1Samuel 17:1
How Does David Go from Shepherd to King?
We continue our study of David. So far, we have talked mostly about Saul but that
changes tonight.
Last week, we asked two questions:
1. What happened to Saul?
a. Saul was the first king of Israel but he sinned away his right to be king.
b. What happened to him? Three things:
(1) God removed the Holy Ghost from him - That is not something that you
and I need fear, but it did happen to Saul.
(2) God sent an evil spirit to plague Saul.
(a) That is, God sent a demon.
(b) The words used imply that this demon would come upon Saul suddenly
and with power to terrorize him.
(c) I think this explains some of Saul’s strange behavior.
i. He did not recognize David after he had killed the giant.
ii. He made foolish and ill-conceived laws.
iii. He tried to kill David.
(d) The man’s mind and memory was being tormented by a demon.
c. He continued to rule.
(1) We do not know for how long, but it was a period of years.
(2) Someone might think that is not much of a punishment.
(3) To have a position without power is not a privilege. It is a
punishment.
2. How did David go from being a shepherd to a king?
a. We begin to answer that tonight.
b. It is interesting that the situation that God sent to Saul to destroy
him is the situation that God used to get David inside the palace -
namely, the evil demon.
c. I find it interesting how God controls all things.
d. What God sent for harm to one was help to the other.
As we see how God moved David from the fields to the palace, notice three things.
1. David’s reputation
2. David’s abilities
3. David’s character
Because this is a historical story, I have two choices. I can present the story
out of order and have my outline neatly arranged or I can present the story in
order and have my outlined scattered. I am opting for the last one, so I will
mention all three of these but not in an easy to follow order.
I. Notice something about David’s reputation.
A. \\#1Sam 16:15-16\\ Saul had some wise servants.
1. Saul had obviously surrounded himself with some wise and godly
servants.
2. These men wisely deduced three things.
a. They accurately deduced that Saul was being plagued by a
demon.
b. They accurately diagnosed the treatment.
(1) It was to have some good, clean music played when the
demon came on Saul.
(2) This treatment demonstrates the power of music - both
good and bad.
(a) The music that some people listen to is God’s
offense and Satan’s delight.
(b) Christians ought to seek music that is Satan’s
offense and God’s delight.
(3) I read one contemporary writer who used this passage to
promote contemporary "praise music."
(a) The instrument that was played was a harp or lyre,
not a steel guitar and a drum.
(b) The kind of music that helped drive the demons away
was not music with a beat but music with a melody.
(c) If I know David, he was playing a psalm set to music.
(d) That is the kind of music that makes the devil flee.
(4) This was a treatment, not a cure.
(a) The cure, if there was one, was for Saul to repent
and beg God to remove the demon.
(b) However, this text, better than most any other
demonstrates that music is not just a fleshly power.
It is a spiritual power.
c. \\#1Sam 16:18\\ They wisely selected a godly man to play for
King Saul.
B. The person that these servants had seen was David. Notice what they
say about him.
1. David was "cunning in playing."
a. Back in \\#1Sam 16:18\\, they mention that wanted someone to
play the harp.
b. Two thoughts:
(1) David had been given the gift of music.
(a) Those of us who like this gift clearly understand
music is a gift given by God.
(b) I assure you, if music was just learning, I would
have picked it up a long time ago!
(c) This was one of David’s many abilities and it is an
ability God will use to get David into the palace.
(d) Those of you who have this gift, cherish it and use
it for God.
(2) David honed this gift.
(a) As with most spiritual gifts, God gives them but we
must develop them.
(b) Young people, you are cutting yourself short if you
do not use and develop the gifts God has given to
you!
i. music
ii. numbers
iii. skills with your hands
iv. public speaking
2. David was "a mighty valiant man, and a man of war."
a. This is a most interesting statement considering the fact that
David had never fought in a battle before.
b. \\#Sam 17:39\\ tells us that when David was going to fight
Goliath, Saul dressed David in his armor.
(1) David would not wear it.
(2) He said he had not "proved it."
(3) We take that to mean that he had not been proved using
such tools of war.
c. Why was he called a "man of war" then?
(1) No one knows for certain since the Bible does not tell
us.
(2) I believe it was for two reasons:
(a) God had given David a natural ability with weapons.
(b) David had been honing those gifts.
i. Israel was in a state of war.
ii. David’s brothers were soldiers. Every younger
brother wants to be like his older brothers.
iii. Immediately after David kills Goliath, he seems
to be a leader of men in Saul’s army.
iv. I believe David was known to all as one who
practiced with whatever weapons he could get
his hands on.
v. He was certainly skilled with a sling (and we
know from the Scriptures that other weapons
were rare at this time).
(3) Here again, I believe we see a gift given by God and honed
to perfection by David.
(4) David had the ability to fight.
3. David was "prudent in matters."
a. Already David was known for his wisdom and diligence.
b. God was on David and David worked hard to let the Spirit of God
shine through him.
4. David was a "comely person."
a. That means that David was a handsome person.
b. We get the idea that because Samuel was going to select Eliab
on his looks, that David must have been one ugly kid.
c. Not so. He was handsome, but he was not selected because of
his looks.
5. The Lord was with David.
a. Before David ever made it to the palace, he had the reputation
of having God upon him.
b. Of all the things to be said of anyone, this is the best.
II. Notice David’s character - There are several elements that stick out even
as we first meet David.
1. David’s humility
a. From the earliest mention of David, his humility is obvious.
b. Remember, our first record of David has him being anointed king
over Israel.
(1) That kind of thing can make a person arrogant.
(2) It can especially effect someone who is young.
c. Yet, when David is summoned to the palace, he has no problem being
Saul’s musician.
(1) One who has been anointed king, might would have thought his
summons was to rule.
(2) Yet, David seems just as content to be the king’s servant as
to be the king!
(3) Always remember, one who cannot follow has no right to lead!
d. \\#1Sam 17:12-15\\ This humble spirit is seen when David returns
home.
(1) He has been anointed king and the been the king’s musician.
(2) But he goes right back to the fields to sheep, a task that his
brothers obviously feel is beneath them!
1Samuel 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and
Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither?
and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride,
and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see
the battle.
e. Whether serving as a shepherd, a musician, or a king, David just
wants to do what God wants him to do. This is a humble spirit.
2. \\#1Sam 17:4-11\\ David’s Courage
a. David courage is obvious when you know something about the giant.
(1) \\#17:4\\ He stood 9’9" tall.
(2) \\#17:5\\ He wore a helmet and coat of metal.
(3) The coat contained 5,000 shekels of brass, weighing
125 pounds.
(4) \\#17:7\\ His weapon of choice was a beam which had a spear
point on it of 600 shekels of iron, weighing 15 pounds.
(5) Time will not allow me to dwell on this fellow and the show
of intimidation he put on.
(6) Let me just say it worked! Everyone was afraid of him!
1Samuel 17:11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine,
they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
b. David was not just brave around giants.
(1) He had always been courageous.
1Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and
there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth:
and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew
him.
36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine
shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion,
and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this
Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
(2) David had fought and killed both a lion and a bear, with his
bear hands!
(3) You talk about ability and God being with a person!
(4) David considered this giant nothing more than the lion or the
bear.
(5) In fact, he considered the giant was at a disadvantaged for he
had blasphemed the armies of the living God!
(6) What courage!
3. \\#1Samuel 17:41-47\\ David’s Faith
a. David did not have faith in his abilities or skills.
b. David had faith in his God!
c. That is so obvious, no commentary by me is needed.
d. I will add that every battle is the Lord’s, even the ones you and
I are fighting.
4. \\#1Samuel 17:48-51\\ David’s skill with the sling.
Again, this is an ability God gave but David developed.
Let me close with a few words to our young people but which apply to all of us.
David got the palace because God worked but also because David worked. He took\
what God gave him and developed it. That is what the days of youth are for!
1. Develop your skills.
a. Grow your mind. Work hard at school. Study.
b. Grow your love for God.
c. And while doing all of that, develop humility.
2. Develop your character.
a. Life is not just what you can do. It is who you are.
b. Let the characteristics of Christ radiate through you.
3. Build your reputation. Be a young man or woman who is know to have God
upon them.
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