1 Samuel 16:1-23
A few chapters previous, God spoke of a man we will meet in this chapter: David, the son of Jesse. David's description by God Himself is that he is a man after God's own heart. We can believe this description: David is the author of 73 emotional and spirited psalms. Imperfect as God promised all kings would be, David loves the Lord with all his heart.
16:1 Saul is still the official king and his predecessor, selected by God, is still about to be anointed. God is arranging the particulars of the immediate future but Samuel still laments Saul's downfall. Samuel's emotions are so expressly human! God is moving forward, but Samuel still grapples with the events of the past. Samuel evidences that even a prophet of God needs encouragement from Him sometimes to accept that His will is often different from what we think we want or expect. We do not have to wallow and lament because God has planned a future and a hope, Jeremiah 29:11.
God instructs Samuel travel to the place of a man named Jesse. God has chosen one of Jesse's sons who will serve as a king under God's authority.
16:2 The depth of Samuel's misery causes him to wonder how he will go to Jesse without enraging Saul. Samuel believes that Saul will kill him if he finds out; we see that Saul's pride has caused even further detriment to his mindset. Saul will not willingly relinquish his title as king, even if it means killing a prophet of God. We must be careful not to sacrifice our morals to serve our own greed.
God tells Samuel to travel as though he is going to make a sacrifice for the Lord. This action will not be suspicious or dishonest. Samuel is also told to fill his horn with oil; it will be poured over the new king, an anointing by God.
16:3 Samuel is told to invite Jesse to sacrifice to the Lord. From there, God will direct Samuel and will point out and anoint his new king. Jesse is the descendant of Ruth and Boaz, Ruth 4:13-22.
16:4-5 So Samuel travels to Bethlehem and declares his entry as peaceful. Samuel is a prophet, an agent of God's will, his appearance in a place signified to others that God had given a command. He announces that he has home to make a sacrifice to the Lord; Samuel was told by God to invite and consecrate Jesse and his sons, setting them aside for divine purpose.
16:6-7 Samuel spots one of the sons, Eliab, and hastily expects that he will be God's choice. But Samuel is halted by God: Eliab's impressive outward appearance does not qualify him as God's choice. Saul was physically impressive, 1 Samuel 9:2, but his heart did not beat for God. God explains: Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
In Acts 1:24, the apostles through prayer ask God to be their decision-maker. Because God has exceeding and perfect wisdom and perception, it benefits us to ask Him to employ His will over the direction of our lives. The world has taught us to judge by appearance and ability but our Father teaches us to search the heart. Still, our inability perceive perfectly and without bias renders us dependent on Him to do it for us. Allow God to add and remove from your life as He sees fit; allow Him to choose and reject.
16:8-10 Jesse sends another of his sons to stand before Samuel, but Abinadab is not chosen. Shammah is not chosen. Of the seven sons Jesse presents, none of them are chosen.
16:11 Samuel asks Jesse if he has brought all of his sons, and Jesse explains that his youngest son has not been presented. The youngest son is there keeping the sheep. It is symbolic for this youngest child to be tending the sheep: God raises His children to be figurative shepherds, gatherers, leaders and protectors of His children. God teaches His children to have the gentle heart of Shepherd and the compassion to care for those who so require a care-taker.
16:12 The youngest son is described to be ruddy, with bright eyes and good. Matthew 6:22 The eyes are the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy your whole body will be filled with light. The eyes serve as a symbol of the soul. Eyes which see the same vision God sees: compassion when looking at His children, are bright and healthy eyes. The manner in which the eyes perceive professes the intentions and motivations of the soul. This young son's eyes profess a righteous heart.
This child is chosen by God to be anointed, gathered to Him for a divine purpose.
16:13 Samuel anoints the youngest son with bright eyes, David, and the Spirit of the Lord comes into David and remains within him.
Although we exist thousands of years after this takes place, God offers to dwell with us as well, 1 Corinthians 3:16. Each of God's willing children are offered a divine purpose. The righteousness within us is propelled by His strength and ability. God does not choose us by appearance or ability because a good heart makes a soul beautiful. God makes a good heart able.
16:14 Meanwhile, God has allowed Saul's conscious to weigh on him. Because Saul rejected God, he no longer possesses the comfort and delight of God's love. The stress, the anxiety, the fear, the desperation and desire to retain his power troubles Saul.
16:15 Saul's servants think that God is punishing him. But Saul's behavior has punished him. Perhaps we have experienced this: Saul's grief comes from his inability to content his soul. The constant threats to his position of power, the deep-rooted self doubt. The regret of discarding his values for his desires. Saul has become a slave to his greed for power but instead of confronting his own failures, he and his servants blame an ill-spirit. If there is an ill-spirit, it is Saul himself.
16:15 Saul's servants think that God is punishing him. But Saul's behavior has punished him. Perhaps we have experienced this: Saul's grief comes from his inability to content his soul. The constant threats to his position of power, the deep-rooted self doubt. The regret of discarding his values for his desires. Saul has become a slave to his greed for power but instead of confronting his own failures, he and his servants blame an ill-spirit. If there is an ill-spirit, it is Saul himself.
16:16-17 Saul's servants suggest that a musician, a skillful harp player, to might soothe him. Saul sends his servants out to find a skillful harp player, not yet knowing that God is present in this plan. The only way Saul will find relief is through God.
16:18 One of the servants knows of a skillful harp player, and honorable and intelligent man and soldier. In fact, this servant cannot speak more highly of... David, "a handsome person; and the Lord is with him."
16:19 Saul sends messengers to Jesse, telling him to send David to him. Very neatly, God has arranged the circumstances to bring David into the kingdom. David has been chosen and anointed by God for a divine purpose, every move of his journey is planned and protected by God.
16:20 Jesse loads a donkey with bread, wine and a young goat and sends David to Saul. The irony is that Saul requests for his replacement to be brought into the kingdom.
16:21-22 Saul and David meet and very easily become friends. David becomes Saul's armor-bearer (a position only a trusted person would ever receive) and Saul asks Jesse to let David remain with him.
16:23 When Saul's anxiety pained him, David would play his harp. The music brings Saul relief but not because David is skillful, though he is, but because David had been anointed by God. David's inspiration for playing is his love and devotion to God. David's faith supplies him with a spirit of rest, comfort and joy, and it is tangible to others.
