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Objective

In this lesson we’ll see how God prepared David’s heart to be a humble leader who served others with faithfulness and courage.

Key Verse

1 Samuel 16:18: Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”

Introduction

When the prophet Samuel came to Jesse’s house looking for Israel’s next king, David wasn’t even considered important enough to be present with his brothers. He was the youngest son, forgotten in the fields with the sheep while his older, more impressive brothers stood before God’s prophet. Yet this least likely son of Jesse would become one of the greatest men in Israel’s history and, ultimately, an ancestor of Jesus Christ our Savior.

More chapters in the Old Testament are devoted to David’s story than any other character. He stands as one of the three greatest men in Israel’s history:

• Abraham, the father of Israel
• Moses, the deliverer of Israel
• David, the king of Israel

Each of these men was called by God to accomplish a great task, and each spent many years preparing for his calling. David was a remarkable man who possessed many talents and skills, but the most important thing about David is found in our key verse today—”the Lord was with him.” Later in Scripture, we discover that God called David “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22), describing someone whose heart truly sought to please God.

In this first lesson on David, we’ll focus on how God prepared him for leadership. We’ll discover that God used three different places to shape David into a leader who would serve others with humility and courage. Here are the main points we’ll explore together:

• David in the field
• David in the court
• David in the wilderness

David in the Field

God prepared David in the field before giving him greater responsibility. This pattern appears throughout Scripture with many of God’s chosen leaders:

Moses: Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1).

Elisha: So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair (1 Kings 19:19).

Amos: Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees” (Amos 7:14).

Peter: As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen (Matthew 4:18).

There is almost always a period of preparation for service when God teaches us important lessons away from the spotlight. The field, the workplace, the ordinary routines of life—these become God’s classrooms where He develops character and teaches faithfulness. Don’t despise your current circumstances if they seem small or unimportant. God may be preparing you for something greater than you can imagine.

What did David learn during his years with the sheep?

First, David learned to be humble. Caring for sheep was considered a lowly occupation. David was the youngest son in his family, which is why this responsibility fell to him.

1 Samuel 16:11: So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

Humility is essential for godly leadership. Leaders who start with pride usually end in failure, but those who learn humility in small things are prepared for greater responsibilities.

Second, David learned to be faithful in small tasks. Even after he was anointed as the future king of Israel, David continued faithfully caring for his father’s sheep.

1 Samuel 17:15: But David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

Years later, God would remind David of this lesson:

2 Samuel 7:8: Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel.’

Psalm 78:70-72: He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to 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.

Jesus taught this same principle when He said:

Luke 16:10: Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much.

Third, David learned to trust God in dangerous situations. While alone in the wilderness with the sheep, David faced lions and bears that threatened his flock. These experiences taught him to depend completely on God’s strength rather than his own abilities.

1 Samuel 17:34-37: But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Notice that David gave God all the credit for these victories. He understood that his strength came from the Lord, not from his own skill or courage.

Fourth, David learned to worship. During those long nights under the stars, David developed an intimate relationship with God through prayer and praise. This is where he learned to compose the beautiful psalms that would encourage God’s people for thousands of years.

Psalm 8:3-4: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

Psalm 19:1: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

We can see that David never forgot the lessons he learned in the field by comparing two questions he asked at different times in his life:

Psalm 8:4: What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

2 Samuel 7:18: 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?”

Both questions reveal the same humble heart that never forgot how small he was compared to God’s greatness. (Notebook Moment: What “field experiences” has God used in your life to teach you humility, faithfulness, trust, and worship? How might these lessons be preparing you for future service?)

David in the Court

God also prepared David through his service in King Saul’s court. This was a very different environment from the quiet fields of Bethlehem, but God used these new experiences to develop different aspects of David’s character.

First, David learned to be available for service whenever needed. He was willing to serve as a messenger for his father, but he was equally ready to become a warrior when the situation demanded it.

1 Samuel 17:17-20: Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them. They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.” Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed.

1 Samuel 17:32: David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

True servants of God maintain flexible hearts that are ready to serve wherever and however God leads.

Second, David learned the importance of delegation. He learned that effective leaders don’t try to do everything themselves.

1 Samuel 17:20: Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed.

1 Samuel 17:22: David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were.

Third, David learned that God wants to do new works today. He understood that past victories should encourage us for present battles, but we cannot rest on yesterday’s successes.

1 Samuel 17:36-37: Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.

David applied the lessons from his past experiences to face new challenges with fresh faith.

Fourth, David learned to submit to authority. In the field, he had submitted to his father Jesse. Now he had to learn submission to King Saul, which was much more difficult since Saul became jealous and tried to kill him.

1 Samuel 18:5: Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

Even when Saul turned against him, David continued to show respect for God’s anointed king.

Fifth, David learned to be a good example for others. His conduct in the court was so exemplary that everyone respected him.

1 Samuel 18:5: Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

Sixth, David learned that he needed other people. In the field, David had been alone with God and the sheep. But now he discovered that God often works through other people to guide and protect us.

1 Samuel 19:2-3: But Jonathan warned David: “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on 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 what I find out.”

1 Samuel 23:16-17: And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.”

God has placed us in the body of Christ because we need each other. Paul understood this truth and was grateful for the encouragement he received from fellow believers:

1 Corinthians 16:17-18: I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.

2 Timothy 1:16-18: May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. Rather, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

David learned to listen when Jonathan brought him a message from God. Later in his life, David would have to listen to the prophet Nathan when he brought God’s word of correction.

2 Samuel 12:7-9: Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?'”

David in the Wilderness

When Saul became jealous of David and tried to kill him, David was forced to flee into the wilderness. This began a long period of exile during which David lived among the Philistines and led a small army of men who had joined him.

What important lessons did David learn during this difficult time?

First, God can even use our enemies to deliver us. When Saul was pursuing David with his army, God used the Philistines to force Saul to abandon his pursuit.

1 Samuel 23:27-29: But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.” Then Saul stopped pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. So they called this place Sela Hammahlekoth. And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.

God’s providence works in ways that often surprise us. He can use circumstances, timing, and even hostile people to accomplish His purposes for our lives.

Second, we should never try to force God into action. We must wait for His perfect timing. David knew that he had been anointed to be king, and he had opportunities to kill Saul and claim the throne. But he understood that this was not God’s plan.

1 Samuel 24:1-7: After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. 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. Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul.

David’s restraint shows us that godly leaders wait for God’s timing rather than grasping for power or position.

Third, God wants to turn our greatest problems into His greatest victories. When David’s men became discouraged and even spoke of stoning him, David found his strength in the Lord and experienced a great victory.

1 Samuel 30:6: David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

1 Samuel 30:18-19: David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.

(Notebook Moment: Can you think of a time when God turned a difficult situation in your life into something good? How does this encourage you to trust Him with your current challenges?)

Fourth, David acted like a leader before he became king. Throughout his time in the wilderness, David demonstrated the character and skills that would make him a great king of Israel.

This period of waiting and testing was not wasted time—it was essential preparation for the responsibilities that lay ahead.

Conclusion

David’s years of preparation teach us that God develops leaders who are first and foremost servants. David learned to serve his father Jesse, to serve King Saul even when Saul treated him badly, to serve his men during their time in the wilderness (1 Samuel 30), to serve Israel as their king (1 Chronicles 11:2), and ultimately to serve his entire generation (Acts 13:36). David served others faithfully because he understood that he was called first to be the servant of God (Psalm 89:20).

Jesus Christ is our greatest example of a leader who serves others. He came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He told His disciples, “I tell you the truth, 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” (John 13:16-17).

The same God who prepared David through years of humble service is preparing you today. Whether you find yourself in the “field” of ordinary daily responsibilities, in the “court” of working with difficult people, or in the “wilderness” of waiting and testing, remember that God is developing your character for future service. Trust His process, remain faithful in small things, and keep your heart humble before Him. He is preparing you to be the leader and servant He wants you to be.

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[Revision notes: In the “Go Deeper” section explore King Saul’s reign as a contrast to David.]