1 Sam 15 – 16:13

Metropolitan UMC, Indian Head, MD

Prayer Request

Metropolitan Messenger

Click here to subscribe to the messenger

Connect Card

 Samuel Anoints David

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

New International Version

34 Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”

5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Message Background

Chapter 16 contains two episodes that introduce David. The first (vv. 1–13) designates David as God’s choice; the second (vv. 14–23) identifies David as Saul’s choice. The narrator wanted to emphasize the priority of God’s initiative. The human actions that occur in the coming chapters constitute the acting out of a divine plan for Israel’s future. The stories about David are the stories of God’s anointed one. God’s designation of David takes place in secret, and the reader thus possesses knowledge that only Samuel and David’s family possess in the story. The episode of David’s introduction to Saul’s court (vv. 14–23) is thus a public presentation of David, and the reader knows more of the significance of this debut than does Saul. In v. 1, God chooses David “for myself” as a king, while in vv. 14–23 Saul thinks he is only choosing a musician and armorbearer.[1]

Video Background click here

Notes from Point 1

Point 2 

Notes from Point 2

Point 3

Notes from Point 3

Summary

[1] Bruce C. Birch, “The First and Second Books of Samuel,” in New Interpreter’s Bible, ed. Leander E. Keck, vol. 2 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994–2004), 1097.