NBC Sunday School Manual For October 30, 2022 :Topic – David Anoited As King
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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON(NBC)
Sunday, October 30, 2022
TOPIC: DAVID ANOINTED AS KING
Devotional Reading: Acts 13:21-31
Background Scriptures: 1Samuel 16:1-13
Lesson Scripture: 1Samuel 16:1-13
GOLDEN TEXT
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1Samuel 16:7
Objectives: By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
I. Explain what led to the anointing of David as the next king of Israel by Prophet Samuel.
II. Describe some characteristics people usually look out for in selecting people into offices.
III. Dramatise how Samuel anointed David as the next King of Israel.
INTRODUCTION
Someone once said, “leadership is successive for a good governance of the people.” This is very true because there cannot be growth, orderliness and effective management of people and resources in any organisation without a front-runner. From time immemorial when God created the universe, He had worked with His people through different leaders at different times. It all started in the Old Testament with Adam in the Garden of Eden, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, the judges, prophets and many others. We are familiar with the story of John the Baptist in the New Testament, Jesus Christ, the ultimate leader and several other persons who were privileged to lead God’s people at a particular
time. So, God has never left His people without a leader. At the request of the people of Israel, God commanded Prophet Samuel to anoint Saul as the first king in Israel but unfortunately, he disobeyed God, which led to his rejection. In fact, according to 1 Samuel Chapter 15 verse 35b, God was grieved that He had made Saul king over Israel. His leadership style left Israel worse than the period they had no king.
Today’s lesson focuses on God’s command to Samuel to anoint David as the second king in Israel. He was anointed in his hometown in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 17:12). King David became famous as he ruled Israel and led the nation to attain physical, spiritual and political strength.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED
A. God’s Command to Samuel the and him. 1 Samuel 16:1-3
Prophet Samuel anointed Saul as the king of Israel when the people requested for a king at command of God. But unfortunately, he disobeyed God’s command to attack the Amalekites completely destroy everything they had (1 Samuel 15:3). God was grieved that He ever made
king over Israel and out-rightly rejected him. Because God does not want His people to be like sheep without a shepherd, He said to Samuel in Chapter 16, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected as king over Israel?” (v.1). He commanded him to fill his horn with oil (which is normally used to anoint new king) and go to Jesse of Bethlehem, for He (God) has chosen one of his sons to be king over Israel. According to verse 2, Samuel expressed fear of being killed by Saul, because Saul had already known that God had chosen someone else. God did not directly respond to his question rather, He told him what to do. He said to him, “Take heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD” and invite Jesse to the sacrifice. God also promised to show him the man whom he would anoint as the next king of Israel.
In spite of Saul’s disobedience to God’s command and his rejection, Samuel continued to mourn for him until God commanded him to go to Jesse of Bethlehem and anoint one of his sons as the next king of Israel. The rejection of Saul should serve as a warning to Christians that no one is indispensable in the sight of God. We should be ready to obey God and work according to His instructions as we walk with Him. Anything short of this will surely result to rejection and greater punishment like the case of Saul.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. Why did Samuel continue to mourn for Saul even when he knew that disobedience led to his rejection?
2. What are the benefits of seeking more clarifications and direction from God in any assignment He commits into our hands?
B. Jesse Presents his Seven Sons. 1 Samuel 16:4-10
God had decided to anoint another king for Israel after the rejection of Saul and so, He commanded Samuel to go to the house of Jesses in Bethlehem for the selection. Samuel’s presence in Bethlehem caused panic among the elders and they asked, “Do you come in peace”?Samuel allayed their fears and told them his mission (to sacrifice to the Lord). He therefore commanded them to consecrate themselves including Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. Consecration was a requirement according to the Law of Moses before religious practices could be performed. He assumed Eliab was God’s choice probably because of his physical appearance and concluded saying to himself, ‘Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”(v. 6). God reminded him not to consider his appearance or height because He has rejected him. Indeed, God does not judge by appearance but He considers the heart of everybody. Eventually, the seven sons of Jesse were rejected by God.
How good it will be if believers will understand and maintain godly standard of selecting leaders into offices? Noteworthy in the passage is the specific instruction God gave to Samuel when He told him to anoint ‘the one I indicate,’ and God did not indicate Eliab or any of the seven sons that were presented. Little wonder Samuel said to Jesse, the Lord has not chosen these (v.10b). This
implies that when Christians pray and seek the face of God concerning His choice of persons to be saddled with some tasks, He will speak to us, and guide us on the right choice. Therefore, as we begin to select workers who will serve in different offices in the coming year, we should not consider people’s outward appearance, eloquence, dress, money or any superficial qualities, as is it the practice of some churches today. We are encouraged to always allow the Spirit of God to lead us in our choices concerning the selection of leaders so that God’s name will be glorified.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. What would have happened if God did not immediately intervene and stop Samuel from anointing Eliab as king?
2. How can we change the system of simply selecting people into offices without actually seeking the face of God to know His will?
C. David Is Anointed as King. 1Samuel 16:11-13
Christian leadership is a call to responsibility and it is sometimes challenging. God’s assignment to Samuel to anoint a new king over Israel after Saul was rejected was not an easy task. Having paraded eleven sons of Jesse and none was found to be God’s choice, then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have.” Samuel would have been surprised that none of the eleven sons was indicated by God, especially when he was convinced that he was acting according to God’s instruction. Obviously, Samuel would have had a sigh of relief with Jesse’s response that “There is still the youngest,” who is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”(v.11). Immediately, David was brought in, having fine appearance, handsome features and being handsome. Then, God commanded Samuel, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” David was anointed in the presence of his brothers and the Spirit of God rested on him with power. However, Saul did not know that David had been anointed as his successor.
The circumstances that led to David being anointed, as the next king in Israel was the rejection of Saul who willfully disobeyed God. God’s choice of David as the next king in Israel is recalled in Psalm 78:70-71. Samuel’s experience in the home of Jesse is a confirmation that God’s choice is not by age, size, tribe, or status. What matters most to God is the state of one’s heart because the heart represents the inner person, the real self. It is worthy of note that as soon as Samuel anointed David, the Spirit of God rested on him as a means of empowering him for service.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. Discuss the ways we can identify God’s choice in our churches in order to avoid making the mistake of choosing wrong persons to leadership positions.
2. What are the lessons churches should emulate in the way David was selected and anointed as king in Israel?
Commitment: Make a personal commitment not to reject God’s choice in preference for human’s choice.
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity
Let an entrepreneur share with the class some of the conditions used in selecting chief apprentice among workers. Thereafter, members should pray for leaders at all levels.
Prayer Points
1. Pray that God would help you to be obedient no matter the what.
2. Ask God to showcase you for His glory.
3. Pray that God will help you get to where He had destined for you.
Take Home: Write down three lessons you are taking home from today’s lesson:
REVIEW: We are grateful to God for taking us through the month of October and the lessons we have been privileged to learn. We desire to know the level of your understanding of the lesson:
▪︎What interested you most about Moses mother’s decision?
▪︎What were some of your struggles about having courage as a leader? www. rejecting God?
▪︎ Did you gain any new insights about the consequences of
▪︎What new lessons did you learn about God’s faithfulness?