David: the Unlikely King
December 12, 2024

Introduction: The Unlikely Choice.

1 Samuel 16:11-12

Genesis 46:34

Psalm 78:70-72

Sermon Proposition
The LORD longs to be King of Your Life.

Sermon Question
Do You Have a Heart for God?

*Like David, Cultivate a

Heart. *

When the evil spirit that was sent by God would come on Saul, David would get his harp and play it. That would help Saul. He would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. —1 Samuel 16:23 (NIrV)

Like David, Cultivate a

Heart.

David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” —1 Samuel 17:37 (ESV)

Like David, Cultivate a

Heart.

[David] said to his men, “May the Lord keep me from doing a thing like that to my master again. He is the Lord’s anointed king. So I promise that I will never lift my hand to strike him down. The Lord has anointed him.” —1 Samuel 24:6 (NIrV)

Like David, Cultivate a

Heart.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. —2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)

Concerning the events of 2 Samuel 11:1–12:14 David repented.

Then I admitted my sin to you. I didn’t cover up the wrong I had done. I said, “I will admit my lawless acts to the Lord.”
And you forgave the guilt of my sin. —Psalm 32:5 (NIrV)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. —Psalm 51:17 (ESV)

*My Next Step! *

Pray the Prayer of David (Psalm 139:23-24).

Search me, O Lord, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any hurtful or grievous way in me, that I might walk in Your ways.

Repent of any hurtful or grievous ways.
See Colossians 3:5-10; Galatians 5:19-26; Ephesians 4:17-32.
Open It!

If you were chosen to be featured on the cover of a magazine, which magazine would it be? And why?

Consider It!

Read 1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13.

What are the things that grieved Samuel (15:34-16:1)?
1 Samuel 8:6-7

1 Samuel 13:1-14

1 Samuel 15:10-26

Why did the LORD reject Saul as King (13:13-14; 15:10, 23)?

Why did Samuel assume that Eliab would be God’s chosen successor to Saul (16:6-7, 17:13)?

The LORD tells Samuel, “Man looks at the outward appearance” (16:7). What sorts of outward appearances do we value in a leader? Why are outward appearances unreliable for judging a person’s fitness for leadership?

What makes David the unlikely candidate for king?

Why does God choose David as King?

What is the LORD looking for in our hearts (1 Chronicles 28:9 and 2 Chronicles 16:9)? What does it mean to be fully devoted to the LORD?

Live It!

Pray David’s prayers Psalm 51 and Psalm 139:23-24.

How will others know that the LORD is King in my life?

How am I guilty of judging brothers or sisters in Christ by outward appearances?