The Notes

This coming Wednesday night, July 16, 2025, we continue our new Bible study series called, "Journey with King David."  In this second week of our summer journey, we go to the Valley of Elah and the story that made David famous - his battle with Goliath.  It's more than a childhood story of dealing with giants . . . it's a story of faith, authenticity, and victory. 

This summer Bible study series will look at the places of David's life that shaped him and trained him; those places and events can teach us valuable lessons and give us spiritual insight.  Join us each Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. for some mid-week encouragement for the soul.  You don't want to miss this series!   

If you can't join us in person, you can always participate through our Facebook page - we go "live" at 6:30 p.m., and you will have a front row seat.  If you can't join us live at 6:30 p.m., you can always listen to the message later, either from Facebook, or YouTube, on here on our website.  Messages are posted the following day and you can watch a replay of any message anytime!  

If you want to keep some notes from a message, you can download the notes for a specific message from the "Past and Future Messages" page of our website.  There are many ways to be spiritually fed and encouraged.

This past Wednesday night, July 9, 2025, we began a new Bible study series called, "Walking with King David."  He was the second King of Israel, behind Saul.  Saul had been anointed as King and, at first, worshiped God and lived with the spirit of God working powerfully in his life.  But soon, Saul became more interested in honoring and glorifying Saul and God.  He took actions to benefit himself instead of following God's direction for his life, and for Israel.  In 1 Samuel 15 – God was giving Israel victory over an enemy - the Amalekites – and told Saul to destroy everything.  But he didn’t.  Verse 9 says:  "Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality."

So Samuel (the prophet who anointed Saul) confronts Saul, and he at first claims only to have saved it for a sacrifice.  Samuel then tells Saul: "because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”  And in verse 24, Saul then admits to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded."  Samuel responds by telling him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you.” (1 Sam. 15:28).

That someone is David, and our journey begins in Bethlehem.

David was born in Bethlehem and lived there as a child.  Because of the importance of David, the small city of Bethlehem would become known as "the city of David" - recall that is where Joseph took Mary to be registered just before the birth of Jesus.

 We first meet David in 1 Samuel 16. Samuel is sent to choose a new king, but he’s afraid Saul will find out and kill him. God gives him a plan.  Another lesson from this story - God always makes a way when we are willing to do what He asks of us.

! Samuel 16:4-5 says that "Samuel did as the Lord instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. “What’s wrong?” they asked. “Do you come in peace?”   “Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too.

It would appear that Jesse - the father of David - was not an “elder” of the town as Samuel invites them also to the sacrifice.   So always remember that you don't have to be in a position of power or prestige to do great things for God.  God can position us for greatness no matter if we come from the wrong side of the tracks, from a poor village, or a large city.

Samuel then begins the process of looking at the sons of Jesse to determine  which one God has set aside to be anointed.  Samuel looked at Eliab, the oldest, and and thought, “Surely this is the LORD’s anointed!”  Verse 7 tells us an important truth - "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.”   

Jesse presents to Samuel 7 of his sons, but Samuel finds God has not chosen any of them.  And at this moment we learn an important truth - Jesse has another son he did not bring in to meet Samuel.  Samuel asks Jesse, “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.”  In verse 12, Jesse send for David and as soon as Samuel saw him, he knew - “This is the one."  1 Samuel 13 says, "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."

An important truth all of us can learn from David's story is that sometimes the people closest to you don’t recognize who you can be.  They don't see your greatness . . . your character . . . your heart . . . or your potential.  They see faults, not fabulous.  They see weakness, not a winner.  They see problems, not your potential.  They see you as young and not prepared.  But that is because other people see the outside or us, they don’t know what God has put inside.  They can't possibly know that.  They make quick judgments, or base a decision about you on one mistake.  That's not God's way.  He created us and knows us intimately.  He knows our hearts.

It seems like David was invisible to his father and brothers.  They left him out.  And sometimes we feel invisible to people, too.  But know this truth - we’re never invisible to God.  God created us.  He sees us.  He knows us, and He has a destiny for us, a plan for our lives.  We were created for a purpose.  As long as we are alive, we still have a purpose.

David’s father didn’t bring David in, but God does not leave us out!  God has a place for us at His table, and the banquet won't begin without us. 

Never forget that our usefulness to God is directly tied to our hearts.  Prior to David's anointing, Samuel told Saul,  “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.”  (1 Sam. 13:14).  David had a heart that was open to God.   He had a heart that could be molded.  That's a large part of why David was a great King - his heart.  Our family, friends, and other people don’t know what's in our heart, or how God can transform us. 

Never forget this from the anointing of David.  The Bible says that the “Spirit of God came powerfully” on David’s life.  

That means it’s not us, it’s God working through us if we’re willing vessels to be used by Him.  David was willing.  Saul was at first, but then his desire changed to please himself and other people instead of God. 

When we stop being willing, the power stops, too.  The example for that principle is Saul.

Now it is not clear from this story if David’s family knows why he is anointed.

What happens is that life goes back to normal.  Samuel leaves.  So how can David learn to be King?  How can this young shepherd be prepared to be King of Israel?  God has a plan.  

The Bible tells us that King Saul develops a “tormenting spirit.”  So a musician is summoned to play the harp for the King so he will feel better.  This just comes out of the blue!

Never doubt that God has control over all that happens.   God controls the angels of heaven, and has control over the fallen angels as well.  Even when Job was being tested, God set the limits.  So never doubt that God can get you where you need to be.

In the story of David, one of the servants said to Saul, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the LORD is with him.”  So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, the shepherd.”  Jesse responded by sending David to Saul.  David went to Saul, lived in the palace, and began serving him.  "Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer."  "And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.”  (1 Sam. 16:18-23).  

David is now in position to learn about being King.

God knows how to connect people to get us prepared for the destiny He has planned for us.  The events of our lives are not mistakes because nothing we do is a surprise to God. 

In closing, keep one more thing in mind – Saul was chosen, then rejected.  Saul was 30 when he became king and he reigned as king for 42 yrs.  But it could have been longer.  He could have been great.  He wasn't.   His legacy was forever tarnished by jealousy and hate and war and uprisings. 

How we live our lives matters.  Following God (not people) and being obedient matters to God.  We need to do things the right way.  How you get there is just as important as the destination.

The truth is - God can lift us up, but He can also hold us back or take away the blessing. Saul rejected the word of God, and God rejected him.

Don't make those mistakes.  Live like David instead and give your heart to God.  Let God lead you and direct you because that's the desire of your heart.