A Nobody, Nobody Noticed, Part 1

Some of the greatest world leaders were boarded in virtual obscurity completely unknown without any special preparation. Yet, when God appoints a man or woman to leave.

There's no stopping what can be accomplished for his glory today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll presents another message in his biographical series called David a man of passion and destiny.

Before we begin. Chuck offers a few opening remarks to help set the stage for the unfolding of David's dramatic story title of today's messages. Nobody nobody the biblical story in first Samuel chapter 6 is a complete unknown. He's merely a ruddy shepherd boy from Bethlehem, though he was of little consequence. Physically speaking, his heart testified to a deep faithfulness to the Lord during his long and lonely years he spent watching the sheep. David remain faithful in the little things of life little Van but big for the building of his character. Today we will see that God was ready to give him tremendous responsibilities beyond anything he could have ever imagined turned me into the first 13 verses of first Samuel 16, which provide the backdrop for David's introduction into the text of Scripture verse under 16 will begin reading at verse one now the Lord said to Samuel, how long would you grieve over Saul since I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and go. I will send you to just see the Bethlehem light for I have selected a king for myself. Among his sons, but Samuel said, how can I go when Saul hears of it. He will kill me. And the Lord said, take a heifer with you and say I have come to sacrifice to the Lord, you shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice and I will show you what you shall do and you shall anoint for me.

The one I designate to you. So Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem and the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said do you come in peace. He said in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice. He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they entered, he looked at Elliott have been thought surely the Lord's anointed is before him, but the Lord said to Samuel do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him, for God sees not as man sees for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart then Jesse called Ben a dab and made him pass before Samuel and he said the Lord is not chosen this one either. Next, Jesse made Schama pass by and he said the Lord is not chosen this one either.

Thus Jesse made seven of his sons passed before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, the Lord is not chosen these Samuel said to Jesse, or these all the children and he said the remains, yet the youngest and behold, he is tending the sheep and Samuel said to Jesse sand and bring him, for we will not sit down until he comes here so he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance and the Lord said, arise anoint him for this is he then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brother and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward, Samuel Rose, inside from the resources designed to help you dig deeper into today's topic go to insight.org. Now here's Chuck Swindoll to present today's message about a nobody, nobody noticed the year 1809 was a very good year.

Of course those that live that year would not have known it. History has told the story. Since that time, because all those that lived in 1809 focus their attention in full force on Napoleon as he was marching across Austria and he took Austria like a fire would take a Kansas wheat field those little hamlets and villages and cities fell into his grip and all the world began to wonder if all the world would someday fall in his hands. People followed him from travel guard to Waterloo is Napoleon left his mark on this world now. During that same period of time little babies were born in Britain and in America, but who cared about babies and bottles and cribs and cradles while Napoleon was doing his thing in Austria. Well, frankly, someone should have cared listen to the list of names of those born in 1809 William Gladstone was born in Liverpool. Alfred Tennyson began his life in Lincolnshire Oliver Wendell Holmes cried out for the first time in Cambridge, Massachusetts a few miles away in Boston. Edgar Allan Poe began his brief and tragic sojourn on earth. A physician named Dr. Darwin, along with his wife named their son Charles Robert Darwin Robert Charles Winthrop wore his first diapers in 1809, and in a little country log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky a little cabin owned by an illiterate laborer. He and his wife named their little boy Abraham Lincoln who cared while Napoleon was moving through Austria who cared about babies well when you stop and think of the writings in the lives of those statesmen, poets and thinkers. I think you'd agree that their little lives marked the genesis of an era, but nobody cared about those nobodies and the strange thing about it all is that only a few strange history buffs could even name one battle that Napoleon fought in Austria today, but there is not a life represented here who has not been touched in some way by the lives of those men that I just named nobodies. Nobody noticed if you and I have been Jews living in the year 1020 BC the same kind of experience would have been hours all of our attention.

What he focused upon a man named Saul was the Napoleon of his day.

King Saul was the focal point of the Jewish world. He was the king he was taking the country by storm. However, if you know your Bible history. You know that about that time, but nobody was keeping the sheep of his father along the Judean hillside near the hamlet of Bethlehem, a little boy that nobody noticed by the name of David. Now if you can appreciate what we're reading this evening in the 15th chapter of first Samuel, then you will come to appreciate how David came to the throne in light of those terrible times, but Saul created. You see, Saul had been a king for a number of years.

In fact several decades, until finally he tipped his hand and he revealed to the Lord as well as to the people that he wasn't qualified. He was a willful, selfish, angry, hateful, in fact, murderous king, something snapped in his mind, and as he ended the years of his kingship. He proved himself unqualified for the job I want to read verse 24 down almost to the end of the 15th chapter of first Samuel and I want you to sort of get into the swing of this context in which David is chosen. Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned. Now you must understand that Samuel has caught Saul in three awful acts of disobedience. He made a terrible decision in chapter 13, he made a rash vow against his own son in chapter 14 and chapter 15. He did not obey God and he preserves some of the enemies as well as some of the sea and was Samuel pointed his finger at Saul. Saul finally after he tried to rationalize around at Saul finally admitted I am guilty but you'll notice how he qualified I have sinned, I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord, in your words because I feared the people and listen to their voice now therefore please pardon my sin and returned with me that I may worship the Lord that if you're not into this you can appreciate what he just asked Saul was greatly concerned about his image is a he had been alone for this act of disobedience had taken place. But he was going to go back before the people and he didn't want the people to know that he had send soy said Samuel want to come on with me and nobody will know that I disobeyed you just returned let's worship together like we've always done his greatest concern was his image. There a lot of people like that today.

I'll say more about that in the moment.

Just look at Samuel's word. Samuel said to Saul. 26. I will not return with you, for you rejected the word of the Lord and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel and as Samuel turned to go. Saul sees the edge of his robe and it tore Samuel said to him, the Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you and also the glory of Israel will not lie or change his mind, for he is not a man that he should change his mind that he said the note Saul. Note his rationalization. He said I have sand but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel and go back with me that I may worship the Lord your God, look Samuel, you caught me on the confessed to privately not what you come on back with me that I might worship and will go right on as if nothing happened of the grace of Samuel is seen in the next verse.

Samuel went back following Saul and Saul worship the Lord drop down to verse 34 then Samuel went to Rama, but Saul went up to his home at Gibeon, Saul and Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death. Samuel was a man of integrity. He saw that Saul had failed God, and he said to Saul. I won't humiliate you before the people all go back and I'll go through the ritual of this sacrificial act of worship. Saul, that's the last day I want to see you and he went home in one direction. If you check your geography and Saul went home in another direction, and the never met again until the day of the and the tragic story of Saul as it's going to be woven into the life of David is that Saul never ever fully repented of his sin.

His greatest concern was his image.

How, before the people and when Samuel gave him a break. Saul took advantage of it and continued in that same vein, until the day he took his life in the suicide. Now Samuel panics about this point and I've given you a chart to follow this evening.

What you may want to look onto as we go through it and we call this section of the passage man panics God provides.

Samuel is at the end of his rope. The people have elected Saul and he's no longer qualified for the people to do they need a king to lead him their enemies all around Israel the need someone to carry the scepter & obit know what God was doing God is never at a loss to know what is going to do in our situations. He knows perfectly well what is best for us.

Our problem is we don't know and we say to him, Lord, if you just tell me like you told Samuel and I'll be in great shape, just reveal it to me just talk to me and YOU, BUT THAT'S NOT FAITH. FAITH IS COUNTING ON HIM WHEN YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT TOMORROW HOLDS. FAITH IS DOING JUST WHAT SAMUEL HAD TO DO IT SAYS IN VERSE 35 HE WAS PANICKED IN OUR WORDS.

HE GRIEVED OVER SAUL AND THE LORD REGRETTED THAT HE HAD MADE SAUL KING OVER ISRAEL. NOW THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL, BEFORE WE GO TO VERSE ONE. I THINK THERE'S A SPAN OF TIME THAT TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE LAST OF CHAPTER 15 THE FIRST OF CHAPTER 60, WHEN AND HOW LONG MAYBE A WEEK, MAYBE THREE WEEKS MAYBE A MONTH AND 1/2, HOWEVER LONG SAMUEL IS IN A PERIOD OF GRIEF AND HE CAN'T SEEM TO GET OVER IT MAYBE GOT ALONE IN HIS HOME AT RAMA AND HE JUST NEVER GOT OUT AND MINGLE WITH THE PEOPLE HE JUST SORT OF HELD UP THERE AND GOT HIM HIS KNEES AND WEPT, AND WAITED. NOTHING OPENED UP. SAMUEL FELT THAT GOD SOMEHOW WAS NOT INVOLVED. BY THE WAY, WHEN A MAN OF GOD FEELS NOTHING OF GOD FAILS WHEN A MAN OF GOD CHANGES, SUCH AS SAUL NOTHING OF GOD CHANGES WHEN OUR LIVES ARE MARKED BY CHANGE IN ALTERATION THAT WAS NOT EXPECTED NOTHING OF GOD IS ALTERED OR UNEXPECTED. HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING TO DO IS THE BEAUTIFUL PART OF THIS PASSAGE.

LOOK AT HOW THE LORD REVEALS HIMSELF TO SAMUEL. HE SAYS TO SAMUEL HOW LONG WOULD YOU GRIEVE OVER SAUL SINCE I HAVE REJECTED HIM FROM BEING KING OVER ISRAEL. FILL YOUR HORN WITH OIL AND GO. I WILL SEND YOU TO JESSE, THE BETHLEHEM EYE, FOR I HAVE SELECTED A KING FOR MYSELF AMONG HIS SONS IS THE TRUE ISAIAH SAYS BEFORE THEY CALL I WILL ANSWER AND WHILE THEY ARE YET SPEAKING, I WILL HEAR. ISAIAH 6524 BEFORE THEY EVEN HONOR A WORD GOD SAYS I'M INVOLVED IN ANSWERING. IN FACT, WHILE THEY ARE SPEAKING I'M INVOLVED IN BRINGING TO PASS THE VERY THING I WANT TONIGHT.

SOME OF YOU DOUBT THAT I COULD TELL BY THAT WHOM HE LOOKED ON SOME OF YOUR FACES THIS EVENING. YOU HAVE SENSE TO BE FOR THIS KIND OF MESSAGE BUT YOU'RE REALLY BEGINNING TO WONDER IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TONIGHT, WOULD YOU SEE THAT GOD SAID TO SAMUEL, I'VE ALREADY GOT MY MAN WHEN HE MENTIONED JESSE, THE BETHLEHEM LIGHT THAT'S THE FIRST NOTICE. SAMUEL SAID THAT GOD HAD ZEROED IN ON ONE PERSON. JAILS WILL SANDERS IN HIS BOOK, SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP RIGHTS IT THIS WAY WHEN GOD WANTS TO DRILL A MAN AND THRILLER MAN AND SKILL.

A MAN WHEN GOD WANTS TO MOLD A MAN TO PLAY THE NOBLEST PART WHEN HE YEARNS WITH ALL HIS HEART TO CREATE SO GREAT AND BOLD, A MAN THAT ALL THE WORLD SHALL BE AMAZED WHAT GOD'S METHODS WATCH HIS WAYS HOW HE RUTHLESSLY PERFECTS WHOM HE ROYALLY ELECTS HOW HE HAMPERS HIM AND HURTS HIM AND WITH MIGHTY BLOWS, CONVERTS HIM INTO TRIAL SHAPES OF CLAY, WHICH ONLY GOD UNDERSTANDS. WHILE HIS TORTURED HEART IS CRYING AND HE LIFTS BESEECHING HANDS HOW GOD BENDS, BUT NEVER BREAKS WHEN HIS GOOD HE UNDERTAKES HOW HE USES WHOM HE CHOOSES. AND WITH EVERY PURPOSE USES HIM BY EVERY ACT INDUCES HIM TO TRY HIS SPLENDOR OUT. GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S ABOUT.

THAT'S A GREAT MESSAGE IN THAT POEM. IF IT WERE ONLY SOMEBODY ELSE THAT'S WONDERFUL CHART BECAUSE IT APPLIES TO SOMEBODY BUT ME KNOW. IT APPLIES TO YOU. GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S ABOUT SAMUEL'S HERE THIS EVENING WHO WONDER WHAT THAT BETHLEHEM MIGHT MIGHT BE IN YOUR LIFE.

HE SAID TO SAMUEL, YOU GO TO THAT HOME IN BETHLEHEM. I GOT A MAN ALREADY CHOSEN. I THINK IT'S SO EXCITING HOW IT UNFOLDS, YOU SHOULD HAVE SELECTED A KING FOR MYSELF. THE PEOPLE HAVEN'T CHOSEN THIS MAN. HE'S MY MAN.

VERSE TWO SAMUEL SAID, HOW CAN I GO DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR GOD SAYS GO AND WE SAY RIGHT IN THE BEFORE AUTHORITIES WERE SAYING NO WAY, LORD, HOW CAN WE PULL THAT OFF. WHAT WAS HIS PROBLEM. WELL, HE WAS PANICKED. HE SAID WHEN SAUL HEARS OF IT. HE WILL KILL ME FOR WORSE SOFTWARE FOR SANDALS. I IS THEY WERE NOT ON THE LORD. QUESTION WHO IS BIGGER SAUL OR GOD'S DUMB QUESTION, ISN'T IT. IN FACT, THAT'S A DUMB QUESTION. HOW CAN I GO SAUL IS ALIVE. GOD KNEW THAT SAUL WAS ALIVE THAT WASN'T ANY GREAT REVELATION YOU KNOW OCCASIONALLY FEEL WE MUST INFORM THE LORD OF WHAT HE MIGHT NOT REALIZE IN OUR PRAYER LIVES ARE OFTEN GIVEN TO EXPLAINING TO THE LORD, SOMETHING THAT HE DOESN'T GET TOGETHER AND WE HAD NO RIGHT TO DO THAT HE KNOWS WORRIES DIRECTING US THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY.

HE KNEW THAT SAUL WAS ALIVE.

HOW CAN I GO WHEN SAUL HEARS OF IT.

HE WILL KILL ME. BY THE WAY, FROM THE HUMAN VIEWPOINT. HE WAS RIGHT. SAUL WAS MURDERERS. HE WAS THE ONE THAT GOD USED TO SHAKE DAVID'S LIFE IN THE IN BETWEEN YEARS BETWEEN THE SHEEP IN THE THRONE. HE KNEW SAUL GOT US ALL IN YOUR LIFE TO QUESTION GET SOMEBODY THAT GOD USES JUST TO IRRITATE ROBIN'S VIOLENT SCRAPING STING YOU. IT'S ALL PART OF THE DRILLING DRILLING AND THE SKILLING OF THE MAN WE JUST READ, GOD KNOWS YOU HAVE A SAUL IN YOUR LIFE. IT'S ALL PART OF THE PLAN.

THE LORD SAID TO HIM LIKE IT IS EVEN ANSWER ABOUT SAUL. THAT'S BEAUTIFUL SUCH A PETTY THING. HE DOESN'T EVEN BOTHER TO GIVE AN ANSWER HE SAID JUST TAKE A HEIFER WITH YOU SAY OUTCOME TO SACRIFICE TO THE LORD, YOU SHALL INVITE JESSE TO THE SACRIFICE. I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT YOU SHALL DO. YOU SHALL ANOINT FOR ME, THE ONE WHOM I DESIGNATE YOU FOLLOW THE LEADER. THAT'S WHAT HE SAYING TO BE SMART TO BE OBEDIENT, YOU DON'T GET TO BE CLEVER IS WHAT GOD SAYS WE THINK WE HAVE TO BE SMART AND WE SORTA GOT OUT WENT GOD IN THE HORIZONTAL.

BUT GOD SAYS I KNOW YOUR SITUATION. I'M TELLING YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND DO IT. TAKE A HEIFER GO TO JESSE OFFER THE SACRIFICE AND LOOK AROUND. I'LL TELL YOU THE MAN OF GOD IS THAT SIMPLE. BY THE WAY, BEHIND THE SCENES THERE'S DAVID AND I THINK IS THE NEATEST PART OF THE STORY. DAVID DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SAUL.

AND SAMUEL AND GOD ARE TALKING ABOUT OVER HERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY. WHAT'S DAVID DOING HE'S KEEPING THE SHEEP. THAT'S HIS JOB. IN FACT, FB MEYER SAYS IT THIS WAY. NO ANGEL TRUMPET HERALDED NO FACES LOOKED OUT OF HEAVEN. THE SUN AROSE THAT MORNING LIKE ANY OTHER MORNING OVER THE PURPLE WALLS OF THE HILLS OF MOAB, MAKING THE CLOUD, CURTAINS, SAFFRON AND GOLD WITH THE FIRST GLIMMER OF LIGHT. THE BOY WAS ON HIS WAY TO LEAD HIS FLOCK TO PASTURE LANDS, HEAVY WITH DO YOU, AS THE MORNING HOURS SPENT ON WORDS.

MANY DUTIES WOULD ENGROSS HIS WATCHFUL SOUL, STRENGTHENING THE WEAK HEALING THAT WHICH WAS SICK BINDING UP THAT WHICH WAS BROKEN IN SEEKING THAT WHICH WAS LOST OR THE MUSIC OF HIS SONG MAY HAVE FILLED THE LISTENING AIR THAT WAS DAVID. JUST LIKE ANY OTHER MORNING JUST LIKE TOMORROW MORNING WILL BE HE JUST BEGAN HIS DAY JUST LIKE ANY OTHER TIME. BUT LITTLE DID HE KNOW HE WAS DESTINED FOR THE THRONE.

GOD HAS SOME EXTREMELY EXCITING THINGS IN MIND FOR HIS CHILDREN. FOR SOME IT WILL HAPPEN TOMORROW FOR SOME MIDDLE HAPPEN. PERHAPS THE BEGINNING OF NEXT MONTH. WE DON'T KNOW, BUT THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT THIS ADVENTURE CALLED FAITH AND LIVING IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. WALKING WITH CHRIST IS THAT WE CAN COUNT ON HIM NEVER TO LEAD US ASTRAY. HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE HE IS TAKING US OUR JOBS TO OBEY. NOW IN VERSE FOUR WE SORTA HAVE A CHANGE OF PACE MAN CHOOSES AND GOD CORRECTS THIS IS A GREAT SECTION.

I'M SORRY THAT IT IS SO FAMILIAR BECAUSE IN THE FAMILIARITY WE LOSE SOME OF THE FRESHNESS. LET'S ACT LIKE READING IT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. SO SAMUEL DID WHAT THE LORD SAID NOW YOU'RE TALKING SAMUEL THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. HE DID JUST WHAT GOD SAID HE GOT A HEIFER AND HE WENT TO THE HOME OF A JESSE. BETHLEHEM BECAME THE BETHLEHEM AND THE ELDERS OF THE CITY CAME TREMBLING TO MEET HIM AND SAID YOU COME IN PEACE.

BY THE WAY, THERE WAS A REAL FEAR STRETCHING ACROSS THE LAND AT THAT TIME. YOU SEE, THERE WERE PROBLEMS IN THE OVAL OFFICE AND KNOWING THERE WERE PROBLEMS UP THERE. THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WERE UNEASY EVEN WHEN A PROPHET CAME TO VISIT WHAT SAMUEL DOING HERE WHY SANGHA COMING TO BETHLEHEM YOU COME IN PEACE. WHAT'S WRONG WHAT'S HAPPENING IS LIKE A CIA AGENT KNOCKING ON YOUR FRONT DOOR. THE TYPE OF THING ARE THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI SAY TALK THIS AFTERNOON KNOW AT YOUR CONVENIENCE.

WHAT'S WRONG, WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE SAMUEL COMING THEY DON'T KNOW IT BUT TO ANOINTED KING AND THEIR FEARFUL VERSE FIVE HE SAID I COME IN PEACE, I'VE COME TO SACRIFICE TO THE LORD. CONSECRATE YOURSELVES AND COME WITH ME TO THE SACRIFICE HE CONSECRATED JESSE AND HIS SONS AND INVITED THEM THE SACRIFICE SO HERE THEY ARE IN THE ROOM UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, NOT EVEN SAMUEL KNOWS WHICH ONES COULD BE AND SUDDENLY WE GET A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT INTO WHAT SAMUEL IS THINKING. SEE VERSE SIX CAME ABOUT AS THEY ENTERED THAT HE LOOKED AT ELY ABBOTT AND THOUGHT SURELY THE LORD'S ANOINTED IS BEFORE LA ILIAD LOOKS LIKE THE GUY YOU'D NORMALLY CHOOSE FOR A KING. BUT YOU SEE WHAT SAMUEL DID NOT SEE WAS THE CHARACTER OF ILIAD EVEN SEE AS WE WILL SEE IN THAT 17TH CHAPTER THAT ILIAD WAS GIVEN TO HIM PITTING VISION.

HE WAS CRITICAL HE WAS NEGATIVE.

HE LOOKED DOWN ON HIS BROTHER. HE DIDN'T VIEW GOD'S HAND IN THE SITUATION. HE SAW EVERYTHING FROM THE PLACE SAMUEL HAS YET TO MAKE HIS SELECTION AND THERE'S MUCH MORE OF HIS STORY TO LEARN. LET ME URGE YOU TO JOIN US. WHEN CHUCK SWINDOLL CONTINUES HIS MESSAGE CALLED ON NOBODY NOBODY NOTICED REFERRING OF COURSE TO THE OBSCURE SHEPHERD BOY NAMED DAVID YOU'RE LISTENING TO INSIGHT FOR LIVING LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS MINISTRY. VISIT US online@insightworld.org and then oncoming programs will discover how David's appointment to king of Israel became a marvelous model for leaders. Along those lines, Chuck handpicked a book to coincide with this current biographical study. It's called Hanmi another brick. The Bible has a lot to say about leadership and how to work through struggles, no matter your particular role.

Chuck's book called Hanmi another brick will help you learn how to size up a task organize and motivate a team and respond to the inevitable obstacles along the way to purchase a copy go to insight.org/offer or call us if you're listening in the United States, call 800-772-8888 again. Chuck's book is called Hanmi another brick insight for living relies on your personal support to make these daily programs not only on your local radio station. But on a variety of channels that make learning more about the Bible easily accessed by people everywhere.

This includes, of course, a smart phone app the Internet and even a free daily devotional that comes through email. We provide these free resources because it's our goal. Our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ in all 195 countries in the world know that when you give a donation to insight for living you're not only sending out God's word in nine languages throughout these various avenues which are also encouraging leaders all over the world. So as you sense God is prompting. We invite you to respond by getting a gift to give a donation today. Just give us a call if you're listening in the United States, call 800-772-8888 or give online@insight.org/about David nobody that nobody noticed tomorrow on insight for living. The preceding message nobody nobody notes was copyrighted in 1977, 1988, 1997, 2009 and 2022 and the sound recording was copyrighted 2022 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited