1 Samuel 16:1-13 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 16:1-13. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
1 Samuel 16:1 (NIV)
1 The LORD said to 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.”
On verse 1: Samuel was still depressed and in grief regarding what happened with Saul, but God told Samuel that it was time to move on, to fill his horn with old and anoint God’s choice for the next king. What can we learn from this? There are two powerful lessons here:
1. Whenever we experience loss, failure, hurt or disappointment, we will have a tendency to live in the past. While there is certainly a time and a place for grief and mourning, there also comes a time when we must move on. God wants us to learn from the past, not live in the past. That is why Paul talks about “forgetting what is behind” so that he can strain ahead toward the new things God is doing (Philippians 3:13-14).
2. Just as Israel had to go through a transition from being ruled by Saul to being ruled by David, all of us must go through a similar transition. The story of how David succeeds Saul as Israel’s king illustrates what happens in our lives when we come to Jesus Christ. For example:
– Saul represents our old self, that fearful, insecure, prideful, self-centered part of us that once ruled our lives while rejecting God’s Word and ignoring God’s commands. David is a picture of Jesus Christ, the new king who comes and takes the throne of our heart in place of our old self. Just as it was God’s plan for David to take the place of Saul, God’s plan is that Christ would take the place of your old self.
– As we will see in the chapters that follow, there was a constant tension and struggle between Saul and David which would not be resolved until the day Saul died. Similarly, until you and I die to our old self, there will be a constant tension and struggle between Christ the new, rightful ruler of our lives and the old self that had been in power for so long. Until the day we go to heaven, we will from time to time experience that struggle between Christ and our old self, between the Spirit and our flesh. But just as David ends up prevailing over Saul, so we can rest assured that one day Christ will fully prevail over our old self. With that in mind we can better appreciate why Jesus is called the “Son of David”.
1 Samuel 16:2 (NIV)
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me.” The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
On verse 2: Since Samuel was known as the king-maker, Saul, knowing that God was going to appoint a new king, would have been suspicious of any unusual trips that Samuel would make. So God tells Samuel to take along a heifer to sacrifice so that if anyone asked Samuel what he was doing, Samuel could talk about the sacrifice he was there to make. The sacrifice protected Samuel. Similarly, it is Christ’s sacrifice that protects us from the wrath of a king.
1 Samuel 16:3-4a (NIV)
3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
4 Samuel did what the LORD said…
On verses 3-4a: I love Samuel’s faith here. Samuel didn’t have all the answers. He simply “did what the Lord said” (v4) and went because God told him to.
1 Samuel 16:4b-5 (NIV)
4 …When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
On verses 4b-5: Why would the elders of the Bethlehem ask Samuel, “Do you come in peace?” Even to this day when people are approached by a pastor or a prophet, sometimes they instinctively wonder, “Did I do something wrong?” But Samuel came in peace. Similarly, it reminds me that when Jesus visited this world, it wasn’t to condemn the world but to save the world, to bring heaven’s hope and peace to a world that is desperate for it (John 3:17). Praise God whenever He comes in peace!
1 Samuel 16:6-7 (NIV)
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
On verses 5-9: When Samuel saw Jesse’s firstborn Eliab, he was impressed by Eliab’s height and thought, “This must be the one.” But here we see how different God’s value system is. When choosing a leader, God does not focus on outward appearance; rather he looks at the heart. Similarly, when choosing someone who will play an influential role in your life (whether it’s a spouse, a leader, a key employee, a teammate), don’t focus only on outward appearances; ask God for wisdom to discern that person’s heart and character. The quality of one’s influence will depend far more on the quality of the person’s character than their charisma or outward appearance.
1 Samuel 16:10-11 (NIV)
10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.”
11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
On verses 10-11: Here again we see Samuel’s wisdom, faith and perseverance. Samuel did not give up his search even after seven of Jesse’s sons had passed by and none of them were selected. Instead he asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” That’s because Samuel understood that when you’re under pressure, focus more on the Word you hear than the circumstances you see. Sometimes circumstances can mislead you, but God’s Word will never mislead. Samuel decided not to focus on the circumstances but focused on the rhema word God had spoken to his heart that indeed a son of Jesse would be anointed king. And that’s when Jesse sends for his youngest son, and David arrives.
1 Samuel 16:12 (NIV)
12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.”
On verse 12: Earlier in verse 7 God already established that when picking a leader He doesn’t focus on outward appearance, but on the heart. So why does verse 12 still mention that David “was glowing with health” and fine physical attributes? Isn’t it only his heart that matters? I believe this: when your heart is strong and healthy, it will be reflected in your outward appearance. I find that the strongest, healthiest Christians tend to have a glow about them. That doesn’t mean you can judge a book by its cover, or that all strong Christians will have magazine-cover physiques. But it means that when your spirit is strong and healthy with Christ, there will be an eye-catching glow on you. So if you want to look your best, it begins with having a healthy relationship with Christ. For the most attractive and beautiful people are godly people who have a joyful heart and a healthy spirit.
1 Samuel 16:13 (NIV)
13 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 upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.
On verse 13: Samuel anointed David with oil, and from that day on the Holy Spirit came upon David powerfully. God would not let David try to fulfill his calling in his own strength; He gave David His Holy Spirit. Similarly, you have a calling from God, but you cannot fulfill that calling in your own strength. You need the Holy Spirit to fill you continually. So seek the Holy Spirit often, draw close to Him, and let Him fill you today and every day.
Heavenly Father, thank You that I don’t need to be ruled and controlled by Saul (my old self) anymore. Thank You that a new king has come, a son of David; His name is Jesus. Thank You that it is Jesus’ sacrifice that protects me from wrath. Holy Spirit fill me today that I would not live in the past but move forward with faith and wisdom. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
