God’s Heart, God’s Man, God’s Ways

Message Summary:

In this opening message of a biographical series on the life of David, Chuck Swindoll introduces the shepherd-king not as a superhero, but as an unlikely “nobody” whom God transformed into the greatest king in Israel’s history. Swindoll begins by setting the context in 1 Samuel 8, where the people of Israel, disillusioned by corruption, demanded a king “like all the nations.” This desire for an external image of leadership led to the disastrous reign of Saul, a man who looked the part but lacked the character [1–2, 15, 17].

Using 1 Corinthians 1 as a theological lens, Swindoll establishes the core principle of the series: “God’s choice of a person is contrary to human reason.” While the world—like the Greeks of Paul’s day—looks for physical impressiveness and intellectual brilliance, God often chooses the “lowborn” and the “nobodies” so that no humanity may boast [4–7].

The sermon identifies three specific qualities God seeks in a leader, contrasted with the external focus of man: spirituality (a heart completely His), humility (a servant’s heart), and integrity (holiness when no one is looking). Swindoll concludes by outlining the four-step curriculum God used to train David in the sheep pens: solitude (learning from nature), obscurity (serving without applause), monotony (faithfulness in routine), and reality (facing dangers like bears and lions responsibly). This process proves that “the making of a saint is the task of a lifetime” [19, 21, 26, 28–33, 36].

Message Key Facts:

• The Prominence of David: Swindoll notes that more is written about David than any other biblical character. While Abraham has 14 chapters and Elijah has 10, David is the subject of 66 chapters in the Bible, plus 59 references in the New Testament.
• The “Nobody” Principle: Swindoll emphasizes that David began as a “runt” whose own father didn’t bother to call him in from the fields when Samuel arrived. This illustrates that God often chooses “nobodies” to annihilate the wisdom of the “somebodies”.
• David’s Physical Appearance: There is only one verse in the entire Bible that describes David’s physical appearance (1 Samuel 16:12). He was “ruddy” (likely red-haired or bronzed) with beautiful eyes. Swindoll argues the lack of physical detail proves God truly looks at the heart, not the “press agent” photos [10–11].
• Three Qualities of God’s Man:
  1. Spirituality: Defined as having a heart in harmony with God. Swindoll cites 2 Chronicles 16:9, noting God is searching for hearts that are “completely His” [19–20].
  2. Humility: Defined as a “servant’s heart.” A true servant’s goal is to make their superior successful. Swindoll points out that God calls David “My servant” more than any other title [21–24].
  3. Integrity: Defined as what you are when no one is looking. The Hebrew concept implies wholeness, innocence, and a lack of guile [25–26].
• Training in “Reality”: Swindoll clarifies that David’s time in the fields wasn’t just mystical contemplation; it was gritty reality. Citing 1 Samuel 17, he notes that David learned responsibility by physically attacking and killing lions and bears to protect the flock. He didn’t wait for God to “fix a flat”; he rolled up his sleeves and fought [32–34].
• Learning to “King It”: Swindoll coins the phrase “learning to King it” to describe the process of character building that happens during the monotonous, obscure years of one’s life. He argues that if one is faithful in the little things (like diapers or homework), they prove themselves capable of the big things.

Message References:

• 1 Samuel 8:1–22: The historical context where Israel rejects God and demands a king to be “like all the nations.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:26–29: The New Testament principle that God chooses the foolish, weak, and “nobodies” to shame the wise and strong.
• 1 Samuel 13:14: The first prophecy of David: “The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart.”
• 1 Samuel 16:1, 12: God rejects Saul and chooses David; the description of David as ruddy and handsome.
• 2 Chronicles 16:9: “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”
• Psalm 89:20: “I have found David My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him.”
• Psalm 78:70–72: A summary of David’s calling: chosen from the sheepfolds to shepherd Israel with the “integrity of his heart.”
• 1 Samuel 17:34–35: David’s testimony to Saul regarding his battles with the lion and the bear.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll