Saul had disobeyed God's Word, and so God had rejected Saul as the king of Israel. God wanted a king to rule his people that would listen to Him and obey Him.
I Samuel 16:1- And 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.
God had searched through Israel. He looked at the hearts of many different people there to see which one would follow Him. And He had found someone. Now, He was going to send Samuel to annoint him to be the next king.
I Samuel 16:2-3-
And 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. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
Samuel knew that Saul had started down a very dark path. He knew that Saul was getting so prideful that he would do anything to keep his position. He was afraid that Saul would try to kill him if he obeyed God and anointed someone else.
But, God took care of those fears when Samuel confessed them to Him. God told Samuel to say that he was going there to sacrifice. Remember, Samuel was having a sacrifice at another city when Saul came to him to be anointed. God knew that Saul would just think this was Samuel fulfilling his duty as Prophet of the Lord.
I Samuel 16:4-5-
And 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? And 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.
Samuel did as the Lord asked him. He went to Bethlehem and gathered the elders of the town so they could have a sacrifice. He also made sure to invite Jesse's family.
I Samuel 16:6-7-
And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him. But 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.
When Jesse's oldest son came through the door, Samuel thought that he was the one the Lord had sent him to anoint. He was tall. He stood like a leader. And he had the face of a king!
But, God knew what was in this young man's heart. He didn't want this man to be the ruler of His people. He told Samuel not to worry about what he was looking at and to trust God when He told him who to anoint. God said He had looked into the heart of the future king and deemed him worthy, even if his outward body didn't seem like it.
I Samuel 16:8-10-
Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
Samuel looked at 7 different sons of Jesse, starting with the oldest and working his way down. But, the Lord said "no" to all of them. Samuel still hadn't found the one whom God had chosen to anoint king over His people, Israel.
I Samuel 16:11-13-
And 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. And 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. Then 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.
When David came in Samuel saw a young boy. This wasn't what he was expecting. Instead of a king, Samuel saw a shepherd boy. Instead of a great leader of men, Samuel looked on a keeper of sheep. But, Samuel had learned not to question God's wisdom.
Samuel anointed David right there in front of his family. Then they had the sacrifice and Samuel went back to his house. From that time on, God was with David.
I Samuel 16:14-
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
While David went back to watch the sheep with the Spirit of God leading him, Saul was about to find out the cost of doing things his way. The spirit of God that came on him and changed him into another man left. He was no longer that new man that God had made. And now, an evil spirit from God was there to trouble him.
Did you know that God uses evil things? He can and He does.
Psalm 78:49-
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
God can use evil spirits, evil angels, and even evil men to accomplish His will in this world. When Saul decided to disobey God, he was basically worshiping a false god. Saul was now going to pay the price for idolatry by being troubled by the evil spirit that he allowed in his life.
I Samuel 16:15-16-
And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
Even Saul's servants knew that God had allowed an evil spirit into Saul's life. They suggested finding someone who could play a musical instrument well. Why would they suggest that?
Did you know that singing can draw spirits? If you sing praises to God then it will drive evil spirits away and draw God's spirit to you. Christ sang with His disciples. Paul and Silas sang in jail, and then God sent an earthquake to free them. After many battles with their enemies the children of Israel sang songs to praise God.
But, when you sing worldly songs it drives the Lord away and draws evil spirits to you. Remember when Moses was on the mount and the children of Israel made the golden calf to worship? Joshua thought he heard battle cries. But, Moses had heard that music before in the temples of the false Egyptian gods.
The music we listen to is very important to God. Because the music you allow in your heart and home will draw certain spirits there, good or bad.
I Samuel 16:17-19-
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
Saul's servants suggested that they get a musician named David. Yes, the same David that Samuel had been sent to anoint.
We don't know how long it had been between the time that Samuel anointed him and this time, but the servants sure did have an impressive description of David- a mighty valiant man of war, prudent and comely. They were saying he was a handsome, brave, and wise warrior. But, most importantly, people knew that the Spirit of God was with David!
I Samuel 16:20-23-
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
I'm sure that Jesse was afraid for his son's life. He knew that David had been anointed to take the throne from Saul. What if Saul found out and that was why he sent for David?
Jesse sent David to Saul, like he was asked, but he also sent along a present, hoping that it would appease any wrath that the king may have.
I Samuel 16:
22
-23-
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
Whenever the evil spirit came to trouble Saul, David would play on his harp and it would make the evil spirit flee. This made Saul very happy and he made David his armor bearer. David would get to know Saul in a very personal way.
I think God was trying to get Saul to love David so that he would repent and change his heart. If Saul would train David to be the next king that would be a huge advantage for David!
Would Saul's heart grow tender or more proud? Could David's humble, wise behavior change the path of this current king?
