Lessons From 1 Samuel

Lessons From 1 Samuel – 1 Sam 16:7

Intro:  Today we will again be looking at 1 Samuel.  This book is the story of five people.

Eli, the tragic priest.  Samuel, the last judge of Israel and a prophet of God.  Saul, the people’s choice.  Jonathan, a true friend.  David, God’s choice and a man after God’s own heart.

1.  There are five lessons we will learn from this book today. The first s found in our  

     Scripture.  Man looks the outward appearance.  God looks at the heart.   Our society

     Today is obsessed with youth.  Cosmetic surgery is a 10 billion dollar business.  In

     2006, over 50,000 Canadians had some form of Cosmetic surgery.  As Canadians

     Get older this trend will increase.  Another sad statistic is 1 in 3 women will suffer

     From an eating disorder some time in their life.  With men it is 1 in 5.  Health, fitness

     And eating right is important but it does not make you a better person spiritually.  In

     Spite what the yoga instructor says.

a.  Saul was tall, imposing and a good fighter.  The people’s choice.  He was also,

     Rebellious, jealous, violent, angry and self willed.  He started out well but died a

     Tragic death. 

b.  David was ruddy, more refined features but handsome.  David was God’s choice. 

     God saw David heart and that is what set him apart.  David was obedient,

      Courageous, faithful, refuse to touch the anointed, and spiritual. 

c.  What God is saying is simple.  Be more concern about the inside than the outside.

      How’s the inner man.  How’s your devotional life?  Do you read your bible, pray

      And attend God’s house?  This is more important than another thing else.  Warren

      Wiersbe said, Life is built on character and character is built on decisions.” 

      Perfecting the inner man or as Gordon Macdonald in his book, “Ordering Your

      Private World.”  Says is more important.  The inner does affect the outer. 

2.  Man’s choices, outlook and insight for leadership are never better than God’s. 

     Man says, I will choose strength, beauty, riches, status, money, genealogy, family

     Connections and popularity for leadership.

a.  God chooses obedience, willingness, availability, faithfulness, compassion, love

     And character as qualities for leadership.

b.  John Maxwell, wrote, “The sign of a good follower is that they push; the mark of

     A great leader is that they pull.” 

c.  H.B  London says there are six characteristics for a good Christian leader.

1.  Failure.  A good follower, hence a good leader, must risk failure – and grow from it.

2.  Originality.  Look for every chance to do things in a new way.

3.  Listen.  Nobody has ever learned anything by talking.

4.  Lean.  Be dependent on the guidance of the Holy Spirit and seek the counsel of

     Friends and family.

5.  Obedience.  It is never a sign of weakness to say, “Yes” to God.

6.  Willingness.  The hardest thing about following is making yourself available.

d.  Saul started off well but ended badly.  He was not willing to repent.  He loved the

     Praise of people and failed to listen to God.  David started well and ended well.  Saul

     Was the people’s choice.  David was God’s.

3.  Petty jealousy can drive a person to disaster.  For Saul it was a simple phrase, “Saul

     Has killed his thousands, David his ten thousands.”  This lead to jealousy, envy, strife,

     Hatred and finally attempted murder.

a.  Saul’s jealousy and disobedience would lead to rebellion and witchcraft.  Samuel

     Stated in 1 Sam 15:23, that rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft.  This statement in

     Saul’s case would be prophetic, he would visit the witch at Endor. 

b.  Saul’s petty jealousy affected his own family.  Jealousy destroys families.  Saul’s

     Sons would die with their father.  If you are aware of a relationship with this problem

      make sure he participants get help or tell the proper authorities.

4.  When a person puts their faith in God, they can overcome any obstacle.  David

     overcame the Goliath, the Amalekites, Philistines and even Saul and Israel.   Nothing

     is impossible for those who trust God.

a.  Noah built and ark.  Moses delivered Israel.  The walls of Jericho fell to Joshua. 

     Caleb took Hebron.  Gideon defeated the Midianites with 300 men.  Samson killed

     1000 Philistines with a jawbone of a donkey.  Singers put an enemy to flight.

b.  Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal on Carmel and raised someone from the dead.

     Elisha fed 100 people.  The Hebrew children overcame a fiery furnace.  Daniel

     Came out of the lions den.  Jesus did multitudes of miracles.  Peter and John raised

     A lame man.  Paul preaches throughout the known world with signs and wonders.

     Nothing can stop those who put their faith in God. 

5.  Friendship is greater than anything when it is based on love for God and each

     Other.

    

a.  As believers we are called to love God with every fibre of our being and love our

     Neighbour as ourselves.  Love is a mark of Christianity.  Jesus said this is what

    Distinguishes us from all the rest.

b.  Jonathan was David’s friend.  This friendship cost Jonathan his father’s approval

     But it did secure the future of his family.  One man wrote, “The best way to have

     Friends is be one.”  Stan Toler said, “If you are vulnerable enough to develop lasting

     Relationships you will have no regrets.”

c.   Jesus spent 3 years pouring into his disciples and later it paid dividends.  In Acts

      4, his disciples were fearless and their enemies stated, “It was because they had been

      With Jesus.  One old friend is better than two new ones.  (Russian Proverb)