The Chosen One

Background to passage: Saul has been rejected as king, but the nation continues. The Lord continues as its head. As Samuel was sent to anoint Israel’s first king, he is now sent to anoint its second.

1 Samuel 16:1–13 ESV

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.” 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.” 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. 6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 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: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks 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 Lord has 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 here.” 12 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. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

Opening illustration: Contracts: Legally enforceable, specific terms, remedies for breach (e.g., damages or penalties), more transactional and impersonal; focuses on performance and legal consequences rather than relationship Covenants: Relational and enduring; carries moral weight and expectation of faithfulness, emphasizes ongoing relationship, loyalty, and shared identity over mere performance

Main thought: Today in the anointing of the next king, we see the beginnings of the Davidic covenant (formally expressed in 2 Sam 7:12-16). As we observe the supper together, we remember the fruition of the Davidic covenant in Jesus. He is the suffering servant king and sacrifice that rules and reigns in our hearts, is sovereign in all things, and will one day come back to exert his rightful reign for eternity, vanquishing all evil, and recreating the new heaven and earth.

1) Biblical Covenants

Explanation: Some include the Adamic covenant - not eat from the tree/live in the garden forever. Noahic - not to destroy the earth by flood. Abrahamic - a son, the land, and a nation. Mosaic - the law, condemnation, and some foreshadowing. Davidic - his line would be on the throne forever. Pointed to Jesus.

Here, God provided for himself a king. Multiple times God provided a sacrifice (Adam, Abraham - 2x, Moses - a whole system). Eventually he would provide both in one.

Argumentation:

Illustration: IMB does biblical storying, especially among oral cultures

Application: We speak of the metanarrative of scripture. God works from creation until the culmination of history in the lives men weaving all his design and purpose with his providential hand. The high points in scripture, especially the OT are the covenants. The highly relational, durable, faithful, loyal commitments and promises that God has made to his people through the ages, have continuing benefits to us.

2) The Son of David Reigns

Explanation: After the explicit promise of the Davidic covenant in 2 Sam 7, the rise of the Messianic expectation in David’s line became a refrain, even after the fall of the nation in 586 BC. The Psalmist, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel all had references to the messiah who would be the Son of David or Jesse.

We know they were cheering for the Son of David in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and Matthew notes multiple other places that title is used. The gospels carry the theme with Jesus clarifying the relationship between David, his Lord, and the Lord.

Argumentation:

Illustration:

Application: But as we observe the supper, we know that the king that would reign is also the servant that would become the sacrifice.

**Move to the table**

3) The New Covenant Arrives

Explanation: Jeremiah prophesies it, the NT writers speak about it, but the book of Hebrews crystalizes the great exchange as the Son of David, the Suffering Servant, the Lamb of God, and the Great High Priest is sacrificed once and for all for the sins of many.

Jeremiah 31:31–34 ESV

31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Hebrews 8:1–7 ESV

1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

Hebrews 8:13 ESV

13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Luke 22:18–20 ESV

18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Illustration:

Application:

Closing illustration: Getting ready for a wedding/marriage

Recap