King David - Why was He Chosen?

“He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings.” Daniel 2:21

According to the Bible, the best strategy is to trust God and obey his commands. So what can we say when the first king of Israel ended his life in miserable failure. In fact, God anointed the next king while Saul had many years left in his reign. In I Samuel 15, the prophet tells Saul, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.” (vs. 22-23) Saul’s severe disobedience led to the kingdom being stripped away from him. Yet, God’s choice of his replacement is so stark in contrast, it is almost unbelievable. God rejected Saul because he rejected his word and feared the people more than God. And at this pivotal moment, God does the unexpected – he chooses another king who is quite the opposite of Saul. It is clear why God rejected Saul as king and I think equally clear why he chose David. Saul was a head and shoulders above everyone – a big, attractive man with influence. Yet, he was weak spiritually and did not have the heart to obey God without reservation. What is so striking about God’s choice is that he is the least of his brothers. In fact, when Samuel came to see Jesse in Bethlehem, Samuel thinks Eliab, who has a striking appearance (just like Saul), must be God’s choice for a king. So, the prophet himself uses physical appearance as a sign for a king. But what does Yahweh say – do not look on the outward appearance, for I have rejected him (just like Saul). Man looks on the outward appearance, but God look at the heart (I Sam. 16:7). David was a man after God’s heart, one that would obey his commands.

The irony of course is that as Samuel goes through the 7 sons of Jesse, and God did not choose any of them. It is almost embarrassing because Samuel has to ask if Jesse has any other sons. The chosen king was not even invited to the sacrifice. Think of it, the prophet to the nation has come to your house and invites all your sons to a sacrifice. And you invite seven but do not even consider the eighth. Jesse has to call and fetch David as they all wait. And at once upon David’s arrival, God instructed Samuel to anoint him as the next king! And as this takes place, immediately the Spirit of God rushed upon David.

The dynamic we have here is the opposing ideas of image vs. character. We make decisions all the time based on image or appearance. Yet, God makes it abundantly clear he does not choose this way. He makes his choice based on the heart of a person and their willingness to trust and obey Him.

Now, let’s backtrack for a moment. Israel wanted a king – it wasn’t God ‘s plan but they insisted even after the prophet Samuel warned them. The people insisted on being like other nations. So, what does God do, he gives them what everyone wants and desires, an external king – one who looks good, was tall and impressive, but did not have the internal fortitude to be the king God needed. Remember God set his people apart, they were to be holy as he is holy – but his people choose to be like everyone else. So, Yahweh gave them first what they wanted - a worldly, spiritually weak king. After Saul’s rebellion, the kingdom was taken from him and given to another. In the big picture, Israel rejected God and his leadership so they could worship men who they could see and touch. In essence, it was a form of idolatry. And God gave them over to it by choosing Saul as their first king. However, it was God’s wisdom to show his people where this leads. The kingdom suffered immensely under Saul’s leadership. But God in his grace still had a plan, to choose a king after his own heart. He needed to show his externally focused people that his way is best and is not based on an external value system. Much the opposite, God’s ways are all about heart and character.

Now far be it for us to judge, for we are not any better today. Don’t we not choose leaders based on external values? We tend to see education, accomplishments, good looks and many other superficial values at most important. Let me give an example. I have several degrees that I worked very hard for. But my education has nothing to do with how I treat people or the kindness and love I may demonstrate. By the same token, someone can have all the merits, awards and accomplishments in the world yet lack all the fruits of the Spirit.

God wanted his people to see that the internal value system is what mattered. God chose David to be king not because of his good looks, but because of his character and heart. David would follow God instead of being led by the people. He would fear and trust God over and above people. Remember his words to Goliath:

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.” I Samuel 17:45-47

We see clearly the difference between the external values of the Philistines and the internal values of David. David understood that God’s name had been insulted by Goliath and he would defend it and trust God for victory in the battle. The whole scene appears to be crazy, but in reality it demonstrates that David understood God’s value system. The people of Israel nor king Saul could see this. So, God chose David to slay the giant and save the nation.

Why was David chosen? Because he knew and had internalized God’s value system. As counter-intuitive as it is, God’s ways are higher than ours. David’s victory came because he was in line with God and his ways. Because of this, he was chosen and used greatly by Yahweh.

So what do you say? Why has God chosen you? We see clearly how God choose David – how his decisions lined up with God even when the leaders and the nation did not, and how this brought tremendous victory. What about you? What has God chosen you to do? And that is only a question for you and the Holy Spirit. But I would submit to you, if you line yourself up with God, his character and value system, great things are in store for you -great victories. In fact, nothing can stop a man or woman who chooses God’s way, his character and value system. But before you get carried away, remember you have to internalize those principles and be willing to act upon them.

You want to be like David? Internalize God’s value system and act upon it. David wasn’t acting in his own defense, but because his God had been insulted, his God’s name had been thrown down. Everyone else shrunk back in fear, but David acted with purpose.

God chooses based on internal fortitude and character. It is not about an image or accolades. It is about our heart and relationship to the King of Kings. So, what do we do? Just like David, we must speak to the giant of externalism – we must say, by the power of God I will strike you down for the battle is the Lord’s.

It is high time for us to stop accepting the norm of external values and start speaking God’s values boldly.

Why did God choose David?

1) Because of his heart and character.

How can his example help us?

1) Show us how to stand and be bold in the midst of giant obstacles and fear.

2) Speak truth to our giants without fear and by trusting wholly in God for his deliverance.

3) The right internal values always give victory even in an external world.