May 24, 2024 | Be God's Light
Samuel Anoints David
to be the Next King
Scripture: 1 Samuel 16 (NIV)
1 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.
14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.
15 Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”
17 So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”
18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”
19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.
21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”
23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
Devotional
My mom was the youngest of eight girls. There was a twenty-year gap between the oldest and my mother. All the sisters raised families in and around Muncie, Indiana. They remained close and Mom was always loved by her sisters. They got together for parties, family gatherings, and faraway trips. But, being the youngest, Phyllis clearly wasn’t the leader of the pack.
In today’s reading, we see that David was the youngest of eight boys. When Samuel consecrated his dad and brothers, they didn’t even call David in from tending the sheep. He was just Little Davey, out doing his thing. They would let him know if anything important happened.
The Lord had told 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” (v. 7).
In Acts 13:22-23, Paul was trying to convince some leaders of the Jewish synagogue to put faith in Christ. He referenced this Old Testament passage, saying, “After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.”
Think about it. Samuel had to ask Jesse if he had any more sons before the dad even thought about inviting his youngest to the ceremony. Only then was David consecrated, became Israel’s greatest king, and the ancestor of Jesus a thousand years later.
Have you disqualified yourself or anyone else from God’s calling to do great things? What are the reasons? Limited talent, resources, training, looks, or background? What would God say about this?
Poem
How Long Will You Mourn?
How long will you mourn for what is not to be
Instead of advancing with God?
Get up
Wipe your tears
Fill your ram’s horn with oil
Stop questioning and see how God sees?
How long will you go by what’s seen with your eyes
Instead of discerning with God?
Be patient
Reject
Until God points to truth
Behold the anointed, God’s prize!
How long will you kick ‘gainst the goads of our Lord
Instead of accepting His will?
Cast off
All depression
Repent! Be washed clean!
Be humble, be fully restored!
