The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Heart” it comes from the Hebrew Word “lebab” which means “heart.”
God sends Samuel to anoint a new king, and the choice surprises everyone, including Samuel himself. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is 1 Samuel 16.
God instructs Samuel to stop mourning over Saul and go to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, where God has provided Himself a king among his sons. As each of Jesse’s older, impressive sons pass before him, Samuel is confident each must surely be God’s chosen one, but God corrects him each time. “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature… for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart,” “lebab” in Hebrew.
After seven sons pass by without being chosen, Samuel asks if there are more, and Jesse mentions his youngest, David, currently out tending the sheep. When David arrives, described as ruddy with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance, the Lord tells Samuel plainly, “Arise, anoint him: for this is he.” Samuel anoints David in the midst of his brothers, and “the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.”
Meanwhile, the Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubles him instead. Saul’s servants suggest finding someone skilled in playing the harp to soothe him, and one servant recommends David, describing him as skillful in playing, a mighty valiant man, prudent in speech, and one whom the Lord is with. Saul sends for David, who becomes his armorbearer, and whenever the troubling spirit comes upon Saul, David plays the harp, bringing him relief and refreshment.
God’s reminder to Samuel, that He looks at the heart rather than outward appearance, sets the stage for everything David’s story will teach about God’s unconventional criteria for greatness. The very David whose music would soon soothe Saul’s troubled spirit was, at that same moment, already secretly anointed to eventually take his throne.
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