1 Samuel 16
-The LORD has to ask an important question to his despondent
and grieving prophet after the whole ordeal with the disobedient King Saul, “How
long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over
Israel?” Then the LORD gives a command, “Fill your horn with oil and go; I will
send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among
his sons.” Samuel actually resisted the call initially as he feared for his
life in this new climate of distrust in Saul. But, God worked out a plan for
him to take a heifer with him to Bethlehem to have a sacrifice as a front,
thereby protecting the prophet from any perceived harm. Samuel was instructed
by the Almighty to invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and then He would show the
prophet what to do next. Samuel was told that indeed he would anoint for the
LORD a new king, which would be designated. “So Samuel did what the LORD said,”
and obediently went to the Judean city of Bethlehem, just south of Jerusalem.
When he arrived, the elders of the city came to him trembling in fear because
of his renown, and asked him if he had come to them in peace. He assured them
that he had come in peace and to offer a sacrifice before the LORD God. He
beckoned them to consecrate themselves for this occasion and included Jesse in
the ceremonial festivities along with his sons. When Jesse’s boys entered,
Eliab, the oldest, caught Samuel’s attention as he thought, “Surely the LORD’s
anointed is before Him.” However, Yahweh had other plans as He subtly spoke to
Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because
I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward
appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:1-7).” In fact, seven
of Jesse’s sons passed before Samuel with not one of them getting the call for
kingship. Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the children?” Jesse let him know
that there was one more, the youngest of them all, who was out tending the
sheep. Samuel sent for this one claiming that they would not sit down until he
presented himself. So David was sent for and brought in. Upon their first
meeting, Samuel found him to be “ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome
appearance,” but he was the kid of the group. Nonetheless, God spoke, “Arise,
anoint him; for this is he.” Samuel immediately took the horn of oil, symbolic
of God’s Holy Spirit, and anointed him in the midst of all his brothers. Then,
the Holy Spirit came mightily upon young David and stayed on him from that day
forward. Seeing that his mission was complete, Samuel went back home to Ramah
(1 Samuel 16:8-13). No fanfare or celebration mentioned in Scripture. Just a
simple passing of the mantle of leadership in the kingdom of Israel. Saul was
not dethroned, nor did he abdicate his authority at the time, but a serious
transition was occurring.
-“Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil
spirit from the LORD terrorized him.” It was so debilitating that his servants
took notice of it. They wanted to seek out a man who was skillful in the harp
that could play soothing music to mellow the troubled king when this evil
spirit persisted in his being. They figured that all would be well if they
could pacify his soul with these placid sounds. One of the young men had
knowledge of David’s, son of Jesse, abilities in this area. Not only was David
acknowledged as a skillful musician, but he was reputed as a mighty man of
valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, handsome, and who had the LORD with
him. So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and beckoned the young man, David, to his
come to his palace from the flock that he was tending. Therefore, Jesse sent
his youngest son to the king’s service along with a donkey loaded with bread
and a jug of wine and a young goat. David attended to the king, and immediately
gained the admiration and favor of the troubled of Saul. “Saul loved him
greatly.” David became his armor bearer and stood before the king. “So it came
about whenever the evil spirit from
God came to Saul. David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the
evil spirit would depart from him (1 Samuel 16:14-23).”
-*Application* The presence of God transcends our understanding
and exalts the most common of people from their places of perceived mediocrity
and simplicity. This has always been how He has operated. He makes wise the
humble who toil in ordinary circumstances (1 Corinthians 2-4). He chooses the
shepherd boy tending his flock and raises him to be a great shepherd of His people
and ancestor of the King of kings. God always looks at the heart, not the
outward appearances. So, let us take care of our heart and abide in Him for
true peace and soothing. Those who resist His Spirit’s presence will find the
void taken over by an evil spirit that only gravitates to physical means of
coping, which is always just a temporary solution.
Verse to Memorize:
1 Samuel 16:7
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