HOW GOD TURNS NOBODIES INTO SOMEBODIES. · LORD 14would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his

HOW GOD TURNS NOBODIES INTO SOMEBODIES.

David-a man of unique ability, yet great tragedy. He was grace gifted, but human to a fault. He was strong as a military leader, but is made of blood and bone-sharing our struggles of spirit and soul. Before looking more closely at his life-we’ll take some time to look at the background of the time he lived. We’ll also examine Saul’s life and his mistakes and how and why God chose this Shepherd boy to be a Kong of Israel.

1 Samuel 8:1-3, 7-8, 9:2, 13:7-17, 15:12-23

SAUL- A BAD EXAMPLE. THE

PEOPLES CHOICE

He was the tallest,

most handsome man

among them. But his

height and good looks

couldn’t hide his small

and homely heart. As

a leader he made

three vital mistakes. (three character flaws)

1. He was .

7 Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land

of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men

were trembling with fear. 8 Saul waited there seven days for Samuel,

as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come.

Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. 9 So he

demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!”

And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. 10 Just as Saul was

finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to

meet and welcome him, 11 but Samuel said, “What is this you have

done?” Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you

didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at

Micmash ready for battle. 12 So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to

march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the LORD’s

help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before

you came.” 13 “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept

the command the LORD your God gave you. Had you kept it, the

LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But

now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man

after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the

leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s

command.”

2. He was .

12 Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul

went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on

to Gilgal.” 13 When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May

the LORD bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the LORD’s command!” 14 “Then

what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?”

Samuel demanded. 15 “It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep,

goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the

LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else.” 16 Then Samuel said to

Saul, “Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!” “What did he tell you?”

Saul asked. 17 And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are

you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of

Israel. 18 And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely

destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’ 19 Why haven’t you

obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the

LORD’s sight?” 20 “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission

he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. 21 Then

my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to

sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.” 22 But Samuel replied, “What is more

pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his

voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than

offering the fat of rams. 23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as

bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the

LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

3. He was .

12 Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul.

Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of

Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he

went on to Gilgal.”

DAVID- A GOOD EXAMPLE,

GOD’S CHOICE When God chooses

someone to use He always looks at the Heart. Look at what Paul told the believers in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. As the marks of weak character began to scar Saul’s life, God began to look for a replacement based on three essential qualifications of the heart.

1. A heart.

9 The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in

order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully

committed to him. What a fool you have been!

From now on you will be at war.”

2. A heart.

70 He chose his servant David,

calling him from the sheep pens.

20 I have found my servant David. I have anointed him with my holy oil.

3. A heart.

71 He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and

made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants—

God’s own people, Israel. 72 He cared for them with a

true heart and led them with skillful hands.