Rejecting Opportunities For Revenge

I Samuel 24.1-12

When someone has brought harm to us, done nasty and spiteful things or said horrible things about us our spirits are wounded.

We need the grace and love of the LORD to come and bring healing.

He will if we allow Him to touch those areas.

One sure way to circumvent God's healing is for us to take matter into our own hands and seek revenge of some kind. If we do we turn a deep shade of bitter!

David and his men found themselves in just such a situation. It was in a cave in En Gedi. David had 600 men. Saul took 3,000 of Israel's best soldiers with him to hunt David. David was cunning but it was God that prevented Saul from overtaking him.

Saul is nearly at his lowest here. He is trying to kill one of his commanders, his own son-in-law, his most loyalist supporter, someone who just fought for Israel against the Philistines and drove them out of the land again.

Now comes an opportunity for David to strike back. He has Saul in his hands. The opportunity for revenge is there. His men are encouraging it.

1. We Must Be On Our Guard.

Bitter roots can spring up and defile many... when we least expect it!
Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. We need to help each other here.
Lovingly call each other to account.
Be open, all so open, to anyone who suggests you have a root of bitterness. Humility.
If you think you may have it, ask someone you respect, who walks close to the LORD.
Promote peace and give grace.

We need to watch over own souls.
Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

What began as a petty jealousy is now all out one sided war. This can happen if we do not keep a close guard over our hearts.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

This issue of forgiveness is so vital that Jesus has us praying for it daily. The LORD's Prayer.

Our minds and hearts are full of memories, both good and bad. We must take those offenses and cast them upon the LORD, otherwise they will take root and eventually destroy us and others!


2. Resisting Speaking Hurtful or Clever Words Will Bring Peace To Your Own Soul.

Holding our tongue is a virtue.
Proverbs 10:19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
Trying to get in that last word is deadly to your peace... mumbling under your breath.
Proverbs 17:28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.
Proverbs 21:23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.

Shooting off our mouths might bring some instant gratification but afterwards we regret it.

Strength is not in the person who can get off a clever zinger but rather the person who has the ability to keep his mouth shut, to hold his tongue.
James 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

So as we watch over our souls we also guard what comes out of our mouths. How we need God's help in this!
Psalm 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

The mouth, the tongue... rejecting our opportunities for revenge begins with our hearts, moves into our mouths and continues with outside forces...


3. We Need To Be Very Careful With Advice From Others On Taking Revenge.

When you take revenge you take matters into your own hands, stepping away from God's protection
1 Samuel 24:3-4, 7 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Leviticus 19:18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."

The story of JC Penney
James Cash Penney was born in Hamilton, MO. After graduating from high school, Penney worked for a local retailer. He relocated to Colorado at the advice of a doctor, hoping that a better climate would be more conducive to health.
However his real health challenge came when he was struggling with bitterness. Penney's rise to fame and fortune was not an unmarred success story. A major financial disaster struck in the 1929 stock market crash. Penney lost $40 million when several banks from which he had borrowed foreclosed on loans secured by his personal holdings of stock. He let his servants go and wound up weakened in spirit and health and facing a $7 million debt at the age of 56. But Penney was able to start over again with borrowed money and soon regained control of his "empire." In his later years he reflected: "I believe in adherence to the Golden Rule, faith in God and the country. If I were a young man again, those would be my cardinal principles."

Here is the rest of the story...
Penney was hospitalized. Bitterness had destroyed him. One day in the chapel after the minister brought a message on forgivness he forgave the men who conspired against him. He came out and was a father of the modern day "Mall".
Most JCPenney stores are located in suburban shopping malls. Before 1966, most of its stores were located in downtown areas. As shopping malls became more popular in the latter half of the 20th century, JCPenney followed the trend by relocating and developing stores to anchor the malls.
He was a member of the company’s Board of Directors until his death on February 12, 1971 at the age of 95. He could have died due to bitterness at my age but ended up living and working nearly 40 more years!

4. You Cannot Lose If You Forgive!

Love is the most powerful force in the world. Look at the cross!

David had a distinct advantage. He was running for his life! We are not. We may have to face people who offend us every day.

Do not look or think about offenses. Take every thought captive.
2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

As you ask God for forgiveness, forgive those who have offended you.
Luke 17:3-4 So watch yourselves.“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”


Taking revenge, doing something that would hurt people who have hurt us, is a temptation we face from time to time. The lack of forgiveness builds up a residue in our hearts. The act of forgiveness breaks down the blockages and allows God's Spirit to freely flow through us into the lives of others.

Through the power of Christ we can be more than conquerors!

The freest persons in the world are those who not only have been forgiven but forgive others like Christ forgave them!

Let's live a life of love!

People Who Need The Savior

I Samuel 22.2

Everyone does. So many today are in need of Christ.
Lives all around us are people who are broken. "There are a lot of broken hearts out there, Pastor Larry."- Rudy Migliore

There are broken hearts and broken dreams from broken promises.

Everyone needs Jesus. All have sinned. All need to be saved.
Only those who realize it come. Only those who hearts break because they have sinned.

We look at people and say, "What a great Christian they would be!" or "I cannot understand why they don't ask the LORD into their heart."
First, only the Spirit can draw them
1 Corinthians 12:3 and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
Second, they must sense their need and believe that Christ is the answer.
They must humble themselves or acknowledge that God has humbled them.

Look at the men who sought out David...
I Samuel 22.2
Those who were distressed, in debt and discontent wanted to be with a man who had a mark of death on him, a man who was the number one most wanted man in the kingdom, a man who was hated... and who had the anointing of God upon him.

Those who gathered to David were:

1- Distressed = straits, distress, stress, anguish
Receptive seasons
death, divorce, disease, devastation

Those who find themselves between a rock and a hard place,
those who feel life being squeezed out of them.

People facing loss, facing situations beyond themselves need the LORD.

His brothers were among them!
1 Samuel 22:1-2 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.

His brothers had their problems with David's anointing. But here they seem to have had a change of heart. It must have been humbling for them to leave Bethlehem for the cave in Adullam. It must have been humbling for them to be under David's direction. So much better to submit early on to God's choices. We will find ourselves submitting them sooner or later. Since Saul would have gone after David's family these brothers probably were among those who were distressed. They had to flee. It is interesting they fled to David as well as the others. Obviously they were seeing that he was anointed by the LORD.

All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

Perhaps it was Saul's behavior that made them distressed. It could be that those who met up with David and became his mighty men saw the things King Saul was doing to him and to his own son, Jonathan and said, "Enough!"

They had to be pretty distressed. Joining forces with David put a mark of death on them similar to the disciples with Jesus in the Garden.

One of the worst kind of leaders to serve under is a jealous paranoid one. Saul had become that kind.

In Psalm 57:6 David prayed, "They spread a net for my feet—I was bowed down in distress." David was able to understand them because he was going through what they were. He could speak to their souls. He became their leader.

Be on the watch! People who are distressed often open their hearts to the LORD. They come to Christ and become part of the LORD's army.


A second group gathered around David
2- In Debt = in usury, credit maxed

Who realize the price of their sins.
Many in debt of sin are under a load they can no longer carry. They have worn themselves out and in desperation they call out to the LORD.
What joy when they realize that
The Savior paid it all

No wonder the hymn writer wrote:
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe,
Sin had left the crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

The words to the song Jesus Paid It All were written by Elvina Hall (1822-1889) in 1865. Elvina was a member of the Monument Street Methodist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. The Choir Director of the same church was John Thomas Grape (1835-1915). Unaware of Elvina's composition, Grape composed a tune he called All To Christ I Owe.

The pastor of Monument Street Methodist Church, Rev. George W. Schreck heard the music written by Grape and immediately thought of the verse written by another of his parishioners, Elvina Hall. At the pastor's suggestion, Hall's lyrics and Grape's music were combined, and then sent to Professor Theodore Perkins, publisher of the periodical Sabbath Carols. The hymn quickly became a favorite and has been published in and sung from hymnals across America ever since.

Perhaps it was the personal truth of this song that has touched the hearts of believers which has made so well loved for almost 150 years. It speaks of our desperateness, our inability to pay the debt of our sins and the wonder and awe of Jesus doing what we could not do.

Christ paid the debt of our sins. Those in debt, when they see Who Christ is, come to Him for relief and deliverance.


Finally a third group gathered around David those who were...
3- Discontent
bitterness at the end of life, pain, crying

Who are finding out the promises of this world, the flesh and the devil are empty and devoid of lasting joy.
I met Jesus at the crossroads...

All who try to live without Christ are ultimately disappointed.
History is full of laments of men who lived without God.
These are tragic stories.

Everyone who calls upon the Name of the LORD will be saved.
Saved from the eternal consequences of sin. Home in heaven.
Saved from the temporal consequences. Here on the earth.
Living for Christ eliminates worries and sorrows that those who do not walk with the LORD have. For example a person who steals and temporarily gets away with it really is not getting away with it in his heart, soul and mind... in his conscience. Those who have seared their consciences are to be pitied.

One of God's gifts for followers of Jesus is contentment.
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Only the LORD can bring contentment to a person's heart.

Perhaps some of these remembered the early days of Saul, now decades ago. They remembered the promise, the strength the young king brought to the nation and to their hearts. More than likely they heard about it from their fathers as a number of years had passed since he became king.

Few had done what Saul did.
"He united a people and founded a kingdom. He created an army out of thin air. He won battles in the power of God, defeated the enemy again and again as few men ever have.
He was immersed in the Spirit of God, prophesied, said unprecedented things by the Spirit resting upon him." -Gene Edwards

Now as Saul's time was closing out (even though there was a decade left in his rule at this point), the true colors of his heart were coming through.
It was a bitter, very bitter end. Disobedience to God always is. Rebellion against the LORD brings a person down. Going one's own way instead of God's way always results in ruin.
Proverbs 3.5-6

They came to David, those who were distressed, in debt and discontent. They followed him.

These are the kind of people looking for the Savior today. They don't know what they are looking for. We need to point them to Christ! We are His Witnesses.
I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Philemon 5

Words of A Servant

I Samuel 20.4

Mary to the servants at the wedding concerning Jesus, "Whatever He tells you to do, do it." John 2.5

Mark 10:42-45 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

It is beautiful to see the relationship with David and Jonathan. They exemplify the relationship Christ desires for His Church. This is the greatest thing in the world! When the church reflects the heart of Christ a spiritual fragrance comes out.

People may argue with our faith but when the church serves, when there is love among its members, when it goes into the world with a towel and basin, there is not much to criticize.

We have been talking about being a person after God's own heart in humility the past month. This morning we are looking at a closely related topic, servanthood, the words of Jonathan to David in the scripture reading this morning... "Whatever you want me to do, I'll do for you."


1. Jonathan and David were one is spirit.
1 Samuel 18:1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

True servanthood is being one in Spirit with Jesus.
Taking His Yoke...
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The yoke... He is with us in it! The picture of a team of oxen, plowing a field. Humble and gentle in heart. Working along side of Jesus! Being on His Team.
Breaking up fallow ground with Him. Accomplishing the planting of the seed of the gospel with Him.

Oneness with the Master is the pathway to joy in the life of the believer. There is where the true fellowship and the deepest communion takes place. And what a glorious communion it is!

The greatest intimacy with the Master comes from sitting at His feet and washing the feet of others.

John 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

John 13:12-14, 16-17 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Following Jesus, imitating Him is washing feet, serving others... On our hands and knees.
Grandma Mancini.. scrubbing the whole bathroom floor then dying.
Nana... Praying for us just before she went to be with the LORD. Yesterday.
There is a blessing in working side by side with Jesus. His yoke is easy. It is pleasant.

The church in the United States has replaced servanthood with leadership. Our Master washed the feet of those He led. Following in the Kingdom of God is all about being a servant. It still amazes me how the much the world has influenced the church in these days.

Keep a towel in your hand and in your heart. That is Christlike Leadership.


2. Jonathan served David.

1 Samuel 20:42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.

Jonathan gave up his rights to the throne, his hope of ever ruling in Israel, his hope of any of his descendants being king and he submitted to God and to David. He recognized that God was changing the royal line. There is no regret, just a simple submission to the will of God.

He helped him to the position which would have been his. God was also changing generations to come with this shift. Jonathan cooperated with God's plan by helping David.

A heart for God will embrace His Plan, not argue or debate with it. Jonathan was one in spirit with David. He too was a man after God's own heart. He worked for David. How opposite of his father, Saul, who fought against it and God.

He had unselfish devotion.

Their friendship was rare and still is.
2 Samuel 1:26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me.Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.

Solomon David's son speaks of this: Proverbs 20:6 Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?

I Corinthians 16.13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it.

Their friendship was noble. It was deep. It was genuine. It was severely tested and came out stronger.

3. Jonathan surrendered to God's Will for himself.

Servanthood means surrender.
1 Samuel 18:1-4 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

1 Samuel 19:1-3 Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak to him about you and will tell you.

Relinquishing our rights is most difficult but absolutely necessary to be a servant in God's kingdom. Your kingdom come. Your will be done is to be personalized to every believer' life.

Saul fought against God's will and the LORD Himself. Jonathan surrendered to it. Saul was a tormented soul. Jonathan was at peace.

Saul worked against David, sought to kill him. Jonathan loved David as himself and worked with him, saying he would not die but live.

Surrender comes in the life of the believer in various ways. It is seen in a number of facets. Surrender brings peace. It is shown in humility. It is demonstrated in servanthood.

Think with me this morning say to the LORD, "Speak LORD, Your Servant is listening. I will do whatever you ask." Surrender to His Will in your life. Don't contend with God. Give Him everything.

Words From A Humble Heart

I Samuel 18.23

David was a man after God's Own Heart
1 Samuel 13:14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.


Last week we saw that God's heart is reflected in Jesus' words in Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Gentle and humble in heart.

A few weeks ago we looked at what a humble heart was, comparing Saul to David.

We are given Jesus' words in Matthew 12:34-35 For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

Samuel had to be reminded that man looks on the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. God saw humility in David's heart.

Looking this morning at these words of David this morning show us his humble heart: 1Samuel 18:18, 22-23 But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.’” They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I’m only a poor man and little known.”

David's words show his humility, his humble heart

Jesus, Son of God, Son of David, Our Example
We read in Philippians 2:5 Let Christ Himself be your example as to what your attitude should be. For He, Who had always been God by nature, did not cling to His prerogatives as God’s equal, but stripped Himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal man. And, having become man, He humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience, even to the extent of dying, and the death He died was the death of a common criminal.
Philippians 2:7-8 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.


1. High Honor was not something David sought after or felt worthy of.

A servant is not higher than his master.
Christ is the took on the form of a servant.
There is no higher honor than being a servant of Jesus'.

David was content to be a servant of the king. He was Saul's armor bearer. He played the harp for Saul. Before he was brought into Saul's service he was taking care of the family's sheep.

1 Samuel 17:12-15 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old. Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

He killed Goliath but sought no notoriety for himself. He was tending the sheep the hours before he killed Goliath. Interesting that made him ready to be used by God to do that!

Luke 17:10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Greatness in Christ's Kingdom is based on our willingness to be a servant.

Greatness is not based on a "high" position. There is nothing higher in God's kingdom than to be a servant. That is what Jesus was.
Philippians 2:8-11 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.

David never honored himself, neither did Jesus, neither should you.
When you look at the Psalms you see David's low view of himself. He understood he was a sinner, that his only hope was the LORD, and that humbling himself was wise.

David maintained this humility even after he became king.
2 Samuel 7:18-21, 25-27 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human! “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant. “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight. “Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.

A humble person's prayers give them away. So does the proud. Luke 18:10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector...
Their words tell what is in their heart.
A humble person is all concerned about the LORD and in awe that the LORD is concerned about him.

Psalm 8:1, 3-4 O Lord, our Lord,How excellent is Your name in all the earth,Who have set Your glory above the heavens! When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?


2. He was poor.

He knew it.
He admitted it.

David did not try to make himself out to be something that he wasn't. He did not pretend. Be who you are!

It is not a pleasant thing to be around someone who is poor and yet pretends to be rich.
Proverbs 12:9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

There was no pretense with David. What you saw is what you got. He was and is forever a shepherd! We remember him best as the shepherd boy who killed Goliath.
Even after he became king he was remembered this way, as a shepherd.
Psalm 78:70-72 He chose David his servantand took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought himto be the shepherd of his people Jacob,of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;with skillful hands he led them.

He was poor in spirit.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "

David gives us an example here.
reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms, destitute of wealth, influence, position, honor
lowly, afflicted, destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riches, helpless, powerless to accomplish an end, poor, needy, lacking in anything as respects their spirit
destitute of wealth of learning and intellectual culture which the schools afford (men of this class most readily give themselves up to Christ's teaching and proved them selves fitted to lay hold of the heavenly treasure)

Jesus did not go to the Yeshivas in Jerusalem to find disciples, He went to the shores of the Sea of Galilee, His first followers were followers of John the Baptist, broken men, repentant men

David did not allow success to spoil him.
Only the poor in spirit can do that. Pride will puff up a man to a position where he thinks all kinds of crazy things. If not dealt with it will be his downfall. David never got away from his need of the LORD as his Shepherd.

He understood where his help came from.
Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord,the Maker of heaven and earth.

1 Samuel 17:45-47 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
Notice "our hands"

As I get older I am seeing the need to be connected with the whole Body of Christ. I see my dependence upon the body of Christ.

3. He was not well known. (At least he did not view himself that way.)
He was okay with that.

1 Samuel 17:55-58 As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is that young man?”Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.” The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.” As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head. “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him. David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”

It is good that David didn't pride himself in his playing the harp for Saul. Saul didn't remember him when David reached his moment of great victory over Goliath. It didn't bother David.

He lived in the wonderful freedom of being honest with himself. He could have said, "I am the one who played the harp for you when you were tormented. I was in the palace with you! Don't you recognize me?!!!"
God help us! How we desire to be noticed. How we want people to know who we are.
Be like Jesus. He didn't care what the crowds were saying. His focus was on pleasing His Father in Heaven.

Making ourselves nothing
No reputation. Do not concern yourself with what others think about you. This can trip us up. Let them think what they want. David did.
Jesse sent him down with food and to see how things were going with his brothers.
1 Samuel 17:28 When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
What are you doing here, you shepherd? There was jealousy over David's previous experience with Saul and even further back to Samuel's anointing David rather than him! I am sure when Samuel thought that Eliab was the one whom he was to anoint, Eliab picked up on this. Perhaps he thought of course it will be me. i look like a king, I am the oldest. Look at the way Samuel is looking at me! Then it turned out to be David, then David was brought to Saul to play. Then David became Saul's armor bearer.

All this and David described himself as "the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem." Proverbs 25:6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,and do not claim a place among his great men.

We are children of God through faith and that is all we are! These terms that are flying around today inside of Christendom are dangerous: leadership, great leaders, great churches, great ministry, great pastor. It is scaring me. It is sickening. You will not find any of them in the New Testament. On the contrary... You find a bunch of spiritual shepherds and sheep!

When it comes to serving Christ as a pastor this is what you will find...

1 Peter 5:1-6 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Check out our own words these days. Do not talk about yourself.
Proverbs 27:2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.
Then be embarrassed when they do!

David did not know what was up ahead. We see now it was a decade of pain and suffering before he became king. Saul's final ten years were spent hunting down David in his first years of being anointed.

What was the preparation of the son of Jesse for
the songs like unto which none other have ever
sounded on this earth?

The outrage of the wicked, which brought forth cries for God's help. Then the faint hope in
God's goodness blossomed into a song of rejoicing for His mighty deliverances and manifold mercies.
Every sorrow was another string to his harp; every deliverance another theme for praise.

Being a humble man he had nothing to lose, so he submitted.

To wait for God, and to suffer His will, is to know Him in the fellowship of His sufferings, and to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. So now, if the vessel is to be enlarged for
spiritual understanding, be not affrighted at the wider sphere of suffering that awaits you. TheDivine capacity of sympathy will have a more extended sphere, for the breathing of the Holy Ghost in the new creation never made a stoic, but left the heart's affection tender and true.
--Anna Shipton

A person who has the right relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing. - Oswald Chambers

Humble yourself like David did. Pray that prayer he prayed,
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight,O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.