After recording God’s second and final
rejection of Saul (chapter 15), the account focuses on Saul’s replacement. God
instructs Samuel to travel to Bethlehem, where he will find Israel’s next king.
Every child in Sunday School has heard this story. Every preacher, teacher and Christian parent
has at one time quoted this famous verse: ``For the Lord sees not as man sees:
man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”[1] The events surrounding this text are a historical phenomenon.
God told Samuel, `”Fill your horn with oil,
and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for
myself a king among his sons.”[2] Anointing with oil was
symbolic of God’s choice. The new king was to be God’s servant. Saul was self-serving. Samuel had clear instructions: “And you shall
anoint for me him whom I declare to you,”[3] said the Lord. Samuel had
fear. If Saul had heard of his intentions he would likely take action against
him. The Lord instructed Samuel to hide
his intentions. He was to call for a
time of worship with Jesse’s family.
“And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said
to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.”” (1 Samuel 16:10, ESV). Ah, but there’s one more!
There’s David out with the sheep. So David was called and God confirmed that
this was the one. “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of
his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day
forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah” (1 Samuel 16:13, ESV).
God looked upon the
heart of David. “The life of the man will reflect his heart (cf. Matthew
12:34, 35).”[4] As David’s son would write: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from
it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23, ESV).
There is a
contribution in this passage to our understanding of the Holy Spirit in the Old
Testament. We learned that this anointing for kingship was accompanied by “the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.”[5] Dr. James Hamilton writes,
“The
Old Testament speaks of the Spirit “rushing upon” someone not to describe a
conversion experience (e.g., the expression is not used of Abraham or Rahab),
but rather the Spirit's empowering leaders who will deliver the nation. In these
instances, national leaders are empowered by the Spirit for the position to
which they are appointed . . . No indication is given that those not appointed
were indwelt by the Spirit. Rather, the Spirit distinguishes these people from
the rest of the nation as He empowers them for the task of leadership.”
After David sinned with Bathsheba (2 Samuel
11 & 12), he prayed, “… Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11).”[7]
There is certainly a moral lesson in this
passage also. God is concerned about our
hearts. As Matthew Henry writes:
“We can tell how men look, but he can tell
what they are . . . The good disposition of the heart, the holiness or goodness
of that, recommends us to God, and is in
his sight of great price (1 Pt. 3:4), not the majesty of the look, or the
strength and stature of the body.”[8]
But above all, there is a Christological
message here. In 2 Samuel 7:12–13 (ESV) we read of God’s covenant with David:
“12 When your days are
fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring
after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house
for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
From the family of David, God will choose a
King who will come in the power of the Spirit.
Isaiah prophesied this coming king, who in His own words said in Isaiah
61:1–2 (ESV):
“1 The Spirit of the Lord God
is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he
has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of
the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn
. . .” and following.
Jesus confirmed this was spoken of Himself (cf:
Luke
4:18-19). David will prove not to be a faithful king. His own reign will be
impaired with sin leading to a divided kingdom.
But God’s anointed Christ will be chosen who will fulfill our need of a
righteous King. And He will reign forever and ever.
“But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O
God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your
kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your
God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”” (Hebrews
1:8–9, ESV)
O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.
Hamilton, Jr., James M.. God's Indwelling Presence:
The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments (Nac Studies in Bible &
Theology) (p. 33). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.
