1 Samuel 16:1 – How was David chosen to be king?

David was chosen by the Lord to be anointed king after the Lord had rejected Saul as king of Israel. Then the Lord commands the prophet Samuel to fill a vessel with oil and depart for Bethlehem. Upon arriving in Bethlehem, Samuel was to look for a man named Jesse.

Jesse lived in Bethlehem with His sons, and the Lord had chosen one of his sons to become the new king of Israel.

1Samuel 16:1 — Then the LORD said to Samuel, How long will you sorry for Saul, when I have rejected him, that he should not reign over Israel? Fill a horn with oil, and come, I will send youto Jesse the Bethlehemite;among their children I have provided myself with a king from

Samuel was fearing for his life if Saul found out. The Lord commands Samuel to take a bull with him and that he said he was there to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. And also that an invitation should be given to Jesse to sacrifice, now the Lord would show Samuel which of Jesse should be anointed for the Lord.

Samuel did as the Lord said, and when he arrived in Bethlehem, the authorities of the city soon went to meet him, trembling with fear. “Do you come in peace?” they asked.

 Samuel answers yes and says he was there because he was going to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Then Samuel performed the ceremony to cleanse Jesse and his children and also invited them to sacrifice.

1Samuel 16:2-5 — But Samuel said, How shall I go? Forhears it Saul, he will kill me. Then the Lord said, Take a heifer of the cows in your hand, and say, I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. And invite to Jesse sacrifice; and I will to anoint me you . So Samuel did what the LORD had said, and came to Bethlehem; Then the elders of the city came out to meet him, trembling, and said, peace your ?

And he said, It is of peace, I came to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and invited them to sacrifice.

‘s sons Jesse arrived, Samuel looked at Eliab and at that moment he judged by Eliab and thought that he would be the man whom God anointed.

The Lord, speak to Samuel so that he does not judge by appearance or height, for the Lord had rejected him.

We understand that God’s vision is not like ours, for God does not see or judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Now it was Jesse call his son Abinadab and took him to Samuel and once again the lord had not chosen this one to be anointed.

Jesse then calls Shimea, who was also not the man God would choose to be the new king. So in the same way, all seven of Jesse were presented to Samuel, and none of them had been chosen. 

Samuel then tells Jesse that the Lord didn’t choose any of them so that he could be anointed and so Samuel asked Jesse if there wouldn’t be any more.

Jesse replied that he still had the youngest, who was in the field, taking care of the flock. Samuel then sent for him and said, we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.

1 Samuel 16:6-11 And it came to pass, as they went in, that he Eliab saw ,and said, Surely his anointed is before the LORD.

But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not consider his appearance, nor the greatness of his stature, for I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as sees , for man sees what is in front of the eyes, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Then Jesse for Abinadab, and caused him to pass before Samuel, who said, this hath not chosen man either.

Then Jesse caused Shammah; but he said, this hath not chosen man either.

pass Jesse to his seven sons before Samuel; But Samuel said to Jesse, The Lord has not chosen these.

Then Samuel said to Jesse, Are the young men gone? And he said, There the least one missing, who is tending the sheep. So Samuel said to Jesse, Send for him, for we will not sit down until he comes hither.

David was a red-haired young man with good looks and pretty eyes. So the Lord says to Samuel. “Is this; get up and anoint him with oil.

Samuel took the bowl of oil he had brought and anointed him. From that day forward, the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David. After that, Samuel returned to Ramah.

The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and the Lord sent an evil spirit, which tormented him.

1Samuel 16:12-14 — Then he sent for him and brought him in (and he was red-haired and handsome in countenance and good-natured); and the Lord said, Arise, and anoint him, for he is the same. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and from that day forward the Spirit of the Lord came upon David; then Samuel arose, and returned to Ramah. And the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.