Sunday October 9, 2022
Acts 13:22- “And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.”
1 Samuel 16:1- “Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”
“How long will you mope over Saul, I’ve got a plan for the future!”
How long are we going to mope over the things of the past? God has plans for today and the future. AND THEY MAY NOT LOOK LIKE YESTERDAY!
As you read, Samuel fears for his life because Saul is a madman so God tells Samuel go to Bethlehem and say “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord” and invite Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice.
1 Samuel 16:6-7- “When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
In these passages we see not only Samuel’s divinity but also his humanity. Samuel was a “people” and a prophet!
1 Samuel 16:11-13- “Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.”
WOW- David is anointed to be the next King of Israel. In front of his Father, in front of his brothers. God says, “THIS IS MY CHOICE!”
Psalms 78:70-72- “He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens. He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants— God’s own people, Israel. He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.”
GOD DIDN’T GIVE DAVID THE KINGDOM, HE MADE HIM A KING!
Next to Jesus, the Bible talks more about David than anyone else. He’s mentioned over a thousand times!
There’s speculation that David and his family, at that time, did not know what he was being anointed for but that the oil did indicate that David was being set apart for God’s purpose!
God’s purpose came before the position. If the position ever comes before the purpose you’ll abuse the position and forfeit the purpose!
The position must serve God’s purpose!
Acts 13:36- “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.”
WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR THIS YOUNG MAN DAVID, TO BE ANOINTED BY THE PROPHET THAT DAY, SET APART FOR THE PURPOSE OF GOD!
I’ll tell you what it was like! After the dust settled. Samuel leaves, the anointing oil still dripping, David is looking around and what he feels is
REJECTION!!
“There remains yet the youngest!” This shows the low regard David had among his own family!
First, his father didn’t even mention him by name.
“So small was David in his father’s esteem that it wasn’t considered necessary to include him in the family when the prophet of God called them to sacrifice.”
Second, he wasn’t even invited to the sacrificial feast.
Third, he was only called to come because Samuel insisted on it.
REJECTION!
There’s no question David was overlooked, under appreciated and even scorned by his own.
Have you ever felt unappreciated, neglected, underestimated, perhaps forgotten?
Have you ever thought… If I did not wake up tomorrow, would anyone even miss me? Does my opinion even matter? Will I ever be noticed?
“Will anyone ever see me? Listen to me? Want me?”
If that’s you friend, you’re in great company!
The only person in the Bible God called “A man after my own heart” was overlooked, underestimated, and rejected by his earthly Father and others!
“King David experienced mass rejection numerous times in his life. Both before becoming King and after. I’d describe it as a dominant theme of his biography.”
Some ancient manuscripts tell us that David was not permitted to eat with the rest of his family, but was assigned to a separate table in the corner.
He was given the job of shepherd, because “they hoped that a wild beast would come and kill him while he was performing his duties,”
REJECTION!
Psalms 118:5-9- “In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?
Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”
The one who made you, never forgets you!
Psalms 34:1-3- “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.”
HOW DID DAVID OVERCOME REJECTION? HE WORSHIPPED! HE HAD A HEART OF WORSHIP!
When we worship we remind ourselves that God is near.
Psalms 34:8- “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”
If Satan can’t get you to change what you believe about God he’ll try and get you to change what you believe about you.
And what is one primary way he does this. Through rejection. If everyone else is rejecting you, you might as well reject you!
BUT, When we worship in spite of our rejection, the devil realizes he can’t control us!
- The reward of rejection is a void that only God can fill.
1 Samuel 30:6- “Further, David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all of them were embittered, each man for his sons and daughters. But David felt strengthened and encouraged in the Lord his God.”
CONCLUSION: Remember I said earlier you’re in good company if you’ve been rejected?
There’s one other person you’re in good company with.
Isaiah 53:3- “He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”
Romans 8:38-39- “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?