Welcome to the Kerwin Baptist Church broadcast today. Our desire is for the Word of God to be spread throughout the world.
so that all may know Christ. Join us now. For a portion of one of our services here at Kerwin Baptist Church. Located in Kernersville, North Carolina. 1 Samuel chapter 16.
And uh today Our character is David. And um Everybody has their favorite characters in the Bible. I don't know that I've ever I guess just said mine. But for some reason. Um I feel like there are just so many areas where I identify with David.
Um Just kind of sense some things that I can identify with. the good and the bad. And um today is an interesting story in 1 Samuel chapter 16 and It may be a little different for a Sunday morning, but I want us to dig into it. Our theme for this, as we've done this series, Our theme for this one is this: I was overlooked. But God saw my heart.
I don't ever take for granted that in an audience this side, there are some here, and maybe even you, that feel at times in your life. You've been overlooked. And we want to talk about that through biblical terms today. I appreciate my son Daniel reading. the passage of scripture, didn't he do so much better than Frank does?
I really appreciate. Um He pronounced the names correctly and Brother Frank is preaching for Brother CJ, many of you know C.J. Keister and Brother Frank, he's gone today, and so Brother Frank's preaching at his church.
So I can pick on him as much as I want today. except that his mom will kill me.
So we'll just leave it at that. And I appreciate Daniel reading our passage. Um today. You know the story. The people wanted a new king.
They didn't want God and They wanted a human king. We talked about this in the beginning of the year with our series on the king is coming and. And we uh as they chose a king, they chose somebody that looked impressive. That was impressive. was head and shoulders above everyone else and things began to go south.
So God decided that you know what I'm going to choose if you, since you don't want me as king. And you've chosen who you want, and that's not gone well. I'm going to choose the next king.
So Samuel is the prophet, and God sends Samuel on an errand for the to anoint the next king. And God tells him to go to Jesse. And out of that household, God began to hint that the next king would come from there. As we picked it up, obviously in verse 6, what happens is Jesse brings out Seven sons in front of Samuel, and he brings them out from Eliab the oldest to Shamma and then the others. And they were impressive, they were tall, they looked impressive.
In fact, the Bible says that when they all came in, That Samuel said, surely God's anointed is among these. I mean, you talk about impressive and all these different things, and then as it went from sun to sun to sun, God refused every one of them. And it gets to the point that Finally, Samuel looks at Jesse and he says, are these all your children? Either God's got something wrong here or if, you know, um We've gone through all the sons, God refuses them, but God said it was from here, and then Jesse says, Well, There is the youngest. And he's out keeping sheep right now.
And so Samuel said, Well, listen, we're not even going to sit down until you go get him and you bring him in here. And then when David came in, the youngest, the baby, he was out working while everybody was inside posing. You know, I've always wondered as he brought the seven by to be king, I wonder if they were doing like the old, you know, how the. Weightlifting competitions, are they all doing you know the kind of a thing? Are they trying to impress he was the pick and walk behind?
Is it this one? No, is it this you know, I didn't know how that whole thing went, but somehow God didn't want any of them and God knew exactly who he wanted to be king, and then Daniel. Excuse me, David, who comes in. And God chooses him.
So we kind of know the story and we know how that, but I want us to. Look at a couple things today. Let's pray and pray. Let's ask God to apply this where it is needed. I do want you to know today, you are not overlooked.
Now it might be true there are some people overlooking you. And there might it might be true that maybe you feel that you're less than But I want you to know God sees things way different than people do. And whoever needs this today, I hope this will be a blessing to you. Lord, we love you. I thank you for your word.
Thank you for all that you've done. God, please, um work in hearts today and Apply your word where needed. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Number one in this passage, I want us to look at a simple shepherd.
A simple shepherd. On the screen, you'll see in verse 5 and 6, the Bible says, And he sanctified Jesse and his sons. called them to the sacrifice And it came to pass when they were come that he looked on Eliab and said, Surely, The Lord's anointed. is before him. I mean, man, checks all the boxes.
Okay.
Now we go down to verse 11. I have this on the screen for you, and Samuel said unto Jesse. Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him.
For we will not sit down till he come hither. I want you to notice first thing this morning that David was faithful. even when he was not included. David was out keeping sheep. He's the baby.
He's... Kind of the runt of the family at this point and You know, all the brothers are walked in. Dad assumed that if there's a king in the bunch, it's going to be out of these seven. David just goes to work doing what he had always done and been asked to do. Look at verse 10.
It says, And Jesse made seven of his sons. to pass before Samuel. But there was another one. Jesse didn't even consider David worth including. But God saw him.
David wasn't included in the lineup. But he just kept tending sheep. Faithfully. Have you ever felt not included? Maybe that group at church never asked you to go out to eat with them.
Maybe the co-workers at work never include you. You know, it always still breaks my heart that in the setting of a church. that there can always be people that feel not included. Pastor never asked me to, or the teacher never asked me to, or nobody at church has ever asked me. You know, sometimes you can sit even in a church, a good-sized church, thank God for that, but you can begin to feel sometimes.
not included. Here's what's interesting: even though David wasn't included, wasn't even given a thought about that, we don't find that David sat there in the field, arms crossed, grumpy. Complaining, the dad didn't even include me, and all the brothers get to go do something, and I'm stuck here watching. We don't find that. All we find is that David was faithful even when he wasn't included.
And can I give you some advice this morning? If you want God to use your life, You stay faithful. even when you don't feel included. I want to encourage you because you can get a bad spirit at times like that. I want you to notice, secondly, David was faithful when he was overlooked.
Not only was he not included, look at verse 11, and Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? That means he had already made it clear, I want all your children here.
So David wasn't just not included. He was overlooked. I mean, you know, the other brothers were bigger, the other brothers were better, the other brothers were older, the other brothers were more experienced. Surely, the king, if there's a king here, is going to be chosen from the impressive brothers. And have you ever in your life felt that you were a bit over?
Overlooked, you've been working hard at your job and they haven't promoted you. Maybe your family has never seen you for your real ability, and they've never given you credit. what you've actually done. And here's what I have found: that sometimes you and I, not only when we're not included, but when we feel overlooked, that somebody else is always chosen, somebody else is always bragged on, and somebody else is always mentioned, maybe you're the middle child. I married a middle child.
Oh my word, am I tired of hearing it? The oldest one was the first one, got all the attention, they're kind of in charge, then the baby shows up and all the pictures are taken of them and kind of a thing. I was an only child, so I didn't understand that concept. All the boo-hoo, I'm a middle child, blah, blah, blah. Blah, blah.
Then I had three boys. And guess what my middle one thinks? Nobody ever notices him. Because we have like five volumes of pictures of Daniel. We have six volumes, pictures of Caden.
And then there's a pamphlet in the middle. One brochure. You ever felt overlooked? You know, sometimes when you feel overlooked, you can feel overlooked at a church. Feel like, hey, I worked, nobody thanked me, and hey, I did this, nobody noticed, hey, I showed up for this, hey, I teach in the class, nobody.
Listen. There was times in my life I felt overlooked. I know there's probably going to be times in your life where you feel overlooked. But here's the whole point. Even though David wasn't included and David was overlooked, he still stayed faithful.
to do what he was asked to do. And I want to encourage you, times where you can begin to get bad spirit about things. God sees you. You are not overlooked by God. We're going to show you that in a minute.
I want you to notice.
something interesting. In 2000, For those of you that are sports fans, there was an NFL draft in the year 2000. And all the way at Draft 199, the 199th person drafted. was a quarterback that every team had passed on numerous times. They said, quote, that he was too slow.
That he was too skinny. I get that a lot. And Why are you laughing at all? In fact, one of the quotes was: He lacked great arm strength. One NFL Team there said about him in their notes: he doesn't have the IQ.
to be an NFL quarterback. And that was Tom Brady. He was the one nobody wanted. And he became the one. Everybody wanted You see, maybe sometimes you feel like you're Tom Brady in the NFL draft.
But God sees. You. I want you to notice thirdly here, and I found this is interesting, that David was faithful even when he was unfairly misjudged. Have you ever been misjudged? Boy have I.
Look at verse 11. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children, and listen to what Jesse says. And he said, There remaineth yet The youngest. His whole profile on David was. He's the youngest.
That's all he could say about him. He's the youngest. He's the smallest. He's the least experienced. He's the baby of the family.
Apparently, Jesse, his dad, did not see a future king, he just saw the youngest. Obviously, David was greatly misjudged. It would end up being that of all the sons, the youngest. would be the only one that would be willing to stand up against Goliath. You know, this youngest that was out in the field is the only one out of all the other seven at the battle that stood up and said, I'm not going to let that.
Idiot, talk about my God that way, and the youngest is the only one that had enough heart. to go down and fight. But to Jesse, he was just the youngest. You know how many times in my life have I seen the one you would least expect in the family, do something very great for God. Or the one that you would least expect in a youth group, or the one that you would least expect in this particular group or in this particular setting.
It has amazed me at times to see that the one that you wouldn't think would probably be that. And listen, he's not here. I can talk about him today, and you know how I like to pick. But I'm gonna talk in a good way. Listen, I was a youth pastor here for years, and Frank Newsome was in our youth group.
Frank's one of the most lovable A young men in my youth group. But Frank is so easygoing. That sometimes there's no going. He's just laid back, wouldn't judge a person in the world, the nicest, most gracious guy. But there are times in Frank's life he would tell you that the drive He's not trying to prove anything to anybody.
He doesn't have all these visions of grandeur. Frank just wants to be a good person. But I'm going to tell you out of all of our youth group Frank was one of my favorites, but I don't know that I would have said, oh, Frank's going to be a youth pastor here at Cardwin one day. Frank's going to be a leader. But I'm here to tell you so many times.
I have seen an individual that nobody expects. And you might be Not included by others, and you might be overlooked by everybody, and even more than that, you might be greatly misjudged. But may I tell you, God doesn't see you that way. God doesn't see what you can't do. God sees what you can do.
I've told you this story, but it it's just in the setting This corner house up here where Sarah Carter lives. I used to live there. And There's a side porch on there with a screen and One day I had been out jogging on the property. Yes, I was jogging on the property. Don't look at me like that.
I was sitting on that porch drinking my water. And the way that porch is, you really can't see somebody sitting on that porch because of the screen. Ms. Sharon Jarrell was teaching at our school. And the Geralds used to live kind of Not far from here, and so many times they would walk for from school or to school or whatever the case is.
So I was sitting in that porch, and so one day school had been done, whatever, and Sharon was walking, and Sharon had Jessica was walking there, and Jacob and Shane. But Jessica and Shane were walking there with Miss Jerry. Miss Jerry was just kind of walking, and she's walking to the end of Chess Lane, going to turn left and go up the main 66 to get into their subdivision there walking. And about 10 feet behind her was. Her son Jacob.
And Jacob was mad as a hornet about something. I don't know what it was. But that that red-headed temper anger. And he was stomping like this, and he was just letting her have it. And Sharon's just walking there, not listening to a thing.
She's just walking ahead. I'm sitting here watching that water, and Jacob's mad at the world. I mean, I'm telling you, he has rage. Sharon couldn't care less. She's just walking along.
Go ahead, keep talking. And he was just getting madder about it. And I'm sitting there laughing. I'm watching this, and I'm just watching. It's so fun.
Isn't it always fun watching somebody that's angry? I mean, when somebody gets mad at a target, I'm watching it.
Okay? They're going to choose somebody. I'm going to watch it. It's enjoyable. I don't know what it is.
And Jacob's just, he was stomping. He was doing this. He was just mad. He was just, and Sharon's just walking along. And I was just laughing at that.
And man, who would ever thought? That's the assistant pastor at our church. You say, does he still have that kind of temper? I'm sure he does. But he doesn't show it.
You ever been overlooked? You ever been Misjudged. Once you notice, number four, David was faithfully doing a job that no one would notice. Not only was he not included, not only was he overlooked, not only was he then mischaracterized, misjudged.
Well, he's the only thing I could say about him, he's the youngest. Then notice what Jesse says here. He says, There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, He keepeth the sheep. He's just out in the pasture. Out of everyone's sight.
Keeping the sheet. Not included, overlooked, misjudged. but still faithfully keeping the sheep. Doing what nobody probably appreciates. Obviously, dad didn't really, it's just a chore that David needed to do, it was just a job that was his.
Nobody would notice, nobody would appreciate it, nobody would probably see it as very important. But may I say, somebody's got to keep the sheep. And there was somebody watching. God was watching. You see, God watched as He kept the sheep.
He was brave enough. to face a bear. And God watched as David was keeping the sheep, and he was. brave enough to face this animal and that animal and Even though he was not included, and even though he wasn't seen as much, and even though the brothers got all the whatever, God was watching. David.
And what God saw is that David could stay faithful in a job. that nobody would even notice. And may I encourage you today to be faithful. doing jobs even when nobody sees it. Amen.
Listen, you might teach here, you might work in a ministry here, but it's even beyond this church. You might have your job where you're trying to make a living and you're trying to do whatever, or maybe it's not even, maybe it's just good things you try to do, thoughtful things for people, helpful things for people, and nobody's going to give you a badge for it, nobody's going to put you in the paper about it, and nobody's going to put you on the screens and say what a good job you've done. But can I tell you something? Who God loves to use are people who are willing to do the things that nobody notices. That's how.
God works. You know, in the Middle East, there's a season called lambing season for sheep. And during this season, young ewe lambs are born and What will happen? These shepherds have to protect these little lambs from predators.
So, During this time, it's a very tiring, thankless work. They literally have to stay up. Sleep outside. And they have to be up during the night so that they can protect them from predators that would love to try to get these baby lambs. And here's what's interesting: nobody will see it.
You're not thanked. They're not paid anymore for doing it. But without it, without that, Most of those young lambs wouldn't survive. And it just might be that you feel unseen in your service to God. And maybe nobody notices, and by the way, this shepherd is doing this for sheep that's never going to thank him.
But I'm here to tell you that if he didn't do it, there would be issues and there would be problems. And what God wants are people that are willing to stay up all night and to do the things that other people don't notice and to do the things that they may never get thanked for. But God saw a king in somebody that did that. And that's what God wants. In our life.
A simple shepherd. That's all he was. A simple shepherd, but God saw a king. I want you to notice secondly I want you to see a sovereign selection. A simple shepherd that was not included.
Overlooked. Misjudged. It was faithfully doing a job that nobody even noticed.
So look at verse 6. And it came to pass when they were come that he looked on alive and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Now here's our lesson. Look not on his countenance. or on the height of his stature.
Because I have refused him. Because I have refused him. For the Lord seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance. But the Lord looketh. On the heart.
God bypassed seven sons with strong bodies. To choose the one with a worshiping heart. The Lord wasn't looking for the tallest, the strongest, or even the most trained. He was looking for the one that was surrendered. Let me give you some lessons out of this verse.
Number one is this. Our opinions can often be very wrong. Can I have an amen right there, Kerwin Baptist Church? Our opinions can often be very Wrong. Look, if you would at verse 6, and it came to pass when they were come talking about Samuel here that he looked on Eliab and said, Surely.
I mean, from what I see. There's a king standing in front of me. And he was dead wrong. You know our opinions could be very wrong about people. Can I have an amen right there, Carmen Baptist Church?
Are we not guilty of that? Are we not guilty of forming opinions based on what we see? Does that not happen even in a church? You know, I've been working here for Well Thirty something years ago I came here. And as pastor, I've been here, what, 13 years, whatever it is.
And it is still A goal of mine in our church. Is wonderful with this, and it is still a goal of mine. that never will anybody Form an opinion on somebody based on how they look when they walk in this building. It's really easy to do that. And yet you would be very upset if somebody did that to you.
Our opinions can be very wrong. Samuel's opinion, the man of God's opinion here, was dead wrong. Notice secondly, What should matter most is what God thinks, not people.
Now look at verse 7. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance. What's God saying? Samuel, you're looking at the wrong things. Notice this, I have refused him.
I mean, the very son that Samuel said, surely this could be the king, God says, no, I've refused him. What does that mean? It didn't matter what Samuel thought. It didn't matter what Jesse thought. It didn't matter what dad thought, didn't matter what brothers thought, didn't matter what Samuel thought.
And by the way, can I tell you, when it all comes down to it, it really doesn't matter what anybody else thinks. What matters is what God thinks. God said, I don't care what you think. Samuel, I've refused him. I don't care what Jesse thought.
Well, these are the sons that he can choose from. God refused them. What should matter most in our life is what God thinks, not. what people think. I want you to notice, thirdly, often we are impressed by the wrong things.
Now you say, I know, well, that's basically, hey, our opinions are often very wrong, and they are. But let me tell you why they're wrong. Notice this in verse 7. But the Lord said unto Samuel, look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature. What is he saying?
Quit. Just looking on the outside, Samuel. That's exactly how we got in this issue in the first place when everybody chose Saul. They went on what they saw. Did you get that what I did there?
You and I are impressed by the wrong things. We get impressed by looks, we get impressed by accomplishment, we get impressed by money, we get impressed by the wrong things. Bother me even when I was a teenager that some preacher would come into town or I'd be at some youth conference and Some preacher for some reason would see three or four Just were very impressive. And I remember preachers going up to kids. Let me tell you something.
I see everybody here: listen, God. I mean, God could really use you. And may I say, God could really use them, but can I tell you something else? God can also really use every other person sitting there. Who are you to judge that?
What are you judging? What are you basing that on? You don't know what they do in private. You don't know what they do on the computer. You don't know what they do in their life.
But you and I, there's so much we don't know that we can form opinions looking at the wrong things. Yes, yes. Fourthly, We must always remember that God's highest priority is the heart. It's not his only priority, but it is his highest. Look at verse 7.
This is what God says. Same, quit looking at this. Quit looking at this stuff. For the Lord seeth not as man seeth. For a man looketh on the outward appearance.
But the Lord looketh on the heart. You and me, our first vision at somebody. is the outside. God's first look at somebody. is what's on the inside.
And you know why God does that? Because the heart can eventually change the outside. But you can change the outside without changing the heart. And unfortunately, church in general has done that over the years. We try to make sure people change the outside and the problem is we've spent no time.
On the heart. You and I have got to always remember: listen to me, and Kerwin, I want to help you with this. Don't think your worth is on what you've done, what you've accomplished. Don't think God loves you more because you do more, and don't think God is more pleased with you because you've done this or done that. God sees your heart.
God's highest priority is your heart. And if you've done it and done it with a heart of sincerity and love for God, He'll honor that. But if you've done it with a heart of pride and an attitude of trying to display something to people, God sees that too. And let's just be honest, out of all the brothers that Jesse lined up in the house. David was the only one that had the kind of heart that God wanted to use.
And let me tell you, when you find out the heart you have, is when Goliath showed up. And here's Goliath and every one of the brothers, their heart. had a flaw. And they weren't going to go out and fight Goliath. And yet, the youngest and smallest of the brothers shows up there just to bring food to his brothers who were fighting.
David wasn't even included, not only in the lineup, David wasn't even included in the battle. But David had a heart. That set him apart. And I want to challenge you, listen to me, Curling Baptist Church, as you're a pastor. Please forgive me.
If ever There's something preached, or I've said something that has ever come across to you. Like you've got to put on an act. Like you've got to try to be something you're not. To please church or to please God. Listen to me, dear friend.
God sees right through all that as it is. You can't fool God with that stuff. The heart is God's highest priority. Can I give you this next thing? God always makes the right choice.
Look at verse 12. And he sent and brought him in. Here comes. David. Now he was ready.
And withal of a beautiful countenance and goodly to look to. Sharp-looking young man. And the Lord said, Arise. Annoying him. Notice this: for this.
is He Thank you for listening today. We hope you received a blessing from our broadcast. The Kerwin Baptist Church is located at 4520 Old Hollow Road in Kernersville, North Carolina. You may also contact us by phone at 336-993-5192. or via the web.
at Kerwin Baptist Church.com. Enjoy our services live and all our media on our website and church app. Thank you for listening to the Kerwin broadcast today. God bless you.
