve alongside my dad. In fact, I tested out of something like 10 courses in seminary by taking the final exams and doing very well on them without taking the class. That is not to brag on myself; it took me 18 years to learn it, but rather to brag on how God prepared me for seminary.
 My first job in high school and through college was as a mechanic. I learned to work with my hands and learned how to troubleshoot cars. As a math professor, I can't say I had a whole lot of use for those skills, and you might think that as a pastor the same would hold true. But that would be wrong. I cannot tell you how many meaningful spiritual conversations I have been able to have under the hood of a car helping someone with their car.