Rev. David Holwick ZH King David series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
October 15, 1995
1 Samuel 13:13-14
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I. A principle worth remembering.
A. God chooses the weak. 1 Cor 1:26-29
1) God chooses to use people.
2) He usually uses ordinary people.
a) Therefore no one can boast in God.
b) God can use the mighty, but they usually have their
own agenda.
B. God's choice of a person is contrary to human reason.
1) Looks matter to us. 1 Sam 16:7
a) Back in 1959 playwright Gore Vidal was casting his play,
THE BEST MAN.
Ronald Reagan was proposed for the lead role of the
distinguished front-running Presidential candidate.
He was rejected.
It was decided that he lacked the "Presidential look."
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b) We are so concerned about our looks that we will do just
about anything to change them.
A few years ago TIME magazine devoted almost an entire
issue to the state of California.
Since Californians are notorious trendsetters, TIME wanted
to find out what is hot in California and what is not.
One of the "hots" they listed is an obsession with the
body.
Silicone implants are very popular - not for women,
but for men.
If you don't like the body God gave you or are too lazy
to exercise, you can have surgeons slip in silicone
packs to chisel those pectorals, firm up that
derriere or bulge out your calves.
Looks DO matter.
They matter a lot to people.
But God couldn't care less.
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2) God looks deeper.
a) He is interested in our heart, our motivations.
b) This principle is brought out in the accounts of Israel's
first kings, Saul and David.
II. The people's choice - King Saul. Acts 13:16-23
A. Turbulent times.
1) No national political leadership.
a) Local leadership provided by leaders called "judges"
but they were often very limited.
b) Military pressure from outsiders was increasing.
2) Moral and religious decline.
a) Country seemed to be drifting, in a malaise.
b) After Eli died, his immoral sons took over.
1> (My greatest concern is that my own children won't
follow God.)
B. Their demand for a king. 1 Sam 8:4-5
1) Samuel old, sons corrupt. 1 Sam 8:3
2) Want to be like other nations. 1 Sam 8:5
a) We naturally seek out strong leaders.
1> Notice the attention directed at Colin Powell.
b) Even Christians seek out super-heroes and pastors.
C. Do you know what you're getting into? 1 Sam 8:10-18
1) God is being rejected. 1 Sam 8:7
2) Samuel warns them of loss of freedom.
a) Completely negative portrayal of politics.
b) God himself foresaw need for a king, and approved of
it, but knew a loss of freedom would result.
D. Saul chosen.
1) Physically attractive. 1 Sam 9:2
a) "People's Choice" TV awards don't get to go to
best actors.
b) Winning Presidents tend to be taller than opponents.
2) Saul later went downhill.
a) His politics became paranoid - everyone became his enemy.
b) Religious swings from cruel oppression to hypocritical
embrace of paganism. (witch of Endor)
c) Emotional disintegration.
d) Ultimately, self-destruction.
III. God's choice - King David.
A. God wanted someone after his own heart.
1) Our ordinary gifts are good enough for God.
Trivia question: What is the name of Whittier
College's football team?
The "Poets."
Can you imagine a worse name for a football team?
"Go, Poets! Kill, kill, kill!"
It hardly inspires bloodlust.
Second trivia question: Who was the Poets' most
famous Player?
Richard Nixon.
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2) This is exactly what God did with David.
a) He took a poet and made him the king of Israel.
b) Want to kill a lot of people? Get a poet!
B. The qualities God sought:
1) Spirituality. 1 Sam 13:14
2) Humility. Pss 78:70; 89:19-21
3) Integrity. Ps 78:72
a) What you are when nobody is looking.
IV. How God trained David.
A. Solitude.
1) Surrounded by smelly sheep.
B. Obscurity.
1) Nobody noticed what he did.
C. Monotony.
1) (dishes, diapers)
D. Reality.
1) He faced threats and death, lions & bears. 1 Sam 17:34
a) Less than 1% of life, but it can define who we are.
2) Rev. Chris Brown, Christian "Rambo" -
Chris Brown was in Hawaii on his honeymoon.
Drove their rental car through miles of sugar cane fields
to swim at a deserted beach on Kauai.
When they came back to the car, the windows were smashed
and everything was stolen - credit cards, money....
What Glenn Gunderson would have done is reported it to
the police.
Chris is made of different stuff.
He followed the tracks into the cane fields,
spots two of the men,
chases them down, grabs them,
and twists their arms around them for 45 minutes.
They finally told him where everything was - including stuff
from other people - and Chris recovered it all.
He's a Christian Rambo - but dumb as a brick.
Don't do that in New Jersey!
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V. Two truths worth accepting.
A. It is in "little things" that we prove ourselves capable of
"big things."
1) Everyday obstacles prepare us for the main task of life.
2) Jesus says if we are faithful in small things, he will
give us responsibility for big things.
B. When God develops inner qualities, he is never in a hurry.
====================================
Study notes: >>>>
Charles Swindoll, "David - A Man After God's Heart" Bible study.
========================================================
I. God's Heart, God's Man, God's Way. 1 Sam 13:13-14
A. A principle worth remembering.
1) God chooses the weak. 1 Cor 1:26-29
2) God's choice of a person is contrary to human reason.
B. The people's choice. (Saul) Acts 13:16-23
1) Their times.
a) After Eli died, his immoral sons took over.
b) Samuel is also old, and his sons didn't have integrity. 8:3
2) Their demand for a king. 8:4-5
a) Samuel old, sons corrupt.
b) Want to be like other nations.
3) Samuel's response. 8:10-18
a) God is being rejected.
b) Samuel warns them of loss of freedom.
4) Saul chosen.
a) Physically attractive. 9:2
b) He later went downhill.
C. God's choice. (David)
1) God wanted someone after his own heart.
2) The qualities God sought:
a) Spirituality. 1 Sam 13:14
b) Humility. Pss 78:70; 89:19-21
c) Integrity. Ps 78:72
D. How God trained David.
1) Solitude.
2) Obscurity.
3) Monotony.
4) Reality.
II. Two truths worth accepting.
A. It is in "little things" that we prove ourselves capable of
"big things."
B. When God develops inner qualities, he is never in a hurry.
=================================================================
Rev. Glenn Gunderson, First Baptist Church, Pomona, California.
=================================================================
I. A principle worth remembering.
A. God chooses the weak. 1 Cor 1:26-29
B. God's choice of a person is contrary to human reason.
1) He can use the beautiful, but usually doesn't.
a) Be careful of "reverse-snobism."
2) Our ordinary gifts are good enough for him.
a) (illust. on Whittier College "Poets" football team.
Richard Nixon played on the team.)
b) This is exactly what God did with David.
1> He took a poet and made him the king of Israel.
2> Want to kill a lot of people? Get a poet! (???!)
II. The people's choice. (Saul) Acts 13:16-23
A. Their times.
1) After Eli died, his immoral sons took over.
2) Samuel is also old, and his sons didn't have integrity. 8:3
B. Their demand for a king. 8:4-5
1) Samuel old, sons corrupt.
a) (His greatest fear is that his own children won't
follow God.)
2) Want to be like other nations.
a) (Evangelicals also seek super-heroes.)
b) (Feet of clay will disappoint us.)
C. Samuel's response. 8:10-18 [not used]
1) God is being rejected.
2) Samuel warns them of loss of freedom.
D. Saul chosen. 9:2
1) Physically attractive. 1 Sam 9:2
a) Tall.
b) (Tallest candidate wins in 80% [?])
2) In a few years he went downhill.
a) Became paranoid, obsessed with occult, committed suicide.
b) (illust. of Campus Crusade leader who was unremarkable
but faithful and saw group grow, and then replaced
with a "hunk" who fizzled out.
E. What matters is being a person after God's own heart. 16:7 ff
III. God's choice. (David)
A. God wanted someone after his own heart. "right-heartedness"
B. The qualities God sought:
1) Spirituality. 1 Sam 13:14
2) Humility. Pss 78:70; 89:19-21
a) God seeks those who are fully committed. 2 Chr 16:9a
b) Humble yourselves before God, he will exalt. 1 Pet 5:6
C. Three essential qualities of a good leader.
1) Perspective. 2 Sam 5:12
a) David knew God had installed him.
2) Integrity. Ps 78:72
3) Skillful hands.
a) Be good at what you do. Be competent.
IV. How God trained David.
A. Solitude.
1) Surrounded by smelly sheep.
B. Obscurity.
1) Nobody noticed what he did.
C. Monotony.
1) (dishes, diapers)
D. Reality.
1) He faced threats and death, lions & bears. 1 Sam 17:34
2) (Chris Brown, Christian "Rambo"
Chris Brown was in Hawaii on his honeymoon.
Drove their rental car through miles of sugar cane fields
to swim at a deserted beach on Kauai.
When they came back to the car, the windows were smashed
and everything was stolen - credit cards, money....
What Glenn Gunderson would have done is reported it to
the police.
Chris is made of different stuff.
He followed the tracks into the cane fields, spots two of
the men, chases them down, grabs them, and twists their
arms around them for 45 minutes until they told him
where everything was - including stuff from other
people.
Chris recovered it all.
He's a Christian Rambo - but dumb as a brick.
Don't do that in Pomona!
V. Two truths worth accepting.
A. It is in "little things" that we prove ourselves capable of
"big things."
B. When God develops inner qualities, he is never in a hurry.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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