Lesson #16

1 SAMUEL 16
Lesson #16
GOD CHOOSES A NEW KING

• Memory Verse: 1Sam 16:7b

• Read 1Sam 16:1-13 David’s selection and private anointing
• Samuel feels responsible for Saul’s failure as a king because he was the one who anointed him.
• In truth, what responsibility does Samuel have for Saul’s failure as a king? None.
• Samuel was a mentor or spiritual parent to Saul.
• Each person is responsible for his own spiritual growth and his own relationship to God.
• Discussion

: What responsibility do parents have for their children’s relationship to God?

• Once children are grown adults, parents have no responsibility except to model the Christian life and share the truth of the Word of God in love.
• Samuel’s fear of Saul
• Samuel’s fear of obedience to God’s command is a trick of Satan.(2)
• However, there is risk involved in obedience that tests faith.
• God commands a sacrifice (2,5)
• God did not suggest Samuel deceive Saul in the guise of officiating at a sacrifice while performing the anointing of a new king.
• The sacrifice of a red heifer (Num 19:1-22):
• The offering of a red heifer was an individual sacrifice with national significance. It was connected to the blood-guiltiness of the people.
• The sacrifice of a red heifer was to accomplish the following things:
• It was used to cleanse a person from contact with anything dead.
• Remember that Samuel had to kill king Agag (15:33). Therefore Samuel needed cleansing.
• It was used for the consecration of priests.
• It was used for the cleansing of the temple area.
• David, the shepherd, is chosen (11)
• Read Psa 78:70-72
• What was God’s commission to David?
• David was to be a shepherd of God’s people and feed them
• David is a prefigure of Christ, our shepherd.
• Read Psa 23

The Shepherd and Sheep Relationship

Psa 23 Verse:	Characteristic	Significance	Other Scriptures
1	Possession	I belong to Him and He belongs to me	Isa 40:11
2	Position	I am in a place of security	Jer 23:4
3	Promise	He promises me healing and guidance	Eze 34:11-31
4	Progress	No matter the trials, He walks through them with me	Joh 10
5	Provision	I am especially blessed and loved even when enemies surround me	1Pet 2:25
6	Prospect	I cannot get away from His goodness and mercy no matter where I go	Rev 7:17
6b	Passage	I will pass into eternity and be with Him forever	Heb 13:20

• “I shall not want” = a shepherd has the responsibility to meet the needs of the sheep. (Psa 23:1)
• “He leadeth me” = a shepherd does not push his sheep but leads them. (Psa 23:2)
• “still waters” = sheep will not drink from a running stream.
• “He leadeth me in the paths” = a feeding sheep is so engrossed in his own eating that he follows the path of his eating and can become lost. (Psa 23:3)
• “Thou preparest a table” = the table land of protection is high in the mountains where the shepherd can see a great distance making it difficult for predators to attack.
• “anointest my head with oil” = a shepherd pours oil on the sheep to heal their wounds, but sometimes just to make them feel good.
• Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
• “will follow me” = it laterally means to run after me.
• The private anointing of King David by Samuel (13)
• Saul is still king. This is the reason why this is a private anointing.
• This was one of 3 of David’s anointings.
• =1= This anointing was God’s choosing and the anointing by the Holy Spirit for service.
• =2= The second anointing was as King of Judah in 2Sam 2:4.
• =3= The third anointing was when David was king over all Israel in 2Sam 5:3
• Read 1Sam 16:14-23 David’s entrance into royal service
• Now that David was anointed, God removed the anointing from Saul.
• That meant the Holy Spirit was no longer on him.
• What is this evil spirit from the Lord?
• There are several interpretations possible:
• This could be a demonic possession as divine judgment.
• This could be a demonic attack or influence.
• This could be an evil messenger like the one sent to entice King Ahab in 1Kin 22:20-23.
• This could be a spirit of discontent created by God in the heart of Saul (Jdg 9:23)
• The purpose may have been to drive Saul to his knees before God.
• God is sovereign over all spiritual powers, even Satan and his assistants.
• The spiritual influence of music
• There is spiritual power in music whether for good or for bad.
• Saul was refreshed by David’s music.(23)
• The idea from the word, refreshed, is to provide space from oppressive spirits.
• Saul’s failure:
• Saul had several opportunities to follow God and to be obedient, but his pride cause him to consistently fail.
• God had given Saul 2 warnings of the end of Saul’s reign (13:14 and 15:28), but Saul did not heed the warnings.
• However, Saul was still king. Why?
• Why was Saul still king when God had given word of the end of his reign and directed Samuel to anoint David as king?
• David was not ready for leadership.
• How does God train for leadership?

God’s Training Program

#1	Solitude	1Sam 16:11
#2	Obscurity	1Sam 16:21-23
#3	Monotony	1Sam 16:21-23
#4	Reality of Opportunity	1Sam 17:32

• Characteristics Developed in God’s Training Program
• A deep relationship with the Lord
• Patience
• Spiritual awareness
• Devotion
• Humility
• A peaceful spirit
• Faithfulness in little things; or loyalty
• Strength
• Obedience
• Faith
• Wisdom
• Summary:
• Discussion

: What do we learn about the character of David from this passage?

HOMEWORK
1 SAMUEL 17
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of 1Sam 16
• Consider the nature of the trials through which you are presently undergoing.
• What character qualities may God be wanting to instill in your life as a result?
• Preparation for 1Sam 17
• Read 1Sam 17:1-16
• What are some characteristics of giants?
• Read 1Sam 17:17-58
• What is David’s approach to the problem?
• What are some principles you can gain from this story that relate to the Christian’s spiritual warfare? (Eph 6:11-18)
• Memory Verse: 1Samuel 17:47