1 Samuel Chapter 16

                     

David Anointed King

1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

1. I have provided for myself a king?

This time God’s choice was not a king for the people according to their desires, but a king for Himself who would put Yahweh first. CN

seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? that is, his posterity; for he himself reigned as long as he lived, though in a very inglorious manner: Gill

2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.”

2. Is God telling Samuel to be deceptive?

Saul’s unbalanced emotional state was already known in Israel. MSBN

Saul would have perceived Samuel’s act of anointing another man king as treason. He continued to show more concern for his own interests than for the will of God. CN

This was strictly true; Samuel did offer a sacrifice; and it does not appear that he could have done the work which God designed, unless he had offered this sacrifice, and called the elders of the people together, and thus collected Jesse’s sons. But he did not tell the principal design of his coming; had he done so, it would have produced evil and no good: and though no man, in any circumstances, should ever tell a lie, yet in all circumstances he is not obliged to tell the whole truth, though in every circumstance he must tell nothing but the truth, and in every case so tell the truth that the hearer shall not believe a lie by it.—Adam Clarke’s Commentary

Some may be troubled at the instructions God gives Samuel. Does God not personally direct Samuel to deceive Saul and the people of Bethlehem? It certainly is true that God does not inform the elders of Bethlehem all that He is about to do through Samuel, but what He does indicate is absolutely true. Samuel does come to offer a sacrifice. God often has more in mind than He reveals to us beforehand. This is hardly inappropriate. The wonder is that God tells us any of what He is about to do (see John 15:15). Deffinbaugh

This was a true but incomplete statement of the reasons for Samuel to come to Bethlehem, and yet the Lord told him to say it, so it should not be considered morally wrong. It seems that telling part of what one knows to be true, in order to conceal other information, is morally right in some situations, particularly adversarial situations such as this one. Moreover, the Lord had the right to hide his intentions from Saul, who had proved himself faithless. ESVN

Samuel is afraid to go to Jesse because Saul is in no mood for opposition. He is desperate. As we move into this story, however, we find that it is God who makes the choice. He tells Samuel exactly what to do, but He does not give him any advance information. His lack of knowledge will protect him. So Samuel goes to Bethlehem and to the house of Jesse. He asks Jesse and his sons to come for a sacrifice. JVM

4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said,“Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.”And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

3. Why were the elders of the city trembling?

They knew he was a prophet of the Lord, and they were afraid that he was now come to denounce some judgments of the Most High against their city.—ACC

Evidently Samuel had gained a reputation as an executioner since he had killed Agag.

6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.”7 But the Lordsaid to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lordlooks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lordhas not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?”And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers.

4. What lesson is God teaching Samuel?

“the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

                                                                  

                                                                              

Outward appearance cannot predict whether someone will faithfully obey the Lord, for a person’s actions flow from his heart. The “heart” in Scripture refers to a person’s inward moral and spiritual life, including the emotions, will, and reason. ESVN

Samuel needed to be reminded that God’s anointed was not chosen because of physical attributes. This was initially a difficult concept for Samuel as he was accustomed to a king whose only positive attributes were physical.the Lord looks at the heart. The Hebrew concept of “heart” embodies emotions, will, intellect, and desires. The life of the man will reflect his heart. MSBN

First, one would expect the first-born to be the choice for king. The first-born was given a double portion of his father’s goods. Headship of the family was passed on to the first born. The oldest would be expected to be the most mature, the most experienced, the wisest of the family. So why would anyone expect the youngest son to be God’s choice? In addition to priority in birth order, Samuel expects the king-to-be will be evident by his appearance. Studies show that most top executives tend to be “tall, dark, and handsome.” Samuel expects the same. This was exactly the way it was with Saul (see 9:2). Deffenbaugh

Well, David was a handsome young man, but God did not choose him for that reason. God knew his heart. He was God’s choice. God knows what you and I do not know about him. Although David failed, down underneath was a faith that never failed. David loved and trusted God. He wanted to walk with Him. God took him to the woodshed and punished him within an inch of his life, and David never whimpered or cried aloud. He wanted that fellowship with God, and God loved him. He was a man after God’s own heart.

5. David was “ruddy”?

Some understand not of the ruddiness of his complexion, or of his cheeks, but of the redness of his hair; the former seems best.

I believe the word here means red-haired, he had golden locks. Hair of this kind is ever associated with a delicate skin and florid complexion.—ACC

Usually this designates the red hair and fair skin regarded as beautiful in southern countries, where the hair and the complexion are generally dark. However, ʾadmônî, “ruddy,” may refer to the youth’s physical prowess. David and Esau are the only two in the OT referred to by this term. —WBC

When this verse says that David was “ruddy,” it means that he had red hair—and he had a temper to match his red hair, a hot temper. But in addition to the fact that he was redheaded, he was a fine-looking fellow.

Well, David was a handsome young man, but God did not choose him for that reason. God knew his heart. He was God’s choice. God knows what you and I do not know about him. Although David failed, down underneath was a faith that never failed. David loved and trusted God. He wanted to walk with Him. God took him to the woodshed and punished him within an inch of his life, and David never whimpered or cried aloud. He wanted that fellowship with God, and God loved him. He was a man after God’s own heart. JVM

And the Spirit of the Lordrushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. 14 Now the Spirit of the Lorddeparted from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.

6. How is the presence of the Holy Spirit different in the NT from the OT?

As David was invested by the Spirit, and that same Spirit left Saul. This is evidence of the fact that the presence or absence of the Holy Spirit in the OT says nothing about salvation but on that His power worked in those whom God selected for service. BKC

But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10The Spirit of the Lordwas upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war.  Judges 3:9-10 (ESV)

But the Spirit of the Lordclothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. 35  Judges 6:34-35 (ESV)

Then the Spirit of the Lordwas upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites. Judges 11:29 (ESV)

And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, Num 24:2 (ESV)

Balaam wasn’t even a believer !!

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 (ESV)

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.  Eph. 1:13-14 (ESV)

Before the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came onto certain people for certain tasks and was not necessarily related to salvation. After Pentecost the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ comes to live within the believer at the moment of salvation and never leaves.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Gal 2:20 (ESV)

7. “a harmful spirit from the Lord”? Is God the originator of evil or is this just a humanistic interpretation of what is going on here? Do evil Spirits come from God?

If God and his grace do not rule us, sin and Satan will have possession of us. The devil, by divine permission, troubled and terrified Saul. MH

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 (ESV)

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,”for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.  James 1:13 (ESV)

With the departure of the Spirit of God, Saul became tormented by an evil spirit which God permitted to come.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)

As we discussed in The Truth Project, evil cannot exist in its own. Evil is a corrosive influence on good. Like rust on a car or a wound in an arm, evil is the absence of good or God. Therefore by definition God cannot originate evil because it is contrary to who He is.

15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.” 17 So Saul said to his servants,“Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” 18 One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lordis with him.” 19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” 20  And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21 And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.”23 And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.

8. Now that the Holy Spirit has gone from Saul should he not just be like he was before?

43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.” Matt 12:43-45 (ESV)

9. What was the only thing that would soothe Saul’s fits?  

This was a common practice in the ancient world to calm down disturbed people by playing calming music to them.

·        BKC……….Bible Knowledge Commentary, the

·        Gill………..John Gill Exposition of the Bible

·        ESVN………….ESV Study Bible Notes                         

·        JFB……..Jamieson  Fausset Brown Commentary

·        VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies                        

·        MSBN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes      

·        CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark                        

·        NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes

·        BDB………….. Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)                                  

·        JVM ….J Vernon McGee,

·        Darby………..John Darby’s Synopsis of the OT and NT                   

·        ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary

·        Johnson………Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament.                   

·        BN …..Barnes Notes

·        NTCMM……..The New Test  Matthew and Mark.                           

·        CN ……Constables Notes

·        IC……….Ironside Commentary                                                         

·        NET………Net Bible Study Notes.

·        JFB…………..Jamieson  Fausset Brown Commentary

·        Robert Deffinbaugh.............  bible.org

·        MH……...........….. Matthew Henry Commentary

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