When God Throws a Curve Ball
(1 Samuel 16:1, 7, 13)

I. Don’t Be Discouraged (1 Sam. 16:1)
A. Samuel mourned over Saul’s rejection (16:1)
a. Saul forfeited his throne. (1 Sam. 15)
- “When Samuel confronted Saul with his sins, Saul tried to justify his actions…Samuel refused to support Saul any longer because God had torn away his kingdom…as the prophet of God, [Samuel] never advised Saul again.”

II. Don’t Be Dejected (1 Sam 16:7)
A. God knows what He is doing in a crisis. (v.7)
- “The ways of the Lord confound even the greatest spiritual intellects and frustrate all earthly forces that would stand in his way. He chooses ‘the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are’ (1 Cor 1:28).”

B. God’s ultimate plan is not a secret (v.13)
a. Samuel’s Crisis:
1. Samuel anointed Saul as King.
2. Samuel advised Saul he was rejected as King
3. Samuel was concerned about the crisis and not the ultimate outcome.
4. Samuel should have realized God’s bigger plan.


III. Don’t Be Distracted (James 1:2-4; Heb. 12:11)
A. God has His reasons for curve balls. (cf., Dan. 4:35; Job 42:1-6)
a. To Vindicate His Sovereignty - God has a morally sufficient reason for allowing evil & suffering in this world, but it cannot thwart His sovereign purposes.

b. To Validate a Christian’s faith – Life’s tests and trials are what God uses to develop your faith and spiritual growth.

IV. Principles to Ponder:
A. God is trying to get our attention. Take the present opportunity to refresh your relationship with Him.(Is. 26:3; Ps. 62:8)
B. Don’t worry about your circumstances, God will see us through every curve ball that is thrown. (Phil. 4:6-7)

Kenneth A. Mathews, “The Historical Books,” in Holman Concise Bible Commentary, ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 114.
Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, vol. 7, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 176.