A New King

1. A New King 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

2. Tonight’s text tells us how David became a great king.

3. 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

4. The most important part of this text is the activity of God.

5. The most important part of this text is the activity of God. • The text makes clear that Samuel did not anoint David as king.

6. The most important part of this text is the activity of God. • The text makes clear that Samuel did not anoint David as king. • Granted, he poured the oil on David’s head, but it was God who directed his actions.

7. The most important part of this text is the activity of God. • The text makes clear that Samuel did not anoint David as king. • Granted, he poured the oil on David’s head, but it was God who directed his actions. • It was the LORD who regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

8. The most important part of this text is the activity of God. • The text makes clear that Samuel did not anoint David as king. • Granted, he poured the oil on David’s head, but it was God who directed his actions. • It was the LORD who regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. • It was the LORD who told Samuel to go to Jesse in Bethlehem.

9. The most important part of this text is the activity of God. • The text makes clear that Samuel did not anoint David as king. • Granted, he poured the oil on David’s head, but it was God who directed his actions. • It was the LORD who regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. • It was the LORD who told Samuel to go to Jesse in Bethlehem. • It was the LORD who told Samuel how to keep his mission secret from Saul.

10. The most important part of this text is the activity of God. • The text makes clear that Samuel did not anoint David as king. • Granted, he poured the oil on David’s head, but it was God who directed his actions. • It was the LORD who regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. • It was the LORD who told Samuel to go to Jesse in Bethlehem. • It was the LORD who told Samuel how to keep his mission secret from Saul. • It was the LORD who did not look on outer appearance but on the heart.

11. The most important part of this text is the activity of God. • The text makes clear that Samuel did not anoint David as king. • Granted, he poured the oil on David’s head, but it was God who directed his actions. • It was the LORD who regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. • It was the LORD who told Samuel to go to Jesse in Bethlehem. • It was the LORD who told Samuel how to keep his mission secret from Saul. • It was the LORD who did not look on outer appearance but on the heart. • It was the LORD, who said of David, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he” (v 12, ESV).

12. The most important part of this text is the activity of God. • The text makes clear that Samuel did not anoint David as king. • Granted, he poured the oil on David’s head, but it was God who directed his actions. • David recognized the hand of God in selecting Israelite kings.

13. The most important part of this text is the activity of God. • The text makes clear that Samuel did not anoint David as king. • Granted, he poured the oil on David’s head, but it was God who directed his actions. • David recognized the hand of God in selecting Israelite kings. “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” (1 Sm 26:9, ESV).

14. Tonight, we wish to examine the activity of God in anointing David as King of Israel.

15. Tonight, we wish to examine the activity of God in anointing David as King of Israel. • We’ll seek to make application to today.

16. Tonight, we wish to examine the activity of God in anointing David as King of Israel. • We’ll seek to make application to today. • We’ll see: • A DEMAND • A DIRECTION • A DIMENSION • A DECISION

17. A Demand v 35

18. There is a demand for a new King of Israel.

19. There is a demand for a new King of Israel. • “Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel” (v 35, ESV).

20. Samuel never saw Saul again, but he grieved over him.

21. Samuel never saw Saul again, but he grieved over him. • Why?

22. Samuel never saw Saul again, but he grieved over him. • Why? • Several possibilities.

23. Samuel never saw Saul again, but he grieved over him. • Why? • Several possibilities: • Samuel may have grieved that Saul went so far into sin.

24. Samuel never saw Saul again, but he grieved over him. • Why? • Several possibilities: • Samuel may have grieved that Saul went so far into sin. • Samuel may have grieved for Saul personally.

25. Samuel never saw Saul again, but he grieved over him. • Why? • Several possibilities: • Samuel may have grieved that Saul went so far into sin. • Samuel may have grieved for Saul personally. • Samuel may have grieved that Israel had such a king.

26. The LORD also mourned over Saul.

27. The LORD also mourned over Saul. • “The LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel” (v 35, ESV).

28. The LORD also mourned over Saul. • “The LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel” (v 35, ESV). • KJV: “The LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.”

29. The LORD also mourned over Saul. • “The LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel” (v 35, ESV). • KJV: “The LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.” • If the LORD did not sin in anointing Saul king—and God cannot sin—how could the LORD repent for making Saul king?

30. The LORD also mourned over Saul. • “The LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel” (v 35, ESV). • KJV: “The LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.” • If the LORD did not sin in anointing Saul king—and God cannot sin—how could the LORD repent for making Saul king? • The text doesn’t say that the LORD repented of sin.

31. The root of the Hebrew term actually means “breathing deeply” & thus conveys the idea of deep sorrow.

32. The root of the Hebrew term actually means “breathing deeply” & thus conveys the idea of deep sorrow. • Without doubt, Saul’s sins brought great sorrow to the LORD.

33. The root of the Hebrew term actually means “breathing deeply” & thus conveys the idea of deep sorrow. • Without doubt, Saul’s sins brought great sorrow to the LORD. • Sin always brings deep sorrow to God.

34. The root of the Hebrew term actually means “breathing deeply” & thus conveys the idea of deep sorrow. • Without doubt, Saul’s sins brought great sorrow to the LORD. • Sin always brings deep sorrow to God: “The LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart” (Gn 6:6, ESV).

35. But, the idea of God’s “repenting” also carries the idea that God changes his mind.

36. But, the idea of God’s “repenting” also carries the idea that God changes his mind. • Usually, the term indicates that God has turned from some punishment.

37. But, the idea of God’s “repenting” also carries the idea that God changes his mind. • Usually, the term indicates that God has turned from some punishment: “The LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people” (Ex 32:14, ESV).

38. But, the idea of God’s “repenting” also carries the idea that God changes his mind. • Usually, the term indicates that God has turned from some punishment: (Ex 32:14). • When God “repents” from disaster, it’s because people have repented of their sins & turned back to him.

39. But, the idea of God’s “repenting” also carries the idea that God changes his mind. • Usually, the term indicates that God has turned from some punishment: (Ex 32:14). • When God “repents” from disaster, it’s because people have repented of their sins & turned back to him. • “No word is God’s final word. Judgment, far from being absolute, is conditional. A change in man’s conduct brings about a change in God’s judgment.”

40. But, the idea of God’s “repenting” also carries the idea that God changes his mind. • Usually, the term indicates that God has turned from some punishment: (Ex 32:14). • When God “repents” from disaster, it’s because people have repented of their sins & turned back to him. • “No word is God’s final word. Judgment, far from being absolute, is conditional. A change in man’s conduct brings about a change in God’s judgment.” • But, in Saul’s case, God doesn’t “repent” of disaster. Because Saul has gone deeper & deeper into sin, God “repents” of his promised blessings.

41. With a Christian, can God not, too, “repent” of blessings?

42. With a Christian, can God not, too, “repent” of blessings? • “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life” (Rev 3:5, ESV).

43. With a Christian, can God not, too, “repent” of blessings? • “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life” (Rev 3:5, ESV). Implication: “If a Christian does not conquer, he will not be clothed in white garments & I will blot his name out of the book of life?”

44. With a Christian, can God not, too, “repent” of blessings? • Rev 3:5. • “If, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Pt 2:20-21, ESV).

45. With a Christian, can God not, too, “repent” of blessings? • Rev 3:5. • “If, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Pt 2:20-21, ESV). • Is that not a clear-cut case where the Lord has “repented” toward the Christian in the exact same way he “repented” toward Saul?

46. With a Christian, can God not, too, “repent” of blessings? • Rev 3:5. • “If, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Pt 2:20-21, ESV). • Is that not a clear-cut case where the Lord has “repented” toward the Christian in the exact same way he “repented” toward Saul? • Has God “repented” toward you?

47. A Direction vv 2-3

48. God directed the steps of Samuel in anointing a new king.

49. God directed the steps of Samuel in anointing a new king. • “Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.’ And the LORD said, ‘Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you’” (vv 2-3, ESV).

50. Samuel was rightly concerned that Saul might hear of his action, consider it treason, & kill him.