The Unexpected Path to God's Will - 1 Samuel 16:13-23
January 25, 2024

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The Unexpected Path to God’s Will

1 Samuel 16:13-23
Darrin Mariott, Lead Pastor

Big Idea: If we are alert and obedient, we can see God working in and through our lives to accomplish His will and purpose.

I. The Path of the Spirit (vv. 13-14)
1 Samuel 16:13-23
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. 15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.” 17 So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” 18 One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him.” 19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” 20 And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21 And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.

A. These verses capture the purpose of this narrative and reveal the change God is doing in Israel’s leadership. We see:

1. The need for the Holy Spirit (vv. 13-14; cf. Zech. 4:6; Rom. 8:26-27) – On our own, we are powerless, but the Spirit empowers us in His work (cf. Rom. 15:13).
Zechariah 4:6
6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

Romans 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 15:13
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

2. The sovereignty of the Holy Spirit – Ultimately, God has authority to act according to His wisdom and purposes.

II. The Path of Self (v. 14)

A. In many ways, Saul is a tragic figure. He started off well (see 1 Sam. 11:6), but he failed to honor God and obey His commands. Saul rebels against God’s will through:
1 Samuel 11:6
6 And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.

1. Disobedience (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22-23).
1 Samuel 15:22-23
22 And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.”

2. Arrogance (cf. 1 Sam. 13:11-14).
1 Samuel 13:11-14
11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

3. Selfishness – Saul’s heart was set on himself and not on God’s glory and what was best for God’s people.

III. The Path of Service (vv. 18-23)

A. David was many things, but his most endearing quality was being a man after God’s own heart (cf. 1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). David demonstrates this through:
1 Samuel 13:14
14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

Acts 13:22
22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

1. Courageous faith (v. 18) – David is driven by faith, not fear.

2. Service (v. 21) – David willingly used his gifts for God and His people.

3. Obedience (vv. 21-23).

4. Faithfulness (vv. 21-23).

B. The path to God’s will – David probably couldn’t see how tending the sheep and honing his skills could take him to the king’s court and prepare him for the throne. But his willingness to do what was asked of him opened the door for God to use him in ways that were beyond his reckoning. This is also often the case for us. Our call is to obedience and service and to let God open the doors.