I. David Anointed King Vs. 1-13
A. God Instructs Samuel To Go To Jesse Vs. 1-3
1. V.1a It is possible to mourn too long over someone whom God removes from service.
a. Saul had disobeyed the Lord to the point of having be removed from being king.
b. NOTE- God didn’t reject Saul as a person, but He rejected him as being King.
c. God only rejected Saul because Saul had first rejected God.
d. Saul forfeited his position of leadership because of a life of self-determination, and because of a life of disobedience to God. Saul could no longer be trusted to lead.
e. Samuel’s heart was lingering in grief over Saul, whereas the Lord was ready to move on with His plans for the nation of Israel.
f. APPLICATION- Be careful to not allow sorrow to continue too long regarding God removing someone from a position of service. God sets people in place, and sometimes he removes them.
g. Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)…
2. V. 1b NOTE-God was providing for himself a king. It is God who sets people in place.
3. Vs. 2, 3 Samuel knows Saul well enough to know that Saul wants to retain the throne & would kill to do it. Samuel, this faithful servant of God, is afraid. He wants to know how this is going to happen, and him be able to stay alive.
a. NOTE-Godly people are sometimes afraid. The presence of fear is understandable.
b. NOTE-The important thing is that Samuel does not allow that fear to control him.
c. The sacrifice-God isn’t leading Samuel to be deceitful regarding this anointing of David. A sacrifice would have accompanied this anointing of a king.
d. I will show you-The revelation of God’s plan usually comes progressively, bit by bit.
i. Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your
family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
e. God ignored Samuel’s objections, but just told him what to do.
B. David Is Chosen As King Vs. 4-13
1. V. 4 Samuel made a circuit trip around the nation of Israel on a regular basis.
a. He would judge matters for the people. Bethlehem wasn’t a part of that circuit, so it was unusual to have him there.
b. Also, Samuel was a strong authority figure for the Lord. He spoke for the Lord, and so he received a lot of respect and fear from the people.
c. Also, they may have known about his extreme zeal against Agag. Half-hearted people get nervous around others who are extremely committed to the Lord.
2. Vs. 5-7 Apparently, Eliab was handsome and had a strong physical presence.
a. This was how Saul was first described.
b. 1 Samuel 9:2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
c. It seems that even this great prophet and priest of God is falling into the snare of choosing the next king based upon appearances. God chose to record this mistake of the great prophet Samuel.
3. APPLICATION- It is the manner of the world to choose leaders and heroes based upon the outward appearance or natural abilities. This is the exact opposite of the kingdom of heaven. Saul was a man after Israel’s heart. David was a man after God’s heart.
4. Jesus was not one who was followed b/c of outward appearances.
a. Isaiah 53:2, 3 2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
5. The early Church changed the world, but not by worldly methods or standards.
a. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
b. APPLICATION- Christians need to grow in their ability to discern between that which is impressive in the flesh, and that which is valuable in the spirit. It isn’t whether or not we will choose to love a person. It is a matter of whether we will allow them to lead us or have influence over us. Godly discernment.
c. The church doesn’t need more Sauls, it needs more Davids.
6. Vs. 8-11 David was not considered by his father of even being called to this event.
a. David, the man after God’s own heart, was considered insignificant by his father.
7. V. 12 God saw David’s heart like no one else could. God chose David because of that.
8. V. 13 The effectiveness of any person’s service to God comes from the working of God’s Spirit in the life of that person. The oil upon David’s head symbolized the work of the Spirit in his life. It would be many years before David would be recognized as king. During that time, God would use him and prepare him.
II. God Takes His Hand Off Of Saul Vs. 14-23
A. A Distressing Spirit Comes Upon Saul Vs. 14-18
1. Vs. 14, 15 This distressing spirit doesn’t come until Saul rejects the Lord.
a. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit. came upon people for acts of service.
b. That is different than today. The Holy Spirit doesn’t leave the Christian.
c. John 14:16, 17a And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17the Spirit of truth…
d. Christians can grieve/quench the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19
e. Saul’s condition was not psychological, emotional, or organic, but spiritual.
f. Saul wanted independence from God, so God withdrew His hand of protection.
g. This wasn’t mental illness, but spiritual darkness. Saul would be tormented.
2. Vs. 16-18 Saul’s servants suggested a remedy for Saul’s spiritual problem.
a. In the past, Saul received the Holy Spirit while music was present (1 Samuel 10:5, 6); perhaps this is an effort to recreate that experience.
b. V. 18 A long period of time must have passed between verses 13 & 14, for David is described not as a boy, but as a man of war.
B. God Uses David To Bring Relief To Saul Vs. 19-23
1. Vs. 19-21 David knew he had been called to be King, but he didn’t try to advance himself.
a. David simply walked with God. He went back to the sheep and served his father.
2. Vs. 22, 23 The Holy Spirit was upon the life of David from the day of his anointing.
3. When David played and sang, the presence of the Holy Spirit brought a peace that Saul had forfeited because of pride and self-reliance.