David was chosen by the Lord to be anointed king after God had rejected Saul as king over Israel. The Lord then commanded the prophet Samuel to fill a horn with oil and go to Bethlehem, where he was to find a man named Jesse. One of Jesse’s sons had already been chosen by God to be the next king.
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. (1 Samuel 16:1)
Samuel was afraid for his life if Saul discovered what he was doing, he might kill him. So the Lord gave him a wise cover:
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. (1 Samuel 16:2-3)
Samuel did exactly as the Lord commanded. When he arrived in Bethlehem, the elders of the town came out trembling to meet him, asking, “Comest thou peaceably?” He assured them he came in peace, sanctified Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice (1 Samuel 16:4-5).
When Appearance Deceives
One by one, Jesse’s sons passed before Samuel. The first was Eliab tall, strong, and impressive. Samuel immediately thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.”
But God corrected him at once:
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. (1 Samuel 16:7)
Abinadab passed. Then Shammah. Then the other four. None was chosen. Finally Samuel asked Jesse, “Are here all thy children?” Jesse replied, “There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep.”
They sent for him. David was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. The moment he entered, the Lord said:
Arise, anoint him: for this is he. (1 Samuel 16:12)
Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the midst of his brothers. From that day forward:
The Spirit of the Lord came upon David with power. (1 Samuel 16:13)
At the same time, the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord began to trouble him (1 Samuel 16:14).
What God Sees That We Often Miss
The story of David’s anointing teaches us a profound truth: God does not choose as the world chooses. The world looks at résumés, height, beauty, and charisma. God looks at the heart.
David was not the oldest, the strongest, or the most obvious candidate. He was the youngest, the overlooked one, the boy left in the fields tending sheep while the “real candidates” were presented. Yet it was his heart full of faithfulness, courage, and genuine love for the Lord that God was looking for to lead His people.
May we learn, like Samuel, not to judge by outward appearance. And may we, like David, cultivate a heart after God’s own heart because that is where the Spirit of the Lord longs to dwell and work with power
