1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.
7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. 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 brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.
23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
Chapter 16 of the book of 1 Samuel is a pivotal chapter in the story of Israel. It marks the beginning of a new era as God chooses a new king to replace Saul, who has fallen out of favor with God. This chapter is filled with important themes such as obedience, faith, and the sovereignty of God. It also serves as a reminder that God looks beyond outward appearances and judges the heart of an individual. In this essay, we will explore the events and themes of 1 Samuel chapter 16 and discuss the meaning and significance it brings.
Before we delve into the details of chapter 16, it is essential to understand the context in which it takes place. In the previous chapter, Saul disobeys God's command and spares the life of the Amalekite king, Agag, and keeps the best of the livestock for himself and his men. This act of disobedience angers God, and as a result, God rejects Saul as king over Israel. He sends the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from the house of Jesse.
At this point in the story, Saul is still the reigning king, but God has already chosen a new king to replace him. This sets the stage for chapter 16, where we see the contrast between Saul, the disobedient king, and David, the chosen one of God.
The chapter begins with God commanding Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint one of Jesse's sons as the next king. Samuel is hesitant at first, fearing for his life if Saul finds out about his actions. However, God reassures him and instructs him to take a heifer with him as a sacrifice for the Lord.
When Samuel arrives in Bethlehem, he invites Jesse and his sons to a sacrifice. As each of Jesse's sons passes before Samuel, he assumes that they would be the chosen one due to their outward appearances. However, God tells Samuel that He does not look at the outward appearance but at the heart. None of Jesse's sons are chosen, and Samuel asks if there are any other sons. Jesse reveals that his youngest son, David, is tending the sheep in the fields. Upon hearing this, Samuel instructs Jesse to bring David to him.
When David arrives, God tells Samuel that he is the chosen one, and Samuel anoints him in front of his brothers. This anointing symbolizes David's selection as the next king of Israel, even though he is still a young shepherd boy at this point.
After the anointing, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon David, and he is filled with the Spirit's power. This is significant because it shows that David has been chosen and equipped by God for the task ahead of him. It also serves as a reminder that God's power and presence are not limited to a specific location or person, but it can manifest itself in anyone who is willing to follow and serve Him.
On the other hand, the Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul, and he is left tormented by an evil spirit sent by God. This is a consequence of his disobedience and rejection by God. It is a stark contrast to David, who is filled with the Spirit and favored by God.
There are several important themes and lessons that we can learn from 1 Samuel chapter 16. The first and most prominent theme is obedience. Saul's disobedience led to his downfall and rejection by God, while David's willingness to follow God's command and his humble heart made him the chosen one. This serves as a reminder that God values obedience and humility over outward appearances and status.
The anointing of David also highlights the sovereignty of God. Despite the fact that Saul was still the reigning king, God had already chosen a new king to replace him. This shows that God's plans and purposes will always prevail, regardless of human actions or expectations. It also serves as a reminder that God's ways are higher than our ways, and He sees and knows all things.
The anointing of David also serves as a reminder that God looks beyond outward appearances and judges the heart of an individual. This is a recurring theme in the Bible, and it is evident in the stories of other biblical figures such as Abraham, Moses, and Peter. It is a reminder that our heart and character are more important to God than our external appearance or achievements.
The chapter also emphasizes the importance of faith and trust in God. Despite the risks involved, Samuel obeys God's command and goes to Bethlehem to anoint a new king. David also displays faith and trust in God by leaving his sheep to go to Samuel and be anointed as the next king. This serves as an example for us to trust in God's plans and purposes, even when they may seem risky or uncertain.
Lastly, the anointing of David and the coming of the Spirit upon him symbolize the coming of the Messiah. In the Old Testament, anointing was a significant ritual used to set apart individuals for a specific purpose, such as kings, priests, and prophets. The coming of the Spirit upon David foreshadows the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus, who is the ultimate chosen one of God and the Savior of the world.
In conclusion, 1 Samuel chapter 16 is a crucial chapter in the story of Israel. It marks the beginning of a new era as God chooses David to replace Saul as king. The chapter is filled with important themes such as obedience, faith, and the sovereignty of God. It serves as a reminder that God looks beyond outward appearances and judges the heart of an individual. Ultimately, this chapter points to the coming of the Messiah and the fulfillment of God's plans and purposes for His people.
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