08.08.2010 What Makes David so Special

08.08.2010 Grace Summit Sermon - What Makes David so Special? from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

08.08.2010 Grace Summit Worship from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

Lord, speak to our hearts – we need to hear from You – may this not just be a sermon and some singing, but may we hear from You and be touched by You.

Grab a Bible and turn to 1 Sam. 16 – there are those you can read and those whose print is too small...
I want to show you what happens in chapters 16 and 17 – we are introduced to David. We are introduced 3 times in a row in these passages. You might wonder why he needs 3 introductions...but they are showing the importance of David to the story. David is central. It also shows the important role that David plays, not only in the story, but in regard to salvation. God has been working – and you can get this picture that God is excited that David is finally here. There is a lot that happens in here – it is all pushing toward David – and afterward, it looks back at David and points us to Jesus. Jesus is often referred to as Son of David. It is through the line of David that the Messiah is born. David is a type – a small messiah – an anointed one – not a savior in any way – but an anointed one who points to the Messiah.
1 Sam. 16 – David is introduced to Samuel – then to Saul – and eventually to the public through the slaying of Goliath.
There is something similar in each of the introductions of David. In each case, David is NEVER seeking to be introduced! He is almost an innocent bystander who is not even around and has to be brought in to the story. This shows that God is the initiator – the one who is working. God is putting this together – not David.
1 Sam. 16:1 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."
God has rejected Saul.
And we see that David is God's choice. God's king. Specifically chosen by God. Saul has been rejected as The People's Choice. He was the type of person – the tallest in Israel – probably strong and handsome – from a good family – well-to-do – if you were voting – you would vote for Saul, but Saul has failed and God is choosing David.
There is a theme throughout the old testament – God rejects one and chooses another. This can be troubling – like Jacob and Esau – we ask, how does God decide? But God has the right – and can do as He pleases. If you are ever struggling with this – I've heard this quote -
“God is absolutely sovereign but His sovereignty never functions to diminish human responsibility.
Humans are responsible for their choices and decisions before God but their responsibility never functions to qualify or diminish God's absolute sovereignty.”

1 Sam. 16:2 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.' 3 "And 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." 4 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?" 5 And 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.
He doesn't even tell them what is going on.
6 Then it came about when they entered, that he looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him." 7 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."
You would think by now Samuel would understand – he appointed Saul by his appearance – so Jesse's oldest walks in – same thing, and Samuel thinks – it must be him! But this just demonstrates the human tendency to judge a book by its cover. Man looks at the outward appearance – that is the way we are. There are so many things we judge by – talent, charismatic personality – movie stars whose lives are a wreck – And this is true in the church as well. We look for certain types of people with certain gifts and we lift them up and they don't have what is going on on the inside. God looks at the heart. It is hard to not judge based on what is on the outside. You may look at someone that is average on the outside, but God has something powerful taking place on the inside.
This is destructive in the church and is destructive in relationships. You know how it is – we were at a wedding – Thursday and Friday – Rehearsal dinner – you start categorizing – trying to figure them out – where are they coming from? Where are they?
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." 9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen these."
God is making the point over and over again. The Lord has not chosen these.
11 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." 12 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." 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers;
David – when it says the youngest, it can also mean 'the least.'
Samuel is seeking someone – and Jesse brings his sons – and doesn't even invite David. Like he was voted by Dad – least likely to succeed. It seems like Jesse's sons were warriors – sharp – and David is just out there feeding the sheep.
and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
Jeremiah – who am I? Moses – speech impediment. God likes to take the least and use them. Similar to how Jesus took the disciples – a group of hard working individuals trying to raise a family. All were unworthy – here is David – a center of the Old testament – unworthy.
1 Cor. 1:26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, 29 that no man should boast before God.
When we stand before God, we will realize there is nothing in us that will qualify us for God – nothing we can do to win His grace. God simply pours out His grace in your life until your eyes are opened. You did nothing to get to that point.
That is why we need to be grateful – that is why it is so important to understand the story of God's choice. You have been selected.
There is a little song – boundless love, unending joy, this is my life, this is what I know – I can't believe that He selected me!
I hope that is where you stand when you think of your Christian life. Well – from the practical side – what is it with David's heart – if God does not look at the outward appearance, but the heart, what is it about his heart?
Acts 13:22 "And after He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.' 23 "From the offspring of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus,
Even in the New Testament, David is known for having something different in his heart.
If you compare what David did wrong compared to what Saul did wrong – you would choose Saul! David has significant moral failures – sexual problems – premeditated murder – a liar, a deceiver! He has significant family issues – ruins some marriages and some children. There is also significant ambition and pride that get him in trouble – but God says there is something in his heart that is different.
1 Sam. 16:11 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.
David understood his insignificance – he accepted his unworthiness – it seems he is okay just being with the sheep. 3 introductions – and he is not really there for them! Like John the Baptist – 'whose shoes I am unworthy to untie.”
I've been reading about emotionally healthy spirituality.
The Jesus Prayer – like the two guys praying – Have mercy on me, I am a sinner!' - that is David's understanding.
I stand because God has been merciful to a sinner.
Second, there is a faithfulness in his insignificance.
He understands his insignificance, but he is faithful in it.
He gives himself wholly to that position where God has placed him.
David wrote a number of Psalms – and found God in his insignificance.
That is where you develop an intimate relationship with God.
That is the first thing different about David's heart – the second – v. 13
13 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. 14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him.
The second thing – he was empowered by The Spirit. He had a heart that was able to receive the Holy Spirit – and t shows a softness and ability to yield to the control of another. What is wrong – being control freaks – it happens before God – where we want control – but David did not allow himself.
David was able to do this even when he failed. Saul did not allow himself to be empowered – for David, there is this unbelievable yielding to God's power and control. When David numbers the people and grieves God, he allows God the choice of punishments.
Too often, we don't live life obedient to the Spirit – but we can only be pleasing to God when we yield to His spirit.
I think that has a lot to do with faith – we don't believe that God can work in and through us.
We don't live daily thinking that God is alive today and is working in and through me – we need to think about that and believe it is true.
Second – we don't practice spirituality. There is something to I t- read the psalms and you have a sense of this person who contemplates God. But when s the last time you did nothing – but just listen to God?
I started a practice after reading this book - 3 times a day – he calls it the daily office – but I just open a psalm – and read it and pray and allow God to speak. I am not studying it – but praying and allowing God to speak to my heart.

Jesus – his habit was to slip away and pray. We may not have wildernesses to go to – but practice spirituality.
Third – we must focus on the Battle – taking the gospel to the difficult places in life.
Finally – what we see in Jesus – being empowered by the Spirit, we need to challenge hypocrisy – the faking – the show – that is what Jesus did – he challenged hypocrites – those who acted religious but weren't