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
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.
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
is impossible for those who
trust God.
a. Noah built and
ark. Moses delivered
Caleb took
1000 Philistines
with a jawbone of a donkey. Singers put
an enemy to flight.
b. Elijah defeated
the prophets of Baal on
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)
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