1 Samuel 16

1 Samuel 16:1

III. DAVID’S LIFE UNTIL THE DEATH OF SAUL (Chaps. 1630) A. Anointing by Samuel (16:113)16:1-3 While Samuel was still grieving over Saul, the LORD told him bluntly to face the fact that Saul was rejected; God had chosen another man to rule His people. Samuel was to go to Bethlehem and anoint . . . one of the sons of Jesse to be king. Secrecy is not the same as deceit. God was not telling Samuel to lie about his intentions in Bethlehem; he really did offer a sacrifice there. But the anointing of the new king was a secret affair, not to be made public for many years. 16:4-13 When Samuel came to Bethlehem, the elders . . . trembled. After inviting Jesse and his sons . . . to the sacrificial feast, he looked over the men one by one, confident that the next king was before him. But none was the Lord’s choice. Samuel should have learned from his experience with Saul that the outward man is not nearly as important as the inner man (1Sa_13:14). God judges the heart (v. 7). The principle of verse 7 has always been true: People do judge by looks, dress, and outward things.

But today the mass media encourage this faulty outlook by using glamorous people in advertisements, television, and printed matter to such an extent that ordinary-looking people don’t seem as satisfactory as they should. Saul was tall, dark, and handsome. Actually, David was good-looking, too (v. 12), but still looked too young for major service. Unfortunately the church, especially on television, has often emphasized, not spirituality, but superficial glamorwith disastrous results when these TV idols fall. David had to be brought to the feast. He was so insignificant in his father’s eyes that Jesse was sure the prophet wouldn’t be interested in him. But the LORD was very interested in the shepherd boy, and Samuel, obeying God’s voice, anointed . . . David. From that point onward the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David and left Saul. It would be years before David wore Saul’s crown, but from this day forward the kingdom was secure for David.

1 Samuel 16:14

B. Ministering to Saul (16:14-23)About this time Saul became afflicted with a form of mental disorder caused by an evil spirit. The expression “a distressing spirit from the LORD” is explained by the fact that what God permits He is often said to do. Dr. Rendle Short analyzes the king’s problem as follows: King Saul would now be diagnosed as a typical example of manic-depressive insanity. The periods of intense gloom with occasional outbreaks of homicidal violence for no particular reason, the delusion that people were plotting against him . . . are unmistakable. Saul’s servants suggested that the king find someone gifted in music to calm him. David’s name was suggested, and Saul sent for him. Verse 18 shows that David had already made quite a name for himself, even before he faced Goliath. Now his music seemed to lift the king out of his depression. Saul liked him so well that he made David his personal armorbearer.