The first two kings of Israel are in stark contrast to each other.

Saul – “the king like the nations around”. He represents the man of flesh who tries to please God by his good and highly sincere efforts to be religious. Yet it never works. Why? It is an imitation, (a sham) of the real thing.

David – “the man after God’s own heart”. He represents the man after God’s own heart. A believer in whom the Spirit of God dwells and who is open to the instruction of the Spirit and who seeks to walk in the Spirit.

1 – Introduction to David

David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother’s name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25. As to his personal appearance, we only know that he was red-haired, with beautiful eyes and a fair face (1 Sam. 16:12; 17:42).

His early occupation was that of tending his father’s sheep on the uplands of Judah. From what we know of his after history, doubtless he frequently beguiled his time, when thus engaged, with his shepherd’s flute, while he drank in the many lessons taught him by the varied scenes spread around him. His first recorded exploits were his encounters with the wild beasts of the field. He mentions that with his own unaided hand he slew a lion and also a bear, when they came out against his flock, beating them to death in open conflict with his club (1 Sam. 17:34, 35).

2 – Samuel sent to Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1-5)

• There was no instantaneous transfer of the reins of power. It was not a case of “The king is dead. Long live the king!” Saul continued to rule Israel for many years. The kings of Israel foreshadow the perfect which is to come. (See 1 Corinthians 13:10) If the foreshadows were perfect they would no longer be mere shadows but solid reality. Saul, David and Solomon were flawed kings with flawed kingdoms and each prepared Israel for the revelation of the perfect king, the Messiah who would bring in God’s perfect kingdom on earth. (The son of David. A greater than Solomon!).
• Life goes on! See Hosea 13:11. The Lord rebukes Samuel for moping over the state of things and tells him to go to Jesse of Bethlehem for He had “chosen one of his sons to be king”. Many years later another king will come out of Bethlehem – Jesus. In the darkest moments of His people’s experience, the Lord is preparing the brightest outpourings of His power and glory. This is the story of the Exodus, of the judges and is true of individual Christian experience. See Psalm 107:6. God causes light to shine through the darkness!
• Samuel as a type of Christ – Samuel came peaceably for he came to sacrifice and he brought his offering with him. Jesus came into the world, though men had reason to fear that his errand was to condemn the world, yet he gave full assurance that he came peaceably, for he came to sacrifice, and he brought his offering with him. “A body hast thou prepared me” See Hebrews 10:5-12.
• Teach your children God’s Word. See 1 Samuel 16:4-5 for the general spiritual condition in Bethlehem. David was born into a covenant environment – both nation and family. He was taught the Word of God from infancy. See 2 Timothy 3:14-17. God had prepared him all through his life. He had predestined each and every detail.
• Beware of judging motives by outside appearances. Notice the process by which David was chosen. Man looks at the outward appearance … the Lord looks at the heart. (vs. 7). However fine our ability to judge character, we are always at best, looking on the outside. We read the outward evidence of people’s lives and reason their motives. But the truth is we cannot read the heart! God alone is the searcher of our inner being (1 Chronicles 28:9 & Hebrews 4:12) Only God sees it all! Samuel was a very discerning man but could not tell whom God would choose to be king. God humbles Samuel by telling him the truth about the limitations of human finite discernment. Samuel had been disappointed in Saul but still judged another man by his appearance. We can tell HOW men look, but God can tell WHAT they are. He judges men by the heart. God does not favour with fond partiality, but often most honours and blesses those who have been least regarded. The Holy Spirit divinely enabled David. He was advanced in wisdom and courage, though not advanced in his outward circumstances. Man looks at the outward appearance. See also 2 Corinthians 10:7.

3 – Samuel anoints David as the new king (1 Samuel 16:6-13)

See Genesis 49:10 – David was of the tribe of Judah. Saul was of the tribe of Benjamin. David was God’s choice of king.

• What it meant to others (vs. 5) – It seems that David’s anointing was seen as an act of consecration to the Lord. It seems doubtful that anyone anticipated that David would be the next king of Israel.
• What it meant to David – The Spirit of the Lord came upon him. Oil was the symbol of the Holy Spirit and anointing with oil was symbolic of the endowment of the Spirit. Every NT believer, every Christian is baptised by the Holy Spirit upon coming to Christ in faith. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is a sign and a seal and enabling power for service to the Lord. The internal witness of the Holy Spirit would have confirmed all to David.
• The Messiah – the anointed one – David would point God’s covenant people (ISRAEL) more clearly than ever to the Coming Messiah, who would rule until His enemies become the very footstool of God. (Psalm 110:1 & Hebrews 1:13).

4 – Saul becomes a terror to himself (1 Samuel 16:14-23)

• The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. If God and His grace do not rule us, sin and Satan will have possession of us. The devil, by the Divine permission, troubled and terrified Saul. He grew fretful, peevish and discontented and at times behaved like a madman. Both Saul and David underwent a spiritual change. Notice the sharp contrast! Saul rejected God and persistently disregarded his revealed will. Therefore, God rejected Saul. When David was chosen, God withdrew even those gifts that he had given to Saul. David truly loved the Lord and, for all his later sins and struggles, he preserved in the faith. Saul was a disappointed man and became prey to his evil passions. Saul was not mad. There was a supernatural power of darkness molesting him by the permission of the Lord.
• From shepherd to royal musician – David was anointed king over Israel; he was not even publicly or officially inaugurated in that office. Faith and patience look for the Lord to open doors and bring about what to our eyes seems unlikely, if not impossible. The Lord did not leave David with the sheep very long. Through a series of significant providence, David was to be called to Saul’s court.
• The medicine of music – It is a pity that music, which may be serviceable to the good temper of the mind, should ever be abused, to support vanity and luxury, and made an occasion of drawing the heart from God and serious things. That is driving away the Holy Spirit, not the evil spirit.
• The remedy for melancholy Saul’s servants remedy – Did they suggest Saul make his peace with God? Turn to the Lord in repentance and faith? Seek the counsel of Samuel? No!

Saul needed heart SURGERY and they prescribed a SEDATIVE. The power of music can soothe the savage beast although it is also known to do the opposite. Music has often been employed to quiet the wounded conscience, but NOTHING can affect a REAL cure but the blood of Christ, applied by faith and the sanctifying Spirit sealing the pardon by His Holy comforts. ALL other plans to dispel religious melancholy are sure to only add to the distress.

Categories: 1 Samuel