CENTRAL THOUGHT
God fulfills His promises in His time.
HYMN: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD.
TEXT: 1 Sam 16:1-3; 2 Sam 2:1-4; 5:1-10.
INTRODUCTION The promises of God never fail even in the face of hardship and affliction. Humanly speaking, it was possible for David to think that God has forgotten him like we do at times. This also happened in the life of Joseph, Abraham among others. Abraham was fully persuaded that what God had promised, HE was able also to perform ( Rom 4:21). God has not failed in any of His promises ( 1 Kings 8:56b). His words are yea and amen. He is not slack concerning His promises ( 2 Pet. 3:9). A Child of God should therefore, hear from God expressly, understand Him well and believe Him. He should continue to live, walk, work and patiently behave or do things in consonance with God’s instructions. We are in a race where distractions abound, but we are expected to follow the principles spelt out rigidly for a crown to be given to us at the end ( 1 Cor 9: 24-27). It is expected in stewards that a man be found faithful ( 1 Cor 4:2). We should therefore, not be like the fools who run aimlessly, since the crown can only be obtained when we run the race to the end. Let us keep running, using the word of God and the good examples of our brethren who had gone before us. This study will teach us how to patiently wait for God’s promises and not be discouraged by adverse life situations.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
1.To understand why God rejected Saul and chose David as king.
2.To appreciate God’s choice of David.
3.To appreciate the fact that though anointed king in his youthful age, he was not crowned until many years later.
BIBLE TRUTH
Q1. WHY DO YOU THINK GOD REJECTED SAUL AND CHOSE DAVID AS KING? (1 Sam. 15:23; 16:1; Acts 13:22)
God’s instruction to Saul was clear enough for him to have obeyed. Saul did not only do contrary, he pretended that he wanted to do God favor with sacrifice- a sacrifice God did not demand, and as such unacceptable to Him.
God rejected Saul as king because his heart was very far from Him. He was longer walking according to God’s word. God is not a respecter of persons and He delights so much in His servants who obey His commandments and instructions.
Example of similar cases abound in our world today, of men of God who started well by depending on God, seeking and hearing Him at all times and completely abiding by His instructions taking them step by step, only to deviate from all these for reasons best known to them-devil’s deceit. Usually they did well while trusting in God. Once they allow themselves to be distracted, they go out of the will of
God, and earn subsequent rejection like Saul.
Q2. ON WHAT BASIS DID GOD CHOOSE DAVID? ( 1 Sam 16:6-13) God looked at the nature of David. He was a man with a caring heart for his people and also obedient to God’s instruction. He made David and knew the composition of his person. He knew David’s inner man. God told Samuel not to look at the countenance, height, and stature of Jesse’s other children because HE has not chosen them except David. God sees farther than man. While man take decisions based on things he sees outwardly, God decides based on the totality what man has, is and would be and can do both physically and spiritually, as well as what HE has meant the man own for, in life. When God removed Saul as king, HE raised for Israel, David the son of Jesse, who had the testimony of being the man after God’s own heart and would fulfill all his will. (Acts 13:22). David of course, was not so perfect in behavior. He had his weaknesses as a man and did sin. Despite all these, David still won the commendation of being the man after God’s heart because, he sought God’s mind, the truth, trusted in God always, admitted and took responsibilities faults, repented of them openly in humility and departed from them. Above all these, he had reverential fear for God and was always interested in maintaining a right stand with God.
The word of God tells us to always humble ourselves under the mighty hands of God. HE wants us to always obey His instructions no matter how we seem to have been highly placed. It is not really we who chose Him, rather HE chose us and ordained us Himself. ( John 15:16). Whatever we are and would ever become is by His grace and mercies. It is not of him that wills nor of him that runs, but it is of God who shows mercies. ( Rom 9:16). Therefore, the believer should always live a life that is pleasing to the lord.
Q3. ALTHOUGH DAVID WAS ANNOINTED AS KING WHEN HE WAY YOUNG, HE WAS NOT CROWNED KING IMMEDIATELY (1 Sam 16:12-13; 2Sam 5:4). WHAT LESSON CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS? (Heb 10:36; 12:3; Num 23:19).
God anointed David as king when he was “but a youth” ( 1 Sam 17:23, 42). However, he was not crowned immediately because, God has His own plans and timing. God took time to prepare him even before he had been anointed. He was only crowned when he became 30 years old ( 2 Sam 5:4). He did not only wait, but refused to kill the incumbent king ( Saul), who even wanted to kill him as an arch-enemy. He waited for God’s time, was not over-ambitious, and refused to work his way through, earlier than God’s time.
One major lesson is that, whatever God has planned concerning His elect, no matter how long it takes, it must surely come to pass. Another very important lesson is that the child of God must hold on to God’s promises to him and keep on believing this faithful God. None of his words fall short of what he says it is will be, at the fullness of time. ( Heb 10:36).
Be advised therefore, as a child of God that, all you need to do is, hear from HIM expressly, understand HIM very well, believe and wait for HIM.
Q4. HOW CAN WE APPLY THIS LESSON IN 2 SAM 2:1 TO OUT LIVES AS A CHRISTIAN? (Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 32:8; Prov. 3:5-6).
In 2 Sam 2:1 David enquired of the LORD to know what to do at that particular time, even when Saul had died. David knew that God was his source, leader and instructor. He also knew that hearing from God is the key to going forward successfully, because he knew He will guide him correctly. Hence, he could not afford to do without seeking His directions. He instructed us in scriptures that we should trust in His word and not to lean on our own understanding. He advised us further that in all our ways, we should acknowledge Him to enable Him to direct our paths. God is so much interested in all that concerns us. He has promised to teach and guide us in the way we should go. When we learn to trust God and pray continually, His peace which surpasses human understanding keeps our hearts and mind in safety and leads us through all our journeys.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION Believers should realize that God is faithful, loving and willing to place His children in states of peace. ( Jer. 29:11). God is not a man hence does not lie neither does HE deny or withdraw His promises to man particularly His children. He does not make political statements. He promises are real. Whenever God gives us His words He performs them in His time. Christians should be careful and avoid the idea of getting results “sharp-sharp” as majority would want it today. Even when it seems as if God is slow at times, we should wait as believers because God can never be late. He knows how and does His things at the most appropriate time. Believers must avoid applications of ungodly laws and principles or theories in achieving their goals. God watches and weighs every intention and action of man and they will be brought to judgement someday. Beloved it really matters how you made it at last. Are all your testimonies truly as you claimed they were done? Did you not manipulate and paint another picture of the issue to brethren to make it seem to be God? Be careful; be sure you make heaven at last. Don’t gain all on earth only, else you will be the most miserable on the last day ( 1 Cor 15:17; Rom 8:18).
MEMORY VERSE
Heb 10:36
“For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday: For everything on earth, there is one’s time and season
(Eccl 3:3)
Tuesday: God is not a respecter of persons but accepts all true worshippers everywhere in the world.
(Acts 10: 43-45)
Wednesday: God rewards faithfulness.
( Jer. 29:11); Heb 10:35-37)
Thursday: No matter the strategy of the wicked, God gives us victory.
(Rom. 8:31)
Friday: Sin could divert us from getting God’s best.
(1 Sam 15:23)
Saturday: God still does miracles today; all we need is patience.
(Heb 11:1-40; 13:8)