Samuel Anoints David
1 Samuel 16:1-13
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.”
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.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
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?”
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.
When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
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.”
Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 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.”
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.”
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.
Samuel gets caught up in a game that we’re tempted to play all too often - the biggest and strongest must be the best choice. God interrupts this thought process with his own rules - the heart matters above all else. And that’s why the youngest, smallest son is anointed a king. God chooses David to be king because God saw David’s heart for worship, his courage in the face of danger, and his desire to seek God’s will above all else. It’s these characteristics that make a faithful king. And it’s David’s humble beginnings that prepare him to serve the people, becoming a precursor to Jesus whose beginnings were also humble and whose faithfulness is unmatched.
Sometimes we are like Samuel, judging others based on their appearances or based on the things that we can see them do or say. When have you done this or been tempted to do this? Sometimes we even apply this judgement to ourselves. We think that we need to look a certain way or do certain things in order to gain the approval of God or others. Today, hear God speaking to you the same words that he spoke to Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Prayer:
Thank God that he uses small and weak people as part of his plan. Share with God any specific people or situations that come to mind when you think about judging others. Pray that God would help you not to judge others by outward appearance but to look inwardly at their hearts.