David and the Heart of God - Week 1: The Anointing

Awake Us Now

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16.

There are many Biblical characters of faith in the Bible, but none with as many Old Testament chapters devoted to them as David.

Abraham - 14 Chapters Joseph - 14 chapters Jacob - 11 chapters Elijah - 10 chapters David - 66 chapters (and this does NOT include the Psalms written by him!)

Our story takes place around the year 1025 BC. We read in 1 Samuel 13:14 that God is going to replace the Israelite’s first king, King Saul. In 1 Samuel 13:14 we read about Elijah telling Saul the following, “But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

In 1 Samuel 16:1 “The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

So Samuel sets out for Jesse’s home with oil to anoint the next king of Israel. Samuel arrives at Jesse’s home and sees Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, and this is the one he thinks is to be anointed but God has other plans. We read in this verse, one of the most important verses about God’s heart, 1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The world looks at a person’s job, wealth, good looks, accomplishments, status, possessions, BUT God looks at the heart of a person. Seven of Jesse’s sons come to Samuel but he tells each that they have not been chosen. Then Samuel asks Jesse if there are any other sons - Jesse says there’s one left in the fields with the sheep. The smallest, least likely of choices, but Samuel has him sent for. David is found, tending sheep and is then brought before Samuel ho acknowledges him as the Lord’s choice, and Samuel anoints David to be the next king of Israel. Today’s verses tell us that from that time on, the Spirit of the Lord was upon David.

What is it about David’s heart that stands out? How did David reflect God’s heart?

David’s Heart ⁃ Faith-filled heart - had a heart filled with faith in God. David wrote Psalm 23 - this psalm opens with :The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need.” David knew he could depend on God, that God cared for him and so David trusted God. David walked by faith. ⁃ Humble heart - David wrote Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” David realized he needed God, relied on the grace of God, wanted God to mold and shape him, wanted God to draw him ever closer to Himself. David not only lived by faith, he walked in humility. ⁃ Honest heart - In Psalm 78:72 we read the following, “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” Not that he was sinless, he was not, but he was honest and had integrity and lead his people that way.

We too are called To walk by faith To be humble before God To be honest and to have integrity

Like David we are to have a heart after God’s own heart.

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