1 Samuel 16:1-3
Samuel must have been affected by Saul's rejection. Samuels sons had been rejected by the people (rightfully so), then Samuel anointed Saul and he is no rejected by the Lord. There is a time for mourning and sadness and then there is a time to get over it and get on with life. The Lord indicated to Samuel it was time to move; the work of the Lord didn't stop with Saul's disobedience, there was another that must be brought to leadership of God's people.
The Lord sent Samuel to Bethlehem to meet the next king. But Samuel expresses his concern that Saul might find out and have him killed. The Lord gives Samuel his cover.
1 Samuel 16:4-7
Because he no longer stood with Saul, Samuel was a lighting rod for trouble. He obediently went to Bethlehem but the people were nervous about his presence there. Samuel calls for a sacrifice and invites the people to prepare. He also consecrates Jesse's sons and invites them also knowing that the next King would come from Jesse.
Samuel was close to God but he was still human and thought as a man. He saw Eliab and though that this tall and handsome man was surely the next king. Samuel fell into the trap of looking at outward appearance. They had fallen into this trap once. We are continually fooled by outward appearances and we continue to fall for it again and again. God says in verse 7 that he looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:8-13
Seven sons pass before Samuel; starting with the most likely in their eyes to the least likely; even to the point of discounting David. It was only at Samuel's prompting that David was sent for. Upon seeing David, Samuel anointed this 8th son, as king. David had come right out of the field where he was shepherding to be named king. The bible tells us David was 'ruddy'; this could be red from the sun or red headed. He was bright-eyed also. The Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.
God teaches us once again God doesn't call the qualified, but he qualifies the called. There was nothing about David that folks would have thought he would have made a great king.
It's an interesting contrast when the first was saw of Saul, he was chasing donkeys across the countryside and never catching up with them. David shows up first in the field with the sheep. It took the right person to be a shepherd. It was a lonely job, a dangerous job and one needed to care for the sheep and lead them.
1 Samuel 16:14-23
In contrast to the spirit coming upon King David; the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit tormented him. Saul's servants seemed to recognize an evil spirit when they saw one. They felt like a music would sooth the soul of Saul. They needed to find someone who played the harp and then Saul would feel better. This servant remembers David 'out of the blue' and sent for him, because he had a reputation as a musician and poet.
Saul was pleased and takes David on as his armor bearer. David became Saul's chief assistant and was willing to serve Saul. When this evil spirit came upon Saul and tormented him, David, filled with the spirit, would play the harp and he'd feel better. We can imagine the Psalm's David began to play for Saul to soothe his soul.
©2015 Doug Ford
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