4. (1 Sam 16:11) Samuel asks about an absent son
And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
Are these all the children: Samuel had a problem. God told him, "I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons" (1 Samuel 16:1). Yet, here were the seven sons of Jesse, and God did not chose any of them. Since Samuel knew God's word was true, he knew there must be another son of Jesse who was not in attendance.
There remains yet the youngest: This shows the low regard David had among his own family. First, his father did not even mention him by name. Second, he was not invited to the feast. Third, he was only called to come because Samuel insisted on it. When we consider David was the youngest of eight sons, we should not be surprised at the low regard he had in his own family. It was not because David's conduct or character was unworthy, it was simply because he was the youngest of eight sons. God often chooses unlikely people to do His work. This ensures that we all know the work is God's work and not man's work.
He is tending the sheep: Tending the sheep was a servant's job. The fact that David was out keeping the sheep showed that the family of Jesse was not especially wealthy, and thus could not afford to have servants. If they would have been wealthy, a servant would be keeping watch over the sheep. Moreover, tending the sheep meant you had to trust God in the midst of danger. David had lions, bears and wolves to contend with, and the sheep had to be protected. The country around Bethlehem was not a tranquil wilderness, and the career of a shepherd was one of brave heroics and constant vigilance to keep the sheep safe.
So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. 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 brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
Ruddy: Ruddy denotes red hair and fair skin, which are regarded as a mark of beauty in the Mid-East, where hair and complexion are generally dark. We do not know how old David was at this time. The ancient Jewish historian, Josephus, says David was ten years old. Other historians state he was about 15 years old.
And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is he: By all outward appearances, David's seven brothers seemed to have been better material for royalty. As unlikely as he was, David was the one chosen to be king. David was a shepherd, but there were lots of shepherds during this time. David was good-looking, but there were a lot of good looking young men. David was young, but there were plenty of young men God could have chosen. What is important is how God saw David. In 1 Samuel 13:14, God describes what made David special: "The LORD sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people."
God's choice of David shows us that we do not have to quit our jobs and enter into full-time ministry to be people after God's own heart. We do not need to be famous or affluent to be people after God's own heart. We do not need to be respected or even liked by others to be people after God's own heart.
Where did David get his heart? Obviously, from time spent with the LORD. But someone had to start him on that path. David says nothing about his father, but twice in the Psalms he refers to his mother as a handmaid of the LORD. ("Turn to me, and be gracious to me; oh grant Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your handmaid" Psalm 86:16. "O LORD, surely I am Your servant, I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid, You have loosed my bonds" Psalm 116:16.) It is very probable that David's mother taught her son to fear the LORD and gave him a foundation to build his own walk with the LORD.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers: The true significance of the act of anointing David as the future king of Israel appears to have been concealed to his brothers. As in subsequent history, they do not seem to have any idea of their brother's high calling. It is very probable that the people who witnessed David's anointing thought Samuel was just honoring David for an unknown reason.
And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward: The real anointing of David happened when the Holy Spirit came upon David. The oil on his head was just an outward sign of his inward anointing.
And Samuel arose and went to Ramah: Samuel did not begin a political rally to enthrone David and did not begin to undermine Saul's throne to establish David as king. It is interesting to note that in 1 Samuel 16:13, the name David is first mentioned. Prophetically, David has been referred to in 1 Samuel 13:14 and 1 Samuel 15:28. David's name means beloved or loved one. David will become one of the greatest men in the Bible, mentioned more than 1,000 times in the pages of Scripture. He is mentioned more than Abraham, more than Moses and more than any man in the New Testament. It is no accident that Jesus was not known as the "Son of Abraham" or the "Follower of Moses" but as the "Son of David".
B. Saul's distressing spirit
1. (1 Sam 16:14) Saul's distressing spirit troubles him
Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him.
(Side note: From this time forward, David is the central figure of this historical account. Saul has been rejected, and though he is still king and must still play his part, from this time forth, his decline goes hand in hand with the growth of David in every kingly way. The record is no longer given on Saul's account. Instead, we are given the account of how David was first brought into connection with Saul, and the subsequent interactions between the two, until ultimately, David becomes king.)
The spirit of the LORD departed from Saul: In 1 Samuel 16:13 we read, "the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward" As the Holy Spirit came upon David, "an evil spirit" came upon Saul and terrorized him. Again we see, as David rose in power, Saul continued his downward decline.
An evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him: If God is all-good, why did He send a terrorizing spirit upon Saul? There are two ways in which God can send something. First, He may send something in the active sense. Second, He may send something in the passive sense. Passively, God may withdraw His hand of protection, which allows evil to come, without being the source of evil itself.
Passively, this is what happened to Saul. First, "the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul". This meant that Saul lost his spiritual protection and shield against evil. So when this protection was lost, Satan was more than ready to send an evil spirit to fill the void in Saul. This is why the continual presence of the Holy Spirit for all Christians is such a comfort. We do not have to fear that God will take the Holy Spirit away from us. ("Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body" 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.)
("However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But t the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies thought His Spirit who dwells in you" Romans 8:9-11.)
Today, Saul would probably be diagnosed as being mentally ill. Yet, his problem was spiritual in nature, and was not mental or psychological. There are many people today in mental hospitals who are really suffering from spiritual problems. These folks need liberation from their evil spirits. However, our modern mental health system is not set up nor equipped to deal with such spiritual problems. Unfortunately, many are given highly potent drugs which only dulls the mind and does nothing to alleviate their spiritual burdens.
From the LORD: Perhaps this judgment was a final verdict on Saul's past wickedness and rebellion against the Holy Spirit's guidance. This may be an example of God giving Saul over to his sin. Saul did have the Holy Spirit upon him early in his kingship. ("When they came to the hill there, behold, a group of prophets met him [Saul]; and the Spirit of God came upon him mightily, so that he prophesied among them" 1 Samuel 10:10.) As Saul was proud and rebellious against God, Saul resisted the Holy Spirit. He again and again denied to follow the Holy Spirit's guidance, and God finally gave him up. God gave Saul over to his own desires. But, Saul never realized the price he would have to pay when "the Spirit of the LORD departed from him". Saul thought he would be happy and free once he was separated from God's will. He did not realize he would be in even more bondage when an evil spirit came upon him. Even in this state, however, Saul would still repent. He was not past the state of repentance or restoration. It was up to Saul to receive God's correction and respond with a tender, repentant heart before the LORD.
God's choice of David shows us that we do not have to quit our jobs and enter into full-time ministry to be people after God's own heart. We do not need to be famous or affluent to be people after God's own heart. We do not need to be respected or even liked by others to be people after God's own heart.
Where did David get his heart? Obviously, from time spent with the LORD. But someone had to start him on that path. David says nothing about his father, but twice in the Psalms he refers to his mother as a handmaid of the LORD. ("Turn to me, and be gracious to me; oh grant Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your handmaid" Psalm 86:16. "O LORD, surely I am Your servant, I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid, You have loosed my bonds" Psalm 116:16.) It is very probable that David's mother taught her son to fear the LORD and gave him a foundation to build his own walk with the LORD.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers: The true significance of the act of anointing David as the future king of Israel appears to have been concealed to his brothers. As in subsequent history, they do not seem to have any idea of their brother's high calling. It is very probable that the people who witnessed David's anointing thought Samuel was just honoring David for an unknown reason.
And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward: The real anointing of David happened when the Holy Spirit came upon David. The oil on his head was just an outward sign of his inward anointing.
And Samuel arose and went to Ramah: Samuel did not begin a political rally to enthrone David and did not begin to undermine Saul's throne to establish David as king. It is interesting to note that in 1 Samuel 16:13, the name David is first mentioned. Prophetically, David has been referred to in 1 Samuel 13:14 and 1 Samuel 15:28. David's name means beloved or loved one. David will become one of the greatest men in the Bible, mentioned more than 1,000 times in the pages of Scripture. He is mentioned more than Abraham, more than Moses and more than any man in the New Testament. It is no accident that Jesus was not known as the "Son of Abraham" or the "Follower of Moses" but as the "Son of David".
B. Saul's distressing spirit
1. (1 Sam 16:14) Saul's distressing spirit troubles him
Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him.
(Side note: From this time forward, David is the central figure of this historical account. Saul has been rejected, and though he is still king and must still play his part, from this time forth, his decline goes hand in hand with the growth of David in every kingly way. The record is no longer given on Saul's account. Instead, we are given the account of how David was first brought into connection with Saul, and the subsequent interactions between the two, until ultimately, David becomes king.)
The spirit of the LORD departed from Saul: In 1 Samuel 16:13 we read, "the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward" As the Holy Spirit came upon David, "an evil spirit" came upon Saul and terrorized him. Again we see, as David rose in power, Saul continued his downward decline.
An evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him: If God is all-good, why did He send a terrorizing spirit upon Saul? There are two ways in which God can send something. First, He may send something in the active sense. Second, He may send something in the passive sense. Passively, God may withdraw His hand of protection, which allows evil to come, without being the source of evil itself.
Passively, this is what happened to Saul. First, "the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul". This meant that Saul lost his spiritual protection and shield against evil. So when this protection was lost, Satan was more than ready to send an evil spirit to fill the void in Saul. This is why the continual presence of the Holy Spirit for all Christians is such a comfort. We do not have to fear that God will take the Holy Spirit away from us. ("Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body" 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.)
("However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But t the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies thought His Spirit who dwells in you" Romans 8:9-11.)
Today, Saul would probably be diagnosed as being mentally ill. Yet, his problem was spiritual in nature, and was not mental or psychological. There are many people today in mental hospitals who are really suffering from spiritual problems. These folks need liberation from their evil spirits. However, our modern mental health system is not set up nor equipped to deal with such spiritual problems. Unfortunately, many are given highly potent drugs which only dulls the mind and does nothing to alleviate their spiritual burdens.
From the LORD: Perhaps this judgment was a final verdict on Saul's past wickedness and rebellion against the Holy Spirit's guidance. This may be an example of God giving Saul over to his sin. Saul did have the Holy Spirit upon him early in his kingship. ("When they came to the hill there, behold, a group of prophets met him [Saul]; and the Spirit of God came upon him mightily, so that he prophesied among them" 1 Samuel 10:10.) As Saul was proud and rebellious against God, Saul resisted the Holy Spirit. He again and again denied to follow the Holy Spirit's guidance, and God finally gave him up. God gave Saul over to his own desires. But, Saul never realized the price he would have to pay when "the Spirit of the LORD departed from him". Saul thought he would be happy and free once he was separated from God's will. He did not realize he would be in even more bondage when an evil spirit came upon him. Even in this state, however, Saul would still repent. He was not past the state of repentance or restoration. It was up to Saul to receive God's correction and respond with a tender, repentant heart before the LORD.
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