There are a number of key lessons we looked at tonight from 1 Samuel 16:1-3:
- There is never an “easy time” to live for God. David lived at a time when spirituality was not high and there were many enemies of Israel. Faith is required no matter when we live. Living by faith is not for the faint-hearted!
- God knows us by name. He spoke to Samuel about a particular family and David is named at the end of this passage. God knows us by name and has purpose for our lives (see Is 43:1).
- God has a purpose for each one of us, as this anointing shows us. We too are anointed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22, 1 John 2:20) and have good works to do, prepared in advance for us by God. (Eph 2:10)
- God looks at the inside. His ways and thoughts are not ours (Prov 3:5-6, Is 55:8-9)
- God’s timing is crucial. David had a long time to wait until he actually became king. What God says will come to pass, but we must learn to wait patiently and with hope (see Ps 130, Ps 40:1). What God says will come to pass; what happens spiritually is the truth, but may not be fulfilled immediately in our understanding. We need to understand that we possess these things by faith; we believe in order to see.
