Category: Kings
Scriptures:
1 Samuel 16:1-16:13
1 Samuel 16:1-16:13
1 Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided a king for myself among his sons.”
2 Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” Yahweh said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.
3 Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint to me him whom I name to you.”
4 Samuel did that which Yahweh spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”
5 He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6 When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, “Surely Yahweh’s anointed is before him.”
7 But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one, either.”
9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. He said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one, either.”
10 Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, “Yahweh has not chosen these.”
11 Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your children here?” He said, “There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
12 He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. Yahweh said, “Arise! Anoint him, for this is he.”
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. Then Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
Commentary
The story of Samuel anointing David as the future King of Israel is one of the most pivotal stories in the Old Testament. From this story we can learn several things about God and the way He works among us.
God does not usually prop up the great and powerful, but values what is seemingly small and insignificant. When Jesse lined up his sons, the older, more advanced ones were not the ones that God chose, even though they were more advanced and experienced. Instead, God chose the youngest and the least experienced. Our tendency to believe that God values the most talented and those with the greatest gifts is shown repeatedly by scripture to be false, and this is seen most clearly throughout the teachings of Jesus.
When God calls, He also empowers. Oil in the Bible is often symbolic of the Holy Spirit, and it is the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us, sets us apart and empowers us to do the will of the Father. When Samuel takes his oil flask and anoints David as future king, it is symbolic of the holy and honored calling God is placing on David’s life. From David on, every King of Israel was anointed with oil as symbol of the holy and honored calling God was placing on their lives.
God is not in a hurry, but is eternally patient. He accomplishes what he wills according to His timetable, and while we are waiting, He develops our character and sets the stage for His plan. David waited 17 years from the time of his anointing until he became king. God needed to work in David’s life to shape his character and set the stage for His almighty plan. Learning to wait for God’s timing while simply enjoying His presence is part of our maturing process.