Why God picked David to be king – 1st Samuel 16, Part 3

In the previous post about 1st Samuel chapter 16, we watched as the prophet Samuel visits the family of Jesse in the town of Bethlehem. Samuel is there on a secret prophetic mission from God to anoint a new king over Israel. One by one, Samuel views Jesse’s seven oldest sons, and God chooses none of them. If I’m Samuel I’m thinking, “What is going on, Lord? Why did you send me here to Bethlehem to anoint the new king from Jesse’s family, but you’re not choosing any of them? What is going on?”

Jesse answers in the second half of verse 11: “‘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.’”

One more son.  The youngest.  By outward appearance, the selection was likely not to be the youngest.  In that cultural context, choosing the youngest of 8 brothers made very little sense.  It would have been a cultural slight to the older brothers.  You always chose the eldest first, and went down the line from there.  You simply didn’t choose the youngest, especially because the older sons had far more maturity and life experience.

Birth order studies bear this out.  Older children tend to be the most responsible, by the book, etc.  Middle children are often more wild, risk-takers.  Youngest children are often spoiled. In my family, my boys call their little sister the queen.  And they usually don’t mean it in an adoring way.  Though they do adore her.  They just might think that she has had it easier than they did. 

Birth order studies do not, however, mean that a person’s life is determined by their birth order. Or if a person has no siblings, they have a unique situation in life, but that does not mean they are somehow stuck in a certain way of life.  Still we can see the older brothers looking down on their youngest sibling thinking, “Aw, let’s bring out the little shepherd from tending his little lambs…there’s no way he’s getting picked.”  Whatever job Samuel needs help with, it would be wise to go with one of the older sons. 

Here’s what happens.  Look at verse 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.’ 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.”

He might be the youngest, but he is God’s pick.  And his name is David.  We’re finally meeting the person who this sermon series is about!  Actually, we met him a few weeks ago, but we didn’t know it.  In chapter 13, verse 14, right after King Saul disobeyed God, Samuel said these prophetic words to Saul, “But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

Samuel was talking about David.  Samuel didn’t know it then, but he does now.  This young man is right in front of him.  God says, “He’s the one who is after my own heart.  Anoint him. He is the next king.”

Samuel anoints the young man, David, and the Spirit of God fills David.  David is probably a teenager at this point.  As we read it in the text, Samuel gives no indication to David or Jesse as to what this anointing is for.  Samuel just anoints David, then leaves.  I suspect everyone there knew what Samuel was doing though.  It was a public matter when Saul disobeyed God multiple times, and it was a public matter when Samuel declared that God had rejected Saul.  Now that same prophet shows up and anoints David? 

Samuel did not have to say anything. Jesse’s family likely knew what just happened.

Yet, what did Samuel actually do?  Did he make a proclamation publicly and loudly announcing that David is anointed as king over all Israel? No. Did Samuel invite people from all over the nation to watch? No. Did Samuel send heralds throughout the land announcing the news? No.

Samuel obeyed God, and poured oil on David.  That’s it. 

Therefore, nothing changes for David.  He doesn’t say, “Okay my older brothers, I am your leader now, let us march to Gibeah and overthrow Saul!  The throne is mine!”  No.  David just stands there, with oil running over him, maybe wondering how he’s going to clean it up.  Oil is terribly difficult to clean.  Samuel leaves, David goes back to tending the sheep.  Nothing has changed.

But in the way that matters, everything has changed for David because he is now filled with the Spirit. 

For a contrast look at verse 14, “Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.”

The Spirit of God that used to be with Saul, but has now left Saul, has filled David.  The author of this story wants us to see that contrast side-by-side.  In this story, then, the Spirit of the Lord is everything. God is looking for a man after his heart and he fills that man with his Spirit. 

But what about that ominous line in verse 14 above, “an evil spirit from the Lord tormented” Saul? An evil spirit…from the Lord? We’ll try to answer that in the next post.

Photo by Valario Davis on Unsplash