David Anointed King

David wasn’t the biggest of Jesse’s sons, but he had a heart for God. God looks at our hearts, and He wants all of us to have a pure heart more than anything.

1 Samuel 16:1 MEV

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

Saul’s Fall

This story begins with God’s disappointment. His people were no longer happy with the Judges and wanted a King. God gave His people a King, Saul.

It all started out just fine. Somewhere along the way Saul would become disobedient. Saul rejected the Word of the Lord and we learn that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft...

1 Samuel 15:23 MEV

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.”

The good news is...

The God of biblical revelation is a God who, time and again, and in amazing ways, turns disappointments and human failures into the advancement of his Kingdom and the accomplishment of his purposes. It is this valuable and life-transforming perspective that is presented to us in the first verse of chapter 16.

J. Robert Vannoy, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: 1-2 Samuel, vol. 4 (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009), 156. Our God is a redeemer! Thank you Jesus!!

God Sees What Man Cannot See

God has a new King for His people. You might think there would be some credentials necessary for a role like a King...

1 Samuel 16:6–11 MEV

When they came, he looked on Eliab, and said, “Surely the anointed of the Lord is before Him.” But the Lord said 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. For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” So Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all your young men?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is shepherding the flock.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.”

Samuel is making the same mistake they had made before. He’s looking at the physical stature of a man to determine if he is qualified for Kingship.

The Lord Does Not Call the Qualified, He Qualifies the Called!

Samuel is learning something new from the Lord. He does not look at man the same way that we do. We may judge someone by what we see in front of us. Maybe we judge someone by the set of credentials by their name.

The Lord sees the heart of a man. He knows the thoughts and intentions of a man. The first of Jesse’s sons may have had the stature and qualifications to be Kings, but the were not called.

David Anointed King

1 Samuel 16:12–13 MEV

So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy with beautiful eyes and a good appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord came on David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

He may not have been the obvious choice, but he is the one the Lord called to be King over Israel. They were so sure that he wasn’t the one that they just left him taking care of the flock. David was ruddy, and good looking. The problem was that he was just an unqualified boy. Here’s what David had that the rest didn’t...

1 Samuel 13:14 MEV

But now your kingdom will not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over His people, because you have not kept that which the Lord commanded you.”

He was after the heart of God. He wasn’t looking to be a King, but God chose him. He was a shepherd. He was faithful to what was given to him to do. He killed a lion and a bear protecting his flock. The Lord will always reward faithfulness...

Matthew 25:23 MEV

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your master.’

He is the same today as he was then. He says to us...

Matthew 6:33 MEV

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you.

That’s His promise to us today! If I am faithful with the few things He has given me, he will reward me with greater things. One of the things I see today is that people don’t want to be faithful with what the Lord has given them. They want to be King without being shephered first. Everybody is after a stage or title, but they have never learned to serve. It is not about qualifications or credentials. It’s about the heart. It’s about faithfulness. It’s about our pursuit of Him.