David’s Story: The Anointing

1 Samuel 16

The Ten Signposts of the Bible
CAMDE—400—CALY

Creation. Abraham. Moses. DAVID. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to-Come.

Saul, Israel’s first king, was impatient, imprudent, and impulsive. It also turns out Saul was all about Saul. After he defeated the Amalekites, he “set up a monument for himself” (1 Sam. 15:12). His persistent half-heartedness towards God and outright disobedience led to God’s rejection of Saul as king (1 Sam. 15:26).

Samuel took God’s rejection of Saul very personally. He separated himself from the king and “grieved over Saul.” While we aren’t told the length of his mourning, God eventually asked 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” (1 Sam. 16:1 NIV). 

Lori and I often quote the portion of this passage that says, “Fill your horn with oil and be on your way….” She came upon this verse a few years back during a challenging season for us. She shared it with me, saying, “I found a message that we need to apply. We have to stop complaining and move on!” We remind ourselves of this directive often. In fact, now we just tell each other….”BOYW”…(Be. On. Your. Way.)! 

Samuel had issues with God’s instructions. While “fill your horn with oil” was a simple step to follow, his underlying worry was backlash from Saul, once it became known that the kingship had officially been given to someone else. He asked, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me” (1 Sam. 16:2).

I love how God addresses Samuel’s fears by giving him a practical plan and reminding him that he would not go alone. Samuel was to take a heifer to Bethlehem and offer a sacrifice to the LORD. God instructs the prophet, “Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do” (1 Sam. 16:3). This assures Samuel that God will continue to guide him in the task ahead.

When Samuel arrived in Bethlehem, the elders of the city feared that he was coming to pronounce judgment on them. They “came to meet him trembling and said, ‘Do you come peaceably?’” (1 Sam. 16:4). Samuel assured them that he had come to sacrifice to the LORD, and extended an invitation for the elders, Jesse, and Jesse’s sons to join him (1 Sam. 16:5).

Let’s consider again why the people chose Saul as their king. According to Scripture, they based their decision solely on their expectations of what a king should look like. Saul was handsome and stood a head taller than everyone else (1 Sam. 9:2). His exceptional stature made a great first impression, but unfortunately, he had a shriveled heart.

By this time, Samuel should have known better. Yet the godly prophet made the same mistake by judging based on appearance when he saw Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, who must have been a striking young man. Seeing him, Samuel thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him” (1 Sam. 16:6).

God gives a telling response: 

1 Samuel 16:7
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.

It’s easy for us to be captivated by someone’s outward appearance. However, God has very different standards. His focus is on a person’s character and inner integrity above all else.

Samuel requested to see all of Jesse’s sons so Jesse  “made seven of his sons pass before Samuel.”  Then Samuel pressed further, asking, “The LORD has not chosen these... Are all your sons here?” (1 Sam. 16:10-11a). Jesse acknowledged that his youngest son was out tending the sheep. Samuel insisted on meeting him too.

When David was brought before the prophet, the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he” (1 Sam. 16:12). With Jesse and all the brothers witnessing this moment, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David. I can envision Samuel whispering in his ear, “You are the new king of Israel!” This anointing, likely occurring when he was in his mid-teens, transformed David’s heart and set his life’s course– “And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward” (1 Sam. 16:13).

Here we see an important truth about the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, the Spirit did not act as he does in the New Testament. During the period of the judges, the Spirit of God came and went, empowering figures like Othniel (Judg. 3:10), Gideon (Judg. 6:34), Jephthah (Judg. 11:29), and Samson (Judg. 13:25; 14:6; 14:19; 15:14). With the Spirit’s help, there were times when these judges performed amazing feats, and then it seems the Spirit would leave them.

Likewise, the Spirit came upon King Saul and, for a time, changed his heart (1 Sam. 10:6, 10; 11:6; 19:23-24). Saul’s continued disobedience and reluctance to repent, led to dire consequences as “the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul” (1 Sam. 16:14).

With David, however, the story is different. The Spirit of the LORD “rushed upon David from that day forward.” The Spirit never left David and we will see the significance of this throughout his life. Here is also a foreshadowing of what will happen when the “Son of David,” the promised Messiah, comes. He will send the Holy Spirit to permanently dwell within all believers. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read and reflect on 1 Samuel 16. Where might God be asking you to “move on” in obedience rather than remain focused on past disappointments?

Talking to God: Ask God to give you the strength to move forward.

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