You matter.  You belong.  You serve.

1 Samuel 16:1-13

May 23, 2010 – Confirmation Sunday

Unforgettable day

This morning’s sermon, written just for the Confirmation class of 2010, is titled, “Don’t Forget.”

I was trying to think of a way that we could make today memorable for you, our Confirmands.  The thought of your saying to someone in six months or six years or sixty years, “I don’t remember much about my Confirmation,” kind of bugs me.

I want you to remember your year with me.  I want you to remember today.

So the idea came to me I could climb up here on the rail in front of the front pew and just preach the whole Confirmation sermon from here.  Maybe you’ll remember what I say better than if I say it from the pulpit or from the floor.

Today you formally join the church.  It’s your decision.  This is not the day you become a Christian – that’s between you and Jesus. Today is the day you publicly profess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  That’s the only requirement to join the church.

There are three messages I want you to remember about being a part of this church.  At Corinth, (1) you matter (say, “I matter”), (2) you belong (say, “I belong”), and (3) you serve (“I serve”).

People who were at 8:30 service or 11:00 traditional last week might find these themes familiar, and I don’t know that I’ve ever preached two sermons in a row that had the same basic points.  But half of you weren’t here last week, and I’m working on creating a fresh identity campaign for our church that includes these three phrases.  So I want them on your heart and in your mind.  You matter.   You belong.  You serve.

You matter

Today’s Bible story is about a young man named David who is going to become king of Israel.  We don’t know how old he was at the time of this story, but I’m guessing he might have been about your age or maybe just a little older.  A young teenager is my best guess.

At the beginning of the chapter we don’t even know his name.  All we know is who his daddy is, a man named Jesse.  And we know who his ‘pastor’ is – a man named Samuel.  Samuel has already been through choosing a king only to have him turn out wrong.  All promise and no fulfillment.

Samuel apparently is pretty sad about that.  After all, he was the one who found Saul and presented him to the people as their king.  Now he has told Saul, “You’re rebellious and arrogant, and God has rejected you as king” (15:23).

God says to Samuel, “Stop moping over Saul.  Go to Bethlehem and find Jesse.  I have chosen one of his sons to be king” (16:1).

We know it’s going to be David, but Samuel doesn’t know that yet.  What I like about this part of the story is that God chooses David for this very significant role.

Psalm 139 says that God maps out your life before you are born.  The mystery of how that works with the choices we make is beyond me.  But it does say to me that before I was born, God knew that someday I would be right here on top of this pew rail talking to you about the fact that you matter.

God has already begun shaping you for your future.  What you will become is already forming.

Cassidy, I was there at Duke Hospital when you were only hours old having your first heart surgery.  God was already planning for you to use those experiences to touch and encourage a lot of people with hope and with motivation to take care of their hearts.

Julianne, you already sing like an angel.  God wants to use your voice to praise him.

Savannah (Washco) and Mary Katherine, your violin might be like David’s harp. 

Savannah (Caudle) and Lauren, you have more artistic ability at 12 than I have at 53 or will ever have. 

Thomas and Jake and Marie, your athletic ability out on that soccer field grabbed my attention. 

Lindsay, your grace and poise as a dancer, along with the discipline it takes to stay with your passion and excel will carry you far in life.

Cynthia, moving around a lot is not fun.  You keep having to make new friends.  But God will use those varied experiences and people to make you stronger.  And you can make it your passion in life to look for others who might feel left out.

Ethan and Luke, you’re small physically (so far), but your creativity and persistence are amazing.

Mallory, the bumps and bruises of life – the physical hurts as well as the disappointments you will face – they all have the potential to make you more life Jesus.

Will and Dorothy and Lily and Cole, I just love your zest for life.  You light up a room with energy and fun.

Allee, your early life story of having one set of parents say they couldn’t take care of you and another set want you desperately is something God can use.  It’s such a great symbol of God himself adopting us into his family and loving us unconditionally.

You matter.  Your life story is like a puzzle that is still in process.  You can only see a little part of the picture coming into view.  How it turns out may be nothing like what you can see so far.  But you don’t have to see the whole picture.  You just have to know that you matter.

You belong

There’s a part of David’s early story that I think is kind of sad.  As 1 Samuel 16 develops, Samuel tells Jesse that he wants to meet his sons.  They put together a big feast and invite all the elders of the town.  The elders are a little intimidated by Samuel, since he’s sort of a combination of Barack Obama and Billy Graham to them.

Everybody arrives for the party and Samuel’s attention is grabbed by the oldest of Jesse’s sons, Eliab.  He’s probably in his late 20s and 30s, strong, tall, and athletic.  He’s a warrior in King Saul’s army (17:13).  He’s a typical older brother – confident and intimidating (17:28).

Samuel thinks, “This has got to be royal material.” 

“No,” God says, “I don’t look at outward appearance.  I look at the heart” (16:7).  Samuel should have known that.  Saul on the outside was a great king.  But he had no heart for God.

We should know that too.  But we’re still in need of regular reminders that what matters is not how strong you are or how tall you are or how beautiful you are on the outside.  You can do great things for God.

But the sad part of the story is not even with Samuel.  It’s more about David’s father, Jesse.  Seven of Jesse’s sons pass in front of Samuel, and God whispers in his ear every time, “He’s not the one.”

So Samuel thinks, “Did I miss what God is trying to tell me?”

He asks Jesse, “Don’t you have any other sons?” (16:11).

Jesse answers, “Well, there’s the runt.”  Really, that is what he says.  My version of the Bible has Jesse calling David “the youngest” (16:11), but the word means more than just young or small.  It means insignificant, a nobody.

Can you imagine a Dad saying that about his son?  I don’t think any of you have parents who would say about you, “Well, there’s one more kid in the family, but he’s nobody.”

Why did Jesse say that?  I have to read between the lines.  But David was not only the youngest.  He was also a musician.  I’m guessing that not a lot of young men liked sitting around playing the harp in their spare time.  Jesse wanted all his boys to make something of themselves.  Learn to hunt, to farm, to fight.  Do man-things.

David liked poetry and music.  Well, somebody had to watch the sheep, so they sent David out there to the pasture so that while he was pursuing his good-for-nothing pastime, he could at least keep his eye on the flock.  I’m sure David never felt he really belong – even in his own family!

Yet 3000 years later, it’s David’s music that makes him most memorable.  We still sing some of David’s songs and most people can’t even pronounce the names of his oldest three brothers – Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah.  As for the other four, we don’t even know their names.

Listen to me.  Whoever you are and whatever your successes and failures in life and however other people treat you, I want you to know that at Corinth…you belong.  One of the most important messages I hope you get in Confirmation is this…. “I belong, body and soul, in life and in death, not to myself but to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.”

You not only belong to him, you belong to a group of people called the church who have already helped you along the way to learn and grow and mature.  The church may not be perfect, but you can help us become better.  You may not be perfect, but we want you, just like you are.  You belong.

You serve

At Samuel’s request, Jesse sends for David.  He comes in from the field.  His description sort of reminds me of Cole – “ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features” (16:12).  Ruddy means red-headed.  Even though God doesn’t look on the outward appearance, I think it’s interesting that the Bible takes note of David’s.

Still, he comes in from the field and is probably stinky, his hair uncombed, his clothes tattered and dirty.  God whispers in Samuel’s ear, “That’s the next king – anoint him.”

So there in front of everyone, Samuel takes a flask of oil and pours it all over David’s head and shoulders.  Apparently nobody at that point knows why.  The rest of this chapter and the next indicate that nobody gets it.  I suspect that Samuel stooped and whispered in David’s ear, “You’re going to be the next king.”

David is going to be king, but not yet.  He has a lot to learn. It will be years, maybe even decades, before this anointing “takes.”  That’s the biggest difference between Saul and David.  Saul is anointed and immediately becomes the ruler.  It goes to his head, and he quickly thinks he knows more than Samuel – maybe even more than God.

David is anointed and nothing happens for a really long time.  He waits.  He prays.  He sings.  And he serves.

The next section in my Bible is titled “David in Saul’s Service.”  Imagine that!  He’s been anointed to be the next king, and his first assignment is make Saul, who is depressed, feel better by playing the harp for him.  But David’s OK with that.  He understands that the best preparation for leadership is service.

When I say that at Corinth “you serve,” I mean that service is a normal expectation.  We had you complete four service hours in preparation for Confirmation because we want you to know right up front that part of being in this church family is serving.

We don’t give out stickers or awards for service.  Sometimes, to be honest, we might not even notice or say thank you.  It’s just something we expect of all our members.  It’s kind of like this:  when you were first being potty trained, your parents got really excited every time you used the bathroom by yourself.  I suspect now when you come out of the bathroom, nobody says, “Wow!  You’re a big girl.”  Or, “Good boy!”  In fact, you probably would just as soon nobody even notices.

Serving is part of being in the family.  Don’t expect a party with balloons and confetti every time you do something for someone else.  Find what needs to be done and do it.  You’re not a hero when you serve – it’s what is expected of those who belong to this family.

You matter (I matter), you belong (I belong), you serve (I serve).  That’s the identity of a Corinthian.  Don’t ever forget that.  Amen.