I Samuel 16-17 (By Rev. Deacon Margaret Friesen)

OBSERVATION

• Saul’s battles against Amalek – not fully obeying the command of God in keeping some livestock as well as the king Agag. Samuel arrives to celebrate with Saul but catches him at the altar just as he finished conducting a sacrifice to God. Saul was meant to wait for the sacrifice until Samuel arrived and is rebuked by Samuel. Samuel then informs him that Saul has lost the blessing of God; that God will choose another king to take his place.
• Samuel visits the home of Jesse to anoint David as God’s choice for the new king. All of Jesse’s sons,  from oldest to youngest, were brought to Samuel to determine whether that son was the one God was going to choose to be the next king.
• David goes into the service of the king and is frequently called to Saul’s presence to play the harp and soothe Saul’s troubled soul.
• David goes up against Goliath and kills him using a slingshot with stones. His response to the mockery is “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts…whom you have defied.” Goliath is killed with one stone to his head, thrown by David.

 
INTERPRETATION

• Disobeying God has real consequences; in the Old Testament, these consequences are more often than not immediate and take place in real time, not in a far-off heaven or hell.
• God tells Samuel to look beyond the outer person and look on the heart – This is a reminder to us to not be distracted by how a person looks or acts on the outside, but to look at their heart (motivations and attitudes and beliefs).
• David’s responses to the mockery of Goliath remind us that God is on our side if we are walking in line with his commandments and listening to what God says to us.  

 
APPLICATION
Don’t go charging ahead with your plans or dreams unless God goes before you. Listen to what God says about a person’s heart before you select that person for a “kingdom” job.
 
QUESTION
Where do you need God to go ahead of you, to give you courage and power, to give patience to wait for God to act.
 
PRAYER
Lord God you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power. Nothing is impossible for you. Reveal to me what you would have us do. Grant us patience to wait for your timing. Remind us to do all that you ask us to do; to do no more or less.
 
SONG
Nothing is impossible with you - Planetshakers Live - Bethel Church