Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20020317.htm

1 AND 2 SAMUEL: GOD'S SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN OVERSIGHT
Part XIX: Escaping Grief In Following GOD'S Lead In Obtaining The Right LEADERS
(1 Samuel 16:1-13)
  1. Introduction
    1. It is increasingly, painfully clear that not all leaders of God's people are the right ones for the job: almost like clockwork, on the national as well as local scenes, those who at first are respected pacesetters are too often later seen to have serious flaws that upset their testimony and sabotage their ministry efforts.
    2. The problem is not new -- it occurred in Saul's day when Israel chose him to be king using errant criteria.
    3. However, letting God lead in the selection of a leader makes for blessing as 1 Samuel 16:1-23 illustrates:
  2. Escaping Grief In Following GOD'S Lead In Obtaining The Right LEADERS, 1 Samuel 16:1-13.
    1. The choice of Saul as Israel's first king was made by man's external, worldly criteria, and it led to grief:
      1. The opening of verse 1 of 1 Samuel 16 shows God asking Samuel how long he would grieve over Saul.
      2. This grief came from Samuel's being disappointed in Saul's spiritual failure as Israel's king:
        1. Saul had failed to heed God's Word to destroy the Amalekites, 1 Samuel 15:1-3, 7-11.
        2. Thus, Samuel had relayed God's message to Saul that God would tear the kingdom away from him and give it to a better man than he was, 1 Samuel 15:26, 27-28.
        3. Hence, to the day of his death, Samuel grieved over Saul's failure as king, 1 Samuel 15:35.
    2. This grief had been warned by God as Israel had chosen a king with errant, worldly criteria, 8:10-17, 18:
      1. God warned that Israel's seeking her own man as a king would produce oppression, 1 Sam. 8:10-17.
      2. Finally, in their oppression, the people would cry out to God in grief because of their king, 8:18.
    3. However, God's long-term plan included a monarchy for Israel, so He urged Samuel to FOLLOW His lead in selecting and establishing Israel's NEXT king as follows, 1 Samuel 16:1-23:
      1. First, God called Samuel to get over his grief and anoint a man of God's choice, 1 Samuel 16:1b.
      2. Second, God gave directions as to HOW Samuel was to travel safely to the anointing event, 16:1-3:
        1. Samuel feared for his life were he to anoint a successor to Saul, for Samuel had told Saul God had chosen a man better than he to be king (1 Samuel 15:28); thus, any public anointing by Samuel would be interpreted by the carnal Saul as a threat, leading to Samuel's execution, 1 Sam. 16:2a!
        2. God thus told Samuel to explain his arrival at Bethlehem to anoint a son of Jesse was based upon his desire to sacrifice, something seen as non-threatening and apparently not unusual, 1 Sam. 16:2b.
        3. Furthermore, God told Samuel to call Jesse and his sons to the sacrificial meal and privately anoint the son of Jesse God led him to anoint as king at that sacrificial meal, 1 Samuel 16:3.
      3. Third, in the process, God gave directions and opened doors for the anointing itself even to occur:
        1. When Samuel arrived at Bethlehem, the city elders worried Samuel's arrival meant possible trouble from God in the form of judgment, 1 Samuel 16:4; Bible Knowledge Commentary, O.T., p. 448.
        2. Samuel merely voiced God's directive, telling the elders he had come to sacrifice to the Lord, and urged the elders to meet with him, Jesse and Jesse's sons to celebrate the sacrificial meal, 16:5.
      4. Finally, God led Samuel in selecting the right SON of Jesse to be king, 1 Samuel 16:6-13:
        1. Though Samuel thought Jesse's impressive-looking eldest son, Eliab was God's choice, God revealed he was not to anointed, for God viewed a man's leadership credentials as coming from the heart rather than from his outward appearance as did man, 1 Samuel 16:6-7 (with 1 Sam. 17:28).
        2. God led Samuel to overlook all of Jesse's seven eldest sons until the youngest (who was considered so insignificant he still shepherded the sheep) was sent to Samuel, 1 Samuel 16:8-11.
        3. Of note, though this youngest son, David was handsome, God told Samuel to anoint him as his heart was good regardless of his good looks! (1 Sam. 16:12-13; Ryrie St. Bib., KJV, ftn. to 16:12)
Lesson: Where using WORLDLY criteria led to Israel's selecting a man who at FIRST looked PROMISING only later GRIEVOUSLY to DISAPPOINT, following GOD in selecting a king after GOD'S HEART who at FIRST looked DISSATISFYING only later GREATLY EDIFIED!

Application: We must AVOID using external criteria and follow GOD in deciding who we must follow or elect for leadership, for man's HEART produces his actions, and only GOD knows what is THERE!