Sermon Tone Analysis

*1 Sam 16:12-13*

*/Liturgy/*

Ps 133:1,2

Ps 40:3

Ps 78:1,27,28

Ps 89:9,10

Hymn 22

 

Reading: 1 Sam.

16:1-13

Text: 1 Sam.

16:12-13

 

\\ Brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Over the next number of weeks we want to turn our attention to the book of 1 Samuel.

And we will especially be looking at that /history/ from when David was anointed as king, until the time when he actually took over from King Saul and sat on the throne of Israel.

And that was quite a long time… probably about fifteen years or so.

And during that time the king-to-be, David… he fought against the giant, Goliath… he worked as a musician in the court of King Saul… he ran away into the mountains to escape from Saul who wanted to kill him.

And many other things happened to him.

There was never a dull moment in the history of David’s life.

[pause]

      But /why/?

Why should we spend time looking at David’s ascent to the throne.

It might be an exciting story… but still what difference will it make for you on Monday… if you have heard about the history King David on Sunday??

      Well, to begin with, there are many religions in this world that are based upon certain ideas, or /ideals /(!)  But, brothers and sisters, our faith is rooted in something that is much more solid that an idea... our faith is rooted in the /concrete, almighty and historical deeds/ of the LORD our God.

Our faith is rooted in the actions of God, rather than the ideals of man.

And because our faith is rooted in the /history/ of God’s redemptive work… we are part of a much larger picture.

Faith in the 21st century, yes, even the Christian faith in 21st century has become such an incredibly individualistic thing.

“It’s all about Jesus and me,” people say.

But no, it’s /NOT/ just all about Jesus and you.

It’s about the LORD and /his church /from Adam and Eve… right up until the final elect are gathered in.

And so, it’s /also /about King David and the prophet Samuel and yes, also father Jesse.

And, /surprisingly enough/, the more we learn about that big picture… of God’s work of salvation throughout /the history of the centuries/… the more we learn about that big picture, the more we learn about our personal place in God’s kingdom, right here and right now.

Let me be more specific.

Today we are going to look at how the young boy David was /anointed /into his /office /as /king /of Israel.

Now… start making the connections.

The anointing of King David… foreshadows the anointing of the Great Son of David, Jesus Christ.

David was anointed in Bethlehem.

Jesus was anointed on the banks of the Jordan… /at his baptism/.

And /unlike/ his forefather, Jesus was anointed to be not only a king, but he was also anointed to be a prophet and a priest.

But, now take it a step farther… as a Christian, you share in Christ’s anointing… and that means that you have an office, too.

The office of all believers.

/You /are a prophet.

You /are /a priest.

And you are /a king/… or /a queen/, as the case may be.

Brothers and sisters, YOU ARE an appointed and anointed OFFICE-BEARER in the church of Jesus Christ.

Are you aware of this?

Are you active in this?

Because what we urgently need in our churches is a /much higher awareness /of what it means that all of us, together, share in the anointing of Jesus Christ.

I proclaim the Word of God to you as follows:

*The forefather of Christ is anointed into his office.*

1)     The LORD chooses him;

2)     The LORD equips him;

3)     The LORD will carry out his plans.

[1]  There was a crisis in the kingdom!

The God of Israel had rejected the king of Israel.

The LORD had rejected King Saul, because King Saul refused to obey the simple, plain instructions of the LORD.

The LORD had commanded Saul, “/Completely /destroy the Amalekites!”

But King Saul thought he had a better plan; he figured that he would keep Agag, the Amalekite king, alive… and he also figured that he would keep some of the plunder.

But his disobedience was his downfall.

And now the LORD rejected him.

And if the LORD has rejected the king… what will happen to the kingdom?

If the LORD does not bless the top ruler in the land, then surely, that will have a trickle-down effect on the citizens of the country as well.

This is a crisis!

And Samuel knows it.

And Samuel is down in deep, dark despair… because no sooner did Israel receive and everything is already falling to pieces.

But… this dismal moment in the history of God’s kingdom… this dark moment is the perfect opportunity for the LORD to start shining his grace.

[pause]  And it’s that how the LORD so often designs things.

Just when you think all is lost… just when you think that things have become so dark that the sun will never shine again… that’s the very moment that the LORD surprises us with his power and with his plan.

And so it is here.

The LORD says to Samuel, “Get up!  Stop mourning!

Fill your horn with anointing oil.

I have a task for you.

I have chosen one of Jesse’s sons to be king of Israel.

Go and anoint him!”

Now, the last time, with Saul, all the people were clamouring for a king… they wanted to be just like all the other nations.

But this time, there was no clamour… the people were not shouting, “We want a new king!

We want a new king!”

No!

This comes clearly and exclusively from the LORD.

He says, “*/I/*/ /have chosen him to be king.”

And obviously the LORD looks at things differently than we, human beings do.

Once Samuel was in Bethlehem, and the sons of Jesse started gathering for the sacrifice… Samuel saw the oldest son, Eliab… a tall man, a strong man, an impressive looking man.

And Samuel was convinced, that must be the one.

But the LORD said, “No.

Not that one.”

And then came Abinadab… but the LORD said, “No.

Not that one.”

Next, Shammah… and next a few more sons… but the LORD said, “No.

No. and No.

I have not chosen any of these.”

/Why not?/

Because LORD looks at the heart, not the outward appearance.

It doesn’t matter if you are tall or if you are short… and it doesn’t matter if you are good-looking or if you look like a geek… if you are going to serve fruitfully and effectively as an office-bearer of the LORD… then what matters is: where is your heart?

Do you have a humble heart, that is willing to carry out the Lord’s instructions… whatever the cost?

Or do you have an arrogant heart, and you feel quite free to do things your own way, regardless of what the LORD says?

/      /Why did the LORD choose David… instead of Eliab or Abinadab?

Well, the LORD had already explained this back in chapter 13, when Samuel said to Saul, “/the LORD has sought out a man *after his own heart *and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command./”

You see, being an office-bearer in God’s kingdom is not only /hard work/, it’s /heart work/.

And if you don’t have a heart for simply and humbly submitting to the LORD… then you will never be an effective office-bearer.

[pause]

So… the LORD /chose /David, but then the LORD – through Samuel – also had to specifically /summon /David.

“Send for him” says Samuel.

And so father Jesse sends a messenger out to the fields and brings David into the town, to the place of the sacrifice.