A King After God's Own Heart
For Meditation
So far, the history of the monarchy in Israel has been pretty dismal. The people demanded a king like the nations, and in Saul they have got one. We’ve seen Saul descend into a selfish, tyrannical monarch who is out for his own gain. The story ended last week with both Samuel and God deeply grieved at what has transpired.
But chapter 16 brings a new tone of hope. God has rejected Saul, but God is working behind the scenes to raise up another. And it is an entirely unexpected development.
If a key word from last week’s passage was hearing, the key word to this passage is seeing. "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Kings 16:7.
This chapter is an invitation to see as God sees. We see endings- God sees beginnings. We see the outside- God sees the inside. We see smallness- God sees greatness. In God’s Kingdom, we are invited to see in a different way than we normally see.
As you prepare for worship this week, read the beatitudes in Matthew 5 and reflect on all the ways God sees the world differently than we do.
1 Samuel 16:1-14
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.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 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. 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.
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 people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 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. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
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.”
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 powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.