1 Samuel 16:1-141And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. 3And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. 6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him. 7But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. 9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. 10Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these. 11And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. 14But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. (1 Samuel 16:1‑14)
SAMUEL did not know whom God meant to be king instead of Saul. At last God said to him, 'Fill a horn with oil, and go to Jesse, who lives in Bethlehem, for I have chosen one of his sons as the king.'
Jesse was an old man, and he had seven sons who were grown up to be men. Samuel found Jesse and his sons in Bethlehem. Then Samuel looked at the eldest of Jesse's sons, to see whether he was the man that God had chosen to be king.
Now this son was a very tall, fine-looking man, who seemed fit to be a king, and Samuel thought to himself, 'Surely this is the one that God will choose for me to anoint.'
But God told Samuel that He had not chosen him. God does not care how a person looks, but God cares for the heart. Now the heart of Jesse's eldest son did not please God, and this time God was going to choose a king who loved Him in his heart.
Then Samuel looked at Jesse's second son: but when he saw him he said that God had not chosen him. Then Samuel looked at the third son; but God had not chosen him. Then he looked at the fourth; neither had God chosen him. Then Samuel looked at the fifth, next at the sixth, and last of all at the seventh; and yet God had not chosen any of them.
So Samuel said to Jesse, 'Have you any more children?'
And Jesse answered, ‘I have one more child, the youngest, and he is keeping the sheep.' Then Samuel said, 'Send and fetch him: I want to see him immediately.'
So Jesse sent a person to tell this youngest son to come to him.
The name of this son was David. He was not a grown-up man, but only a boy. His cheeks were a beautiful color, and his eyes had a pleasant look.
But did he love God in his heart? Yes; he did love God.
When he came in, God said to Samuel, `Arise and anoint him; for this is he.' So Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him, while his seven brothers stood by.
Then Samuel went back to his own house.
You will hear a great deal about David. God did not mean him to be king for a long while; but David knew that he certainly should be king one day. He went on keeping his father's sheep. As he watched them, he played on his harp, and sang sweet songs of praise to God. His songs are called 'Psalms.'
Do you think that David wished to be king? I do not think he wanted to sit on a throne, and to wear a crown, but I know that he would like to call people together to praise God. When David was king, he could have people taught about God; and he could be kind to poor people; and he could punish wicked people.
When Samuel poured the oil on David's head, God made His Spirit come on him, to make him very wise and brave, and fit to be a king; for it is God Who makes people wise and brave.
Old Jesse's sons, in order due,
Once passed before the prophet's view.
The eldest born, of stately height,
Was not accepted in God's sight;
Six others came, by Jesse led,
Yet on their heads no oil was shed.
Where was that fairer, younger one,
Whom God would place on Israel's throne?
Beside his father's flock he stayed,
And on his harp he sweetly played:
On him the holy oil was pour'd,
For he was chosen of the Lord.
'Twas not his lovely form, or face,
That made him with the Lord find grace.
But God, Who every secret knew,
Saw in his heart affection true,
That still His gracious favor sought,
And on His loving-kindness thought.
The holy Samuel could not tell
Which son the Lord approved well:
Men see our looks, our words they hear,
But cannot know whose heart's sincere:
The Lord into each bosom pries,
And pierces through each fair disguise.
Child
O tell me, Lord, my own true state,
Lest I should knock at heaven's gate,
And hear a voice within declare
That I can never enter there.—
O has my heart been born again?
Or do I still in sin remain?
Questions on Lesson 7
Why did God tell Samuel to go to Bethlehem?
Why did not Samuel anoint Jesse's eldest son?
How many sons had Jesse?
Where was David when Jesse sent for him?
What are the songs called that David used to sing?