Proper 6

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

34 Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

16 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.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Sa 15:34–16:13.

Sermon

I know you will find this hard to believe but everything God had warned the people about Saul came true. And ultimately, God rejected Saul as the leader of His people. Indeed, when Samuel goes to confront Saul, Saul confesses in vs. 30, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.”

Yet even as much as Samuel struggled with the request of the people for a king, he struggled with God’s rejection of Saul. God asks Samuel, “how long will you mourn for Saul since I have rejected him?” Sometimes we get used to things being the way they are even when it’s not in our best interest. Or when it’s not God’s will for us. God tells Samuel he is to anoint a new king.

And God begins to lay out the plan. Samuel is to go to Jesse of Bethlehem because the new king is in his house. And because Samuel fears what Saul will do if he finds out, God gives Samuel directions to take a heifer to sacrifice. And when he gets there Samuel is to listen to God.

So Samuel goes and prepares the sacrifice and consecrates the people for the offering and as they are gathering in, Samuel sees Eliab. And when Samuel sees this man and learns he is a son of Jesse’s, he is prepared to anoint him as the new king. But God says, No. Samuel sees the next son, but God says no. And the next son, and the next son, and the next son. But each and every time, God says no.

Now, I can just imagine Samuel standing there, having seen all the sons of Jesse that have come to the sacrifice. God, you said, Bethlehem right? Cuz I’m here. You said, the house of Jesse right? Cuz they are right here. But so far all you’ve said is “no”. What’s going on. And Samuel, confused because none of Jesse’s sons have been approved, asks, “are there any more?”

Yes. There is one more. So Samuel says, “well, don’t wait. Go get him.” And you can almost imagine Samuel’s surprise when out comes the smallest, youngest kid he’s seen and at the same time he hears clearly from God. “This is the one. Anoint him.” Now, I admit the Bible says of David, “He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.” But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t younger than Samuel expected. It doesn’t mean he wasn’t smaller than Samuel expected. This doesn’t mean Samuel wasn’t surprised when God said, “This is the one.”

But any doubts Samuel might have had left as he anointed this young man. And Samuel experienced the Spirit of God as it came powerfully upon David. And you know who else experienced the Spirit of God powerfully? Right after he was anointed, Saul