Use this quote to give big picture and that there is nothing new under the sun, but will we learn from the lessons of the Kings as a people, church and as a nation?

Nothing truly changes until the heart changes.

“Of the twenty-two civilizations that have appeared in history, nineteen of them collapsed when they reached the moral state the united states is in now.”

– Arnold Toynbee, A Study of History

We are going to look at the difference between Saul and David’s heart – what does living after God’s own heart look like?

1 Samuel 13:14

¹⁴ But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

1 Samuel 16:7

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Lesson Four:

Verses: 1 Samuel 13:1-14, 15:17, 16:1-22, Ephesians 4:26-27, Matthew 10:34, Revelation 2:5

Real peace and freedom come from being honest with our heart before God, where we are ultimately freed by the Gospel to do what we ought to do, not just what we want to do.

1 Samuel 13:1-14, we can see why the people thought it easier to have a king make decisions rather than wait on the prophet and God, who seems to wait until the final hour for the testing of faith. Just doing religion is easier than listening to God.

The world wants a king, not God, breaks this down throughout the series – break this down further, the world desires a king to give them peace, to fight for them, to help them prosper economically. As a believer we need to primarily look to God for these things.

1 Samuel 15:17, Samuel reveals Saul’s heart, though you are small in your own eyes, look at what God has done? The Lord took Saul who was unknown and nobody and made him king, so his heart should rest in the Lord and that responsibility, just as when the Lord calls us to follow Him, calls us to mission, how often we let and continue to let our view of ourself, what others have said about us and the lies we have believed rather than God’s call direct our steps –

1 Samuel 16:1-14, David is anointed before his brothers and the Spirit rushed upon him from that day forward unlike Saul 10:9-10, where it rushed upon him but left because of his half hearted devotion.

Saul continued to do what he wanted to do, even after the Lord’s direction. David sought to obey the voice of God and do what he ought to do.

Deal with the importance of the fear of God tied to the Spirit of God on/off and evil spirits and consequences of not having a heart after God’s heart – Ephesians 4:26-27 giving the devil a foothold, this is to believers.

6:13, David anointed, and it says that the Spirit of the Lord rushed in him from that day forward – this gives some insight into how he defeated Goliath in the next chapter 1 Samuel 17. The Lord looks upon the heart, and brings His Spirit. So spiritual anointing is far better than outward gifting, God’s ways are not man’s ways.

16:13, the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward – tie this to freedom message, where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, real freedom, which makes way for freedom from oppression of all kinds and in this case the Philistines

Revelation 2:5, Jesus will remove a church’s lamp stand

Jesus said He has come with a sword and not peace

“Do not think I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34, he will when He returns, for now He brings peace for man’s hearts, are we trying to fight for peace on earth when we don’t have peace in our hearts?

Practically what does it look like to seek first the kingdom and hIs righteousness? Seeking His rule and holiness, not compromising with the church culture. This verse must be connected to Matthew 10:34, to understand what seeking the kingdom looks like, it is the reigning the ruling of Jesus primarily in people’s hearts and the church family.

1 Samuel 16:14-22

Apply this to Saul’s heart versus David’s heart, even Davids playing through southing to Saul, Saul didn’t allow it to transform his heart to God. Many are sitting in church and get the comfort of the worship and word and fellowship, but have not let it bring peace into their soul, let Jesus be king of their soul and reign and rule, they are still like Saul king of their soul, playing games with God and not after His heart.

1 Chron 10:13, Saul dies for his breach of faith broke faith with the Lord and consulted a medium seeking guidance He did not seek guidance from the Lord, Lord turned kingdom over to David

Within every church there are Saul leaders – about themselves, and outward appearance, compromising faith or David leaders, not perfect, but after God’s heart, humble to admit fault

The Gospel, first puts us at peace with God and then by the Spirit empowers us to live for God not just ourself. Oh the power of the Gospel to save, heal, deliver, set free, put at peace. Encourage the Body that they have been put at peace with God and set ultimately free!

Break down the subtitle: understanding freedom and our responsibility in the world

Freedom, make clear difference between worldly freedom and biblical gospel freedom, what is the basis for freedom, there is freedom from something and freedom to something

“Most Americans show little evidence that they understand freedom and the commitments that freedom requires of them.” Os Guiness, Zero Hour America, p4

“For anyone who understands freedom it is simply inescapable that freedom requires truth a shared sense of truth and therefore trustworthiness and trust.” p33 Os

“the practical and rather obvious result of such a rejection of truth is vulnerability to lies, falsehoods, rumors, delusions, and chronic suspicion of everyone and everything.”

A big shift has taken place in our understanding of freedom from, meaning the power to do what one ought to do, to contemporary freedom, meaning the right to do what one wants to do.

“Freedom is not the permission to do what we like, but the power to do what we ought.” Os Guiness

“Freedom has requirements, such as truth, character, and a way of life.”

How do we know we are after God’s heart? We can never achieve peace on the earth, only Jesus will do that when He returns, our priority is getting God’s peace into people’s hearts – Gospel revolution, this should be the priority within the church.

Without unity within the kingdom it cannot advance against the culture – Philistines and all who are enemies of God

In David’s case more than mere symbolism was present in the anointing ceremony: “The Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power” (v. 12), even as had been the case previously with Saul (cf. 10:10). What is more, it stayed with him “from that day on”; this made David’s anointing superior to Saul’s (cf. v. 14). The coming of the Spirit, an event that was primarily spiritual in nature, had major implications for the political future of Israel; after this event the political landscape of Israel would be forever different.

Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 180). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep—Jesse having evidently no idea of David’s wisdom and bravery, spoke of him as the most unfit. God, in His providence, so ordered it, that the appointment of David might the more clearly appear to be a divine purpose, and not the design either of Samuel or Jesse. David having not been sanctified with the rest of his family, it is probable that he returned to his pastoral duties the moment the special business on which he had been summoned was done.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 185). Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Lesson Five:

Verses: 1 Samuel 8:20, 1 Samuel 17, 1 Samuel 18:1-5, 1 Chronicles 11-12, 20:4-8, 1 Samuel 25, Matthew 6:33, 11:12

Seeking God’s own heart awakens, unites and empowers mighty men and women by the kindred Holy Spirit, greater than any human tie, for advancing the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

1 Samuel 8:20

“A good king was expected to go out ahead of his people. Earlier and against the prophet Samuel’s warnings, Israel had asked for a king specifically because they wanted someone, ‘to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles,” 1 Sam 8:20

1 Samuel 17, David and Goliath

This passage presents the longest description of military attire in the Old Testament. Goliath’s physical stature, armor, weaponry, and shield bearer must have made him appear invincible. However, the reader has just been warned against paying undue attention to outward appearances. The detailed description of Goliath’s external advantages here suggests that chap. 17 was intended in part to serve as an object lesson in the theology of the previous chapter (cf. 16:7).

Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 190). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

The writer’s inclusion of the clothing incident probably was meant to serve two functions: first, to preserve an unusual but interesting occurrence in the background of the Goliath event, indicating the greater value of divine enablement over human devices; second and more importantly, to symbolize David’s rejection of Saul’s approach to kingship. Saul chose to dress in royal clothing “such as all the other nations have”; David would wear none of it. Instead, he would identify with the great shepherd-leaders of the Torah—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and especially Moses—and live by faith in the promises of God (cf. Heb 11).

Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 194). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

David expressed an awareness that Goliath had committed a capital crime by insulting, and thus blaspheming, the God of Israel. According to the Torah, any individual guilty of blasphemy—even a non-Israelite—must be stoned (Lev 24:16). Perhaps this was an underlying reason why David chose the weapon he did in confronting the Philistine; even before serving as Israel’s king, David would prove himself to be a diligent follower of the Torah and thus a man after the Lord’s heart. At the same time, of course, David’s use of the sling and stone also must have been motivated by the fact that he was skillful in their use and the weapon was especially suited for exploiting Goliath’s vulnerabilities.

Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, pp. 195–196). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Matthew 11:12

from the days of John the Baptist unit now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force – apply this to David’s mighty men

1 Samuel 14, 18:1-5

A kingdom man like David attracts other mighty men, men of valor, why is so much space given to these mighty men?Jonathan got a faith friend from David, even when his father was not whole hearted, the kindred Spirit is strongest among believers who are after God’s heart.

1Chron 11:12, David takes Jerusalem, Zion, the city of David

Davids mighty men, We need Some mighty men today

1 Chron 12, Davids mighty men, singleness of purpose to make him king, zion we need might men who today are single hearted for God’s kingdom, marriage, family church society

1 Chron 20:4-8, Davids mighty men, killed six finger giants, giant killers, when he taunted Israel Jonathan struck him down – this is mighty men, not toxic masculinity,

David and his mighty men, awakening mighty women – Abigail, and exposed foolish men, Nabal and vain women, Michal, Saul daughter

1 Samuel 25, the fate of worthless-foolish men and mighty women, Abigail

The whole story of the Kings is the rise and fall of godly leaders aligning with God versus ungodly leaders compromising with God

Did you grow up in a Christian church, environment where it was normal to live a compromising Christian life, or go to a college where that was the case?

Mighty women – You are not defined by the man but don’t believe the lie you can go it alone – both together but within our roles and strengths

When men and women’s roles are confused the kingdom and church is divided – and the enemy knows this – God’s Word could not be clearer about this, but will we stand upon it in the midst of a culture that is pushed hard against it and sadly many churches embracing it to there folly.

Lesson Six:

Verses:  1 Samuel 28, 2 Samuel 11-12, Psalm 51

Being after God’s heart is having Him search our heart, being open to conviction, and quick to confession with a broken and contrite heart.

Saul when confronted had many chances, but never repented, only made excuses and did not go after God’s heart like David.

1 Samuel 28, Saul sinning with the medium

Saul had lost the right to rule Israel because of disobedience to the Lord’s words in the Torah; the king did not “carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites” (v. 18; cf. Deut 25:17–19). Now Saul had repeated the same basic sin of disobedience to the Torah by consulting the dead. As a result, punishment must follow. Saul’s present sin was private and concealed in darkness; however, its consequences would be public and massive. In this case “the Lord will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines.” In keeping with the seriousness of the present breach, Saul would also lose his family and his own life: “tomorrow you and your sons will be with me” (v. 19; cf. Lev 20:6).

Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, pp. 268–269). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

2 Samuel 11-12

David isolated away from from t line got into problem with bathsheba, but even God used that – but David repented ps 51

David falls to the exact same failure of Saul to step in and lead Israel with Goliath, when years later when he is at the height of power, In the Spring, at th time when kings go off to war, 2 Samuel 11:1, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole israelite army. but David stayed in Jerusalem and fell to Bathsheba”

1 Kings 15:5

David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord except Uriah – but David repented when confronted by the prophet – we also need prophets like this today, the church needs to be this prophetic voice.

Read all of Psalm 51, there may be no greater words to define a man after God’s wn heart

Psalm 51:10-12

¹⁰  Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

¹¹  Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

¹²  Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.