David Anointed To Be King

I Samuel 16:1-13

“And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.” (I Samuel 16:1)

Saul had failed to Do what God wanted.  Instead of worrying about that, Samuel was to go anoint his successor.  God still had a plan.

“And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. 

And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.  And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.” (I Samuel 16:2-3)

When Saul was selected to be king, there was enough humility to say “Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?,” in I Samuel 9:21.  A few years later, he had become so proud of his position that Samuel believed Saul would try to kill him if he found out that God had chosen someone else.   How could Samuel avoid risking his life?

God instructed Samuel to schedule a sacrifice just as he was accustomed to do in various cities, giving Jesse and his sons a special invitation.  When he came, God would show him who to anoint as king during the course of the sacrifices.

“And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. ” (I Samuel 16:4-5) 

Samuel still exercised a lot of influence throughout Israel so when he came to Bethlehem, the leaders were concerned whether they had a serious problem.  Perhaps God was pronouncing judgment on them for something.  They were also aware of the split between Saul and Samuel. Samuel reassured them that he was only come to offer a sacrifice.  Arrangements were made for Jesse and his sons to attend the sacrifice.

“And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him. 

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (I Samuel 16:6-7)

Jesse’s oldest son just looked like a king.  Samuel immediately concluded he must be the one God wanted.  He was not the right one.  God stressed the proper king would not be determined by outward characteristics, but by the attitude of the heart.  Unfortunately, Modern pastors are often selected for educational attainments or their appearance or prestige, rather than for the attitude of their heart.

In listing the qualifications for pastors and church leaders in I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9, Paul lists some things to look for that indicate a proper spirit or heart attitude in an individual.  If the heart attitude or spirit is not right, it doesn’t matter what other attributes the individual might have.  He is not pleasing to God.

“Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 

Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 

Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 

And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? 

And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. 

And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.” (I Samuel 16:8-11) 

Even by his own family, David was considered just a kid, to young to even go to the sacrifice with the men.  They left him behind to keep the sheep while they went.  It must have shocked them when Samuel stopped everything until David was brought.

“And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. 

And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.” (I Samuel 16:12)

When David arrived, he was healthy and vigorous looking, with pleasant and  attractive features.  God made it abundantly clear that this was the one he had chosen, and that Samuel was to anoint him.

“Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.” (I Samuel 16:13) 

Samuel followed God’s instructions, anointing David as king before returning home to Ramah.  David had already had a spirit or attitude of pleasing God, but from that time forward, he had God’s spirit resting on him.  Please note that it was upon him, not within him as it is with the Christian.