1 Samuel 16

Intro:

Read 1 Samuel 16:1-5

I. David Anointed vs. 1-13

vs. 1a God chides Samuel's grieving over Saul

Sometimes you can let things go on too long

You can’t let go of a relationship that ended

You are living in the glory days of the past

You are still bemoaning a lost opportunity

That’s where we find Samuel tonight

He is still grieving Saul’s demise

God needs to give him a wake up call and tell him to move on

How long are you going to grieve?

I have rejected him

Are you holding on to something from your past that you need to let go?

Is God asking to you move on and focus on the work He has for you?

vs. 1b Fill your horn

God tells Samuel to fill his horn

This was probably a ram’s horn that had been hollowed out and it was used to store oil

Samuel used it to anoint people

God is sending him to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse

In spite of the fact that it was a small town in Judah, Bethlehem was a well-known place to the Jewish people.

It was when Jacob and his family were on their way to Bethel that his favorite wife, Rachel, died near Bethlehem while giving birth to Benjamin (Gen. 35:16–20).

It was in Bethlehem that Ruth, the widow from Moab, found her husband, Boaz, and gave birth to Obed, David’s grandfather

David himself would make Bethlehem a famous place, and so would Jesus, the Son of David, who would be born there as the Scriptures promised

Micah 5:2 ESV

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Bethlehem means “house of bread,” and it was there that the living bread from heaven came to dwell in human flesh

It is in Jesse’s house that the next king of Israel resides

One of Jesse’s sons

If Israel would’ve waited God would’ve provided a king

David was God’s choice all along

Now he is being thrust into the role

God wants to provide what is best for his people but they need to learn to wait and be content

Israel pushed God and they got a corrupt king

vs. 2 What if Saul hears?

As Israel’s judge and prophet, Samuel had the right to travel where he pleased in serving the Lord and His people.

But these were difficult and dangerous times because Saul was a suspicious man and his spies would report anything Samuel did.

From Samuel’s home in Ramah, the road to Bethlehem passed by Gibeah where Saul had his headquarters, and Saul would want to know where Samuel was going and why he was going there.

To avoid problems, God commanded His servant to take a heifer and announce that he would sacrifice a fellowship offering in Bethlehem for a select group of people, including Jesse and his sons.

Then God would show Samuel which one to anoint as king.

vs. 3 Invite Jesse to the Sacrifice

When Samuel gets to Bethlehem he was to invite Jesse

It was a great honor anytime Samuel invited someone to a sacrifice and banquet

All of Jesse’s sons were invited as well

It was there God would reveal to Samuel whom he should anoint

Samuel always relied upon God for his next step

Go to Bethlehem and invite Jesse

Then I will show you what you should do next

Samuel takes a heifer and goes on his way

We don’t need all of the steps before we set out

If God tells us to do something we need to trust that He will give us the rest along the way

All of the prophets lived this way

vs. 4 Elders come trembling

As Samuel arrives in Bethlehem the Elders come out to meet him

They are trembling because there is nothing scheduled

Why would Samuel just show up

Often time it was to bring judgment for some sin

The trembling also is a response to the presence of God

Samuel was God’s representative

vs. 5 Consecrate yourselves

Samuel lets them know he comes in peace

Then he tells them to consecrate themselves

Consecration. Separation of persons, utensils, buildings, or places from everyday secular uses for exclusive dedication to holy or sacred use.

In the Bible consecration was effected through an appropriate rite or vow.

Hebrew expressions imply

“separation”

Exodus 13:2 ESV

“Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

“dedication”

Leviticus 21:12 ESV

He shall not go out of the sanctuary, lest he profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him: I am the Lord.

“ordination” (literally, “filling the hand,”)

NT references are fewer, but they frequently connote the idea of holiness

1 Timothy 4:5 ESV

for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

“Sanctifying” meant that each of the guests would take a bath and change clothes, because nobody ceremonially unclean could partake of the sacrificial feast .

For Jesse and his sons to be invited to this feast was a high honor, and, of course, nobody but Samuel knew why they were included.

vs. 6 Surely Eliab is the one

Before the guests sat down to enjoy the fellowship feast, Samuel looked over seven of Jesse’s sons, thinking that the whole family was there, but he was operating by sight and not by faith.

When he sees Eliab, Samuel thought “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.”

Samuel had already forgotten this mistake he made about Saul

David was the eighth son and only six of his brothers are named in Scripture

vs. 7 Lord does not see as man

Samuel may have looked at their faces and forms, but the Lord examined their hearts.

God alone can search the human heart and know what a person’s motives really are

Jeremiah 17:10 ESV

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

It’s important that we don’t get too impressed with peoples physical features

Someone is tall and we think they have advantages

Someone has a outgoing personality and we think they are a leader

God looks at the heart

vs. 8-10 The Lord has not chosen these

No doubt there was no family in Bethlehem that could boast having seven such brothers, men of strength and stature, and yet none of them was God’s chosen king!

One by one all seven brothers pass by and none of them are chosen

Samuel looks at Jesse and tells him that the Lord hasn’t chosen any of these

vs. 11 Youngest keeping sheep

Samuel then asks if there are any more sons

Jesse replied that the youngest was keeping the sheep

Someone had to do it and Jesse thought the youngest wouldn’t need to be there

So insignificant was David in the family that Jesse didn’t even call him from the flock to the feast

In Old Testament times, kings and their officers were looked upon as “shepherds” of the people, and David was a man with the heart of a shepherd

God’s church today is a flock, and each spiritual leader needs to have the heart of a shepherd and lovingly care for God’s lambs and sheep

The shepherd must know his sheep individually, love them, and take care of them according to their needs.

For the most part, sheep are defenseless and do not see well, so they depend on the shepherd to guide and protect them.

Though David was a literal shepherd who was called to be a “national” shepherd, he saw himself as one of the Lord’s sheep

t David was exactly the kind of leader Israel needed to repair all the damage that Saul had done to the nation.

Samuel tells him to go and get David

They wouldn’t eat until he arrives

vs. 12 Arise and Anoint

It’s interesting that David (“beloved”) was number eight, because in Scripture eight is often the number of a new beginning.

God did use David to bring a new beginning to Israel, both governmentally and spiritually.

In Scripture, only prophets, priests, and kings were anointed, and the anointing had to be performed by a person authorized by the Lord. In biblical imagery, oil can symbolize the Holy Spirit and the endowment of His power upon His servants (Zech. 4).

The Hebrew word “Messiah” and the Greek word “Christ” both mean “anointed.”

The Spirit of God came upon young David in great power, and ever after that, David was God’s man, but at the same time, the Spirit of God departed from Saul (1 Sam. 16:14).

Without the power of the Spirit, the servant of God is helpless to do the will of God and glorify Christ.

As we abide in Christ, we receive the power we need, for Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing”

vs. 13 Spirit rushed upon David

II. Spirit Departs Saul vs. 14-23

vs. 14 Harmful spirit torments Saul

vs. 15-17 Seek out a skillful musician

vs. 16 Lyre

vs. 18-19 David recommend to play Lyre

vs. 18 David playing Lyre

vs. 20-22 David comes into Saul's Service

vs. 23 David's playing Refreshes Saul