DAVID – The Making of a King

1 Samuel 16-30

During the next three Bible Classes we will be studying the life of King David. This morning we are going to spend time with David in the "early years" before he was king. Samuel anointed David as king quite some time before David actually became king. However, when we consider David’s life as guided by the Lord in those intervening years, we see that the Lord was preparing His servant to be the king over His people. The Lord was preparing His servant to be the type of king who would accomplish God’s purpose for David’s reign—David would be the warrior king who would bring conquest and peace to Israel. As time goes forward from David’s anointing we see his role in Israel grow—as he grew in preparation, the Lord increased his responsibility.

God’s preparation of David to be king is similar to His preparation of Moses to be leader of Israel, His preparation of Peter, James, John, Paul and the others to be apostles (imagine fishermen, "sons of thunder," and a persecutor being apostles!), and His preparation of YOU to work in His kingdom. Just as God chose David to be king and then prepared him for that role, so He has chosen YOU to serve in various capacities and before giving YOU those responsibilities prepares YOU for them.

David’s pre-king years are outlined below. We’ll be considering selected passages from each event in David’s preparation years.

I. Anointed King & In Saul’s Court ~ 1 Samuel 16:1-23

Verses 10-23

• David was the _________________ of ________ sons.
• Who were the witnesses of David’s anointing? Why was this important?
• Read v. 13 and v. 14. What is the noteworthy contrast?
• What "good qualities" did David already possess?
• What 3 "occupations" did David fulfill?

II. David & Goliath ~ 1 Samuel 17:1-58

Verse 15

Verses 25,26,28

• Notice that Samuel’s words concerning a king had come true (v.25…cf: 1 Samuel 8)
• What was the motivating factor for David to challenge Goliath?
• What makes Eliab’s comments inaccurate and unfair? Why should he have known better? What seems to be behind Eliab’s comments?

Verses 33-37,45-47

• How does David’s past experience contradict Eliab’s earlier implication?
• What kingly qualities does David exhibit?
• It might seem like David is already well-prepared to be king… but it is not yet the time of the Lord’s choosing.

III. A Valuable Friendship ~ 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 20:1-42

18:1-4

20:1-2

20:12-17

20:30-33

20:41-42

• What role did David’s friendship with Jonathan play in God’s preparation?
• What can we learn about the nature of valuable/true friendships?

IV. David as the object of Saul’s fear ~ 1 Samuel 18:5-9, 17-30; 19:1-24; 24:1-22; 26:1-25

18:1-9,12,15-16 – David’s popularity increases

18:17-30 – Saul looks for a way to harm David even in giving his daughter to him.

19:8-18 – The pursuit only intensifies

24:1-7 – David spares Saul…notice the scriptural principle David follows

24:11,17-22 – Saul repents – or does he? Saul stops his pursuit.

26:9-12 – David spares Saul AGAIN

26:19-21— Saul ends his pursuit.

• How has David grown in his preparation as King?
• What further kingly qualities has he now demonstrated?
• What contrasts David to Saul?

V. David and His Men’s Adventures and Deeds ~ 1 Samuel 21:1-23:29

21:10-22:5 – David pretends to be "mad"

• Who came to be with David?
• How many men were with David?

23:1-14, 6-17, 26-28

• What growth is evident in David at this time?
• How does David exhibit godly wisdom in his current role?
• What "old gift" does God use to aid David?
• David and his men aren’t ready to face Saul in battle, or at least God doesn’t want them to do so. What does He do to make sure that confrontation doesn’t take place?

VI. David’s Wives #2 & #3 and an update on #1~ 1 Samuel 25:1-44

25:2-3,5-8,10,13,18,24-25,29-33,37-39

• What change has taken place in David’s band of men?
• What role did God give Abigail in David’s preparation?

24:43-44

VII. David as an Ally with Philistines ~ 1 Samuel 27:1-28:2; 29:1-11

How does the rejection of David by the Philistine lords prepare David to be king?

VIII. David’s Rescue of Wives and Others ~ 1 Samuel 30:1-31

30:1-8

30:15,18

30: 22-26

NOW is the time for David’s actual reign to begin… but even now his reign does not take full shape right way.

Even a well-prepared king and a faithful king faces life’s challenges as a weak sinner in a sinful world.

To be continued next week…