1 SAMUEL 16

SAMUEL APPOINTS DAVID AS THE FUTURE KING OF ISRAEL

Samuel is grieved over Saul’s failure and deeply desires a faithful leader for Israel. God instructs Samuel to visit Jesse, a man in Bethlehem. God plans to appoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the new king of Israel.

Samuel sees seven of Jesse’s sons, but knows that none of them are the one whom God has chosen. God tells Samuel to choose based on character, not outward appearance. Samuel asks to see Jesse’s youngest son, David, who was out watching the sheep. God instructs Samuel to choose David. Samuel appoints David as king, and God’s Spirit rushes upon him.

The spirit of the Lord departs from Saul and a harmful spirit comes to torment him. Saul requests a musician to come play and rid him of the harmful spirit. Saul’s servants suggest David, the humble shepherd and harp player. When David appears before Saul and plays his music, the harmful spirit departs from him. Because of his talents, David finds favor with Saul and becomes his armor-bearer. David is an armor-bearer, shepherd, musician, and future king!

1 Samuel 16:7 - But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”